2017 Bikesales Bike of the Year: Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 RR

Name: 2017 Bikesales Bike of the Year: Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 RR
Brand: Aprilia

Blistering performance and Latin allure all for a relatively modest price...

Let’s start with credit where credit’s due – the Tuono V4 1100 RR is a mouth-watering motorcycle, with corresponding levels of brutal performance and tactility that lend it appeal across so many levels.

The RR is the ‘base’ Tuono – if you have the audacity to call it that – that sits alongside the RF (as in Factory) in the Aussie line-up. There are a few differences between the pair, but the main one is that the RF has Ohlins suspension, while the RR has Sachs front and rear.

Both bikes are serious weapons, but it was the $22,890 RR which got our vote as the Naked category winner in our 2017 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards and joined the other category winners on our fact-finding ride through the Snowy Mountains. Twisty roads and a Tuono – we kind of knew it was going to be a pleasurable exercise before we set off on the four-day pilgrimage from Melbourne. Tuono means ‘thunder’ in Italian, so what else would you expect?

Features and equipment
Aprilia didn't take any half-measures when it recently updated the Tuono range. The shrewdest move of all was to increase bore by 3mm to increase the capacity to 1077cc. Also, weight-saving measures such as lighter connecting rods were brought into play.

That 78cc hike in capacity from the donor 999c RSV4 engine is telling, particularly the extra torque (121Nm versus 115). Peak torque kicks at 9000rpm, and maximum power is 175hp at 11,000rpm. As Bikesales freelancer Steve Martin said when he tested the RF model in New Zealand earlier this year, the Tuonos don’t have to comply with competition rules so “they are all about just having fun, but with the same perfect throttle response as the RSV”.

The Tuonos unveiled at the 2016 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan were also updated with the latest generation electronics packages (under the Aprilia Performance Ride Control moniker), Euro 4 engines, TFT screens, bi-directional quickshifters and switchable cornering ABS. Speed limiters and cruise control were also added, while there’s adjustable wheelie control and launch control as well.

As part of the updated electronics suite, Aprilia also ditched the 'Rain' setting on the Tuonos, and there's now a choice between Race, Track and Sport. The adoption of an inertial measurement unit, or an IMU as it’s more commonly known, has allowed Aprilia to display a lean angle (or roll) graph on the TFT screen, which has a minor gimmicky flavour but will certainly open up another level of conversation (or embellishment) for track-day punters. Below the lean angle information are two bars which measure acceleration and braking from zero to 100 per cent. One hundred per cent acceleration on the RR for too long probably equates to gaol time, though…

Even with that extra information, the TFT screen – which tucks nicely underneath the fly screen – is still excellent: uncluttered and easy to read. Moreover, the joystick-controlled dash is way more intuitive than the old menu system, which was extremely slow on the uptake.

The plus and minus traction control paddles on the RR are particularly user-friendly, and really add to the RR’s sporting flair.

The RR has an adjustable brake lever, but not clutch, and the front brakes are Brembo M50 monobloc calipers.

On the road
First and foremost, the RR’s a nakedbike at the extreme end of the performance equation, and what it delivers is pure adrenalin. As the faultless powershifter gets to work, it delivers wedge after wedge of glorious, addictive power. The progression is as smooth as it is relentless, and there’s hardly any vibration coming from all that heat in the kitchen.

It doesn’t matter what revs you are in as the TT will oblige, time after time, leaving the pilot to carve through the turns with those broad handlebars while the serrated footpegs keep the feet planted and the weight transfer in check. The only complaint is that the standard pipe sounds a bit too quiet for such a rousing machine – although it’s not totally devoid of some nice fruit.

The RR sits on about 4500rpm at 100km/h, but it wouldn’t really matter if that was more or less as far as lightning acceleration goes. The RR guzzled down an average of 7.54lt/100km on the ride, which was appreciably more than the KTM 1290 Super Duke GT in ‘second’ place. However, all eight BOTY testers probably showed their sporting ‘colours’ a little more on the RR than any other bike, which probably added to the level of consumption. Who can blame them?

The RR does have an 18.5-litre tank, so there’s still plenty of fun to be had between stops.

A twisty road goliath it is, but if you want to commute on the Tuono it’s capable of that as well, as there’s no snatchiness at the bottom end and the light throttle and clutch won’t give any hassles. The grips are quite thick, though, which was really noticeable after getting off some of the other Bike of the Year steeds.

The seat is also a beauty, but what really makes the RR so compliant is the seat/bar/peg relationship, Sachs suspension and razor-sharp chassis. The Sachs is the standout, offering a quality, ripple-defeating ride at normal speeds, but also tautness and superb damping at a harder pace on twisty roads. The RR settles quickly, even under hard braking, turns on a dime, and then blasts off without all that brutal acceleration tying the chassis in knots.

Summing up
The Tuono V4 1100 RR is a mesmerising machine that delivers compelling value for money. It has an 'X factor' that most other bikes could only dream of, and can be enjoyed as a commuter all the way to ripping up Sydney Motorsport Park or Phillip Island on a track day.

SPECS: 2017 APRILIA TUONO V4 1100 RR
ENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled, 16-valve, 65-degree V4
Capacity: 1077cc
Bore x stroke: 81mm x 52.3mm
Compression ratio: 13.5:1
Fuel system: Magnetti Marelli electronic fuel injection

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 175hp (129kW) at 11,000rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 120Nm at 9000rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six-speed
Clutch: Wet slipper clutch
Final drive: Chain

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Aluminium Twin spar
Front suspension: Fully adjustable Sachs upside-down forks
Rear suspension: Double-braced alloy swingarm with fully adjustable Sachs shock
Front brakes: Dual 320mm discs with four-piston monobloc Brembo calipers
Rear brake: 220mm disc
Tyres: Pirelli Diablo Corsa, 120/70-17 ZR front, 190/55-17ZR rear

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed weight: 184kg (without fuel)
Rake: 24.7 degrees
Trail: 99.7mm
Seat height: 825mm
Fuel capacity: 18.5 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $22,890
Bike supplied by: Aprilia Australia
Warranty: 24 months unlimited kilometres

2017 Bikesales Bike of the Year: Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 RR

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