The Aprilia Tuono 457 is the newest sub-500cc street naked in the market and knocks directly on the doors of KTM and Yamaha. The KTM 390 Duke has been the leader in the segment for long, while the Yamaha MT-03 has always been an aspirational motorcycle but with a hefty budget and basic components compared to the 390 Duke. Now, the Italians want in, with the Tuono 457.
Motorcycles in this segment are keepers, as they offer enough power to keep new, experienced, and returning riders happy. So if you were to choose between the three, here’s a quick comparison to help you make the choice.
| Model | Price |
| Aprilia Tuono 457 | Rs 3.95 lakh |
| KTM 390 Duke | Rs 2.94 lakh |
| Yamaha MT-03 | Rs 3.50 lakh |
Aprilia Tuono 457 vs KTM 390 Duke vs Yamaha MT-03: Design and features
All three motorcycles are street nakeds, meaning no fairing, sporty footpeg position, and a flat handlebar. The Aprilia Tuono 457 features the newest design amongst the three while the 390 Duke looks the most aggressive. The MT-03 looks subtle compared to the Europeans.
| Specifications | Tuono 457 | 390 Duke | MT-03 |
| Suspension (F) | Adjustable USD | Adjustable USD | USD |
| Suspension (R) | Monoshock | Monoshock | Monoshock |
| Brakes (F) | 320 mm Disc | 320 mm Disc | 298 mm Disc |
| Brakes (R) | 220 mm Disc | 240 mm Disc | 220 mm Disc |
| Seat Height | 800 mm | 800 mm | 780 mm |
| Wheel (F) | 17-inch | 17-inch | 17-inch |
| Wheel (R) | 17-inch | 17-inch | 17-inch |
| Dash | TFT | TFT | LCD |
| Fuel Capacity | 13-litres | 15-litres | 14-litres |
| Weight | 159 kg | 165 kg | 167 kg |
| ABS | Dual-Channel | Dual-Channel, Cornering | Dual-Channel |
| Traction Control | Yes | Yes | No |
Amongst the three motorcycles, the Aprilia Tuono 457 and the 390 Duke lead with sophisticated suspension setup, brakes, and instrumentation. The two European motorcycles also have the edge when it comes to electronics, while the KTM manages to stay ahead of Aprilia with its cornering ABS, and most importantly, its pricing.
Aprilia Tuono 457 vs KTM 390 Duke vs Yamaha MT-03: Engine specifications
Amongst the three motorcycles, the Aprilia Tuono 457 and the Yamaha MT-03 use a twin-cylinder setup while the 390 Duke makes use of a single-cylinder power plant. All three motorcycles get a six-speed gearbox and only the 390 Duke comes with a quickshifter as standard, while the Tuono gets it as an accessory. The MT-03 does not get the option.
| Engine specifications | Tuono 457 | 390 Duke | MT-03 |
| Displacement | 457 cc, twin | 399 cc, single | 321 cc, twin |
| Power | 47 bhp | 45.3 bhp | 41.4 bhp |
| Torque | 43.5 Nm | 39 Nm | 29.5 Nm |
| Gearbox | 6-Speed | 6-Speed | 6-Speed |
That said, the Tuono makes the most power and torque among the three motorcycles while the Duke is right on Aprilia’s tail. The Yamaha’s power output is rather modest, one could call but is in no way slow. If money is not the concern, the Tuono is the way to go, however, if value for money is something in your mind, it has to be the 390 Duke.
