Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory: First Ride Review

  • Jan 5, 2016
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Aprilia has launched a new version of its already potent super naked, the Tuono V4 1100, and the new bike is no less than a lethal weapon!

Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory

Looking back at the last few years it’s only fair to say that litre-class sportsbikes ruled the roost in the 2000s. The current decade has seen various derivatives of these very bikes take centre stage though, of which sport nakeds are the most popular, offering the madness of a superbike in a usable, practical package. And the current horsepower wars are making them even more popular. Until few years ago 160bhp superbike was considered suicidal but today sport nakeds are getting feverishly close to their 200PS faired counterparts. 

However, pushing the envelope suddenly sounds like an understatement when you consider the new Aprilia Tuono V4 1100. Fancy a race-spec motorcycle comfortable enough to commute to work? Look no further. The Tuono redefined sport nakeds with its performance and created a new category of super nakeds way back in 2002. It has always been regarded as one of the most mental nakeds to ride, and not without reason. We’ve just managed to lay our hands on the Factory version of the latest generation Tuono which – hold your breath – makes a dizzying 175PS. Mayhem on two wheels? You bet!

Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory static

Design: rating_5.0_rating

The new generation Tuono looks a lot sportier and even more similar to the RSV4. Especially the Factory version, with a fantastic paintjob that’s straight off Aprilia’s WSBK machine. Silver and black don’t look too gorgeous together but the Tuono Factory makes an exception with its red accents and alloys.

Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory tail lamp

The front is wide yet looks compact, even with the semi-fairing. Head-turning abilities are immense thanks to the paint scheme and of course the massive 200-section tyre which sits underneath a tiny tailpiece that’s a straight lift-off from the newest RSV4 RF. The Tuono V4 has an unapologetically raw appeal – I wouldn’t term it gorgeous in the way the Italians design their motorcycles but this is a bike you want to keep looking at. 

Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory action
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Engine and Performance: rating_5.0_rating

Super nakeds are all about their raw, aggressive performance that threatens to leave you with soiled pants, and the Tuono V4 1100 Factory sits right at the top of that heap. With a bored out version of the previous-gen Tuono’s 999cc motor, it offers shattering performance. The beauty of its engineering is the flexibility of the motor though, as it lets you trundle in city traffic or blast off at supersonic speeds with abundant ease. 175PS is insane by any standards, and insanity is what describes the power delivery, lest you decide to open the throttle wide. 

Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory engine

Of course, there’s more than a handful of electronics to help rein it all in. The RSV4 RF derived electronics suite on the Factory edition has the latest generation APRC (Aprilia Performance and Ride Control) system, easily the most advanced package you can get today, but more on that later. You really do need to think before you give the throttle a handful, as the power delivery stuns you irrespective of what bike you ride currently. 

Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory action pic

The Tuono will accelerate to 100kmph in less than 3 seconds, and that’s superbike territory. Unlike Japanese inline-fours you don’t have to milk the engine before the performance goes from “Wow” to “Holy Mother!” either. All hell truly breaks loose above 9000rpm, where the Tuono feels like a seasoned superbike. It’s surprisingly easy to see 150kmph on the speedometer without any efforts, and acceleration even at those speeds is relentless. All thanks to the brilliant V4 motor that’s high on technology and low on weight, while feeling supremely refined. 

Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory instrument console

Electronics: rating_5.0_rating

We usually do not have a sub-section for electronics in our reviews, but the Tuono V4 1100 Factory made an exception. 8 levels of traction control (changeable on the fly with handlebar mounted buttons), 3 levels of Race ABS, 3 levels of wheelie control and 3 levels of launch control. Boy, is this a motorcycle, or what! Before it gets confusing, the lower the number, the lesser the intrusion. Without its electronics, the Tuono would be unrideable, as it would turn into an absolute beast. But if you have the courage to go to the lowest settings for everything, the Tuono will be more than happy to turn into a tyre-smoking, power sliding monster at every corner exit, or simply wheelie in almost every gear! 

Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory cornering

Ride, Handling & Braking: rating_4.5_rating

Another big difference between the Factory and the RR versions is the suspension. The Factory gets fully-adjustable Ohlins forks and a fully-adjustable Ohlins monoshock, and also an Ohlins steering damper. That’s equipment that will put track-spec superbikes to shame! The result is a ride and handling package that’s nothing less than fantastic. The bike feels amazingly supple on broken roads but also offer razor-sharp precision too. It’s a package that will inspire lots of confidence to carry a lot more speed than you otherwise into corners, and exit faster than you think you could.  

Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory front brake

A track machine it may not want to be called, but the Tuono Factory is an apex hunter with its kind of precision. Credit that to the highly acclaimed RSV4 RF chassis that benefits from Aprilia’s WSBK titles. Steering geometry and weight bias have been further refined to enhance road manners, and the result is a motorcycle that’s perfectly at ease navigating through traffic or making you feel like a hero as you drag you knee slider. Further, the riding position is also really comfortable thanks to a tall, one piece handlebar and streamlined seat.  

Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory stoppie

Oh, and the brakes! Enthusiasts would know Brembo makes some of the best brakes, and the Tuono Factory sports some of its best offerings. It gets twin 320mm rotors with monoblock radial-mount calipers that offer class-leading braking. And lastly, the magic of the Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa tyres is something that’s hard to miss, which offer ridiculously high grip levels.  

Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory front detail

Verdict: rating_4.5_rating

The Tuono V4 1100 Factory is ridiculously good to ride. It has the best of everything – engine, performance, handling, braking, electronics et al. In fact most riders in the world won’t even be able to extract its full potential. The bike quite literally exceeds expectations on almost all parameters except one. At Rs 19.14 lakh ex-showroom in Pune, the Tuono is the most expensive super naked on sale, except for the even more ridiculously priced BMW S1000R. For the Tuono’s price you could buy a Japanese sport naked like the Kawasaki Z1000 or Suzuki GSX-S1000 and still save a few lakhs, and these bikes are potent enough to thrill even if not as powerful. 

Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory rear static

Also, Piaggio, Aprilia’s parent company has just a couple of dealerships in the country, including its first official multi-brand dealership, the Motoplex in Pune, which is another handicap. They are in the process of expanding though as Aprilia is keen on cashing in on the growing craze for high performance machines. If money were no bar the Tuono V4 1100 Factory is perhaps the most brutal yet sweetest motorcycle money can buy with some of the best equipment. For Aprilia to explore its potential as a product, the brand needs to identify strategies that will help them price the bike considerably lower though, since its price aside, the Tuono has what it takes to trounce its competition.   

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