After what felt like an eternity, Aprilia has finally entered the sub-500cc sport bike segment with the all-new 2024 RS 457. The motorcycle is already making huge headlines around the world. And for all the right reasons. However, this is a super competitive segment, and the Aprilia RS is taking a stroll into a jungle full of predators. The biggest one, particularly in America, is the Kawasaki Ninja 400. It has led proceedings for several years, thanks to its simple, trustable, and exciting nature. So will the Ninja prey on the RS? Or will Aprilia take over Kawasaki’s throne? While only time will that, here’s how these compete against one other.
2024 Aprilia RS 457 vs Kawasaki Ninja 400 - Performance
There’s quite a bit of common between the Aprilia and Kawasaki. Both engines have a twin-cylinder DOHC setup, complete with liquid cooling and a six-speed transmission. However, Aprilia’s engine is an all-new creation, while Team Green’s mill has remained as is for quite some time. This is shown in the output figures.
The Aprilia RS 457 Has More Horsepower Than The Kawasaki Ninja 400
With a higher displacement, the RS 457 belts out 47 horsepower–two more than the 399cc Kawasaki. We also expect a higher torque output from the former, although Aprilia has yet to reveal those numbers. The Ninja claws back some points with its 19-pound weight advantage, ensuring an almost comparable power-to-weight ratio to the RS. We still believe the new offering will be faster in a straight line.
| Specification | Aprilia RS 457 | Kawasaki Ninja 400 |
| Engine | 457cc, twin-cylinder | 399cc, twin-cylinder |
| Power | 47 horsepower | 45 horsepower |
| Torque | NA | 27.3 pound-feet |
| Weight | 385 pounds | 366 pounds |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 0.122 | 0.122 |
2024 Aprilia RS 457 vs Kawasaki Ninja 400 - Underpinnings
Aprilia hasn’t revealed the RS 457’s dimensions, so we’ll skip that for now. As for underpinnings, the story is similar to the performance aspect. There are similarities, such as 17-inch alloy wheels, single disc brakes, and the same tire sizes. But the Ninja 400 shows its age (and lack of updates) over the new RS.
The RS 457 Boasts Adjustable USD Forks While The Ninja 400 Doesn’t
The RS 457 is built around an aluminum perimeter chassis. It suspends on adjustable 41 mm USD forks and monoshock, paired with 17-inch wheels. Whereas, the Ninja 400 has a steel trellis chassis, joined by simple telescopic forks and a preload-adjustable monoshock. To make matters worse for Team Green, Aprilia has equipped its sport bike with a bigger front disc. Bonus points for the TVS Eurogrip tires (these are sticky and race-derived). All these should make the RS 457 much more capable of corner-carving shenanigans.
| Specification | Aprilia RS 457 | Kawasaki Ninja 400 |
| Frame | Aluminum perimeter | Steel trellis |
| Front suspension | 41 mm USD forks (adjustable) | 41 mm telescopic forks |
| Rear suspension | Monoshock | Monoshock |
| Wheels | 17-inch alloys | 17-inch alloys |
| Tire size | 110/150-section (F/R) | 110/150-section (F/R) |
| Front brake | 320 mm disc | 310 mm disc |
| Rear brake | 220 mm disc | 220 mm disc |
2024 Aprilia RS 457 vs Kawasaki Ninja 400 - Features And Design
This is where the RS 457 lands a knockout punch. Aprilia has thrown in a kitchen sink’s worth of features, most of which are absent on the Ninja 400. Again, this is down to the lack of updates from Team Green. You can check the detailed list of features below.
Same goes for the design. Yes, we know it’s subjective, but we feel the RS 457 looks more premium than the Ninja 400. It brings a fresh flavor to the affordable sport bike segment, with its proper big-bike persona. What elevates the appearance are its three striking liveries. We’re not saying the Ninja looks bad, but there’s no denying it could use a facelift to fall in line with its bigger siblings, rather than just getting new colors.
| Features | Aprilia RS 457 | Kawasaki Ninja 400 |
| Instrument cluster | 5-inch TFT | Semi-digital |
| Traction control | Three modes (plus off) | No |
| Ride modes | Three | No |
| Slipper clutch | Yes | Yes |
| Ride-by-wire | Yes | No |
| Dual-channel ABS | Yes (switchable) | Optional |
| All-LED lights | Yes | Yes |
2024 Aprilia RS 257 vs Kawasaki Ninja 400 - Final Thoughts
Considering the above deets, it’s safe to deduce the RS 457 is a better motorcycle than the Ninja 400 in all aspects. It has more power, better features, and more capable underpinnings. That leaves us with pricing. Although Aprilia USA hasn’t shed light on it, we expect the RS to sell for around $6,000. If so, it’d be one of the most expensive motorcycles in the segment. But this is just ~$300 more than the Ninja 400 ABS model, which is well-justified, given all the extras.
Take all of it with a pinch of salt, though, as most of this is solely based on the spec sheet. If you’re sold on it anyway, we suggest you hit up your nearest Aprilia dealer and put in an unofficial token amount for an early 2024 delivery. In case you need your sport bike readily available, we're afraid you'll have to stick with the Ninja.