It is a cold October morning. The asphalt is still wet with the morning frost. The editor-in-chief and I take the car together and head towards the canton of Aargau. Destination: the Uetliberg, where the head office of Ofrag is located (official importer of Piaggio in Switzerland). We are both a little nervous. We do not yet know exactly what awaits us. We only know that we have the chance to try Aprilia's brand-new workhorse.
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The multi-award-winning Aprilia Tuono V4 APRC with 167 hp and 111 Nm spread over 187 kilograms dry. A thunder, or rather a lightning bolt on the road. Once at our destination, we enter the showroom where the models belonging to the Piaggio group are displayed. In a flash, our eyes spot the model that Ofrag kindly allowed us to try for two weeks. Next to the Aprilia V4 Tuono we spot its sister, the reigning Superbike champion, the Aprilia RSV4 APRC Factory. Two motorcycles that make any engine enthusiast dream (and so do we). A “good morning” interrupts our biker dreams, in which we grip the handlebars and launch ourselves onto the racetracks of the world with these two fantastic products of Italian engineering. Without our having noticed anything, an Aprilia mechanic has approached us; after the ample introductions, the mechanic starts to present her, the Aprilia V4 Tuono, which has a very modern four-cylinder V engine (the same as its sister, the Aprilia RSV4 Factory). A type of engine that no other maker of racing motorcycles offers among its models; Aprilia is the only one that has this thrilling type of engine in its range. And that is not all. 167 horsepower, 111 Nm for only 187 kg of dry weight is no small thing. For this reason, Aprilia has equipped its Tuono with a broad package of electronic and mechanical aids that not only help you go faster on the track but also provide a certain safety on the home-to-work or home-to-Alpine-passes journey. These aids are: a traction control adjustable over eight levels, three engine maps, an anti-wheelie control, launch control, an on-board computer, a stopwatch, a gear indicator, top-level Brembo callipers, the finest suspensions, and so on. To transcribe in this article all the electronic and mechanical “gimmicks” that this motorcycle has would take up all the space the editorial team gives us. For this reason, we will dwell on our impressions and the emotions experienced on this splendid motorcycle. After the mechanic has presented the motorcycle, it is my turn to introduce myself. Once it is started, we understand in a flash why Aprilia decided to call its motorcycle thunder. The roar of the engine is mind-blowing. A sound that makes the skin shiver and warms the spirits of any engine enthusiast. Wonderful, this V4 symphony, by now forgotten by the other motorcycle manufacturers. Impatient to set off, we put on the suit. The autumn cold is now forgotten.
In the saddle
Once in the saddle, we notice that everything is in its place. The saddle, a little hard (you only notice it after a few hours), is in one way or another comfortable for a sports bike. The handlebars and the footpegs allow us an upright posture, not hunched as on the RSV4. The controls (placed on the handlebars) for the on-board computer and all the electronic aids are easy to find even without taking your eyes off the road. The brake, clutch and gear levers can be adjusted individually by the rider. So, after making “friends”, we can finally set off to conquer the roads.
On the road
The first thing that catches the eye, or rather the ear, is the roar of the engine. Even cruising at 120 km/h on the motorway you can hear the thunder of the engine. Incredible! And here we wonder how the Aprilia technicians managed to have this exhaust approved for road use. But better not to ask; let us rather thank the Aprilia technicians for succeeding. Speaking of the engine, we must offer further praise to the engineers who designed it. The engine is a true marvel. Always ready to send shivers down your spine as soon as you turn the throttle grip. Beautiful the pull, extraordinary the thrust it manages to generate. With this motorcycle, any Ferrari, Lamborghini or Porsche has its work cut out. But if you now think the motorcycle is an untameable monster, you are mistaken. The highly sophisticated electronics produced in-house by Aprilia are here to help you tame all these horses. You can count on a traction control that recognises the roughness of the asphalt in a fraction of a second and helps you not to lose control of the rear. We did not even find it too intrusive. On the contrary, it is intrusive just to the right degree. If you rev too much, it lets you understand like a gentleman that you should perhaps stay a little calmer, because the tyres are not yet warmed up enough or the asphalt is too cold. Finally off the motorway and heading towards the Alpine passes, we can at last savour the combination of the Aprilia chassis and engine. Aprilia is famous throughout the world for its super-balanced motorcycles (you may remember the Aprilia RSV 1000 2-cylinder which, despite its horsepower gap, managed to win the Masterbike 2006). In the new Tuono too, this “tradition” has a sequel. The motorcycle responds immediately and with extreme precision to all the rider's commands. It feels like riding on rails, so precise is this motorcycle. Even the roughness of the asphalt does not bring too much movement into the motorcycle. The suspensions are able to “work” perfectly even when leaning and on asphalt that is not in perfect condition. Beautiful lean angles for everyone could be the Tuono's motto. The Brembo system is another strong point of this motorcycle. It is a marvel of power and perfectly modulable. Perhaps the brakes are a touch too powerful for road use. Not all of us are professional riders, and an ABS would certainly have come in handy for many. We hope that for next season Aprilia can offer an ABS in the options list. Looking at the sales statistics, Swiss customers would be pleased about it. After a few lean angles and a few bursts of throttle, we are abruptly stopped by a flashing light. 140 kilometres, and the motorcycle signals that it is thirsty. And how thirsty. Unfortunately, this is one of the few sore points. With this motorcycle too, Aprilia has not yet managed to master consumption. The Aprilia V4 Tuono drinks a lot. 9 litres per 100 kilometres seems to us an excessive consumption. Here the Aprilia technicians should sit back down at the table and solve this problem, which in these modern times, when consumption is ever-present in everyone's minds, is not acceptable. After a few hours on the passes and on the roads of Switzerland, the sun sets. It is time to put the motorcycle in the garage. The sun has gone down and the roads are dark. The Aprilia's lighting system lights our way. It is not a very powerful system, but it is enough to get home safe and sound. Once in the garage, we turn the key to stop the storm of emotions experienced with this motorcycle. We watch it while it “ticks” (the sound it makes as it cools), satisfied. We take off the helmet and look in the rear-view mirrors. A smile! Ok, that said it all. The motorcycle has satisfied us.
Strengths: Engine - Chassis - Design - Electronics - Brakes
Weaknesses: Consumption too high - ABS not yet available - Lighting
Visit the official website: www.aprilia.ch
