2012 Aprilia Tuono V4 R Review (motorcycle.com)

[McHack]

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/aprilia/2012-aprilia-tuono-v4-r-review-91250.html

Finally coming to America!

[Sport-Touring]

[atadaskew]

155 rwhp.

 

Awesome.

[Croak]

And there's "money on the table" with that number too.

[BlueRidgeKat]

Hard to tell in the pics, but looks like they have went with the stupid "one eyed" headlight when on dim ??
I like the 4 bulb set up on my 07 much better where 2 are on at all times instead of looking like you have a "light out". Other than that..... this thing is fricking AWESOME!

[Rincewind]

There was one being shown at a local bike meet yesterday.  Great sounding engine!

[Cablebandit]

I'm test riding this one Thursday.  Anybody have any specific questions they want answered regarding whether it sucks or not.

[falconati]

1.) does it suck?

[atadaskew]

My local shop has them for demo rides.
They say if you bend it, you buy it....

Call sales to book a ride and have valid license, insurance card, riding gear and understand that if you bend it you bought it. So don’t go crazy. Our route is a 7 mile loop with mild twisty urban roads plus freeway miles to feel the power.

[UFO]

Finally coming to America!

Oh god.

[Cablebandit]

1.) does it suck?

No...it does not suck.

[falconati]

 

[McHack]

No...it does not suck.

The only niggle I've READ is,  its seat isn't exactly comfortable.

[garry]

I threw a leg over one (already sold) at the local Aprilia dealer on Friday. Looks much nicer in the flesh IMO. Ergos felt great. I really liked the way my legs fit into the tank. I can only imagine what all that power is like on a corner exit. I liked it. A lot.

[Cablebandit]

The unbelievable thing is just how smooth the engine is. There's virtually zero vibration in the seat and pegs.  The fueling is also spot on.  There is no snatchy on/off throttle response that plagues many FI bikes.

[Esaki]

There's a APRC sitting in a dealership 4 miles from me. It's their demo with 720kms on it for 12k eurobucks. Yellow. I think it would look good next to my Norge. I keep thinking I really should find out what the insurance cost would be.

[UFO]

I'm having bad thoughts....


 

[Croak]

Just shave ~60 pounds off your MTS and slap in a 1198 motor (non-11 degree) and you'll be mostly there Skipper.  And you'll have ABS which the V4T doesn't, so there's that.

[UFO]

Just shave ~60 pounds off your MTS and slap in a 1198 motor (non-11 degree) and you'll be mostly there Skipper.  And you'll have ABS which the V4T doesn't, so there's that.

It's the properly firing V4 more than anything (as opposed to the new VFR).

Honestly if this had been available when the MTS was first available...this would be in my garage right now.

Hope my wife doesn't troll the forum and see this.

[atadaskew]

I'm having bad thoughts....


 

If it makes you feel better, you won't be pushing your MS after 120 miles...

[Croak]

It's the properly firing V4 more than anything (as opposed to the new VFR).

Honestly if this had been available when the MTS was first available...this would be in my garage right now.

Hope my wife doesn't troll the forum and see this.

Sounds like shit, doesn't it? 

[Morgan]

Well I rode one yesterday, and liked it so much that I went back again today to ride it again.  Some background on me may shed some light on how awesome the bike is:  I am utterly cheap. I've put about 83K on my '99 SV 650 that I bought used.  I like Japanese reliability.  I am cautious and am not prone to excess.  I just bought a hi-viz 'Stich.  I plan things out, hate being surprised, and almost never waste anything. That being said, I am seriously, seriously contemplating buying this Italian bike  

First off, I rode the bike with TC set to 4, and wheelie control set to 3 and then 2.  Always in Sport mode.  When I started it, I almost peed myself. It sounds amazing.  The sounds only get better the harder you ride it.  I kept rev-matching downshifts into 2nd at 55mph just to hear it.  As far as power is concerned, it has so, so, so much of it.  The wheelie control and indicator light on the dash is amusing.  All I could think of every time I nailed the throttle was that the bike is like a rabid dog on a very big chain.  I'd roll into the power in 2nd gear and the light would flash.  At one point, feeling quite brave, I opened the throttle quite quickly in 2nd gear:  the result was impressive acceleration, a brief lift of the front as the light flashed, a clutchless shift on the quick shifter and more light flashing as the wheel got about an inch off the ground.  I could do without the quick shifter.  It's slick when you're really on the gas, but I felt slicker using the clutch.  Speaking of which, I never noticed the slipper clutch.  Like I said, I've never ridden a cooler sounding bike rev-matching down through the gears.  My buddy dropped 3 gears and claims to have simply dropped the clutch.  He said it just sounded like it was 'winding up,' but I can't trust the slipper like that and it sounds abusive.  

Anyway, on day two, I figured that I should ride it like I owned it.  As such, I tried cruising at 70 (39mpg indicated) and cruising at 50mph in 6th (it tolerates it and returns a claimed instant 42mpg).  It really, really is smooth and comfy.  Ultimately, I need to call my insurance people.  And beg my wife.  

I keep telling myself that I'm not an Italian bike kind of guy, but I've got the fever in a way that no Ducati has ever given me.
 

[BlueRidgeKat]

I keep telling myself that I'm not an Italian bike kind of guy, but I've got the fever in a way that no Ducati has ever given me.

Morgan I love my Tuono V2 like no other bike I ever had, I can't even imagine how awesome this new V4 must be. Go for it, I doubt you will ever have any regrets. There's a reason why the German, Italian and Brit bike sales are up while the Japanese big four is down.

By the way, love my Triumph as well !!