SUPERSPORT TRILOGY

We embark on a 300km journey on three of the finest supersport twins in the world. Which one would reign supreme at the end?

- SHIVANK BHATT

Whether it's the number of bedrooms in your apartment, the size of your phone, or your credit card tiers, you're always striving to go one better in life. It's a similar story with motorcycles, you see. You usually start with a small single-cylinder 100 - 150cc motorcycle in the early days and then slowly climb your way up to bigger, more powerful, multi-cylinder motorcycles. That's how it's supposed to be - a natural progression.

In India, however, upgrading to more cylinders has been somewhat of a privilege, especially for those interested in fullyfaired/supersport motorcycles. You see, once you hit the ceiling of single-cylinder performance, your options to have one-morecylinder between your legs were severely limited, and exorbitantly expensive, it goes without saying. So, instead of opting for a sub-500cc twin, most bikers would directly graduate to bigger middle-weight, or even litre-class, motorcycles. But that kind of leap isn't for everyone. It's a bit like transitioning from flying economy to flying first class in a fortnight.

So, what an average enthusiast wants is more of a premium economy experience - a slightly more upmarket and sophisticated riding experience that won't leave them broke. And that's precisely what the all-new Aprilia RS 457 is all about.

Sure, it's not the first time that we've seen a twin-cylinder sub500cc supersport in India -there have been many that have come (and gone) in the past. However, none came with the conviction of the RS 457 - the first world-class supersport twin that's produced right here in India, for Indian riders. Come to think of it, neither the industry heavyweights, like Honda, Yamaha, and KTM, nor homegrown players, like Bajaj and TVS, dared to do what Aprilia has done with the RS 457. It isn't just a bold move to make a statement; it's one deserving of high praise.