Aprilia

Aprilia RS457 - ultimate in A2 licence performance

By Ben Purvis

The 'A2' licence category is a harsh reality that most riders in Europe have to put up with - going through a period stuck on a restricted-power bike before they're allowed to make the leap to full-power machines - and Aprilia's new RS457 is aimed squarely at getting the most out of that set of rules.

Despite the visual similarity to the larger RS660, the RS457 is a completely new bike, with a clean-sheet-designed parallel twin engine that makes 35 kW (47 hp), which is, of course, right on the limit of what A2 licence riders are allowed. It's slung beneath an alloy half-frame, with the engine itself acting as the rear section of the chassis, incorporating the swingarm pivot in its transmission casting. 

That design, which is similar to the RS660, helps cut weight, and without fluids, the RS457 is just 159 kg. Add all the liquids, including a full tank of fuel, and the weight increases to 175 kg - another notable number, because the A2 class limits riders to a power-to-weight ratio of no more than 0.2 kW per kg. With 35 kW, that means you're not allowed to ride a bike that's less than 175 kg, so Aprilia is precisely on the limit.

Others do a similar thing, with Kawasaki's Ninja 400 taking the same approach, but offering slightly less power and a reduced 168 kg weight, so it also matches the 0.2 kW/kg restriction.

The RS457's kit includes a pair of 41 mm upside-down forks, adjustable for preload, and four-pot radial ByBre calipers on 320 mm discs. The rear monoshock is also preload-adjustable, acting on an aluminium swingarm.

Ride-by-wire throttles mean Aprilia can offer three riding modes as well as three levels of traction control, plus the ability to turn it off. Unusually in this category, the ABS on the rear wheel can also be deactivated, although the front wheel ABS always remains active. 

The controls include a 5-inch TFT colour dash, backlit controls and LED lights, with a quickshifter as an added option.