So I bought a Tuono

[scottzilla]

But first....ever wonder what happened to Scott Russel's 1992 AMA Supebike?
it's sitting in a LI Yamaha/Ducati dealership.




Next...if you choose to buy a Busa in any color other than this one, you have no taste.  Of course, your taste is in question for even considering a Busa.


The Tuono.  Ater many years of riding I would buy many bikes I have owned again.  I would buy another Buell,  Triumph, Honda, etc.
The one bike that I was almost happy to see go was the Falco.  When I look back on it I think the reason is it was too quirky.  I don't like "Character".  I especially dislike "Italian" character because it comes with a yuppy vibe.
There are lots of good things to read about the Tuono.  I've been bitching about wanting to ride a true stripped down sportbike for a long time so I could no longer ignore the Tuono.  It is precisely a stripped down sport bike.
 

 

[scottzilla]

I sat in DMV for 2 hours to get in properly registered.
Then I went for a ride.




First off (And Thank God) it's comfortable.  The pgs are set much higher than the Speed Triple but they put your foot at the proper angle.  My feet were slipping off of the Speed Triple's pegs all the time.
The Speed Triple has more engine down low.  It almost feels faster that the Tuono but the T handles bettter; it has a better suspension and feels good over bumps.  Both machines hook up well out of corners.  The Tuono will shake it's it head a bit while The Speed Triple feels rock solid.  The front end of the Tuono skates a little over bumps; i'll work on it.
Once past 7000rpm it's all over.  The Tuono comes alive and pulls with ferocious force.  Fueling improves and the bike gets really fun to ride; it likes to rev.  It doesn't exactly suck at moderate speeds but theres some eveil crap lurking in the engine.
The Speed Triple, believe it or not, feels more stable on the front end.  I think I have to play with the suspension because the Tuono actually turns in much faster.

I have some fit and finish pics to add later.

[scottzilla]

Nice!

And I'm one of the few who think the Busa is right pretty bike. The detractors have no taste.

Well, it's an old Blackbird joke to make fun of the Turkey Vulture's ugliness.
Of course, the old school Blackbird folks have moved on to C14's.  Come to think of it, so did the Busa folks.

[Tyrroneous]

Very nice.  Dig the color choice too!  

[county]

I really want one of them Tuonos

[Rincewind]

Aprilia?  Who makes those - Honda?  







   


Nice bike.  Sounds like it has more of a top-end zing then the Speedie.  Enjoy.

[DogBoy]

 

[Dan K]

Very nice - the only place those blue wheels make sense is on that color scheme bike.  Amazig power delivery, ey?

Oh, and if I can't afford to add a K1300S at some point, I will add a Busa.  Wow, what an engine.  Of course, I never really got to test it - a weekend in FLorida is far from twisty....but love that motor.

- Dan

[TBone]

Sweet! Love the colors.  

Congrats and good luck with it.

[Justin]

Nice, love the tuono - now you just need to get some sand rail tires on it for those LI roads

Well, it's an old Blackbird joke to make fun of the Turkey Vulture's ugliness.
Of course, the old school Blackbird folks have moved on to C14's.  Come to think of it, so did the Busa folks.

And hey, I went from the XX to a Busa, so I'm doing something wrong lol - maybe I should have got a c-14?

[Croak]

Drop a tooth in the front if it hasn't been done already, that'll go a long way towards closing the lower-rpm grunt gap the Triple had.  Buell pegs are a cheap fix for the legroom issue, adjustable rearsets are de rigueur (and not hard to find good used ones, since 95% of the bike is an RSV R).  And Rhino Moto sells a nice cheap BLACK replacement front slider puck set.

Also, here's some good starting suspension settings assuming you're in the average weight band:

http://www.sportrider.com/suspension_settings/suspension/146_suggested_suspension_settings/index.html

And your new favorite page on the intertubes is this one:

http://www.af1racing.com/store/Scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=151

[scottzilla]

Drop a tooth in the front if it hasn't been done already, that'll go a long way towards closing the lower-rpm grunt gap the Triple had.  Buell pegs are a cheap fix for the legroom issue, adjustable rearsets are de rigueur (and not hard to find good used ones, since 95% of the bike is an RSV R).  And Rhino Moto sells a nice cheap BLACK replacement front slider puck set.

Also, here's some good starting suspension settings assuming you're in the average weight band:

http://www.sportrider.com/suspension_settings/suspension/146_suggested_suspension_settings/index.html

And your new favorite page on the intertubes is this one:

http://www.af1racing.com/store/Scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=151

Former Falco owner, I know all about Af1.

[antvq]

So I see you didn't get around to grinding down the sliders yet............






