I was very impressed with the Aprilia Tuono 457 when it was launched last year, especially its sportiness, performance and handling. But as they say, there’s always room for improvement. Aprilia has fine-tuned the Tuono 457’s packaging further, based on customer feedback, and also to make the motorcycle a better everyday machine.
Interestingly though, despite Aprilia calling it the Tuono 457 Special Edition, this is now the only version on sale now. You get a flyscreen above the headlamp, besides which the handlebar is the same but sits on a pair of risers, making for a more upright seating position. Aprilia has also revised the decals, to enhance the bike’s appearance. The seat may look the same but has been reprofiled too and made narrower at the front, to help riders place their feet down better when stationary.
The biggest update though is the retuned suspension. You get the same, preload adjustable 41mm upside-down forks at the front and a preload adjustable monoshock at the rear, but Aprilia has dialled the stiffness down. This has been done to improve the ride quality and help the bike soak up ruts and potholes better. Now, this is always a bit of a tightrope walk, but admittedly, Aprilia has done a fine job of improving the ride quality without affecting handling.
The engine remains unchanged, as Aprilia has left the 457cc, liquid cooled, twin cylinder engine untouched. It offers the same 47.6PS and 43 Nm as before, and performance is as pleasing as ever. Effectively, the Tuono 457 can be a perfect hooligan, whether you choose to ride it on two wheels or one! Turning traction control off helps you get the front wheel high up whether you use the clutch, or try power wheelies. It’s engine has always been one of the Tuono 457’s biggest highlights and the motor’s eagerness to rev, its smooth power delivery and overall refinement are what make it so good.
This update is an opportunity missed in terms of adding a quickshifter though – I wish Aprilia would have offered it as an option at least. The bike handles well and feels planted at high speeds, offering the sporty feel we’ve always liked, but now better ability to soak up undulations and broken roads. This, coupled with the more upright seating also should help in making the Tuono 457 a more accomplished tourer.
Aprilia has priced the Tuono 457 Special Edition at ₹3.99 lakh ex-showroom, which is a very good price for what it brings to the table as a sport naked motorcycle powered by a twin-cylinder engine. It’s as much of a hooligan as we’ve always known it to be, loves being pushed and being ridden hard, while feeling more comfortable now, which makes it an even more compelling buy.
Words Abhay Verma
Photography Saidatta Naik, Tanmay Vartak
