Aprilia Tuono 457 (2025 – ) review

The sub-500cc class is booming at the moment, which is good news for younger, more cost-conscious riders on restricted A2 licences. In this context the Tuono is an exciting addition, the 457cc parallel-twin giving it a degree more sophistication than single-cylinder rivals like the KTM 390 Duke, while the adoption of a twin-spar aluminium frame and engine as a stressed member is properly exotic compared with anything else at the price. This and the Italian breeding help it stand out from rivals like the CB500 Hornet and Yamaha MT-03, its shared foundations with the fully faired RS457 A2 sports bike making it appear a good deal more racy. Looks are in the eye of the beholder but, single front brake aside, the Tuono 457 presents as every inch the modern sporting naked, while the impressive lack of weight puts it at the very top of the class for performance you can enjoy on an A2 licence.

Shared foundations with the RS457 and the mechanical layout dictates a racier peg position than most rivals, the Tuono putting your feet higher and further back than you might expect if you’re graduating from a more mainstream naked. The bars are, of course, higher and further back than the RS and the riding position more upright but it’s still at the more focused end, likely to the delight of the target audience of hot-blooded younger riders looking to squeeze the most possible performance out of an A2-level bike. Thankfully it’s still comfy enough for more everyday use as well, a relatively tall seat meaning your legs aren’t too scrunched up, even for six-footers and above. A low option is also there for the shorter of stature.

The more upright riding position makes the Tuono more daily usable and comfortable than the RS457, so counts as practicality of sorts. But, realistically, this is a minimal, sporty naked putting thrills above usability. If you do fancy using it for longer days or can pack light for weekends away Aprilia does offer a set of small panniers, which don’t look as awkward on the bike as you might fear. But, realistically, nobody is buying a bike like this for practical reasons.

Aprilia clearly views the A2 licence rules as it might homologation regulations for a race bike and developed the Tuono 457 to the very limits of what’s possible within the restrictions. To those ends the 457cc twin develops the exact 47.6 horsepower permitted while the aluminium frame means the power to weight is at the absolute top end of what is permitted under A2 regs. And there’s a delightful, free-revving crispness to the throttle and exploitable, linear response throughout the rev range all underscored with a rather delicious induction howl that builds with the speed. True, there’s only so fast you can go with this much power. But the Tuono 457 pulls hard and always feels willing, our test bikes including the optional quickshifter but the light clutch and slick gearbox just as nice if you’re doing it yourself. Gearing is slightly lower than the RS, with a 44-tooth sprocket rather than a 43-tooth to benefit acceleration over top-end speed. The single front disc might lose a bit of posing power to the twin set-up on the equivalent Honda CB500 Hornet but we had no complaints about the power, and the ABS can be set to full or front only if you’re up to backing it in on the brakes like a Moto GP rider.

Light, stiff and flickable, the Tuono’s chassis is a perfect match for the zesty power delivery of the engine, and equally encouraging of the enthusiastic riding style you’d hope for on a bike of this nature. The more upright riding position makes it easy to get along with than a race rep, there being enough weight over your wrists to feel the front end without being too twitchy or uncomfortable. Three rider modes and three levels of traction control (the latter independently selectable) meanwhile help you tune the response to the road and conditions, our Italian hosts predictably handing the bikes over set to Sport with the least intrusive level 1 slip control! Some mid-corner damp patches on the test route were well telegraphed through the bars, meaning some warning if you’re getting close to the limits. Low weight helps the suspension work to its best as well, preload for forks and shock your only adjustments but enough to be going with.

Aprilia has done a good job of nailing a competitive starting price for the Tuono 457 and matching or even undercutting its equivalents from Honda and Yamaha even with that aluminium frame and racing riding character. Insurance costs will be a priority for the younger riders it’s aimed at so we’ll have to see how they stack up, but the lack of weight should keep fuel and parts bills down.

While it’s a new bike the 457cc twin powering it has been proven in the RS457 sports bike on which it is based, so we’ll have to hope the quality is there to convince buyers to go Italian over the known quantities of a Honda or Yamaha.

Standard stuff here, with a two-year manufacturer warranty you can extend by a further year or two years at extra cost if you choose. After the usual 600-mile bedding in service intervals then come around every 3,700 miles or annually, which might mean more visits to the dealer than with some rivals if you ride a lot. Fine if you’re local but, potentially, a pain if you’re not.

With the money invested in the important stuff like the engine and trick aluminium frame the rest of the equipment is adequate rather than spectacular, the Tuono 457 getting the stuff modern riders expect in terms of a five-inch TFT screen, switchable ABS, three rider modes and full LED lighting. Backlit controls are a nice detail at this price, given even BMW GS riders don’t get that as standard! The younger audience the bike is aimed at may be a bit miffed that convenience features like Bluetooth connection and a USB charging port are cost options while there are many and various ways to make your Tuono 457 look flashier through the addition of various machined and anodised trimmings. The red chain is an especially snazzy option, though probably best left for those in southern European climates or fair-weather riders here!

If you’re lucky enough to have a full licence already an A2 bike looks a committed choice but the Tuono 457 is fancy looking and fun enough to make it one worth considering. To be fair that’s not really the target audience, Aprilia instead concentrating on riders on restricted licences eager to get the absolute biggest bang for their buck. And the Tuono 457 offers just that, and in a much more usable package than the RS on which it is based. That it does this with the fancy aluminium frame and a properly zesty engine while undercutting its more mainstream rivals on price is the icing on the cake.