RS 457, A NEW CHAPTER IN APRILIA RS SAGA

RS 457, A NEW CHAPTER IN APRILIA RS SAGA

 THE NEW RS IS A GENUINE SPORTS BIKE. POWERFUL AND FUN, WITH THE BEST POWER-TO- WEIGHT RATIO IN ITS CLASS. IT IS EASY AND LIGHT, WITH SOPHISTICATED TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS AND A RACING LINE IN PURE RS STYLE 

AN ENTIRELY NEW BIKE THAT SETS THE TECHNOLOGICAL AND STYLISTIC BAR FOR YOUNG RIDERS ALL OVER THE WORLD TWIN-CYLINDER, LIQUID-COOLED 

ENGINE WITH FOUR-VALVE AND DOUBLE OVERHEAD CAMSHAFT (DOHC), ALUMINIUM ALLOY FRAME AND A FULL ELECTRONIC MANAGEMENT PACKAGE WITH RIDE- BY-WIRE, ADJUSTABLE TRACTION CONTROL AND THREE RIDING MODES 

Petaling Jaya, Selangor, 30^th October 2024 – Didi Group proudly introduced the Aprilia RS 457 with a special appearance of MotoGP rider Lorenzo Savadori. Lorenzo Savadori, best known for his contributions to the Aprilia Racing Team in the MotoGP. Strong relationship with Aprilia continued as he transitioned to MotoGP, first as a test rider and then as a main rider, a role that also included development work to advance Aprilia's RS- GP race bike. His dedication to the team and his expertise in fine-tuning racing machines has made him a valuable asset in Aprilia’s development program. In addition to racing, Savadori plays an active role in Aprilia’s promotional events, His presence at events like these reinforces Aprilia's brand connection to racing and helps bring the professional racing experience closer to fans 

The RS 457 is a historic step for Aprilia and not only in technological terms. Indeed, Aprilia's new twin- cylinder sports bike appeals to new targets and markets to meet the growing worldwide demand for easy but fun, technologically and stylistically groundbreaking motorbikes targeting broad market segments. 

The RS acronym represents sportiness according to Aprilia. These motorbikes are designed to amaze, with innovations derived from a long and successful racing history that has shaped Aprilia's unique motorbike culture. Thus, Aprilia became the dream of entire generations, indulging the passion of younger riders with extraordinary motorbikes. 

At the same time, Aprilia has been a leading player in the racing world, dominating the 2-stroke categories and, after reaffirming its technological supremacy by winning SBK competitions, it has also risen to prominence in MotoGP. Now, Aprilia returns to its founding mission with a project for new generations of motorcyclists, pooling the knowledge accumulated on tracks worldwide. 

Starting in 2020, the massive success of the Aprilia RS 660 has revolutionised the world of mid-range sports bikes, creating a new segment. The same winning formula is repeated with the Aprilia RS 457, which began as a completely new project, conceived and developed in the Noale HQ, where all Aprilias are created, including MotoGP bikes. The new Aprilia is the ideal link between the first 125 engines and the RS 660. It completes the RS family that includes the powerful V4 superbikes and, at its most technologically advanced, the MotoGP- winning RS-GP.  

The Aprilia RS 457 speaks the language of younger riders, of people who want to start riding faired bikes, exploiting all of the company's expertise to design and build a true sportbike.    This motorbike's strengths are its light weight, with the highest possible power-to-weight ratio for a bike you can ride with an A2 licence, ease of handling, and technological equipment. The RS 457 is designed to accompany riders as they progress on road and track. In fact, the ergonomics feature clip-on handlebars mounted above the upper steering plate, a road sports solution that provides the best compromise between sportiness and riding comfort. 

An unmistakeable style formed out of function

The new RS 457's styling follows the legendary RS range, the supersport bikes that made motorbike history, specifically following the revolutionary trail blazed in 2020 by the RS 660, the first bike to introduce the futuristic double front fairing, which also acts as a built-in aerodynamic appendage. 

