Aprilia Tuono V4 1100RR review, test ride

Aprilia’s done well on rider controls; palm grips, mirrors and switches are all easy to live with, including toggle switches for the electronics and extra ‘plus’ and ‘minus’ buttons tucked around the horn. The Tuono V4 1100RR has a set of buffed alloy levers but Aprilia’s not done the clutch justice, omitting reach adjustment at the lever as well as hydraulic assist. This was amplified, as I'd spent the morning sampling the fierce RSV4 RF at the Misano race track named after Marco Simoncelli. I was doing my best to avoid taking on too much of the clutch lever, nursing a sore left wrist and finding it a touch too heavy on the day.  

The Tuono V4 1100RR leaves most of its engine exposed, while a shapely single (4-into-2-into-1) exhaust runs down the right of the bike. The Tuono comes with nicely padded, comfortable split seats, and a slim, sharply styled tail-fairing.

Attention-to-detail is right up there with the best, as are fit-finish and overall build on the Tuono.

Aprilia’s bumped up displacement from 999cc to 1077cc, sticking to a V4 configuration and completely reworking the Tuono engine. This liquid-cooled, 65 degree ‘V’ runs 48mm Weber-Marelli throttle bodies controlled by a ride-by-wire throttle. There are new crankcases with magnesium head shrouds, 400gm lighter connecting rods and smaller crank pin diametres. Technical jargon aside, there’s 20bhp more at the wrist on the V4 1100RR at the same engine speed (8,000rpm) as on the outgoing Tuono. Performance is more than ample for any Indian road, the Tuono V4 1100RR making 173bhp at 11,000rpm, enough to overwhelm its tyres on occasion when negotiating the narrow Italian corners around Tavullia. The V4 1100RR puts out a deep and resonant soundtrack when given some stick and strong drive from the V4 thrusts you out of corners with a fierce rush, helped by a prodigious 12.2kgm of torque stepping in at 9,000rpm.

You have Aprilia launch control (ALC) to allow you to leap off from rest quickly, and three stage riding modes – Track, Sport and Road that don’t alter power output, but suitably manage delivery. Power wheelies are effortless on the Tuono V4 1100RR, likewise effortlessly reigned in and controlled by Aprilia’s wheely control (AWC), in three progressive settings. There’s also an eight-stage traction control system (ATC) adjustable on the move, which you will appreciate on the Tuono V4 1100RR, as the fast Italian bike puts down all the power you could need, so very quickly. The Tuono V4 1100RR often overcomes its rear tyre, sending it squealing into the safety of the bike's advanced electronics.