The Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory is the epitome of Italian engineering, power, and performance. With its aggressive styling, advanced technology, and exhilarating performance, the Tuono V4 Factory has become a favorite among motorcycle enthusiasts. In this blog post, we will delve into the features, specifications, and overall riding experience of the Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory (2021-on).
Its 1077cc V4 engine is a wailing riot of seamless power and monstrous torque, all wrapped up in an RSV4 superbike chassis, making it one of the finest-handling motorcycles money can buy.
Despite its superbike-like speed, it remains calm and comfortable on the road and comes fully loaded with top-notch chassis and electronic features. While it didn’t necessarily need a refresh, the 2021 version receives a range of engine, chassis, and styling updates to stay ahead of the competition.
No other motorcycle combines such a supple road ride with razor-sharp track performance. None other delivers velvety low-end power that can also rip your face off when you hit the redline. Very few bikes handle and grip like a superbike while still providing enough comfort for long-distance riding.
The Aprilia Tuono embodies all of these qualities and more: its wailing exhaust note, advanced technology, finely crafted chassis, and luxurious features. Apart from its updated appearance and color dash, it rides much the same as before and remains the best super naked bike money can buy.
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room – the Aprilia Tuono has a small fairing. However, we at MCN still classify it as a super naked because it is the flat-barred, more upright version of a superbike and offers very little wind protection.
Contents
- 1 Reliability & Build Quality
- 2 Design and Styling:
- 3 Engine and Performance:
- 4 Suspension and Handling:
- 5 Technology and Electronics:
- 6 Ride Quality & Brakes
- 7 Comfort and Ergonomics:
- 8 Fuel Efficiency:
- 9 Pricing and Availability:
- 10 Equipment
- 11 Value vs Rivals
- 12 Of the two available Tuono V4s, this is the one you really want!
- 13 I’m pretty sure the electronics are stolen from Roswell
- 14 The comfort is actually okay
- 15 It is a thirsty little beast
- 16 The exhaust note is worthy of its own album
- 17 This is the most refined and elegant European-built super naked I’ve ridden
- 18 Conclusion:
Reliability & Build Quality
Fresh from the showroom, the Tuono V4 Factory is superbly finished and built. However, owning one can be a mixed bag. Some riders experience trouble-free riding, while others encounter mechanical and parts supply issues. It’s important to do your research and find a dealer with a good reputation.
Our Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory owners’ reviews show evidence of electrical issues, but a reassuring dealer states that this is only a software fault and can be resolved during the first service.
Design and Styling:
The Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory boasts a distinctive and aggressive design that sets it apart from other motorcycles in its class. The aerodynamically sculpted fairings and sharp lines give it a menacing look, while the signature triple headlight design adds to its unique appeal. The carbon fiber components, such as the front fender and side panels, not only enhance its visual appeal but also contribute to reducing weight.
Unlike the 2021 RSV4 superbike, which has a larger capacity, the Tuono V4 sticks with 1077cc. It has a new Euro5 exhaust and mapping, but despite the restrictions, it still produces the same 173bhp (at 350rpm higher) and 89lb-ft of torque.
It doesn’t need 200bhp to impress on the road or dominate on track. Instead, it has a wide spread of power delivery that can be as docile or as wild as you want it to be, accompanied by a ghostly soundtrack that’s impossible to get enough of. Rider aids have been refined thanks to a more powerful new Marelli 11MP ECU.
The riding modes and aids are highly customizable, and you can spend many summer evenings tweaking the traction and wheelie control to shave a few tenths off your commute.
Engine and Performance:
At the heart of the Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory lies a potent 1077cc V4 engine that produces an astonishing 175 horsepower and 89 lb-ft of torque. This powerful engine is mated to a six-speed transmission with quick-shifter for seamless gear changes. The electronic fuel injection system ensures precise throttle response, while the ride-by-wire technology provides smooth power delivery across the rev range.
Suspension and Handling:
The Tuono V4 Factory is equipped with top-of-the-line suspension components that offer excellent control and stability on the road. The fully adjustable Ohlins suspension system at both the front and rear allows riders to fine-tune their riding experience according to their preferences. The advanced electronic aids, such as traction control, wheelie control, and cornering ABS, further enhance the bike’s handling capabilities.
Technology and Electronics:
Aprilia has equipped the Tuono V4 Factory with an array of cutting-edge technology and electronics to elevate the riding experience. The bike features a comprehensive TFT display that provides essential information such as speed, gear position, and fuel level. The advanced APRC (Aprilia Performance Ride Control) system includes multiple riding modes, launch control, and cruise control, allowing riders to adapt to various road conditions and preferences.
Ride Quality & Brakes
Aprilia hasn’t needed to make many changes to the handling over the years – it’s been pretty much perfect, especially the Factory version with its electronic Öhlins suspension and Pirelli Super Corsa SP tires.
