'Racing Squad Introduction

Introduction The Aprilia RS 457 has been making waves. We follow up on our track test with some time in the real world

- Joshua Varghese

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DID NOT KNOW, the "RS" in the moniker stands for "Racing Squad" at the Aprilia factory in Noale. What I like about manufacturers like Aprilia is that they build and race motorcycles. Which means they are no strangers to engineering the best possible solutions to comply with a set of technical regulations.

The RS 457 is the most accessible Aprilia motorcycle in India but it was made for Europe. Aprilia claim that the RS 457 is the best possible solution for the restrictions enforced by the A2 motorcycle riding licence in that continent which includes a 35-kW (47.6 hp) power limit while power-to-weight ratio is capped at 0.2 kW/kg.

In India, we call that good news because this machine is locally manufactured at Baramati, Maharashtra, and is available to us at an enticing price, adding spice and drama to a segment that otherwise had only two major players. Our first proper introduction took place at the racetrack where it lived up to the expectations of an Aprilia. After a fairly long wait, we finally got a chance to ride it in town and on our favourite roads.