The result is a bike that expresses light weight and dynamism beginning with the slimmed down front end, characterised by the triple full LED headlight unit, an Aprilia signature stylistic feature, framed by the futuristic perimeter profiles with the built-in turn indicators.  

And it is precisely from the centre of its unmistakeable headlight unit that the double fairing develops through two  profiles  reminiscent  of  the  MotoGP  prototypes  which  were  defined  through  numerous  wind  tunnel sessions and CFD simulations. In fact, on a small-engine bike, aerodynamics plays a crucial role, having to achieve efficient shapes whilst adopting contained surfaces in order to enhance the compact nature of the vehicle. RS 457’s double-wall fairings, characterised by a large air extractor and a particular aerodynamic appendage (nolder) that connects to the frame spars, contributes to increasing rider comfort, protecting against air pressure and deflecting the flow of hot air from the engine and radiator. 

The riding position, thanks to the semi-handlebars mounted above the steering yoke and relatively low footpegs, offers the perfect compromise between a sporty setup and comfort in daily use. The shape of the fuel tank has also been designed to accommodate the rider’s chest and helmet, contributing to a feeling of perfect integration with the bike. Riders of any height therefore benefit from a position that guarantees maximum control and relaxation, even in the most extreme riding. 

The sporty and dynamic line of the RS 457 is also determined by the positioning of the 2 in 1 exhaust beneath the engine, with the underbelly silencer integrated with the line of the lug. This solution leaves the entire rear area free and allows for greater flexibility in positioning the passenger footpegs.  

The low seat - just 800 mm - is slender along the sides to favour footing on the ground, whereas the sleek tail fairing integrates the LED rear light cluster and is characterised by two lateral winglets. A generous portion of the saddle is dedicated to the passenger, whereas a single seat tail is available as an accessory. 

From the twin-cylinder engine, the perfect combination of performance and light weight 

Aprilia RS 457 is built around a new and ultra modern twin-cylinder engine, the displacement of which - 457 cc - gives its name to the new Italian sportbike as a testament to its central role in the project. 

The new unit is a liquid cooled forward-facing parallel twin-cylinder with double camshaft timing and four valve per cylinder, which reaches maximum power of 35 kW (47.6 HP) at 9,400 rpm, the maximum possible for a bike that can be ridden with an A2 licence, and torque of 43.5 Nm at 6,700 rpm, 82% of which is already available at 3,000 rpm. Record performance for a forward-facing twin cylinder of this engine capacity. 

This  latest  generation  powerplant,  compact  and  lightweight,  also  contributes  to  achieving  a  simply unbeatable weight/power ratio, a high-priority goal of the designers from Noale. In fact, the bike’s dry weight is 159 kg, which goes up to 175 when filled with fluids. 

As happened with the RS 660, the particular layout of the engine was chosen to fully optimise light weight and compact dimensions, leaving great design freedom on the chassis architecture front. The engine also has a bearing function, providing the connection point for the swingarm in the rear area. 

The new twin-cylinder from Aprilia exploits all the experience acquired from the powerful 1100 cc V4 engine fitted on the RSV4 and then on the 659 cc twin-cylinder unit fitted on the entire 660 range: RS, Tuono, and Tuareg. Starting from a solid technical base, the Aprilia engineers worked on optimising bulk, fully integrating the cooling circuit and the blow-by recovery circuit into the engine, thereby eliminating external hoses. The crankcase is divided horizontally into two pieces to further reduce bulk and to make the structure more robust.  

Various solutions were used to minimise internal friction. The cylinders are offset by 6.5 mm with respect to the crankshaft, thereby reducing piston pushing friction. The countershaft and the water pump work on needle bearings instead of bushings, and the piston pins have DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) surface treatment. Last, but not least, the gearbox operates on roller cages instead of bushings - like on the Aprilia V4 engines - and it also uses an unprecedented, patented solution for lubrication with an integrated system in the gearbox fork axles. 