The plush ride and the way the front end sticks to the road as you lean into corners are highlights of the Tuono (although the ABS takes away some of the brake feel), and it’s spacious enough even for taller riders to enjoy.
For 2021, it gets the same underbraced swingarm as the new RSV4, which doesn’t make much difference on the road but improves stability on the track.
Braking System:
To match the powerful performance of the Tuono V4 Factory, Aprilia has fitted the bike with a high-performance braking system. The dual 330mm front discs with Brembo calipers provide exceptional stopping power, while the single 220mm rear disc ensures precise and controlled braking. The inclusion of cornering ABS adds an extra layer of safety by optimizing braking performance during cornering.
Comfort and Ergonomics:
Although the Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory is designed for aggressive riding, it doesn’t compromise on rider comfort. The bike features an adjustable riding position that allows riders to find their perfect setup. The well-padded seat offers comfort even during long rides, while the windscreen provides adequate wind protection to reduce fatigue.
Fuel Efficiency:
Given its powerful engine and performance-oriented nature, fuel efficiency might not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering the Tuono V4 Factory. However, Aprilia has managed to strike a balance between performance and efficiency. The bike delivers an average fuel consumption of around 35-40 mpg, making it suitable for both spirited rides and daily commutes.
Pricing and Availability:
As of 2021, the Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory is available at authorized dealerships worldwide. The price may vary depending on the country and any additional features or customizations chosen by the buyer. It is worth noting that the Tuono V4 Factory comes with a premium price tag due to its high-performance components and advanced technology.
Equipment
Like the 2021 RSV4, the new Tuono V4 features a slimmer 17.9-liter tank with a hint of the original Aprilia RSV Mille design, a longer and more comfortable seat, and a reshaped tail unit with a small padded perch for passengers.
It has a new top fairing with the latest Aprilia family look, including LEDs, cornering and daytime running lights, and integrated winglets. With its lower tank and underbraced swingarm, its proportions have changed significantly, giving it a lower and longer appearance compared to the previous version. The fit and finish are still top-notch.
The old fussy 5-inch color display of the Tuono has been replaced with a much easier-to-read version with larger, bolder graphics. The light-sensitive, Bluetooth-enabled dashboard has Road and Track modes and provides a wealth of information, including six rider modes. These modes include a customizable “User” mode that allows you to set your own levels of traction, engine braking, wheelie control, power levels, and ABS intervention.
Its new left switchgear block, also found on the 2021 RSV4 and 660 models, may not be the most elegant, but it includes buttons for cruise control and finger/thumb paddles to adjust the traction control.
| Specs | |
| Engine size | 1077cc |
|---|---|
| Engine type | Liquid-cooled, 16v, V4 |
| Frame type | Aluminium twin spar |
| Fuel capacity | 17.9 litres |
| Seat height | 837mm |
| Bike weight | 209kg |
| Front suspension | Öhlins 43mm USD forks. Semi active |
| Rear suspension | Öhlins single shock. Semi active |
| Front brake | 2 x 330mm discs with four piston radial Brembo Stylema calipers. Cornering ABS |
| Rear brake | 220mm disc with twin piston Brembo caliper. Cornering ABS |
| Front tyre size | 120/70 x 17 |
| Rear tyre size | 200/55 x 17 |
| Mpg, costs & insurance | |
| Average fuel consumption | 37 mpg |
|---|---|
| Annual road tax | £111 |
| Annual service cost | £270 |
| New price | £18,100 |
| Used price | £13,800 – £15,800 |
| Insurance group | 17 of 17 How much to insure? |
| Warranty term | Two years |
| Top speed & performance | |
| Max power | 173 bhp |
|---|---|
| Max torque | 89 ft-lb |
| Top speed | 175 mph |
| 1/4 mile acceleration | – |
| Tank range | 146 miles |
Value vs Rivals
The Ducati Streetfighter V4 S has been improved for 2021, adding more power and excitement, but it doesn’t offer the same joyful fluidity as the Aprilia. Although it has a more luxurious finish, it also costs nearly two thousand pounds more. Related: Best Super Naked Motorbikes
Triumph’s new Speed Triple RS has also raised the bar. It’s £3000 cheaper and comes with Öhlins suspension and Brembo brakes, but while its fantastic new engine and chassis are good enough to challenge the Aprilia on the track, it’s not as engaging on the road. The KTM 1290 Super Duke R is also cheaper in its basic trim and undoubtedly wilder, but it’s not as well-rounded as the Tuono for road riding.
Of the two available Tuono V4s, this is the one you really want!
Okay, so it may cost around £2,500 more than the stock Tuono, but what you get for that money far outweighs the additional £40 or £50 you’ll be paying on a PCP or HP deal. The Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 semi-active suspension is the best in the business. It’s a sublime mix of on-road functionality and on-track performance. It’s definitely worth the extra cost alone.
On the road, it provides a smooth ride over bumps, potholes, and sun-dried horseshit. Then on the track, it offers everything you’ll ever need to carve a line through Craner Curves and keep up with the sports bike heroes.
