RS MINUS FAIRING

While they may be visually distinct, there is not much that distinguishes the naked Tuono 457 from its sibling. Following a quick ride, here are a few points of interest

- Joshua Varghese

APRILIA INDIA HAD AN EXCELLENT 2024. They launched their most accessible motorcycle in India, the RS 457, which was not only aggressively priced but was also an equally fierce machine that catered to the enthusiast. No surprise then that it won the Indian Motorcycle of the Year 2025 award. For the current year, Aprilia India decided to follow up on that success with the launch of the Tuono 457. We were in Bengaluru for a brief ride experience wherein we put this motorcycle to good use on the Nandi Hills' many corners.

Aesthetically, this motorcycle is a departure from what we have come to accept as Tuono styling. A triple headlight cluster that flows into a small fairing is a Tuono signature, but for this motorcycle they are separate units. By replacing something so iconic with a fresh look, we feel Aprilia may have robbed this motorcycle of some traditional charm. For those who appreciate the styling, the next choice is colour and there are only a couple of options there. Regrettably, both those paint schemes offer only black wheels. Personally, I feel Aprilia could have done better by visually conveying the fun and excitement the Tuono is capable of. Copying the RS 457's paint schemes may seem like the obvious solution but the two motorcycles do not have the same bodywork. The shape of the fuel-tank, side-panels, and tail-cowls is different. That said, the lower half of both motorcycles is the same, so they could have equipped the Tuono with the red RS wheels.