Aprilia Clarifies 457 cc Platform’s Quality-related Problems

There’s no beating around the bush, the Aprilia 457 cc twin platform is something that Indian enthusiasts had been aching for years. However, reports of mechanical issues propping up, particularly on the RS 457 as it has been on sale for a longer time, have left a few lingering doubts in prospective buyers’ minds. To squash the matter and give an official stance on the same, Aprilia has shared the following statement:

“At Aprilia, our commitment extends beyond delivering exhilarating motorcycles; we are equally dedicated to providing unparalleled after-sales support and service. We are aware of recent discussions among a small segment of motorcycle enthusiasts concerning the "reliability" of the 457 platform. We want to unequivocally assure our esteemed customers and the broader motorcycling fraternity that Aprilia has meticulously investigated every single of the handful instances brought to our attention regarding alleged issues. A majority of these “issues” are attributed to only two factors - Unauthorized Aftermarket Modifications and Irregular Service Schedules. For the few genuine cases that arose, we promptly addressed and resolved them in a timely manner, ensuring minimal disruption to our customers.”

The two primary reasons highlighted are aftermarket mods and service timelines not being matched. And the last sentence highlights that there were a handful of genuine issues that have been resolved, which Aprilia hasn’t shared more light on. 

The second reason sounds pretty valid as the company can void warranty claims as well if official service deadlines aren’t met. The timelines are given not only for maintaining the proper health of your bike, in this case either the RS 457 or the Tuono 457, but also a chance for the company to analyse anything that has gone awry and rectify the problem. Given the fact that it is a brand-new platform, something that is radically different from what Aprilia has made in India before, early issues were expected.

However, we aren’t quite convinced regarding the first point that the company made. Yes, if the buyer has tweaked the engine settings to extract more performance by using an aftermarket exhaust, or a piggyback ECU or something, we would understand. But in other regards, this reasoning sounds feeble.

Especially considering that the bigger issue on the 457 platform still remains unsolved: braking performance. While the braking is decent for commutes and wouldn’t be that much of a bother on chilled rides, it becomes a major hindrance once you start pushing the bike to its limits. There aren’t any accessory modifications that Aprilia is providing to improve the braking performance and hence, in this regard, searching for aftermarket solutions becomes all the more necessary.

“For riders seeking to enhance their stock RS457, we strongly encourage the installation of our extensive range of genuine aftermarket accessories, available exclusively through authorized Aprilia service centers,” the statement elaborates.

Hence, we should witness better quality standards from Piaggio going forwards with the platform issues neutralising in due time. But please Aprilia, can we have better brakes. It will make your thrilling bikes all the more appealing.