If you dig entry-level motorcycles, the past few days must’ve felt like a dream come true. Harley-Davidson and Triumph unveiled their small-capacity motorcycles, both catering to the 300-500cc roadster segment. But what about sport bike fans? Well, fret not, as Aprilia will soon answer your prayers. The Noale factory has a sub-500cc sport bike–likely called the RS 440–in the pipeline which has been spied testing in a production-ready guise. This is its first clear sighting, post the test mule seen in India at the start of 2023.
The New Aprilia RS 440 Takes Inspiration From The RS 660
The previous sighting showed a heavily camouflaged test mule, but we could still make out the RS 660-like design. And the new test mule corroborates this. The fascia comprises Aprilia’s staple triple-element LED headlight, flanked by LED DRLs that extend to the transparent windscreen. These are housed inside muscular body panels, complete with aggressive side fairings identical to its 660cc sibling. A closer look also shows the edgy fuel tank and aerodynamic tail panels that dial up the attention to detail.
Together, all these make the small RS look quite handsome and the road presence is impressive too. Yes, we know road presence can’t be judged from images, but the fact that the baby RS doesn’t look too small beside Moto Guzzi’s upcoming V100 Mandello Stelvio adventure bike is a good sign. Isn’t it?
The New Aprilia RS 440 Will Feature An All-New Engine
For the RS 660, Aprilia essentially halved its 1,100cc V4 powerhouse from the RSV4 1100, and there’s a chance this trend will trickle to its entry-level offering. So the RS 440 will boast an all-new single-cylinder engine, probably displacing between 400-440 cubic centimeters. It will be a liquid-cooled unit (radiator is clearly visible), with a peak horsepower figure near to its arch-European-rival, the 43-HP KTM RC 390. If that’s the case, it’ll automatically outpower its other opponents like the Yamaha R3 and Honda CBR300R, although the Kawasaki Ninja 400 will still be an arm’s length ahead.
Meanwhile, other details we see here include upside-down forks (43 mm possibly), a monoshock, and 17-inch alloy wheels, all tied together to a twin-spar chassis. These, along with the sporty riding triangle (notice the rear set pegs and clip-on handlebar), should enable corner-carving prowess. And once you’re aboard, the RS 440 will greet you with a full digital instrument cluster, revealed in its Indian sighting. Though this looks identical to the RS 660’s TFT, you should only expect basic rider aids (traction control, ABS, slipper), not the full Aprilia Rider Control suite.
The New RS 440 Will Be Part Of Aprilia’s 2024 Lineup
The new RS 440 will break cover as part of Aprilia’s next-year lineup. We expect it to debut in the next few months, followed by its first public appearance at the 2023 EICMA–a venue Aprilia loves (the Tuareg 660 also broke cover here). Post its reveal, Aprilia USA will likely bring the RS 440 here by early 2024 at a near-$6,000 MSRP, right in line with the $5,899 RC 390 and $5,299 Ninja 400.