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
The noise arrives first. Thumb the starter and the V4 clears its throat with a hard mechanical bark, and by the time you're in third with the revs up it's a full howl you feel in your chest as much as your ears. A fine buzz comes through the pegs and the bar ends and never goes numb, so the bike stays alive underneath you. The riding position is short and forward, wide bars for leverage, high pegs, weight on your wrists at a stoplight. With nothing out front, wind pressure builds early and hangs on your shoulders once you're past 70 mph. At an honest road pace it feels smaller and lighter than 461 lb suggests, and your hands stay busy the whole time.
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
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.
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 · 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