Motorcycle specifications ApriliaTUONO V4 1100 RR 2016 In pursuit of hypersport

Or almost. For over 10 years, the Tuono has been more than just a stripped-down version of Aprilia's sports bike of the moment. Over the years, it has become a roadster with a confident personality and spectacular performance. This time, it takes on a whole new independence of taste. Its chassis and technology are still derived from the RSV4, but this year they've been seriously reworked. The engine, however, goes through the operating theatre before returning to the cartography workshop. It gains in volume, and here's the Tuono V4 1100, more powerful, more furious... for the more oblivious?!?

let's announce the Dantesque breath: 175 horsepower. That's the wattage of a hypersport, isn't it? From the previous decade, certainly. Above all, it's the pinnacle of today's streetfighter, which Aprilia shares with KTM and its 1290 Superduke R. The BMW S 1000 R? Not far behind.... But behind. The Z 1000 and GSX-S 1000? In the middle of the previous bend. Speed Triple and CB 1000 R? Er... further back. But this joyful fighting illustrates the fantastic leap in power that ultimate roadsters have made in recent years, and the madness that has taken hold of some of them.

is it the Tuono making a name for itself, or is Aprilia out to prove that it's not just in WSBK that the brand is making its mark? The Tuono leaves the debate to its progenitors. In the meantime, it's honing its V4 to atomize much of what's on the road. Like its predecessor, it takes the excellent block from the sporty RSV4, then enlarges the bore (from 78 to 81 mm) and increases displacement to 1077 cm3. It's not so much the search for maximum power that's targeted, but the availability of the boiler. At the top of the charts, this demonic machine gains 5 horsepower and half a mkg of torque. We're more interested in what happens at mid-range with this extra cubic capacity. And with good reason: the V4 1100 delivers 20 more horsepower at 8,000 rpm than the previous Tuono. That's a hell of a lot of extra power, ideal for blowing your fillings out on acceleration.
Such a result can be attributed to improvements shared with the RSV4 RR: lighter Pankl connecting rods, revised intake and lubrication, a more powerful ECU and recalibration of the 3 riding modes.

after the engine upgrade comes the upgrading of the on-board electronics. Aprilias are very well equipped in this respect. In addition to 3 maps (Track, Sport and Road), the Tuono V4 1100 features a new generation of APRC (Aprilia Performance Ride Control), including 8-level traction control, anti-wheeling, stop-start assistant and in-house shifter. Bosch 9MP ABS with 3 intervention modes and anti-stoppie complete the digital package.
Not completely; there's still a bonus, but it's used after the race... er, I mean the hard ride. As with its sporty cousin, the Noale roadster is equipped with a telemetry system that lets you consult a host of data from your smartphone, as well as adjusting certain parameters via the dedicated app.

more muscle, more performance, more technology... and more user-friendliness. While the Tuono 1100's technical data sheet asserts additional muscle at every level, its face has become smoother. The fork head and eyes have been softened, while a larger bubble enhances protection (a little). Ergonomics have also been improved, with a seat that's 15 mm lower and claimed to be more comfortable, as well as narrower handlebars.
The chassis is not as empathetic. No question of being nicer, just more efficient. Aprilia knows how to make sharp parts, exploiting the potential of its machines beyond reason. In the case of the Tuono V4 1100, the bar has been raised yet another notch. The RSV4 's aluminum double-beam frame is up to the task. Then, Superbike experience speaks for itself: swingarm lengthened by 6 mm, caster angle retracted from 25.1° to 24.7° and headroom reduced from 107.4 mm to 99.7 mm. These minor tweaks to the geometry should boost agility while optimizing driveability and stability.
Suspension - 43 mm inverted fork and shock absorber - is provided by Sachs (the Factory reserves the right to use Öhlins), while braking is handled by Brembo. As on the previous generation, M432 monobloc radial calipers on 320 mm discs stop the beast's 184 kilos.

slightly lighter, more powerful with a peak of 175 hp and a hefty boost of watts at mid-range, dynamically improved and electronically overhauled.dynamically improved and electronically overhauled, the Tuono V4 in this 1100 episode goes from strength to strength, and remains one of the most terrifying production roadsters ever conceived. Big heart and serious technical baggage are mandatory, even if the multiple power assistants digest and channel the force of the Italian 4-cylinder. You'd be right to be afraid of it, while at the same time fantasizing about its enormous sporting capabilities.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos