Aprilia Tuono 457 Launched In India At Rs 3.95 Lakh
Aprilia had unveiled the new Tuono 457 at EICMA last year. The street motorcycle has now been officially launched in India, priced at Rs 3.95 lakh, ex-showroom. This is essentially the naked version of the RS 457. It thus has a more relaxed, upright and comfortable rider triangle. The company has started accepting orders for the motorcycle, and deliveries are slated to begin in March.
So what brings about this differentiation?
Well, the Tuono 457 has a single-piece handlebar that is higher than the RS 457’s clip-on setup. This creates a more laid-back riding posture. The RS 457 gets a tank capacity of 13L while the Tuono offers a slightly lower 12.7L. Both motorcycles have the same kerb weight of 175kg.
There is also an increased focus on comfort on the Tuono. It is a perfect fit for casual riding. The RS 457 is priced at 4.20 lakh, ex-showroom. This also makes the Tuono cheaper by Rs 25,000.
When compared to rivals, however, it is priced on the higher side. The Yamaha MT-03 for instance has a price of 3.5 lakh, the BMW G 310 R costs 2.9 lakh and the new KTM Duke 390 has a price of 2.95 lakh, ex-showroom. Compared to these, the Tuono is pricey.
Aprilia Tuono 457: Closer Look At It
In its design, the Tuono 457 stands as aggressive, sporty and good-looking. Some design cues come straight from the larger Tuonos, and some from the fully faired counterpart. The front fascia has sharp angular lines and surfaces that keep the ‘bee face’ safe.
The design attracts attention and key highlights include a fresh-looking LED headlight, boomerang-style DRLs (Daytime Running Lights), a sculpted fuel tank, and exposed engine components. The headlamps here, differentiate the 457 Tuono from its the larger capacity ones. It gets a small LED headlight that’s flanked by DRLs on either side. The larger Tuonos get tri-bulb setups instead.
Both ends get 17-inch alloy wheels shod with tubeless tyres. The tail section is sleek. The footpegs are rear-set and the handlebar is a single-piece unit. The motorcycle has a bold and purposeful design and looks completely road-focussed. There are two colour options on offer- Piranha Red and Puma Grey.
Talking about features, the Tuono 457 has a 5-inch TFT colour display that can connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth. The cluster would provide riders with all necessary rider and ride information, along with turn-by-turn navigation, and call/SMS alerts.
Now, the mechanicals. The Tuono 457 is powered by the same 457cc parallel-twin engine as the RS 457. This engine is capable of producing 47 hp and 43.5Nm on the naked motorcycle. The transmission is a 6-speed unit and a slipper clutch is standard. You can also opt for a bidirectional quick-shifter, should you wish to. Compared to the RS 457, the Tuono has slightly shorter gearing as the rear sprocket is now larger and has an additional tooth.
It is based on an aluminium perimeter frame with 41 mm inverted front forks and a rear mono shock. The suspension at both ends can be adjusted for preload. The seat height is 800 mm. The front end gets 320mm disc brakes, while the rear comes with a 220 mm disc. The motorcycle also has dual-channel ABS.
It also gets ride-by-wire technology. There are thus a smoother throttle response and three selectable riding modes- Rain, Sport, and Eco. Also, there are three levels of adjustable traction control on offer.