 

[scottzilla]

Ref: sliders.  You may recall the horrible sliders on the Speed Triple.  I don't know why people spend money on all these sliders but if my shin hits them one more time those fuckers are coming off.  

[Croak]

On the Tuono, they actually do a good job of preventing damage though.

[DogBoy]

That really is a cool bike but it needs a really big barn door windscreen, windshield wipers, much heavier subframe for two tractor seats, three giant hard cases, highway pegs, seven-inch bar risers, a trailer hitch, belt drive, large lower fairing, 24-switch control panel for heated clothing, bluetooth, GPS, Spot tracker, CB radio and maybe a steel roof and doors.

[scottzilla]

That really is a cool bike but it needs a really big barn door windscreen, windshield wipers, much heavier subframe for two tractor seats, three giant hard cases, highway pegs, seven-inch bar risers, a trailer hitch, belt drive, large lower fairing, 24-switch control panel for heated clothing, bluetooth, GPS, Spot tracker, CB radio and maybe a steel roof and doors.

Dude, I stll have the klr.

[DogBoy]

Dude, I stll have the klr.

Singles are only good for "around town" or journeys under 50 miles. Real bikes need the right components for journeys longer than 50 miles. Otherwise you will die.

[DogBoy]

I do what I can to save lives.

[Mr.Black]

Will we see it on Saturday?

[scottzilla]

Will we see it on Saturday?

Parked in front of Manhatten Pizza?  It's not like any of you fucks want to ride with me.  You're all leaving the house at 4am to avoid me.
I'm not sure I will bring it because so far, i'm hitting reserve at 100 miles.  Seriously.  Both times it hit reserve it only took 2.9 gallons.

[Mr.Black]

Parked in front of Manhatten Pizza?  It's not like any of you fucks want to ride with me.  You're all leaving the house at 4am to avoid me.
I'm not sure I will bring it because so far, i'm hitting reserve at 100 miles.  Seriously.  Both times it hit reserve it only took 2.9 gallons.

Meet at the rt 118/8 commuter parking lot. If we leave Windsor at 9:30, that will put us at that lot at 10:30ish. Can you do that?

[scottzilla]

Meet at the rt 118/8 commuter parking lot. If we leave Windsor at 9:30, that will put us at that lot at 10:30ish. Can you do that?

I can be in Canada by 10:30am.

[Mr.Black]

I can be in Canada by 10:30am.

I just looked at Andy's route. The ride is way north then back down to 118. It looks to be more like 11:30 at the commuter lot.  What's that about 17.5 minutes from you?

[scottzilla]

 


I just looked at Andy's route. The ride is way north then back down to 118. It looks to be more like 11:30 at the commuter lot.  What's that about 17.5 minutes from you?

Well, you guys are putting me in a bad spot because you're leaving too early for me to make the meet spot but hitting 118/8 way too late.  We'll be in GBarrington at 3pm at this rate.  
I'll see what I can work out on my end.  

its only 66 miles from Bridgeport to Windsor.  That's like 35 minutes.

[Mr.Black]

Now you listen here. I told my daughter that she would meet some of the biggest asshats on STN this Saturday and you sir qualify. Don't disappoint the poor young girl.

Before the rude comments start flowing, she is only 14 and her mom scares Mike Tyson.

[Mr.Black]

I thought her mom WAS Mike Tyson... after you showed him that banana thing and all.

NO ONE has ever seen the banana thing. OK?

[Mr.Black]

Sorry.

Maybe I'll bring one on Saturday.  

[scottzilla]

I should probably take the klr so I don't get there too early.

So with the 14 yr old...am I allowed to say "Fuck".  Please advise.

[Mr.Black]

I should probably take the klr so I don't get there too early.

So with the 14 yr old...am I allowed to say "Fuck".  Please advise.

This child has heard it all, can quote Zappa all day long, has belted me in the face and may belt you in the face as well. SAY any thing colorful you wish. I was just hoping to avoid sexual comments by the peanut gallery.

[scottzilla]

This child has heard it all, can quote Zappa all day long, has belted me in the face and may belt you in the face as well. SAY any thing colorful you wish. I was just hoping to avoid sexual comments by the peanut gallery.

Cmon man, I would never talk sex in the presence of a 14 yr old.  That kind of discussion is more suitable for 15 yr olds.

[Mastros2]

Congrats on the bike Scott!  Nice find.  

[scottzilla]

Here are some more pics:




Fit and finish, while acceptable, is not perfect.  You can tell this is a stripped Mille instead of a built- from- the- ground- up- bike.  The Speed Triple's fit and finish was perfect.  Every part looked like it belonged on a $12,000 motorcycle.  Not so with the Tuono.
Here is the gap at the rear of the seat:




electrical connecters just hanging around.


This piece of rubber pops out every time the bike breaks a hundred mph.



