Middleweight sportbike showdown: Aprilia RS 457 vs. Honda CBR 500R

Aprilia has introduced the RS 457 middleweight sport bike to the Philippine market. 

On its own, the Italian-made bike has plenty of characteristics a lot of prospective buyers would want. For starters, it is a track-ready bike touted to demonstrate slick handling and impressive performance. It is also offered at a relatively accessible price point, considering all the gadgets and features it comes with. 

The Aprilia RS 457, however, has plenty of similarly-sized competitors in the local market. One of the aforementioned is the Honda CBR500R. 

So, how do the RS 457’s specs fare against the CBR 500R? Let’s find out. 

Tale of the tape

For its seat height, the RS 457 comes with 800-millimeters. It also has a curb weight of 175 kilograms (kg) and 13 liters of fuel tank capacity. 

The CBR 500R, meanwhile, offers a seat height of 789-mm, and a curb weight of 192 kg. Its fuel tank also has a capacity of 17.1 liters. 

Unfortunately, Aprilia has yet to release the dimensions of the RS 457, so we cannot compare how its size measures up against the Honda model. Regardless, the said model has a slightly lower seat height and a larger tank. The Aprilia, on the other hand, is a fair bit lighter. 

For reference, the CBR 500R is 2,081-mm long, 765-mm wide, and 1,145-mm at its tallest point. 

Body

Style-wise, both supersport motorcycles are clad with aggressive-looking fairings, which ensures optimized aerodynamics. Both also get LED headlamps, a pair of daytime running lamps, and LED taillights. 

For wheels, the RS 457 has 17-inch rims. For the front, the Aprilia motorcycle features 110/70 tires, while its rear gets 150/60 tires. 

Comparatively, the CBR 500R also uses 17-inch wheels. Its front, however, gets 120/70 tires, while its rear is wrapped with 160/60 tires. Obviously, the Honda model gets a larger pair of tires but with the exact same aspect ratio. 

For its body, the Italian-made motorcycle uses a dual-beam aluminum frame. In contrast, the Honda uses a diamond-pattern steel frame. 

To note, steel is a lot more flexible and more stress-resistant compared to aluminum. It has, however, a lot more mass. Aluminum frames are rigid but are harder to repair and more expensive to replace. 

Engine, Suspension

Propelling the RS 457 is a 457-cc liquid-cooled 2-cylinder engine capable of producing up to 47.6 horsepower (hp) and 43.5 Newton-meters of torque. The said engine is paired to a six-speed gearbox manipulated by a multi-plate wet-type clutch. 

On one hand, the Honda uses a 471-cc two-cylinder engine that’s also liquid-cooled. At the most, its two-banger can produce up to 47 hp and 43.2 Nm of torque. It also uses a six-speed gearbox, as well as a wet-type multi-plate clutch.

Based on the figures above, the Honda is a slightly more powerful motorcycle than the Aprilia. The aforementioned is somewhat expected since it has a slightly larger engine. 

To ensure ride quality and handling, the RS 457 uses a 41-mm upside-down fork. The bike’s rear, on the other hand, uses a monoshock suspension. Both front and rear suspensions for the Aprilia come standard with adjustable preloads.

For the Honda, it uses a Showa-branded 41-mm fork, which also comes in an upside-down configuration. Its rear, meanwhile, uses a Pro-link monoshock with adjustable pre-loads. 

Providing stopping power for the Aprlia middle-weight model is a set of disc brakes and calipers from ByBre (Bremo). Its front disc is 320-mm in size, while its rear is 220-mm in diameter. 

The Honda model, meanwhile, uses Nissin-braded discs and calipers. It gets a 296-mm for the front, and 240-mm discs for the rear. 

Safety, technology

For the Aprilia, it features a dual-channel anti-lock braking system (ABS) and traction control. It was also kitted out with a 5-inch digital instrument panel and backlit handlebar controls. 

The Honda, on the other hand, features a liquid-crystal display for its instrument panel, 2-channel ABS, and an anti-theft system. Unlike the RS 457, the CBR 500 R does not come with traction control. 

Pricing

-Aprilia RS 457: P348,000-P358,000

-Honda CBR 500R: P389,000

Verdict

For performance nuts who want the most power out of a middle-weight bike, the Honda CBR 500R might be more to your speed. It makes slightly more horsepower compared to the Italian-made bike, though it is slightly more expensive and has fewer safety features. 

Folks wanting a good balance of performance and safety, however, should lean more toward the RS 457. Sure, it isn’t as peppy as the Honda, but its kit offers a lot, considering its slightly more affordable price. 

Serious sportbike buyers, however, are advised to take each model out for a test drive. Doing so will result in a more informed purchase, after all. 

Also read:

Check out the Aprilia RS 457’s 3 athletic hues

Aprilia RS 457: pros and cons

Aprilia RS 457 vs. the competition