2011–2013 · Hyper Naked · Buyer's Guide
The V4 Scream Machine
Aprilia took the RSV4's 999 cc V4 and dropped it into an upright chassis without sanding off a single edge. You get 167 hp, 82 lb-ft, and a top end that keeps climbing well past the point where you expect it to be finished. APRC ride-by-wire gives three switchable maps, with traction control, wheelie control, and ride modes layered over the top so all of that stays usable instead of merely loud. Fully adjustable suspension at both ends, a steering damper, a slipper clutch, and 320 mm front discs complete the picture. This is a superbike wearing handlebars.
It rides like exactly what it is, a focused machine that wants your full attention. At 461 lb wet with a 32.9 in seat, it feels compact and committed rather than roomy, and the stance asks for a rider who already knows what they're doing. Buy it for canyon roads and fast weekend loops, not for errands. On aging: listen for a rattle at startup, because the hydraulic cam chain tensioner can fail and take the engine with it if it's ignored. Early dashboards mist up inside, too. There's no ABS on this one, which you should know before you ride it in the wet.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 167 hp (123 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 82 lb-ft (112 Nm) |
| Displacement | 999 cc |
| Engine | V4 |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 190/55-17 |
| Seat height | 32.9 in (835 mm) |
| Wet weight | 461 lb (209 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.5 gal (17 L) |
| Top speed | 165 mph (265 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 33 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Drivetrain
Safety
Over the years I've picked up a lot about this Tuono from paddock talk, owner chats and club nights, and from the emails and messages riders send me directly. The pattern holds steady. Owners fall for the engine and the quality of the hardware, and the complaints start once a ride runs past an hour.
The rush once the V4 passes 8,000 rpm is what owners bring up first and most often. Plenty of them say no naked rival they've ridden pulls harder up there. The finish comes right after. Riders point to the polished aluminum frame and swingarm and the Brembo hardware as proof that the premium price was earned. Owners who ordered the optional APRC package, which added launch control and a quickshifter, count it among the reasons the bike felt a step ahead of its competition.
The main comfort complaint is the seat. Owners say the thin padding gets punishing after about an hour, and for them that rules out real touring. A smaller group reports the Sachs fork popping seals, which sent them back to the workshop more often than they expected.
Premature cam chain tensioner failure
The hydraulic cam chain tensioner can fail, leading to a distinct rattling noise from the engine, especially on startup. If left unchecked, it can cause serious engine damage. Replacement is necessary.
Dashboard moisture ingress
The LCD instrument panel on early bikes is prone to misting and water accumulation, which can cause temporary display failure or permanent damage.
Where this Aprilia Tuono V4 R pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Tuono V4 R is actually built for.
Angeles Crest is precisely what this bike was built to eat. It has the drive and the chassis precision for it, plus the electronics to keep all that power honest when the pavement turns bumpy.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
Repeatable, technical corners suit this chassis, and the low-end pull means you're not chasing gears out of every turn. The ride to the Dragon is the least enjoyable part of the day.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
The Aprilia Tuono V4 R also comes in these variants, models and special editions. Each has its own page covering only what differs from the standard Tuono V4 R — equipment, electronics, specs and used price.
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Aprilia Tuono V4 R. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Successor · 2013–2014
RSV4 Fury, No Fairing
About the same used price as this bike at 13 yr
Competitor · 2009–2016
Brutal Thrust, BMW Precision
Competitor · 2012–2015
Race Precision With A Plate
About the same used price as this bike at 13 yr
Competitor · 2011–2015
Superbike Soul, Street Ready
Roughly $1,200 pricier used than this bike at 13 yr
Competitor · 2005–2013
Orange Aggression On A Trellis
Same Platform · 2011–2014
Raw V4 With Real Depth
Roughly $3,400 pricier used than this bike at 13 yr
