Is An Aprilia RS 400 In The Works?

[advrider]

It looks like Aprilia could be working on another new machine to rival the competition’s light/middleweight sportbikes.  According to Motorcycles.News, rumors are floating around saying that the Italian manufacturer may be working on a RS 300 or RS 400 sportbike.  They say that the bike would be built to compete with Yamaha’s R3, KTM’s 390, and Kawasaki’s Ninja 400.

Aprilia exec comments

Motorcycle.News points to comments from Diego Graffi, the Managing Director of Piaggio India.  While at the recent Auto Expo, Graffi spoke about the company’s decision to put the RS 125 on hold due to COVID and other factors.  However, he went on to say that people’s attention would be drawn to a motorcycle positioned between the RS 125 and the new RS 660.

Does Aprilia want a smaller stablemate to its new RS 660?

For that reason, Motorcycle.News is assuming that the new machine will have a displacement in the 300cc to 400cc range.  They say that up until the release of the RS 660, Aprilia has not been able to service the market between the RS 125 and 900cc Shiver or Dorsoduro.

RS 400 similar to RS 660?

Hot Cars.com has a few more details about the machine.  They say that the RS 400 will carry a smaller version of the RS 660 engine and have similar chassis and suspension components. In addition, they say that the RS 400 will retain the RS 660’s relaxed seating position.  That could be important since Aprilia claims that the RS 660 is the most comfortable sportbike out there.

As for electronics, Hot Cars.com says that they don’t expect the bike to have the same electronics as the RS 660.  Such an electronics suite would likely boost the price of the bike substantially.  That’s something any manufacturer building lightweight bikes doesn’t want to happen.

Only rumor

So at the moment, the existence of the RS 400 is only a rumor.  But it is a tasty one at that.  With one of Aprilia’s executives going on record that there will be a bike between the RS 125 and RS 660, there’s a decent possibility that a new model may be coming.  We’ll have to wait and see.

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