Aprilia Tuono 457 First Ride Review: Sensibly Sporty Italian

Aprilia's made-in-India motorcycle platform has been a stellar success with the RS 457 being a major hit. No wonder then that it won the TOTM for the 2025 bike of the year. And as much as sport bike enthusiasts love the motorcycle, for Indians who crave something a bit more versatile, the RS felt a little bit on the sportier side. Fret not, Aprilia has got you covered because it has launched the brand new Tuono 457. We first saw it at EICMA 2024, and now, it has been launched at ₹3.95 lakh (ex-showroom Maharashtra). 

So, what exactly is this bike packing? How different is it from the RS 457? Is it actually any good? Should you pick it over its competition: the KTM 390 Duke and the Yamaha MT-03? We spent only an hour with the motorcycle in a very controlled environment, so we cannot give you a wholesome view. But let's start with what's really changed on this bike.

What’s Changed?

For starters, obviously there's no fairing or the twin pod LED headlight. Instead you get this bug face over here, which is quite polarising. This is perhaps the most un-Tuono Tuono out there. The 125s, the 660s and even the V4 get that bikini-fairing look, which this bike deviates from. And honestly, I am not a big fan of this new headlight.

You don't get the clip-on bars, obviously. It gets a flatter, nicer, wider straight handle bar so that the upper body posture is a bit more relaxed. The tank profile has changed and that has resulted in a marginal drop in capacity: 12.7 litres from 13 litres on the RS. Even though the footpeg position is the same, the footpegs here have a rubber top and are not metal knurled finished ones. Finally the rear sprocket on the naked has one tooth extra. 

And It Has Resulted In…

We loved this twin heart on the RS 457, and the same love story continues here as well. In fact, on the Tuono, it feels a bit more responsive, a bit more prompt, and that is down to the revised final gearing. It is not dramatically different, but it is noticeable. The naked is able to ride away from crawling city speeds in higher gears and maintain 35-40 kmph in fifth and sixth gear, making commuting a breezy affair.

But give it some gas, and it leaps. The motor’s free-revving nature means it spools up rapidly and reaches triple-digit speeds in no time. And psychologically, because you don't have the windshield and the aero package of the RS 457 protecting you from wind blasts, you get the sensation that the Tuono is more energetic and faster. Obviously, it feels like a Tuono as it does the fast-riding business in a very linear and progressive manner. It will not scare you silly like, say, a certain Duke would. Not to forget, there is a very lovely rumble to accompany. 

There have been no changes to the electronics suite. The same three riding modes, 3-level traction control system, and switchable ABS remain present. The riding experience is flawless. Given the shortage of time, we rode the bike in Sport and with TC set to 1, which allowed just enough slip to have an uninterrupted experience. And in case you want to pop wheelies, switch TC off and just let it rip!

On the other hand, the calmness shown at slow speeds is appreciated with a slick positive shifting gearbox and a light clutch. The absence of adjustable levers is felt slightly, as it would have fine-tuned the ride further to the rider’s liking.

Comfort Lite

As far as the rider’s triangle goes, the 800 mm tall saddle and sporty rear set footpeg position remains the same. The only sense of added comfort now arises due to the raised handlebar that puts less pressure on your upper body. You aren’t reaching forwards as much and get a better sense of the road ahead. What remains a confusing and surprising bit is the 175 kg kerb weight of the naked, which is the absolute same as the sport bike. The only explanation that one can provide is that both of the bikes are ITAAALIAN.

This change in posture also results in better road tackling mannerisms. Even though the suspension setup isn’t fiddled around with, the way you sit on the bike, with more load now on the monoshock, makes it a more pliant and liveable machine. It is still far from being called plush as it still has a firm edge to it, sending small thuds back to the rider when going over small, sharp bumps.

The change in ergonomics also translates to a slight compromise in the handling department. Since you are not loading the front end as much, the Tuono doesn’t come across as razor-sharp as the RS, and that overall isn’t a bad thing. It still feels very potent, requiring minimal muscle to hustle it from one side to the other. And because of the ample amount of low-end torque, the Tuono can really pull away from corners rapidly without breaking a sweat.

The major drawback of the RS 457 was its braking performance and while to a certain degree it is better here on the Tuono, it isn’t completely fixed. The bite started fading the more spirited we rode and while we didn’t face it, a lot of other journalists found the front brake lever to come all the way back to the bar after several hot corner attacking sessions. Aprilia needs to take a look at this matter in seriousness as this could potentially become a major deal breaker for sport riding enthusiasts.

Lastly, we haven’t talked much about the build quality and feature set because there’s no difference from the RS. Aprilia has maintained high quality levels here as well with the 5 inch TFT dash neatly narrating all of the necessary data.

Worth Every Penny?

The Aprilia Tuono 457 is abso-freakin-lutely worth its asking price of ₹3.95 lakh (ex-showroom Maharashtra). If you were having confused thoughts about whether you would be able to live with the RS on a daily basis, despite being sold on its performance, well, the Tuono solves that to a great extent. It is fun, energetic and still very sensible.

As for its rivals, the Tuono is a lakh of rupees dearer than the 390 Duke and costs almost half a lakh more than the MT-03. Shockingly, both the KTM and Yamaha have witnessed price reductions just prior to the Aprilia’s arrival. Perhaps, somehow they felt threatened by the Italian’s presence? 

Anyway, it is a no-brainer that in case you want a twin-cylinder naked that gives you riding excitement, it is wiser to spend the half a lakh rupees extra and get the Tuono. The Yamaha MT-03 is a very solid but a meh motorcycle, with not many redeeming characteristics. Things get juicy between the Duke and the Tuono and only a proper head-to-head showcase will provide us the right perspective.