This could be the awaited Aprilia Tuono 457 based on the faired RS457 but there are some interesting things to note on this mule..
To cater to the younger audience, Piaggio – which is the parent company of Aprilia, worked on an entry level sports platform. The first motorcycle that we have just received is the RS457 full faired motorcycle that is being manufactured in India.
There is already a lot of interest in the sportster and there were speculations of a Tuono model that will be made – like Aprilia generally does with its products. And we now have spy pics of a relatively mysterious model that appears to follow the retro roadster styling theme but is based on the same 457 platform.
Spotted internationally, this appears to be the second motorcycle on that platform. It sports a round headlamp, which surprisingly has a bulb! Another pointer to note is that decentralized mono-shock absorber that is laced with some kind of blue colored sensor for some studies.
The area near the fuel tank suggests that there will be some kind of a fairing that will be bolted on to this motorcycle. Similarly, there could be a small fairing or some kind of a design element just ahead of the twin exhaust pipes as well.
The engine is the clear giveaway and it appears to be the same 457cc, liquid cooled, parallel twin motor, which on the RS457 churns 48 PS of power and 43.5 Nm of torque. This is paired with a 6-speed gearbox.
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There are a few pieces that remind us of the Moto Guzzis since this label is also owned by Piaggio. Will this model be introduced under the Aprilia brand or the Moto Guzzi is not known. But I am hopeful that we are seeing the Tuono 457 under works that may spawn a tiny fairing when it goes to production.
These appear to be initial phase spy pics and the final model that will go to production may be pretty different from the one that we see on the screen. And hence the confusion. But what is certain is that Piaggio has started testing the second motorcycle on the 457 platform and there are all the chances that it will also be manufactured in India and that makes us grin!
