For riders who want Aprilia’s famous Tuono (Italian for “thunder”) but have a limited budget, the Tuono 457 has arrived. Built on the 457cc parallel-Twin platform that debuted last year with the fully faired RS 457, the built-in-India Tuono 457 has a peppy engine, modern tech, plenty of character, and an affordable price ($6,599) – qualities that are likely to draw new customers to the Italian brand.
The Aprilia dealership Moto Bello Orange County was kind enough to allow me to borrow a Tuono 457 for a proper shakedown. Leaning into the aesthetics of its bigger siblings, the Tuono 660 and Tuono V4, with sharp, angular lines, a muscular tank design, and a minimalist tailsection, the 457 doesn’t look like a starter bike. It leans into the wind with fork-mounted headlight nacelle that houses a triple full-LED cluster and a red spoiler.
Beneath the tank sits a liquid-cooled 457cc parallel-Twin with a 270-degree crank that produces a claimed 47.6 hp at 9,400 rpm and 32.1 lb-ft of torque. These figures put it almost neck-and-neck with its closest competitor, the Kawasaki Z500, whose 451cc parallel-Twin makes a claimed 51.0 hp at 10,000 rpm and 31.7 lb-ft of torque at 7,500 rpm.
Though they share the same engine, the Tuono 457 feels a bit peppier than the RS 457 thanks to an extra tooth in the rear sprocket, giving it quicker acceleration. In city traffic, the torque delivery is smooth and linear, making for a stress-free ride, and it was an absolute blast to ride in the canyons. Twist the throttle in Sport mode, and the bike comes alive. The engine is eager to rev, with a decent pull in the low-to-midrange and a noticeable step up in urgency past 7,000 rpm, making highway on-ramps and twisty roads a blast. Higher revs also bring noticeable vibration, but rubber dampers in the handlebar mount and inserts in the footpegs help to keep the buzz at bay.
Gear Up
- Helmet: Arai Corsair-X
- Jacket: Dainese Airframe
- Airbag Vest: Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma
- Gloves: Sedici Chicane 2 Women’s
- Pants: Alpinestars Daisy V3 Jeans
- Boots: Sedici Tourisma WP Women’s
In addition to street riding, two days at California’s Buttonwillow Raceway Park allowed me to explore the Tuono 457’s capabilities. Initially, I wasn’t confident on the Eurogrip Protorque Extreme HR tires, so feeling the bike out was a struggle. Eventually, I found a sweet spot with the air pressure in the tires, but they never delivered the feedback one gets from higher-spec rubber.
Even with the blistering 105-degree heat, I loved riding the Tuono 457 on the track. With stock components and no performance mods, it was plenty of fun but started to flatten out after 9,000 rpm. While seasoned riders may wish for more outright power, the Tuono 457 finds a balance between fun and control, especially for newer riders who still want performance with intimidation.
Adding to the ride quality is a slip/assist clutch that makes downshifting smooth and drama-free. This certainly helped at the track when I started to ride more aggressively. And the light clutch pull and positive engagement of the 6-speed transmission make gear changes slick and precise. Aprilia offers an optional up/down quickshifter, which would be a great upgrade.
The Aprilia Performance Ride Control (APRC) suite of electronic rider aids has been available on other Aprilia models for years. On the Tuono 457, however, APRC is limited to three ride modes (Sport, Eco, and Rain), traction control with three levels, and ABS. TC and ABS are not lean-sensitive, though ABS can be turned off at the rear; TC can be fully deactivated by holding the down arrow on the left switchgear.
Pertinent ride info and APRC settings are shown on a bright, full-color 5-inch TFT display that’s uncluttered and easy to read in both bright sun as well as low-light conditions. The Tuono 457 also has backlit switchgear, giving the bike an upscale feel and making night rides more convenient.
True to Aprilia’s racing pedigree, the Tuono 457 has a twin-spar aluminum frame that uses the engine as a stressed member, giving it a solid, responsive feel. Weighing just 385 lb wet, with its 3.3-gallon tank full, the Tuono is nimble and easy to maneuver, both at low speeds and when leaning through corners. Compared to my track-focused KTM RC 390, the 457’s chassis feels similar but slightly more direct. Even going full throttle for most of my time at Buttonwillow, I managed an average of 45 mpg in Sport mode and 60 mpg in Eco mode.
The suspension setup includes a 41mm inverted fork and a rear monoshock, both adjustable for preload only. Despite the lack of adjustability, which is common at this price point, the suspension delivers a planted ride, and it handled well enough to make me want to keep riding all day. On the track and in the canyons, the bike handled the twisty and uneven pavement well. While riding on the highway, the bike bounced around over seams and imperfections.
Braking duties are handled by ByBre (Brembo’s India-based subsidiary), with a single 320mm front disc with a radial-mount caliper and a 220mm rear disc. The brakes provided decent initial bite but never increased in stopping power no matter how hard I squeezed. This was surprising since the brakes use steel-braided lines, so the axial master cylinder is the likely culprit. The rear brake was adequate for everyday riding, but more importantly, it was perfect for balance-point wheelies!
The 31.5-inch seat height makes the Tuono 457 easily accessible for a wide range of riders, even those on the shorter side, like myself at 5-foot-5 with a 28-inch inseam. I was able to put both feet flat on the ground and easily move the bike forward and backward using only my legs. Compared to the fully faired RS 457, the Tuono’s handlebar is 5 inches higher and 1 inch closer to the rider, resulting in a much more upright seating position. The riding position feels natural, placing the rider in a slightly forward-leaning stance that suits both commuting and sporty rides.
There’s enough room to move around on the bike, and the pegs are positioned to give just the right amount of cornering clearance without putting excessive bend in your knees. Commuting through stop-and-go traffic was easy and more comfortable than on my Tuono V4. For riders thinking long-term or about weekend trips, the optional touring accessories, like panniers, a tankbag, and a USB socket give the Tuono extra practicality points.
The 2026 Aprilia Tuono 457 joins a crowded class of small-displacement naked bikes that includes not only the Kawasaki Z500 ($5,699) but also the CFMOTO 450NK ($5,399), Honda CB300R ($5,149), KTM 390 Duke ($6,499), Triumph Speed 400 ($5,395), and Yamaha MT-03 ($4,999). At $6,599, the Aprilia carries the highest price in the class but isn’t the best-in-class in any particular area. Power, performance, components, and features are as good or better on some of its competition, which brings the Aprilia’s value proposition into question in a price-sensitive segment. The Tuono 457 is a fun, stylish bike that should keep both new and experienced riders entertained, but for the price it’s lacking some thunder.
2026 Aprilia Tuono 457 Specs
- Base Price: $6,599
- Website: Aprilia.com
- Engine Type: Liquid-cooled, transverse parallel-Twin, DOHC w/ 4 valves
- Displacement: 457cc
- Bore X Stroke: 69 x 61.1mm
- Horsepower: 47.6 hp @ 9,400 rpm
- Torque: 32.1 lb-ft @ 6,700 rpm
- Transmission: 6-speed
- Final Drive: Chain
- Wheelbase: 53.3 in.
- Rake/Trail: 24.1 degrees/4 in.
- Seat Height: 31.5 in.
- Wet Weight: 385 lb
- Fuel Capacity: 3.3 gal.
- Fuel Consumption: 57 mpg
- Estimated Range: 188 miles
