Aprilia Tuono

Aprilia Tuono

ITALY 2003

Stripped and ready for action

“I WANTED TO CREATE A BIKE THAT WOULD BE THE QUICKEST in the world at the backroad game: ultra-agile, ultra-responsive, ultra-surefooted on a twisty road. I think I accomplished the mission.”

The speaker is Klaus Nennewitz, the man charged with giving life to the Aprilia Tuono. He is justifiably proud of his accomplishment, because with a minimum number of modifications to the model from which it is derived-the race-replica Mille Rߞhe has given the Tuono a completely new, very rich personality.

First seen at the Bologna Motor Show last year, the Tuono stirred immediate attention and approval from the public, to the point that it was rushed into production.

Although, in spirit, the Tuono’s main competition may be the Ducati Monster S4, the $18,000 asking price in Italy puts it in another league pricewise. But after a ride on the Tuono, you begin to think maybe it deserves such a price, because its quality and personality are well above anything in the streetfighter class. Let me put it straight right from the start: The Tuono is the best variation on the RSV Mille yet to come off of Aprilia’s assembly lines. And it didn’t take much, because underneath that clean, mean stance, the basic mechanical elements are straight from the RSV Mille R. The only mechanical change was the addition of the Haga Replica’s four-piston, four-pad Brembo racing brakes. Interestingly, Aprilia even left the taller European gearing, instead of going with the slightly lower American-spec. Nennewitz admits the latter would have been a more logical choice since acceleration, not top speed, is the realm of the Tuono.

Like many Aprilias, matte-black is the basic color, but it is played with a touch of class, from the gold-painted frame (to

match the Öhlins fork), to the minimalist carbon-kevlar bodywork to the dual seat, covered in a canvas-like material.

After a rainy night in Monza, the morning of our track ride was quite damp, and patches of fog filled the lower lands in the park surrounding the famed old race circuit. Still, the Tuono felt perfectly controllable, and was a real pleasure to ride. The Parabólica was the only decently dry comer on the whole track and so was the only place we could really flick it in deep. The Tuono dives in with élan, changes line easily and has lots of lean angle in reserve.

Much credit for this sure feeling goes to the excellent ergonomics. The tapered, gold-anodized handlebar makes for a natural riding position, solid and leaned forward just enough to brace against the wind. It also moves the rider’s pelvis closer to the tank, putting more weight on the front end. At speed, the handlebar also allows for a moderately tucked-in riding posture, enough to take some advantage of the small upper fairing, though the upright ergonomics aren’t totally suited to the track. But this is not a racebike, and the Tuono’s riding position is very comfortable for both an around town trot and highway cruising at medium speed.

Of course, the true home for the Tuono is on a twisty mountain road, where its vigorous engine response and agility come into full play. The only street-riding drawback is for use twoup, as the passenger accommodations are an afterthought. In fact, the passenger sits so far behind the rear axle that it would totally upset the fine balance of this naked Mille.

Nennewitz admitted Aprilia considered a longer swingarm to combat this problem, but it wasn’t possible in the msh to get the Tuono to market. Okay, so we’ll ride solo and be quite happy with that! -Bruno de Prato