KTM 390 Duke vs Aprilia Tuono 457: Buy Or Hold?

Unofficial bookings for the upcoming Aprilia Tuono 457 have begun in India, and the bike will be here soon. According to our dealer sources, it could be launched sometime by the end of January 2025, with deliveries set to take place from February. 

Once launched, the bike will face some stiff competition from the KTM 390 Duke. Which is already a very popular model in the 400cc segment. We tell you if it's worth waiting for the upcoming Tuono 457 or buying the 390 Duke now. 

Aprilia Tuono 457

The Aprilia Tuono 457 is a streetfighter based on the same platform as the Aprilia RS 457. It shares a lot of parts in common with its faired sibling, but manages to carve out a distinct identity of its own. In terms of looks, the bike is quite unconventional even by Aprilia standards. 

It doesn’t get the half-fairing design that we have come to associate with the Tuono range , which includes the Tuono 660 and Tuono 1100. It gets a split LED headlight setup. This is something which many Aprilia fans might not appreciate, but the bike does manage to look good in its own way.

The Tuono will be powered by the same 457cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine which outputs 47.6PS and 43.5Nm. This is quite impressive and would make for a thrilling riding experience overall.

The bike shares a lot of the same parts with the Aprilia RS 457. It will get the same 43mm inverted fork and monoshock suspension setup. Braking duties will be handled by a 320mm front and 220mm rear disc brake, with dual-channel ABS.

Features wise, the Tuono will have a decent set of electronic riding aids on offer. Including a 3-level traction control, which can be turned off. Along with this the bike also gets 3 riding modes: Rain, Sport & Eco which modulate the level of traction control intervention and ABS intervention.

Overall, the Aprilia Tuono 457 looks quite promising with good performance and a decent set of features on offer.

KTM 390 Duke

The KTM 390 Duke needs no introduction. Since its launch in 2013, the bike managed to ignite the craze for high performance like no other thanks to the relatively affordable pricing. Now with the 3rd generation, the bike has undergone a ton of changes including the addition of many features.

The bike features a very sharp and aggressive design, which really attracts a lot of attention. The LED headlight and fang-like DRLs, along with the sharp tank extensions, cements the bike’s aggressive demeanor. 

It is powered by a 398.63cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine which outputs 46PS and 39Nm. In the real world, this performance is quite good but compared to the Tuono 457 the lack of torque will be quite evident. This means that the Tuono will feel quicker during its initial acceleration. 

That said, the difference in performance won't be massive. The KTM 390 Duke still has enough exciting performance which will keep you on your toes.

Underpinnings wise, the 390 Duke has a 43mm WP APEX fork and a WP APEX monoshock. What really makes the suspension setup unique is how easy it is to adjust the rebound and compression settings on the front. It is as simple as turning the switches at the fork ends.

Where the 390 Duke truly shines is in terms of features. The bike has a lot of electronic riding aids, including traction control, switchable ABS, launch control, cornering ABS among others. Which is a lot more than what the Tuono 457 has to offer.

Overall, the KTM 390 Duke manages to offer a really good package both in terms of performance, underpinnings and features. It also stands out as an aspirational motorcycle for many riders who are looking to buy their first “big bike”, at least according to Indian standards.

Is The Italian Worth Waiting For?

Answering this question is not easy, as both the bikes have something unique to offer. The Tuono 457 stands out with its better performance which will be noticeable in the real world. Whereas the KTM 390 Duke makes up for this in terms of better underpinnings and features. 

But when looking at it from an ownership point of view, the KTM Duke has a few advantages. The first of course, is the lower price. The KTM 390 Duke currently comes at an ex-showroom price of Rs 3,13,136. Whereas the Tuono 457 is expected to be priced around the 4 lakh mark ex-showroom. 

Another advantage the KTM 390 Duke has is the widespread service network and easier availability of spares. Another thing to note is, the KTM 390 Duke’s spares are relatively cheaper compared to other bikes in the same segment. This will reduce the overall cost of ownership to a great extent. For the Tuono 457, there will be a few hiccups here and there, as Aprilia’s network isn’t as wide spread currently.

So, if you are someone who is looking to buy a 400cc performance oriented bike, then going for the KTM 390 Duke makes more sense logically. But motorcycles are something which we often think about from an emotional standpoint. In that sense, waiting for the Tuono 457 will be worth it, if you are an Aprilia fan or just someone who wants to experience what an Italian bike has to offer.