Aprilia RS 457 2025
The A2 supersport with genuine racing pedigree behind the fairing.
51.3/ 100
Scored within supersport, methodology here
€7,050
list price
- power
- 47.6 hp
- wet weight
- 175 kg
- tank range
- 342 km
The short version
Aprilia built the RS 457 like a shrunken RSV4: an aluminium twin-spar frame, the strongest engine the A2 rules allow and a proper electronics suite. It is the sharpest-handling small supersport and the twin revs out where the KTM single signs off.
Where it wins
- Aluminium frame is unique in the class
- 47.6 hp twin sits right on the A2 limit
- Ride modes, traction control and TFT standard
Where it loses
- Suspension is preload-only against the KTM's adjustable WP units
- Young dealer network for a bike that will need servicing
Score breakdown
Engine and performance
20.0 / 25Handling and chassis
8.1 / 20Value
4.0 / 20Practicality
5.5 / 15Technology
7.7 / 10Reliability and ownership
6.0 / 10The full review
The frame is the story
Every other bike in the A2 sports class hangs its engine in steel; the RS 457 gets an aluminium twin-spar frame like Aprilia's superbikes, and the reviews confirm the family resemblance is engineering rather than marketing. Testers describe handling that borders on surgical: point it, and it goes there, holding a line the way racing machinery is supposed to.
The part that surprised the press is how forgiving that precision is. Reviewer after reviewer called it the closest thing to a perfect beginner sports bike, sharp enough to involve a veteran without demanding inch-perfect inputs from a novice.
The strongest engine the A2 rules allow
The twin sits exactly on the 35 kW A2 ceiling, and testers describe the delivery as smooth and predictable through the whole rev range, reassuring at low speed and still pulling where the KTM RC 390's single signs off. On any circuit with a straight, that difference is the overtake.
Ride modes, traction control and a TFT are standard, which for an Italian bike at 7,050 EUR is a spec sheet with no asterisks. The quickshifter is the one option worth ticking.
Track ambitions, A2 paperwork
Track-day reviews call it fast, forgiving and hugely involving, which is the exact set of adjectives a first sports bike should collect. The honest cost saving is suspension: preload-only adjustment against the KTM's adjustable WP units, and switchable rather than cornering ABS. On the road testers rarely noticed; at committed track pace the RC 390's hardware claws back some of what the engine gives away.
The 800 mm seat is the friendliest in the class for a sports bike. The dealer network is still growing, which is worth checking against your postcode before the deposit leaves your account.
Full specs
| Engine | |
|---|---|
| Engine | Parallel twin, liquid cooled, DOHC |
| Displacement | 457 cc |
| Power | 47.6 hp at 9,400 rpm |
| Torque | 43.5 Nm at 6,700 rpm |
| Power to weight | 0.27 hp/kg |
| Chassis | |
| Wet weight | 175 kg |
| Front suspension | 41 mm inverted fork, 120 mm |
| Front adjustability | Preload only |
| Rear suspension | Monoshock, 130 mm |
| Rear adjustability | Preload only |
| Front brake | 320 mm, radial 4-piston |
| ABS | Switchable ABS |
| Dimensions | |
| Seat height | 800 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1360 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 13 L |
| Claimed consumption | 3.8 L/100 km |
| Fuel range | 342 km |
| Ownership | |
| Price | €7,050 |
| Service interval | 10,000 km |
| Valve check | 20,000 km |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Equipment | |
| Dash | TFT |
| Ride modes | Yes |
| Traction control | Yes |
| Quickshifter | Optional |
| Cruise control | Not available |
| Connectivity | Yes |
Compare the RS 457
Frequently asked
- Is the Aprilia RS 457 A2 licence legal?
- Yes. The Aprilia RS 457 makes 47.6 hp (35 kW), inside the 35 kW A2 ceiling, so it is sold A2 compliant with no restriction kit required.
- How fast is the Aprilia RS 457?
- Our power-to-weight model estimates 0 to 100 km/h in about 5.5 seconds, from 47.6 hp moving 175 kg wet. That is an estimate for comparison, not a measured time, and it is labelled that way everywhere on this site.
- What is the fuel range of the Aprilia RS 457?
- About 342 km on paper: a 13 litre tank against a claimed 3.8 L/100 km. Ride it with enthusiasm and the maths gets worse, never better.
- How tall is the seat on the Aprilia RS 457?
- The Aprilia RS 457 seat sits at 800 mm, which is about average for the class, manageable for most inseams with a little practice. At 175 kg wet, weight does the rest of the talking at a standstill.
- How much does the Aprilia RS 457 cost?
- €7,050 list price in the EU market this site scores. It earns 4 of 20 value points on our formula, which weighs price against equipment and running costs.
The workshop
Build your RS 457
The upgrades owners actually fit, at typical retail prices. Tap a part to bolt it on and I re-run the full 100-point scorecard on your build, same math as the official score above. Shop links are affiliate links: they support the site and cost you nothing extra.