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Post by elnoodle the reasonable on Aug 20, 2020 11:36:00 GMT
Got this out today as the 'Blade was in for a service. Was meant to get the RSV4 but some cunt had stuck slicks on it for a track day so that was that fucked. Having said that, you'd be hard pushed to find any tread on the Tuono's supercorsas. Great in the dry but I'm praying it doesn't rain before I have to take it back.
So, the Tuono. Believe all the reviews because it is an awesome bit of kit. I'm used to the riding position of sports bikes but this is the first "upright" I've enjoyed from the off. Handling is perfectly balanced and the bike feels light. Maybe a touch of understeer when getting brave in bends but that could be the riding position as much as anything else. The Ohlins suspension is like nothing I've experienced. Both plush and firm when you need it to be. Witchcraft. Turns out it's semi-active but I've not figured out the controls.
The engine is, well, mental. Is it faster than the 'Blade? Difficult to tell with the different riding positions. Midrange certainly feels more torquey and that's an area where the 'Blade is particularly strong. Is it fast enough? Most certainly. Sounds like a bag of spanners on tickover but that V4 rasp when you open the cunt up...
The dash is something else. All the information you want and loads you didn't. Everything from % throttle/brake to lean angle. Don't know about you but if I'm that hard into a bend that the lean angle's of interest then I should maybe be looking at the road rather than the data. The amount of info available is impressive but it's probably more of a distraction than you need.
So, that riding position. I still love the head-down-arse-up of a sports bike but on a a longish trip I'd give my left bollock for lower pegs. That's the only reason I'd buy a bike like this and that's where the Tuono boots itself in the arse. Feels like actual racing rearsets on it and it's a total dealbreaker for me. That and the eye-watering price.
I'd recommend getting a test ride if you can. It's a lot of fun but those pegs...
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Post by elnoodle the reasonable on Aug 20, 2020 16:19:32 GMT
OK, got the 'Blade back and in a back-to-back test the 'Blade's pegs are much higher but it's still a valid criticism of the Tuono. In the cold light of day, I do prefer the Tuono's riding position for the kind of riding I do and an upright bike with sportsbike levels of power does appeal, certainly more than the Triumph Speed Triple I tried but...but...I loved my Aprillia RSV2 but Italian electrics still have reliability issues and I'm not sure I have the confidence in them. Still an awesome bike all the same.
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Post by neilf on Aug 20, 2020 17:34:44 GMT
Running wide in corners probably means that there's too much weight over the back. I'm not sure what you can do with semi-active suspension, but I'm assuming that it can still be changed it manually using spanners and screwdrivers; static sag (pre-load) needs to be set so when you sit on the bike, the front and rear compresses by about 30% of the suspension's travel.
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Post by elnoodle the reasonable on Aug 20, 2020 18:57:41 GMT
It was a minor criticism Neil. The upright position would naturally put more weight over the rear and I dare say you could dial it out but overall I felt it handled very well for that style of bike.
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Post by mekon on Aug 20, 2020 19:16:41 GMT
Do Aprilia make a small v4 or is it all 1000/1100 stuff?
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Post by neilf on Aug 20, 2020 20:49:31 GMT
The V4s are all 1000s & 1100s. Apparently Aprilia brining out a couple middle weight using a parallel twin which is essentially half the 1100 V4; a sports bike and a Tuono style bike.
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Post by beefus on Aug 21, 2020 12:13:51 GMT
Running wide in corners probably means that there's too much weight over the back. I'm not sure what you can do with semi-active suspension, but I'm assuming that it can still be changed it manually using spanners and screwdrivers; static sag (pre-load) needs to be set so when you sit on the bike, the front and rear compresses by about 30% of the suspension's travel. You can only adjust the settings via the computer...my KTM had Sport, Touring, Rain but no adjustment for each mode, but I'd imagine bikes like the 'Priller will have a myriad of settings within each riding mode as they do for TC, anti-wheelie, ABS etc. Thing is, who actually spends time playing around with all these settings?....not many, probably. Cracking bike though and sounds fantastic. |
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Post by pantah on Aug 21, 2020 17:16:18 GMT
I reckon the old v twin Tuono is a better bet for the real world.
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Post by elnoodle the reasonable on Aug 21, 2020 17:38:02 GMT
I reckon the old v twin Tuono is a better bet for the real world. I'd have a go of the current one before making hasty claims like that Pants. The more I think about it, the more it makes perfect sense. That engine is stunning. I'd be happy with a low-tech version. All those fancy electronics must add some chunk to the price and all they do is get in the way of fun. I couldn't, for example, wheelie the fucker and have no interest in reading War and Peace just to figure out how to turn off the anti-wheelie bollocks. The quick shifter was a pleasant gimmick. Power modes? Fuck that. They could surely get a basic one under £10k new even with standard Ohlins. |
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Post by mekon on Aug 21, 2020 17:45:02 GMT
I watched a video with a guy on a 749RRRRRRR or whatever vs. a 2020 desmodesmodesmo. He said if you wanted a long term bike to cherish and fix and look after go for the 749 due to fact it still had the pure mechanical connection. No computers, no fly by wire feeding to engine management and TC modes, it was what it was. I can see the charm in that.
I guess you can possibly go faster on modern stuff but feel less involved?
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Post by beefus on Aug 21, 2020 18:20:40 GMT
I reckon the old v twin Tuono is a better bet for the real world. The quick shifter was a pleasant gimmick. Quickshifters are good but you need to try the full up/down auto blipper.......I’m a sceptic by nature about some bike tech and was one of the “why would I need one” brigade...but try it, it’s great. you can pick up one of the original Tuono V4 1000’s from around £6k. |
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Post by elnoodle the reasonable on Aug 21, 2020 18:26:06 GMT
you can pick up one of the original Tuono V4 1000’s from around £6k. I might be talking pish but did Aprillia's first V4 not have a few issues? I seem to recall tales of excessive fuel consumption. I just did a quick scan of used ones and they do seem to hold their value well which the V2s never did. That has to be a good reflection of their quality and desirability. |
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Post by spuu on Aug 21, 2020 18:40:35 GMT
you can pick up one of the original Tuono V4 1000’s from around £6k. I might be talking pish but did Aprillia's first V4 not have a few issues? I seem to recall tales of excessive fuel consumption. I just did a quick scan of used ones and they do seem to hold their value well which the V2s never did. That has to be a good reflection of their quality and desirability. The early gen models were thirsty AND had a small tank. Later models they upped the size. Fuel light on after 70 miles when cracking on. The engine was a peach though. |
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Post by beefus on Aug 21, 2020 18:58:13 GMT
I might be talking pish but did Aprillia's first V4 not have a few issues? I seem to recall tales of excessive fuel consumption. I just did a quick scan of used ones and they do seem to hold their value well which the V2s never did. That has to be a good reflection of their quality and desirability. The early gen models were thirsty AND had a small tank. Later models they upped the size. Fuel light on after 70 miles when cracking on. The engine was a peach though. If I could afford to have multiple bikes I’d buy a Tuono 1100 (And many other bikes!) as thrasher but it wouldn’t be something I’d want to do distance on....they do sound the fuckin bollox though with the Akro....even better with a full system |
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Post by spuu on Aug 21, 2020 19:16:12 GMT
The quick shifter was a pleasant gimmick. Quickshifters are good but you need to try the full up/down auto blipper.......I’m a sceptic by nature about some bike tech and was one of the “why would I need one” brigade...but try it, it’s great. you can pick up one of the original Tuono V4 1000’s from around £6k. I'd never owned or even ridden a bike with a quickshifter before and I am now in love with mine. |
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