And it’s not just about the handling either. The riding position is only slightly adjusted from one model to the next, with the stock Tuono gaining slightly higher bars, a softer seat, and a flyscreen – the latter can even be bought and added to the Factory if desired. The difference is so minimal that you’d need to be really critical to notice much of a change.
And for those of us who are vain (I’m talking to myself here), the Factory version is the one that comes in the paint schemes that you actually want, Aprilia Black (as ridden), and the uber-sexy and stealthy Ultra Dark.
I’m pretty sure the electronics are stolen from Roswell
Modern sports bikes and super nakeds are all equipped with top-spec electronics that can both flatter the rider and save their skin should they run out of talent. That can make it hard to determine whether what you are riding is actually any better or worse than the last bike you hopped on.
That wasn’t the case with the Tuono. The Aprilia press bikes are all stored at Silverstone in a super secretive bunker not dissimilar to Area 51 – there are just fewer Americans with guns hiding in bushes. Notice I said ‘fewer’… It took me all of about 300 yards to be completely and totally won over by one of the Aprilia’s electronic systems – its throttle.
The connection between rider and machine is pitch-perfect. In sport mode, it feels almost 1:1, delivering exactly what you ask for, from the bottom of the rev-range, right to the redline. It’s a wonderful thing to use, and not just for brain-out hooliganery. You always get what you ask for, in any riding mode, meaning you can place the bike where you want it with laser-guided accuracy, then get on the power knowing precisely what you are going to get.
I’m not sure who designed that stuff, but for road and track riding, you would be hard-pressed to find a more perfectly designed and executed system.
The comfort is actually okay
It’s not all B-road blasts on the Tuono, as I’ve also done some airport runs and flyaway launches in April with Toni (pet name, sorry). We were schlepping out some miles, mostly on the A14 and M11 for the dreaded early morning Stansted flights.
My first impression of the seat was that it was overly hard, although I had just traded a Tuareg 660 for the Tuono, and a futon would feel uncomfortable after riding that. In truth, it’s not that bad. It is firm but nicely contoured, giving you plenty of room to shuffle about when needed.
I could go on here about how it makes me want Aprilia to make a proper touring version, à la GSX1000 GT (and I do), but that’s another idea for another column…
The riding position is just on the right side of sporty; the lower legroom is okay (I’m 5’7”) and the upper body stance is the same. I felt good on the bike for more than an hour of riding, whether on a B-road or motorway. And anyway, after that, the tank would need refilling…
It is a thirsty little beast
Okay, the fun things in life are never healthy, and that definitely applies to the Aprilia’s penchant for drinking fuel. It’s not like it has a small tank either – around 18 litres – it’s just one of those bikes that is fairly thirsty. I’m sure there are more ‘restrained’ riders out there who could squeeze more MPG out of it, but for me, I was glancing around for watering holes around the hundred-mile mark, just to be on the safe side.
The exhaust note is worthy of its own album
I’ve said it before but, modern bikes must make aftermarket exhaust makers really sweat. There are so many great sounding bikes out there, each one arrives straight out of the factory, playing a tune that makes you want to bite the back of your hand… It’s a really tough act to follow. Worse still improve on.
The Tuono is very near the top of that list. Around town, it’s personable, approachable, but ever so slightly menacing thanks to that distinctive, angry V4 grumble. Get it on the open road wait for that exhaust valve to open though, and this thing sings. It’ll howl with the best of them and is backed up by some deliciously in-tune induction howl that just makes you want to do very naughty things.
Backing it down the gears with the quickshifter will also unlock more aurally pleasing loveliness, with barks, pops, and burbles to warm the heart. If NME were still a newspaper (newspapers, remember them?) I’m pretty sure this would get a 10/10 from them.
This is the most refined and elegant European-built super naked I’ve ridden
Okay, it’s a bold claim, but I’m standing by it. Yes, there are faster, more track-oriented super nakeds out there but isn’t that really missing the point of a super naked. They are road bikes first and foremost, making a pure track bike with no fairing is missing the mark a bit.
The Tuono V4 Factory doesn’t feel like that. It’s every inch a road bike, with more than enough ability to hold its own on a trackday when needed. It’s a really stunningly executed piece of kit that I can only fault in one very specific area – the headlight is utter crap. It’s absolute candle in a jam jar territory but it really is the only thing I can fault.
I’m always a little sad to hand the keys to a bike back, even if it’s not been all positive. I can hand on heart say that had Aprilia not had a press day planned next week, this thing would have been staying with me for an extended period of time.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory is a force to be reckoned with in the world of motorcycles. Its aggressive design, powerful engine, advanced technology, and exceptional handling make it a dream bike for adrenaline junkies and motorcycle enthusiasts. Whether you’re tearing up the track or cruising on the open road, the Tuono V4 Factory delivers an exhilarating riding experience that is unmatched in its class.
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