The camshafts of the double shaft timing with 4 valves per cylinder controlled by a lateral chain are hollow and use calibrated bucket tappets - useful for reducing inertia - to move the valves. The multiplate wet clutch is servo assisted and has a slipper system. 

Engine response is managed by the electronic multimap Ride-by-Wire accelerator through the selection of three Riding Modes. 

Cutting-edge chassis architecture for an easy, fun, and effective ride

Aprilia’s unparalleled frame know how is delivered in the new Aprilia RS 457. The craftsmanship of the Noale technicians in creating the super refined chassis architecture is born precisely out of the small-engine bikes in World Championship GP Motorcycle Racing, the two-stroke 125 and 250 units, which have been the hunting ground of the super effective Aprilia motorcycles for years. The new RS 457 benefits from this invaluable arsenal of know-how and is the only bike in its segment with an aluminium frame. 

In order to achieve the best compromise between stiffness and weight, the shape of the frame was optimised through Computer Aided Engineering (CAE), in tandem with numerous development sessions on the road. The result is a layout dedicated to the lightest possible weight which ensures rigorous dynamic performance and the characteristic feeling that all Aprilias have with the front end. 

The frame is made up of two lateral aluminium spars bolted in the area of the headstock and in the rear part. The engine is used as a bearing element, a specific solution inspired by the one already seen on the RS 660 which contributes to forming a compact, lightweight, and stiff structure.  

In order to make the frame even lighter and more essential, the steel swingarm is pivoted directly into the engine. All of these solutions contribute to achieving a top of the line weight/power ratio, the best in the category. 

Working in concert with the frame is a high end compact suspension, with calibration that ensures maximum fun combined with maximum control in any situation, accompanying even the youngest and most inexperienced riders in the best possible way. At the front, the 41 mm fork and 120 mm travel features preload adjustment, just like the rear monoshock, which works on the steel swingarm, also with adjustable preload, for 130 mm wheel travel. 

The braking system includes a 320 mm front disc, with ByBre radial mounted, 4-piston calliper. The handlebar brake lever is adjustable to always ensure the best ergonomics. 

At the back, the ByBre calliper grips a 220 mm steel disc. All of this is assisted by a Bosch two-channel ABS system with double use map on both wheels or on just the front. 

The sporty 17” wheel rims are shod with 110/70 tyres at the front and 150/60 at the rear, the perfect size for excellent grip but without sacrificing agility - the true strength of the new Aprilia.  

A complete electronics suite worthy of a true sportbike

The Aprilia RS 457’s electronic equipment is that of a true sports bike, designed for a wide range of bikers and entirely faithful to Aprilia tradition. The Ride by Wire system – which Aprilia was the first to introduce both in MotoGP with the futuristic RS Cube and in production with the Shiver – manages the engine with three Riding Modes that intervene on power and torque delivery and traction control, adjustable to three levels and that can also be disabled. 

In the spirit of an adrenaline-charged riding experience which is simultaneously easy to manage, all the rider has to do is select the desired Riding Mode - using the button on the right-hand control block - to obtain the best engine management and traction control tuning. 

The three Riding Modes are:

ECO: engine power output is progressive, whereas the traction control intervention level is medium (Level 2). Ideal for travel and daily riding. 

SPORT: the ideal mode for sport riding, with more responsive and dynamic engine power output and less invasive traction control intervention (Level 1). 

RAIN: riding mode designed for use in poor grip and wet asphalt conditions. Power output is extremely gradual, whereas the traction control is set to maximum (Level 3) for total safety in acceleration. 

The ATC traction control (Aprilia Traction Control) is always adjustable, regardless of the selected Riding Mode, even on the fly, through the convenient UP and DOWN buttons on the left-hand control block. In all Riding Modes, ABS is set to the maximum level, present on both wheels. ABS can be disabled at the rear with the bike stopped by pressing and holding the Riding Mode button. 

