Tuono V4 R

Tuono V4 R

CW FIRST RIDE

Tuono means “thunder” in Italian. Well, the thunder just got louder.

BRUNO DEPRATO

APRILIA CALLS ITS NEW RSV4-BASED Tuono V4 R a “superbike with a high bar.” But we think it’s more like an angry wasp that just got its nest whacked with a stick, especially the sunlit-yellow version with its diminutive black-top fairing and bug-eye headlight treatment. Aprilia engineers wanted to maintain the Tuono tradition of a hot-performing naked bike with a style of its own. Clearly, they have; it’s a wonderfully executed machine with great fit, finish and top-quality components.

And it offers better performance than any Tuono before, demonstrated during a day-long test on the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia, Spain. Having Troy Corser’s former race technician at my disposal was a big bonus and allowed me to fine-tune the V4 R to my liking; very helpful, considering my above-average weight of 220 pounds.

After spending several laps getting familiar with the bike, I experimented with damping settings on the fully adjustable Sachs suspension (43mm inverted fork and gas-charged shock), as well as rear spring preload, and ultimately improved steering response by reducing rear-end squat. This made the bike more agile while also improving stability. Clearly, testing-department chief Stefano Pellizzon nailed the chassis and suspension specs right out of the box.

At a glance, it is difficult to see the subtle differences between the frame on the Tuono and that of the RSV4 on which the V4 R is based. But on the Tuono, the engine is mounted in a fixed (no adjustable slots) and lower position for a lower center of gravity. Rake was changed from the RSV4’s 24.5 degrees to 25.0 degrees on the Tuono. This extended the wheelbase by an inch from 55.9 to 56.9 inches, increased trail from 4.1 to 4.2 in. and gives the bike a 50/50

front-to-rear weight balance. Claimed dry weight (no fluids or battery) is 403 pounds.

A few key changes differentiate the Tuono engine from that of the RSV4. While the 78.0 x 52.3mm boreand-stroke dimensions are identical in the ultra-compact, counterbalanced 65-degree V-Fours, the V4 R unit breathes through taller, fixed-length velocity stacks optimized to fatten the lower half of the torque curve and improve throttle response below 4000 rpm. Further, flywheel mass has been increased to improve tractability and smooth engine vibration. The 13.0:1 compression ratio and 48mm throttle bodies are unchanged.

Claimed peak output for the Tuono is 167 horsepower at 11,500 rpm, with 82 foot-pounds of peak torque at 9500 rpm. This is about 10 hp and 3 ft.-lb. down on the RSV4R. Ride-by-wire throttle management enables the V4 R to use the same Road, Sport and Track selectable power-delivery modes.

The engine is fantastic and impressive. Aprilia’s lOOOcc V-Four is capable of breathtaking acceleration, and its flexibility allows it to quickly pick up revs from as low as 4000 rpm in any gear. During one stint, I experimented with the low-end performance by leaving the transmission in third gear for the entire lap—with the exception of the main straight—and still experienced glorious corner-exit drives. Even when exiting the final turn in a taller-than-optimal gear, I could hit an indicated 140 mph at the end of the front straight before braking with the excellent radial master cylinder and radial-mount four-piston calipers working on 320mm discs.

Due to the diminutive fairing, I could barely hang on at these speeds. Despite trying to make myself small to avoid the windblast, at the end of the day, I didn’t feel fatigued, thanks to the good ergonomics and predictable engine and chassis response. Very impressive considering the outright performance offered by this angry wasp.

In Europe, the Tuono will be available in a standard version and an Aprilia Performance Ride Control version (with traction control, wheelie control, a quick-shifter and launch control). Aprilia USA confirmed that it will import only the V4 R APRC and expects it to go on sale this coming winter as a 2012 model. Price has yet to be determined. □