Old V New: Aprilia Tuono
Separated by 15 years, how does the latest version of Aprilia’s Tuono, the V4 Factory, compare with the V-twin Racing original?
APRILIA’S 2018 TUONO V4 1100 Factory may well be a hugely stimulating bike but its virtues need to be very persuasive to win over 2003 Tuono Racing owner, Pete Moore. He’s had his since 2004, doing over 36,000 miles on it. The 57-year-old archaeologist from Gloucestershire loves his bike, not wanting to see the Italian street-fighter leave his garage.
“I’d had a Kawasaki ZZ-R1100 and a Suzuki Hayabusa and had really enjoyed both of them. But I’d grown tired of their uncomfortable riding positions. I wanted a more sit-up-and-beg naked bike but a proper one, not a weedy Japanese model with a retuned engine. The Tuono Racing seemed perfect and I wanted one as soon as it came out. Affording it was going to be a bit of an issue though…”
Pete got lucky. “A good friend had bought one of the very first ones and, after writing it off in a serious crash, generously offered me the replacement shortly after taking delivery. The accident had put him off riding, so I got his 700-mile, six-monthold Tuono Racing for around £4000 less than new. I loved it straight away, especially the V-twin engine and the way it delivered its power. Because of its comfortable riding position I use it to travel quite a lot. I do around 4-5000 miles on it each year. I’ve been to Spain’s Picos de Europa and the Pyrenees on the Tuono a couple of times and I’m just back from a week in Nantes in France. I head over to Ireland on it every year as well. Its suspension might be a bit hard for some of the bumpy roads but I’m quite happy to compromise.
“I really like to look after my bikes, giving the Tuono regular checkovers and changing the oil and filter every 4000 miles. Griff Woolley at Aprilia Performance near Tamworth does the more serious work, like valve checks and balancing the throttles. He’s a real expert and I like him looking after it. He’s probably why I’ve never really had any problems. I’ve fitted a taller screen to make the longer trips more comfortable, as well as an Oberon clutch slave cylinder for a little additional reliability.
“I’m really interested in riding the new bike. I’ve looked at one before, so it’ll be good to see what it’s like...”
History
But first, some history. Introduced to the public as the ‘Falco Fighter’ concept bike at the 2001 Bologna bike show, the Tuono went into production two years later. Initially called the Tuono Fighter R, a name soon dropped and replaced with the shortened Tuono (Italian for Thunder), the bike was essentially a strippeddown, high-barred, otherwise-undiluted version of the much-acclaimed 1998 RSV Mille sportsbike. It had many of the hallmarks of its racy brother: its 126bhp 60° V-twin motor provided plenty of power and speed, with the same high-spec chassis allowing it to hold its pace through corners. The Tuono’s sporty package helped it stand out against the softer, relatively weighty and generally tamer competition, such as the Yamaha Fazer 1000 and Honda Hornet 900. The Aprilia was more full-on, raw and aggressive and essentially created a new ‘super-naked’ class.
The Italian firm then went on to produce the even higher-spec Tuono Racing. Born out of a version built in 2003 to compete in a prestigious Italian naked race-bike series, dominated at the time by Ducati’s Monster S4R, the Tuono Racing featured the sportier RSV-R Mille model’s Öhlins
suspension, lightweight OZ forged wheels and radial brakes. It was also dressed in lightweight carbon-fibre bodywork.
The limited-edition, street-legal version of the Tuono Racing became the fastest and most exclusive naked bike of the time, with a hefty £11,425 pricetag to match. There were two versions: the 2003 model which came with a race kit; and the 2004 bike, which didn’t. They’re otherwise identical. Only 300 were built with around 20 coming to the UK. It’s the 2003 model that we are featuring here, owned by Pete.
Seriously updated in 2006, the new-look twin-pipe Tuono featured fresh styling, with a modified chassis and engine producing 133bhp. It was then followed in 2007 by a higher-spec ‘Factory’ model. In 2011 the twin-cylinder models were replaced by a pair of new super-powerful, higher-spec, 165bhp, 65° 1000cc V4-engined Tuonos. Four years later, the 2015 models’ engine size increased to 1100cc, with power boosted to 175bhp. The RR and the more-costly Factory machines both featured cornering ABS and three engine maps. 2017 saw yet another upgrade and it’s the current, 2018 specification version of the V4 1100 Factory we’ve ridden here.
Riding up to Market Harborough from Cirencester, via some challenging Cotswolds’ backroads, would give Pete a good first impression of the much newer, V4-engined Tuono. He’s keen to comment just 40 minutes into the 100-mile journey. As we fuel the bikes, he makes his approval clear. “I really like it,” qualifying the praise by adding, “though I like mine too.
“I enjoyed it as soon as I got on it. It’s got typical Tuono traits. There’s lots of power just where you want it. The midrange means you don’t have to rev it. It’s great fun and I’m looking forward to spending more time with it,” he adds.
The ride takes us from Enstone along fine and varied roads to eventually join the A43 and A5 near Towcester. We then head off along equally enjoyable, twisting roads to reach the Midlands market town. By the time we get there, Pete has developed more opinion on the Aprilia. “I’m won over. I love the engine, love its attitude and rawness. The motor feels like a twin to me, with lots of instant punch. I like the extra power and the lovely, sonorous exhaust note. The tall gearing means you have to feather the clutch a little in town at times. But I like that, as it makes the ride feel involving and gives the bike character.
“The bars are set a bit too low and far forward for me, so I’m not sat as upright as I am on my bike. I’m sure I’d get wrist ache in time. But the footrests are a little lower
“I’m impressed. It is just what I hoped it would be”
and the suspension is a touch plusher.”
I ask Pete if that means he’d be happy to ride it as far as the Pyrenees. “It would be a great bike when it was there. The handling feels light and lovely, just like mine. I do like the fantastic quickshifter and the way it makes the engine pop. The seat feels comfortable enough but I wonder if it would give enough wind protection and I don’t know where I’d put my tail pack.
“I like the styling and think the bike’s got real presence. Italians know how to make bikes look good. But I’m wondering about build quality and I’m not keen on the plastic engine covers.
“The electronics are interesting but I don’t have a burning desire for stuff like traction control or ABS. It should be up to me to control things. Cruise control could be useful though.”
So the burning question is; would he like to own one of the new Tuonos?
“I’m super impressed with it. It’s just what I hoped it would be. I love the engine and the noise makes me smile. The Tuono traits and hooligan element are all evident and I can sense its character and heritage. I’ve been interested in the idea of having one and now I’ve had a go, it’s more on my radar. I’d like to have it but I wouldn’t buy new and I’d never trade mine for one. I could see me owning a four-year-old bike that had been well cared for but it would have to sit in the garage alongside my Tuono.”