The rich catalogue of accessories dedicated to the RS 457 also includes  AQS: Aprilia Quick Shift, the bidirectional electronic system for extremely fast gear changes without shutting the throttle and using the clutch, also active in downshifting.  

Aprilia  RS  457  astonishes  not  only  for  its  design  and  performance,  but  also  for  its  extremely  modern instrument cluster, which boasts a 5” colour TFT display and backlit, practical, and intuitive handlebar controls.  The  parameters  are  displayed  using  strong-impact  graphics,  dominated  at  the  centre  by  the speedometer and the large and sporty rev counter scale. 

An accessory that further expands the features of the rich instrumentation is the Aprilia MIA system, the multimedia platform from Aprilia that allows you to connect your smartphone to the bike. The system offers a connection protocol that reduces smartphone battery consumption to a minimum and it includes both the Infotainment system to  manage  the voice assistant, phone calls, and music through intuitive  handlebar controls, and the navigation feature with which, once your trip destination is set on the smartphone, allows you to view the pictogram directions directly on the bike’s instrumentation. The Aprilia MIA app also lets you record the routes you have ridden and analyse the data acquired directly in the app through the geo-referenced telemetry feature.

Three distinctive colour schemes

Aprilia RS 457 is available in three brand new graphic versions. The Racing Stripes livery masterfully blends black, red, and violet, reminiscent of the gritty Time Attack colour of the Aprilia RSV4 Factory superbike, as  well  as  the  colours  of  the  Aprilia  RS-GP  machines  which  are  protagonists  in  the  MotoGP  World Championship. Also clearly inspired by the racing prototypes are the Aprilia lettering that strongly characterises the front end, running along the winglets located under the headlight, and the red trim on the rear wheel rim channel. 

The other two colour schemes, Prismatic Dark and Opalescent Light, are also extremely distinctive, matched with red painted wheel rims with numerous sporty details in bright red. 

A vast range of original accessories for any needs

Aprilia has developed a range of original accessories for the RS 457, designed to enhance its sporty character and to increase comfort and functionality. 

-          Single-seat tail-fairing cover: complete the sporty image of the bike by covering the passenger's seat and

enhancing the design of your RS 457. 

-          Brake and clutch lever: made in billet aluminium, these are adjustable for the best possible ergonomics.

The anodised red finish emphasises the sporty look of the vehicle. 

-          Rear brake and shift pedals: sporty pedals made of billet aluminium with anodised red trim.  

-          Aluminium rider footpeg ends: the billet aluminium racing footpegs increase grip with boots for sport use.

Anodised red trim. 

-          Brake lever protection: born out of racing experience, brake lever protection ensures maximum safety,

avoiding accidental activation of the front brake. 

-          Aluminium license plate holder: the sport license plate holder, with LED plate light built in, replaces the

plastic one, enhancing the aesthetics of the RS 457. 

-          Bidirectional quickshifter: this easy to install device lets you shift up and down through the gears without

engaging the clutch, thereby allowing extremely fast shifting. 

-          USB   port:   fundamental   for   charging   external   devices   like   mobile   phones.   Installs   beside   the

instrumentation.  

-          Racing brake pads: approved for street use, the front racing brake pads improve braking performance. 

-          Front wheel guards: attached to the front wheel axle, these aluminium pads with rubber ends prevent

damage to the front brake disk in the event of a fall. 

-          Helmet hook: using a specific hook located below the seat, this safety cable lets you fasten your helmet to

the vehicle. 

-          TPMS tyre pressure sensor: indicates the tyre pressure on the instrument cluster display. 

-          Oversized top fairing: protects the rider better from the air, both on the road and on the track.  

-          Comfort saddle: made to increase riding comfort, maintaining the same height off the ground as the

standard seat. 

-          Lowered saddle: this seat with a lowered profile allows better footing for riders of any height, without

impacting riding comfort. 

