Aprilia Tuono...I think I am in love.

[sixtysix]

Any comments on the Aprilia Tuono?? Best part is he has a demo, and I get to take it out and ride it for a day!!





I even had the dealer take a picture of me the bike to show my wife!

[MartyA]

Hey Gary, are you really that big or is that a 3/4 size like the one my grandson is learning on?

Seriously, not bad looking. How's the price?

[sixtysix]

Big? Heck I've lost 55Lbs over the winter! I think it is around $11K, that sexy Italian stuff don't come cheap!

[wpc57]

What does it want to be when it grows up. First thought that ran across my mind was pit bike for the drags. Then I looked closer and saw it was full sized. Looks ok ..... But I'll keep what I have, Thanks..... Hell what does an old man like me want with a sport bike?

[sixtysix]

Originally posted by wpc57
What does it want to be when it grows up. First thought that ran across my mind was pit bike for the drags. Then I looked closer and saw it was full sized. Looks ok ..... But I'll keep what I have, Thanks..... Hell what does an old man like me want with a sport bike?

Wow, you must be old if you think that is a sport bike!! Here is an example of a sport bike:



Low 'clip on' type handle bars, high'set back' foot pegs, full aerodynamic bodywork, engines tuned for full performance at highest RPM's, geared for top speed, every part has been lightened for even the smallest weight advantage, top of the line suspension and brakes. Sticky short lived tires. No passenger seat.

Then there is the Tuono, (a standard in todays market) higher bars, lower, more forward pegs, engine tuned for low and mid range, with torque more important than HP, made of cheaper more durable (heavier) parts. Tires are sort-touring and last much longer (not as much grip, since it is not needed). It is just what the XS was, a perfomance oriented standard.

More info:

Aprilia Tuono

[Robert Haller]

Re: Aprilia Tuono...I think I am in love.

Originally posted by sixtysix
Any comments on the Aprilia Tuono?

Interesting bike...It sounds wicked fast. Still looks a little on the sporty side to me, but I guess that's what goes for standard these days. Are seriously considering getting one (and would it be in addition to or replacing a bike)?

[sixtysix]

Replace a bike? Never!! Just keep adding them. , I am not going to get it this year for sure. Wife needs a new car before any new bikes get bought. But I am seriously going to ride the hell out of the Demo for a day or 2, then maybe in a year or so i will get one..... Thing is by then there will be something else, better, faster, stronger. The new KTM 950 Duke is coming too. Now that bike makes me drool. It is not the most beautiful bike but the performance will more than make up for it. 115hp and 380lbs.



Still officially in prototype form, but KTM are promising production for 2004.

The 950 motor is the same as with the Adventure S but with a higher state of tune, giving 115 hp at 9,500 rpm and a max torque of 96 Nm @ 7,000 rpm.

Frame is a trellis style steel tube with WP suspension front (USD) and back. Braking is provided by Brembo with 2 x four piston calipers up front, biting on a pair of 320 mm discs.

The front wheel is 17" with an 18" on the back. Seat height is 855 mm and dry weight is 174 Kg.

And that's all we know right now.

[sixtysix]

First Ride Impressions!

I finally got to take this bike for a long (about an hour) ride, I got in some nice curves as well.

This thing rocks! Seating position is very good, I felt comfortable right away, but the seat is just a flat pad. Loads of power and torque, but seems to be lugging under about 3500 rpm. It sounds great, I usually rode in 3rd or 4th cause it sounded better than 5th.

Anyway:

Power
Looks
Sound
Price ($11,999 in US)
Seat
Riding position
Wind Protection
Fun Factor

If I did not have a Bandit I would own this bike instead, heck I may go buy it anyway

[sixtysix]

Second impressions

Today I took another test ride on the Tuono, looks like the last day here in the northeast to ride before the snow comes this weekend. Since I biffed the Bandit, I needed to take another ride to really make sure I want to buy this bike. It was the same bike only with about 750 miles on it now. Dealer wants to sell it before winter and told me $10K. (he said maybe he could do a little better )

My first impessions were right on. Except this time I did not really feel that the seat was too uncomfortable. I opened the bike up a little more ths time really got to feel the power. Most of it is in the 6000 and up RPM range. It feels a little strange because I am used to bikes that pull at much lower r's. Riding on the 4 lane at 75mph in sixth gear the bike is turning around 4K and feels like it is going to stall out. I was always running it 1 or 2 gears lower than I would with a bike like my Bandit.

I found out the bike comes with restrictions in both the air box and the exhaust. These are usually removed when the bikes are sold. They are to limit power and noise (yeah right!!) Anyway this bike is still restricted, so there is a little more power here that I did not get to sample. Bike is plenty loud in stock trim and I would probably not change out the can right away until I found something more open that is just as quiet. The top speed of this monster is like 168 or something, now I know why it has 6 speeds. I would probably change out the spockets to give me less top speed and more power in the middle of the range. If you can hang on this naked bike at 168 MPH anyway, then your butt must be made of super glue!

Several companies are making after market chips and cans for these to add more mid range power, all you need is $$. One advantage of fuel injection I guess. Also there are some larger windscreens available.

I think I am still in love!

[Robert Haller]

Hey Gary,

How are you liking your Tuono? Motorcyclist magazine tested about a half dozen "fun" bikes and the Tuono got the top marks. Sounds very tempting....

[sixtysix]

Not liking it at all....YET! Bike is still at the dealer as we are buried in snow as usual. Most of the mods are done and it is just waiting for me to pick it up in the spring. Will have it for next years WV ride and GA ride.

Here is a picture with the mods in progress:

[Robert Haller]

Oh yeah, I forgot about not being able to ride much up north as we just had a weekend in the 60s.