Aprilia Tuono 457 Special Edition Review: Better Than Before?
- Smooth and tractable engine
- Improved riding ergonomics
- Slick six-speed gearbox
- Handlebar vibrations above 4,000rpm
- Limited changes to overall design
- The Aprilia Tuono 457 Special Edition gets new styling and a host of updates aimed at making it more comfortable on everyday roads. We spend time with the bike to see how these changes work.
But Aprilia hasn’t simply given the Tuono 457 a new set of graphics and called it a day. There are several changes here that are aimed at making the motorcycle easier to live with, particularly on everyday Indian roads. The question is whether those changes actually improve the experience without taking away from what made the Tuono 457 fun in the first place.
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Priced at ₹3.99 lakh, the Special Edition costs only a little more than the earlier version. So, does it justify the premium? After spending some time with it, I think there is a good case to be made.
A familiar design with a few new touches
You have to look fairly closely to spot the differences between the new Tuono 457 and its predecessor. The most obvious addition is the new flyscreen above the headlight. Aprilia itself says that it is primarily there to add to the motorcycle's appearance rather than provide any major aerodynamic advantage. And honestly, that makes sense on a naked motorcycle like the Tuono.
The bigger visual change comes from the new graphics. They take inspiration from Aprilia's 2006 racing livery, which is also where the Special Edition gets its identity. The graphics extend across the side panels and tail section, giving the bike a fresher look without changing its muscular design.
The wheels get a new colour treatment as well. For 2026, Aprilia is also offering the Tuono 457 in Mamba Black, while Puma Grey continues to be available. But the styling changes are arguably the most understated part of this update.
Aprilia has made it easier to live with
The Tuono 457 was already an enjoyable motorcycle, but there were areas where it could have been a little friendlier for everyday use. Aprilia has addressed some of those with this update. For starters, you now get an adjustable brake lever. It is a small addition, but one that makes a difference because you can set the lever position according to your preference and hand size.
The suspension damping has also been revised. The idea here is simple: make the bike more comfortable over the sort of roads we regularly encounter in India, where potholes, broken surfaces and speed breakers are part of everyday riding. The seat has been reworked as well, with better foam intended to improve comfort and reduce the amount of engine and road vibration reaching the rider.
Then there is the handlebar. It has been raised by up to 10mm, which sounds like a small change on paper but has a noticeable effect on the riding position. The riding triangle is now a little less committed, making the Tuono feel more relaxed than before. These changes might not sound particularly exciting, but they are exactly the sort of updates that can make a motorcycle nicer to use every day.
What is it like on the road?
The revised suspension is probably the change you notice first. The Tuono 457 now feels more comfortable over broken sections of road. Potholes and undulations are dealt with without the bike feeling excessively harsh, and the suspension does a better job of taking the edge off rough surfaces.
It doesn't suddenly turn the Tuono into a soft, cushy motorcycle, though. There is still enough control and feedback to keep things interesting when the road opens up. The preload adjustability also gives you some room to fine-tune the setup depending on your preference or load.
The new seat works well, too. It is wide enough to provide good support and does a surprisingly good job of keeping engine vibrations away from the rider. In fact, through the seat, the engine feels remarkably well isolated.
My time with the bike was limited to a relatively short ride, so I wouldn't want to make any big claims about long-distance comfort just yet. But for the time I spent on it, there wasn't much to complain about. The raised handlebar also helps. The riding position feels less aggressive than before, and I didn't experience any noticeable fatigue during my time with the bike.
There is, however, one problem that Aprilia hasn't quite managed to iron out. The handlebar vibration is still an issue. While the seat does a good job of keeping vibrations away from you, the handlebar tells a different story.
Once the engine crosses around 4,000rpm, vibrations through the handlebar become quite evident. It gets bad enough at higher revs that the mirrors can become difficult to use, which is not ideal on a motorcycle that is otherwise so easy to ride.
It is a particularly noticeable contrast because the rest of the motorcycle feels so well sorted. A little less vibration through the handlebar would have made the Tuono feel considerably more polished.
The good stuff remains unchanged
While Aprilia has made several changes to the Tuono 457, it has wisely left most of the things that worked well alone. The motorcycle continues to get a full-LED lighting setup, including the indicators, along with a 5-inch TFT display and backlit switchgear. There are three riding modes, engine maps and traction control, while dual-channel ABS comes as standard.
The braking hardware is also well up to the job. The front gets a 320mm floating disc with a four-piston radial calliper, while the rear uses a 220mm disc with a two-piston calliper. The brakes offer enough bite when you need it, but remain progressive and easy to modulate.
And then there is the engine.
The 457cc engine remains the star
The Tuono 457 continues to use Aprilia's 457cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine, producing 46hp and 43.5Nm. I am actually glad Aprilia hasn't changed it because this is one of the best parts of the motorcycle. The engine is smooth and refined, but it isn't short on character or performance. What I particularly like is how tractable it feels.
You can be in a higher gear at relatively low revs, open the throttle and the engine simply pulls without making a fuss. That should make the Tuono particularly easy to live with in the city. You get enough performance when you want it, but the engine doesn't constantly demand your attention. The six-speed gearbox remains slick as well, making it easy to work through the rev range when you want to ride harder.
Still a fun motorcycle
The best part about the Tuono 457 is that the changes made for everyday comfort haven't taken away from its fun factor. It still feels agile and responds quickly to steering inputs. Even with the softer suspension setup, there is enough sharpness in the way the motorcycle turns and changes direction to keep things entertaining.
The brakes complement that character nicely, while the engine has enough performance to make the Tuono feel properly quick without becoming difficult to manage. And that, ultimately, is what makes this update work. Aprilia hasn't tried to reinvent the Tuono 457. Instead, it has taken a motorcycle that was already enjoyable and addressed some of the areas that could have been better for everyday use.
Verdict
The Tuono 457 Special Edition may not look radically different from the motorcycle it replaces, but there is more to this update than the new graphics suggest.
The revised suspension makes it more comfortable on rough roads, the new seat improves isolation from vibrations and the higher handlebar makes the riding position more relaxed. At the same time, the engine, brakes, gearbox and overall handling retain the qualities that made the Tuono 457 such an enjoyable motorcycle in the first place.
The handlebar vibrations remain my biggest complaint, particularly once you start revving the engine beyond 4,000rpm. But apart from that, the changes have largely worked in the Tuono's favour. At ₹3.99 lakh, the Special Edition isn't a completely different motorcycle. It is, however, a more rounded version of an already good one. And if you were considering the Tuono 457 before, these changes make the decision a little easier.
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