It all began in early 2023 when spy shots of a striking Aprilia sport bike broke the internet. No, it wasn’t a new RSV4, or some special edition RS 660, but an entry-level motorcycle. What followed was a series of sightings in the company’s hometown (Italy) as well as India. Clearly, the Noale factory was picking up pace, which hinted an official reveal wasn’t all that far.
Fast forward to September, it finally teased the new RS and set a date for the full unveil. Now, as we stand on the brink of the unveiling, this is a good time to revise what we already know about the RS 440.
The Aprilia RS 440 Will Take Aesthetic Inspiration From The RS 660
Be it the spy shots, or Aprilia’s own teasers, all of them confirm one thing - the RS 440 will take design inspiration from the RS 660. The baby RS has the company’s staple triple-headlight setup up top, complete with long LED DRLs extended to the windscreen. This is complemented by brawny bodywork all around that comprises edgy fairings and fenders. The tank too appears quite muscular and should ensure proper leg support when you hang off.
At the opposite end, Aprilia has again taken inspiration from the 660. A ‘W’ shaped tail lamp is present, alongside sharp panels. This, along with the split-saddle, creates a proper sport bike-like rear end. Bringing all of it together would be a typical Aprilia paint scheme. The teaser suggests the fairings have sporty red graphics, while the tank has blue inserts on the top. Our favorite bit, meanwhile, is the company lettering on the air intake under the headlight. It is reminiscent of the company’s MotoGP racer, the RS GP!
The Aprilia RS 440 Will Seat You In A Sporty Yet Comfortable Position
Ergonomics-wise, the RS 660 is no out-and-out sport bike. Yes, it seats you in a fairly front-biased riding posture, but nowhere near excruciating enough to break your back like the 600cc supersport suspects. And the RS 440 will walk the same path, as suggested by the spy shots. They revealed a low clip-on handlebar, partnered by slightly rear-set footrests and what looks like an averagely high saddle. The result should be a sporty but not back-breaking riding triangle. Think of it as a middle ground between the Kawasaki Ninja 400 and the first-gen KTM RC 390.
Once atop, you will look at a digital instrument cluster. Though there’s been no clear picture of it, we expect a full TFT setup with an identical layout to the 660. So you’d have plenty of data to gaze at. Bonus points if Aprilia includes stuff like traction control, a bi-directional quickshifter, and smartphone connectivity. This would make it one of the most loaded bikes in the segment; yes, even better than the CFMoto 450SS and the current-gen KTM RC 390. However, you should know the test mule didn’t have basic bits like adjustable levers.
The Aprilia RS 440 Could Produce Over 45 Horsepower
The RS 440 will boast an all-new 400-450cc engine, expected to produce somewhere between 40 and 45 horsepower. The mill could either have a single cylinder or two cylinders, and there’s no official data to confirm what will be the case. What we do know, though, is that the latter could bump the output to over 45 horsepower. If so, it’d be in the ballpark of the 47-HP Honda CBR500R, ahead of the KTM and Kawasaki. A parallel twin would help it meet the upcoming stricter emission norms as well.
As for underpinnings, the spy shots clearly show a twin-spar chassis. It’s suspended on what looks like 37 mm upside-down forks and a monoshock. The former misses out on adjustability, while the latter should allow at least preload adjustment. This is partnered with 17-inch wheels that wear single rotors clamped by Brembo calipers. Some leaked images also show steel-braided lines.
The Aprilia RS 440 Will Reach American Dealerships Soon
Once the RS 440’s global premier takes place, Aprilia’s American division will probably bring it here by the end of 2023. We expect strong pricing from the bikemaker, considering the RS 660 and RSV4 both have aggressive prices. And the pricing will be crucial, as the motorcycle will have no shortage of rivals. The $5,899 RC 390 and the ~$5,500 450SS will be its biggest competitors.
Oh, and since no mainstream company creates an engine just for a single bike, we expect the RS 440 to birth a lineup of entry-level Aprilias. The Tuono 440 is a no-brainer (given the bigger Tuonos), and we could even see a Tuareg 440. The latter sounds like a dream come true, doesn’t it?