Rs 20,000 cheaper than the RS 457 and Rs 1.0 lakh more than the KTM DUke 390, the Aprilia has launched made-in-India Tuono 457 at Rs 3.95 lakhs. The Yamaha MT-03 also dropped its price to Rs 3.50 making the Italian much more expensive for the first on Indian soil than a Japanese middle weight motorcycle! The Kawasaki Z500 and Honda CB 500F isn’t on sale in India yet.
Manufacturers are utilizing high end bike name as a stage to bring forth lower cubic capacity models – spreading the improvement costs of a modern chassis and engine platform across numerous diverse models makes a difference make it more commercially practical. The RSV4 superbike and Tuono V4 supernaked are now sharing the same. First, with the RS 660 sportbike has moreover produced the Tuono 660 naked and even the Tuareg 660 adventure bike.
The Rs 4.2 lakh (ex-showroom) cost of the RS 457 is a bit higher than we were anticipating. Everything remains the same on the Tuono 457 as seen on the RS 457. The Tuono 457 has a more upright ergos than the RS, with a compliment handlebar and no fairing very likely. The 457cc parallel-twin motor has been carried over largely unchanged, apart from changes in sprocket, mildly altering its gearing. The Tuono gets a smaller fuel tank capacity of 12.7 litres over the RS 457 13 l. The weight remains the same at 175 kgs. The engine makes 47.6hp and 43.5Nm, paired to a 6-speed gearbox comes with a slip-and-assist clutch too. A bi-directional quickshifter is available as option. Adjustable suspension is still missing on the Tuono 457, just like the RS 457.
Built at Aprilia’s Baramati plant, Aprilia has made a great effort, at this price and serious competition, it might or might not sustain the long bull run it tends to have initially.
