Aprilia Tuono V4 Review

Evening All

Since departing with my old tuono, I have been keeping an eye on the release of this V4 beast, and registered my interest with C&A superbikes.

Got a call on Tuesday inviting me to test the bike on its release day this saturday, so booked in at 9am, (oops that meant leaving at 7.30 but my lovely lady wife wanted to come too), it also meant I was probably one of the first Joe publics in the uk to ride one

I turned up and was given a friendly welcome, and was drawn immediatly to the beast..



it is beautiful, its well built and looks great, the nice gold forks just hint at its race pedigree, nothing stood out as being underspec'd other than perhaps the cable clutch over a hydraulic number, however I can only guess they have logic somewhere.

quick sign of documents and I geared up.

It was explained to me that the bike had several settings which I was allowed to play with, although they suggested I didn't stick it straight into track mode and left the traction control a lone for a little while.

was given the test route which was about 14 miles, but sadly mostly straight roads, well it was norfolk..



Any way, prod the button and it barks into life with the standard can, crisp precise throttle response, it has a quick shifter so no need to use the clutch after you have pulled away, and the bike is above 5k rpm, to be honest i snick the gears on most bikes to be honest so that sat comfortably with me.

So onto the open road.

holy shoite.......

the engine is just immense, the old v twin used to have two sides, sub 6k, really flexible and punchy then twist it to 7 and above and it took off, the V4 does exactly the same, but it punches you in the gut as it takes off into next week, i think the mode I was in left it at 140bhp? although this is yet to be confirmed. I think the anti wheelie control kicked in a couple of times but I am a big bloke and didnt fancy getting a wheelie wrong on someone elses £11500 bike.

I didnt get on too well with the quick shifter, i accelerated hard away from a round about wanting to run the engine high into the revs, but the forces made me slip and my foot caught the gear lever instantly sending it into third, plus on the down shifts the cable clutch felt woolly at best, but the thing is new and I am currently used to a ducati clutch.

the brakes are spot on, they will drive your face into the bar if you want but the feeling of control is there, the bike only had 160 miles on the clock so i didn't test the brakes too much in case the front tyre was slippery. The back brake was usual aprilia and off little use, although it was fine to drag around a round about.

the seat, was well hard, and would need work for any long periods of time, the position is excellent though, and plenty of space for me as I am just 6ft,

Over all, it is without a doubt the best bike I have ever ridden, it is beautifully built and it is just fantastic, its probably useless at anything practical, but its not that kind of bike, despite the pillion pegs.

this version with the Aprilia Rider Control (APRC) and spensive forks etc, is £11500 and to be honest its worth it, if I could afford the finance I'd have given him £500 to hold the next one due in, then paid for it over 5 years.

the version without APRC will be £10 500, the APRC will retain he extra 1k.

Its amazing how prices seem irrelevant in the show room,


Interestingly I sat on the same 08 kinda tuono I used to have and it wasnt as comfortable, the leg position was more cramped... not really justification to spend double to get the V4?!

It lives up to its hype and I wish I had played more on it, but there was some one else waiting to play on it.

If you can test ride one doo,

if you can afford one... buy it.

[kaivalagi]

Thanks for the review

I definitely need to sample that engine now, maybe for an hour long test ride if I find the time

Oh and leaving the Kings Lynn area there are some great roads, the Gayton and Outwell areas are nice and twisty, I was out that way today and thoroughly enjoyed myself...I guess if you haven't got long on the bike you can't venture off too far though

Originally Posted by kaivalagi

Thanks for the review

I definitely need to sample that engine now, maybe for an hour long test ride if I find the time

Oh and leaving the Kings Lynn area there are some great roads, the Gayton and Outwell areas are nice and twisty, I was out that way today and thoroughly enjoyed myself...I guess if you haven't got long on the bike you can't venture off too far though

its an insured test route they asked me to stick too, i was covered third party on my insurance but thought I would be good as they were nice enough to let me play

An insured test route? :S Sure thats not some cobblers to keep you to roads that they can find, should you end up in the hedge?

I want:

http://www.aprilia.com/en-US/Model/7...Customize.aspx

[dizzyblonde]

But I only see red crosses.......Peg wants pics to drool over purrrlleeze!

[kaivalagi]

Here you go, this is what Dan was drooling over (and rightly so):


and from the banner on the top of the page:


Almost looked like a transformed bumblebee with those headlights for eyes

Originally Posted by kaivalagi

Here you go, this is what Dan was drooling over:

Why do prillas headlight units stick so far forward on all their models? The rest of the bike is quite possibly the sexiest looking bike out there right now.

Nom nom nom

Sorry mate I was also booked in for 9am but was on it at 08:50 and had complete freedom of route so found some twisties, let the beast warm up, now you have to remember my Tuono gen 2 is bloody fast I mean rip your arms of fast but not even my Tuono can do 107mph in 2nd gear, well this new Tuono did s(ok it was red lining) but it's not my bike it handles so well you push it and push it and not fall off (unless your ****), found launch control but had no idea how to use it, it's the best mix of a v-twin and IL4.

Here's some pics.

Originally Posted by SUPERSTARDJ01

Sorry mate I was also booked in for 9am but was on it at 08:50 and had complete freedom of route so found some twisties, let the beast warm up, now you have to remember my Tuono gen 2 is bloody fast I mean rip your arms of fast but not even my Tuono can do 107mph in 2nd gear, well this new Tuono did s(ok it was red lining) but it's not my bike it handles so well you push it and push it and not fall off (unless your ****), found launch control but had no idea how to use it, it's the best mix of a v-twin and IL4.

Here's some pics.

lol, I did only say one of the first...

is a great machine isn't it,

I may go back another summer day to take it for a proper go, or wait until my dealer in bury has a demo on, then take it on some roads I know.