Aprilia Tuono 457 vs Yamaha MT-03: Spec Comparison

The Aprilia Tuono 457 is the Italian’s second motorcycle on the 457 platform. At ₹3.95 lakh (ex-showroom) it's not an affordable affair by any means, but it tries to live up to this asking price with a well-rounded spec sheet. Does that make it a better proposition, in terms of value, when compared with the Yamaha MT-03? Let’s find that out by comparing their respective specs below:

Engine & Transmission

While both the Aprilia Tuono 457 and Yamaha MT-03 are powered by twin-cylinder engines, each has its own distinctive character. The Tuono 457, with its 270-degree crank, will boast a strong mid-range, which should make it easier to ride the bike in stop-and-go traffic. The Yamaha’s 321 cc mill loves to rev, translating to a completely different riding experience. But with more power at your disposal, the Aprilia Tuono 457 will have a higher top speed, and it will clock quicker acceleration times as well. Beyond that, both are available with a slipper and assist clutch, which means clutch action will be less strenuous on both bikes. However, Aprilia takes a leap forward by offering quickshifter as an accessory, but Yamaha does not even entertain this feature as an option. Overall, with respect to performance, the Aprilia has a massive edge over the Japanese bike. 

Hardware

The Aprilia holds the edge when it comes to suspension as even though the components are similar, the Italian bike gets adjustability, which makes it more versatile. Plus the brakes are bigger on the Tuono 457, while the Yamaha’s brakes are comparatively smaller, despite both bikes running on 17-inch wheels at both ends. Similarly, while the front tyres are of the same size in both bikes, the rear tyre on the Tuono 457 is wider which should aid more confidence when cornering the bike. 

Dimension

The Yamaha MT-03 is lighter than the Aprilia Tuono 457 despite carrying a slightly larger fuel tank at 14.5-litre. The seat height on the Yammie is also much more accessible at 780 mm, unlike the Tuono 457’ 800 mm seat height. Not that the latter figure is extremely daunting, but with 20 mm of difference in between the two, you’ll feel more confident to get astride the Yamaha. 

Features 

Aprilia is more feature rich than the Yamaha MT-03. From all-LED lighting to a 5-inch TFT dash that supports smartphone connectivity to different ride modes and even traction control. The Yamaha MT-03 feels dated in this regard in comparison. It still equips an LCD dash, with no smartphone connectivity option whatsoever. 

Conclusion

The Aprilia Tuono 457 is a fresh new product and certainly packs in enough punch to justify its asking price of ₹3.95 lakh (ex-showroom, India). Yamaha made the MT-03 a whole lot sweeter by giving it an aggressive price slash of ₹1 lakh and at ₹3.50 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), it does come across as a more VFM option compared to the Aprilia. But there’s no shying away from the fact that the MT-03 is now an old bike and one would get bored with it after some time, especially in today’s age of connectivity. Where Yamaha has an edge over its rival is with its proven track record of reliability and quality, something the Aprilia will need to prove.