 

[mxvet57]

Those frame sliders need some street creed.

[Rincewind]

Ref: sliders.  You may recall the horrible sliders on the Speed Triple.  I don't know why people spend money on all these sliders but if my shin hits them one more time those fuckers are coming off. 

As long as you don't crash it as often as your KLR.   

Thanks for the additional pics.  I'm surprised about the build quality comments.  I thought Aprilia's had some of the best build quality, but maybe I'm just distracted by some of their unique design elements.

[scottzilla]

As long as you don't crash it as often as your KLR.   

Thanks for the additional pics.  I'm surprised about the build quality comments.  I thought Aprilia's had some of the best build quality, but maybe I'm just distracted by some of their unique design elements.

Forgot to mention there are bubbles under the decals on the cowling as well.  I asked the former owner if he installed the decals but he said no.
I'm only mentioning the build quality because it never seems to come up.  If you search for Tuono info, it's the same stuff over and over and over.  I find it annoying.  The bike has an msrp of $12,000, the fit and finish should be perfect, imo.  When you sit on a $12,000 motorcycle, you should not see electrical connectors and gaps, rubber trim pieces popping off, etc.
This is one area where the Speedy beats the Tuono.
I think 2006-2008 bikes were made in haste.  Aprilia wasn't doing well at that time.  I think this is why so many color combo's have blue wheels.  It's like they had a surplus of blue and decided to mount them on every bike!
 

[nevinfs327]

Awesome bike - I love that color combo.  I demo'd one back in '04 or '05 and it was a blast.  

Is the seat gap designed to allow access to the allen head bolts that fasten the seat down?  That's how it was on my brother's Mille R.  Not a great design compared to a key operated latch.

[scottzilla]

Awesome bike - I love that color combo.  I demo'd one back in '04 or '05 and it was a blast.  

Is the seat gap designed to allow access to the allen head bolts that fasten the seat down?  That's how it was on my brother's Mille R.  Not a great design compared to a key operated latch.

Yes, you do need to pull the seat back to access the bolts.  No doubt this has something to do with the gap but my old Falco used the same set up and the seat fit fine.

[heinzrx]

Yes, you do need to pull the seat back to access the bolts.  No doubt this has something to do with the gap but my old Falco used the same set up and the seat fit fine.

I know what you mean about the Falco. I currently have a 2003 Falco up for sale and it sits next to my 2007 Tuono.

Great engines though. And +1000 for whoever mentioned the 15-tooth front sprocket for the Tuono. I also added a tooth on the back and I'm pretty happy with it.

Cheers!

[NoGear]

Actually if you want/need the front in dialed in you should bring your to NKY and drop it off for the summer. I'll dial it in for you for FREE!!!!

 

[scottzilla]

Actually if you want/need the front in dialed in you should bring your to NKY and drop it off for the summer. I'll dial it in for you for FREE!!!!

 

I'll work on it, thanks.  

[DNA]

This thread- while interesting- is not really helping me decide between the 2.

As a former955 sprint owner I know that system very well and I love the torquey trip.

I am no track star just looking for general mischief maker since pure fun is impossible on the GSA.

The tupno calls me also.

Sounds like once you dial in the T you should be set?

[bikefreak47]

I've got an early '07 Tuono (gloss silver/grey/black) and an '06 Speed Triple. To my eyes the Tuono has a much higher level of fit ,finish,and materials. The Aprilia's fueling is not as good as the S3's but not one of my twins ('98 SuperHawk, '07 Bimota Delirio DS1000, and '08 SuperDuke) is as smooth and glitch free. Stock vs. stock the Tuono has better brakes, suspension, and chassis. IF my riding involved stop-n-go and heavy traffic the S3 would be my choice over any of my V-twins. On the endless backroads up here in the mountains they're all satisfying.

[Castaway]

I've got an early '07 Tuono (gloss silver/grey/black) and an '06 Speed Triple. To my eyes the Tuono has a much higher level of fit ,finish,and materials. The Aprilia's fueling is not as good as the S3's but not one of my twins ('98 SuperHawk, '07 Bimota Delirio DS1000, and '08 SuperDuke) is as smooth and glitch free. Stock vs. stock the Tuono has better brakes, suspension, and chassis. IF my riding involved stop-n-go and heavy traffic the S3 would be my choice over any of my V-twins. On the endless backroads up here in the mountains they're all satisfying.

You is one lucky man. Nice suite of bikes.  

[klavdy]

Oohh!
A Tuono!

I just bought one as well.
Not like yours though, its a 2003 model.

[scottzilla]

I fiddled with the suspension a little bit and it turns in much better and feels more planted.  Not perfect but much better.  
The engine is pretty amazing.  There is a whole other world awaiting past 7000rpm.