-          Passenger grab handles: with their ergonomic shape, they integrate perfectly with the design of the tail

fairing and provide a secure and comfortable grip for the passenger. 

-          Side panniers: heat formed panniers designed to be easily installed using specific brackets without altering

the line of the vehicle and preserving passenger comfort. 

-          Tank bag: tank bag designed to make daily use of the RS 457 practical. It can be used to hold your wallet,

telephone, and other small items. Easy to fasten and release thanks to a specific bracket. A rain cover and a transparent cover that allows you to use your smartphone for navigation are included. 

-          Wheel stickers: applied on the wheel rim channels, these stickers designed by the Style Centre give your

RS 457 an even more aggressive look. 

-          Fuel tank cover: made in 3D adhesive material, this protects the tank and limits sliding of the rider. Available for the central and side parts of the fuel tank.  

-          Electronic anti-theft system: comprising a compact and technologically advanced ECU that is easy to install. Complete with remote control. The system is self powered with minimum energy absorption. 

-          Aprilia MIA: this device allows a smartphone to be connected to the bike via Bluetooth, transforming it into a real multimedia platform. 

-          Outdoor vehicle cover: in waterproof fabric, it protects the bike from the elements when parked outdoors. Complete with case. 

-          Indoor vehicle cover: made in breathable and elastic fabric, it adapts to the shape of the bike, protecting it from dirt and dust during long periods in the garage.

A new line of dedicated apparel in pure RS style 

The line of accessories dedicated to the Aprilia RS 457 is completed by a new full face helmet and a revamped range of technical apparel, made in collaboration with Alpinestars, with garments designed to combine an attractive style with uncompromising performance and quality. 

Overtake full face helmet: the new Overtake full face helmet has an aerodynamic shape developed in the wind tunnel.  The  result  is  a  sporty  design  which,  reducing  turbulence,  also  improves  stability  and  the  sound dampening level at high speeds. Featuring an efficient ventilation system, the helmet is complete with an internal sun visor which can be lowered and raised easily even when wearing gloves using an external control. Also included are a Pinlock anti-fog insert, an action cam bracket, and a chin guard air deflector. Available in white and black. 

Speed Blast Air Tex Jacket: the Speed Blast Air Tex jacket boasts an external structure in advanced poly- fabric to offer high levels of resistance to abrasions and tearing. Featuring air intakes and mesh-on-mesh panels on the chest, back, and arms for unparalleled ventilation, it is ideal for use in a vast range of weather conditions. The Nucleon Flex Plus protection on the shoulders and elbows, characterised by an ergonomic design, ensure vast freedom of motion. 

Next Rival Tech Sweatshirt: characterised by a casual look, the Next Rival Tech hooded sweatshirt is the ideal garment for riding in urban environments. It offers excellent resistance to abrasion thanks to reinforcements on the shoulders, elbows, and back. The main shell is in knitted fabric for a casual look even once you’re off the bike. The Nucleon Flex Plus protection on the shoulders and elbows ensure a high level of protection against impact. 

Burnout Denim: Technical jeans that combine maximum protection with a unique style. Characterised by a regular linear fit, they are made in a high quality denim fabric and feature internal panels in Aramid fibre for a higher level of protection against abrasions and cuts. The Bio-Flex knee pads allow freedom of motion and boast a thin design, ensuring a discrete look once you are off the bike. 

Rapid  Dash  Air  Gloves:  these  sporty  and  lightweight  gloves  incorporate  robust,  rigid  protection  for  the knuckles  and  palms  entirely  in  synthetic  suede  leather  for  a  high  level  of  durability.  They  also  feature touchscreen compatible fingertips so you can use your smartphone and GPS systems, as well as elastic panels for greater finger mobility. 

Aprilia RS 457 is available in three versions. The Racing Stripes  starting price is RM 35,900 and the other two colour schemes, Prismatic Dark and Opalescent Light selling price is at RM 33,900. The Aprilia RS 457 are now available st all authorised Aprilia dealers nationwide.