Test Ride - Aprilia Tuono V4

Having a forced week off after Easter I decided to sneak away and take a test ride of a bike I've been dreaming about since it's V2 launch years ago (lucky man Gus!).
There I was, standing in front of a black n grey 2014 Aprilia Tuono V4. IMHO, Other than the front fairing, it's one sexy looking cycle!
The salesman went thru all the modes n buttons n stuff available on the fly. Then a light press of the starter button and Wow.......that V4 engine growl! Holy sh1t!! The clutch is light and the gear shifts are pretty clean. I've never used a quick shift, so that took a bit if getting used to if you choose to.
Now the seat.......The seat is ROCK hard. I've had Blades n Gixers in the past, but this is something else! I ended up with numb legs at the traffic lights coz I was placing both feet on the ground. That cut off my blood circulation on the inside of each leg. I overcome that problem by adopting a Dani Pedrosa style stance at each traffic light. Bars are lower n wider than the Bandits. I found that my weight was slightly on my wrists, which wasn't unpleasant. There wasn't any wind buffeting at highway speeds. The instrument position was similar to my Gixer position, so it didn't take long to get comfy checking out how the bike was going.
Now the handling.....unfriggin believable! Just look, and yer there. The brakes are enough to send you clean over the handlebars. I'm not into the high tech gadgets n stuff available on new vehicles, but this is something else. The bike I rode was 2nd hand with 22k on the clock. It had the 15t front sprocket mod and a slightly worn set of RP4's. The exhaust was standard, but sounded fantastic! 
The test ride left me giggling like a school kid!

 Now....where's them coloured balls with numbers on em??

How much do they want for it SB ?   And do you think it would be a daily rider, or just for play in the weekends ?   Very nice though.

Clearing out current models at 22k ride away.
Gimmie a gel seat, front sprocket, bagster and a pro oiler and I'd be happier than pig in sh1t to ride it everyday. Apparently she's a bit thirsty ......200kms out of a 17l tank 

Well at least you could give your wrists and back a stretch every 200ks. Here's a nice one up here at a reasonable price.
)%26(Model%3D[Tuono V4 R APRC]))%26(((((SiloType%3D[Brand new bikes available])|(SiloType%3D[Brand new bikes in stock]))|(SiloType%3D[Dealer used bikes]))|(SiloType%3D[Demo %26 near new bikes]))|(SiloType%3D[Private used bikes])))%26(Service%3D[Bikesales])&pso=0&pss=Premium]http://www.bikepoint.com.au/dealer/OAG-AD-953587/2012-Aprilia-Tuono-V4-R-APRC?cr=0&psq=(((Make%3D%5BAprilia%5D)%26(Model%3D%5BTuono%20V4%20R%20APRC%5D))%26(((((SiloType%3D%5BBrand%20new%20bikes%20available%5D)%7C(SiloType%3D%5BBrand%20new%20bikes%20in%20stock%5D))%7C(SiloType%3D%5BDealer%20used%20bikes%5D))%7C(SiloType%3D%5BDemo%20%26%20near%20new%20bikes%5D))%7C(SiloType%3D%5BPrivate%20used%20bikes%5D)))%26(Service%3D%5BBikesales%5D)&pso=0&pss=Premium

I'm liking the 2015 1100.......

good on ya mate!!!


I test road a new demo 2012 back then, from what I understand, the newer ones are a little different. I think mapping and maybe something eles..

Anyway, I think they`re AWESOME!!!.

I don`t know what sort of ride you went for, ie:    Did the salesman go with you?

I wont mention the dealer I went to, but he just said " here`s the keys, I don't want to see you before half an hour, and cane it"

How am I supposed to respond to that, but say "OK Mate, I will"

Hammy-  From what I remember, it was a little bit of a pig in city riding, but its nothing I couldn`t live with,
I`d still need another bike though.

I don`t know about you sb1250, but I found it was a little bit jerky in the lower revs (not bad) but ultra smooth in the higher revs, and this thing loves to rev. God they sound good!!

This bike will one day...end up in my collection

Its definitely a riding bike for a nutter, not the ultimate touring bike.

Was the dealer on the southside of Brisbane by any chance ?  I once had my Bandit in being serviced and was checking out the new machines.  A salesman asked if I wanted to take the one I was admiring for a spin. A demo Moto Guzzi California. "The Big One". I said Yeah, why not. After warming it up for me, he said, there ya go. It's got over half a tank, and we don't close till 5:30.

Hammy wrote:Was the dealer on the southside of Brisbane by any chance ?  I once had my Bandit in being serviced and was checking out the new machines.  A salesman asked if I wanted to take the one I was admiring for a spin. A demo Moto Guzzi California. "The Big One". I said Yeah, why not. After warming it up for me, he said, there ya go. It's got over half a tank, and we don't close till 5:30.

mmmm...could be

Our little secret!!

The test ride was on my own. There are some dealers down in Melbourne who ride with you. I don't like that idea, but having a mate who went for a test ride at one of those dealers....reckoned he struggled to keep up with the salesman!!!!

You must be lucky down there.

I`ve only come across one in Brisbane that lets you ride on your own.  I hate when they ride with you, and when they do up here, you don`t get to experience what the bike has to offer.

When the FZ1 first became injected, I took one for a ride with the obligatory salesman. We went for a total of about 2 km`s, and he wouldn`t let me take it over 5000 rpm. Those things don`t start to work until then. Needless to say, no sale that day.

Must be time to do a road trip down there to do some testing.

Cant wait to welcome you to the V4 club mate

sb1250 wrote:The test ride was on my own. There are some dealers down in Melbourne who ride with you. I don't like that idea, but having a mate who went for a test ride at one of those dealers....reckoned he struggled to keep up with the salesman!!!!

I think you'll find it depends on the "candidate".

2wheelsagain wrote:Cant wait to welcome you to the V4 club mate

sb1250 wrote:The test ride was on my own. There are some dealers down in Melbourne who ride with you. I don't like that idea, but having a mate who went for a test ride at one of those dealers....reckoned he struggled to keep up with the salesman!!!!

I think you'll find it depends on the "candidate".

I think you're onto something, if they saw the face in your avatar, they'd hide the keys and call the cops!

Re-Cycled wrote:

2wheelsagain wrote:Cant wait to welcome you to the V4 club mate

sb1250 wrote:The test ride was on my own. There are some dealers down in Melbourne who ride with you. I don't like that idea, but having a mate who went for a test ride at one of those dealers....reckoned he struggled to keep up with the salesman!!!!

I think you'll find it depends on the "candidate".

I think you're onto something, if they saw the face in your avatar, they'd hide the keys and call the cops!

  Are you saying all the Qld fellas look like that when they go into a bike dealership?

I've known the owner of this dealer for plenty years, so taking something for a test ride has never been an issue. On occasion, I've returned the bike with a full tank and washed!!!