The 2024 Aprilia RS 457 has finally arrived and launched in Malaysia, bringing the promise of a high performance, lightweight sportbike to Malaysian enthusiasts.

Although it shares some of the design cues of the bigger Aprilia RS 660, it is not scaled down from the RS 660. Instead, it is a motorcycle packed with features on its own.

Highlights:

• New 457cc, parallel-twin, DOHC, eight-valve engine which produces 35kW (47.6hp) at 9,400 RPM and 43.5Nm of torque at 6,700 RPM.

• 82% of that maximum torque is delivered from as low as 3,000 RPM, with a good spread of 2,700 RPM between peak torque and maximum horsepower. This would give the bike a power everywhere in the RPM range performance.
• Granted, the horsepower could be higher but 47.6hp is the limit for countries that have the A2 license regulations.

• Several steps were taken to reduce frictional losses in the engine including offsetting the cylinders by 6.5mm from the crankshaft’s centreline, the water pump and counterbalancer shaft rotate on needle bearings, and the piston pins are DLC coated.
• The gearbox also runs on roller cages instead of bushings.

• The engine is housed in a twin-spar aluminium frame. The spars are bolted to the headstock.
• However, the swingarm is steel instead of aluminium and pivots on the engine casing.

• The forks are 41mm and adjustable for preload, as with the rear monoshock.
• Braking up front is handled by a 320mm disc which is gripped by a ByBre four-piston caliper.

• ABS is standard, utilising a Bosch two-channel system. Rear ABS can be turned off by pressing and holding the Riding Mode button.
• The rims are fitted with 110/70-R17 and 150/50-R17 tyres.

• On the electronics front, there are three riding modes, namely ECO, SPORT, RAIN.
• Aprilia Traction Control (ATC) is standard and can be adjusted through three levels on-the-fly.

• The Aprilia Quickshifter (AQS) is standard for clutchless up and down gearshifts.
• A 5-inch backlit TFT is also standard, and the owner can opt for the Aprilia Multimedia (MIA) platform to connect his smartphone for phone calls, music streaming, navigation, and data recording.

• Last, but not least, the 2024 Aprilia RS 457 weighs 159kg dry, and a 175kg kerb weight.

There are three colours: Racing Stripes priced at RM35,900, while the Prismatic Dark, and Opalescent Light are both priced at RM33,900.