By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Hyper Naked
Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 (MY2015-Factory) vs BMW S 1000 R (K47)
Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 vs BMW S 1000 R: which one's easier to live with every day.
Roll the throttle open on the Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 and the engine grunts down low, then there's a howling rush up top. On the BMW S 1000 R, that same twist finds an engine that's always ready. It pulls hard from the very bottom of the revs.
So which one do you buy?
The Tuono V4 1100 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Edges it: Tuono V4 1100
Day in, day out, the Tuono V4 1100 nudges ahead in traffic. It isn't a big enough gap to plan around.
Character, looks and sound
A touch ahead: Tuono V4 1100
On sound and soul, the Tuono V4 1100 comes out a touch ahead. Most of that is more distinctive styling. Your own eyes and ears outrank this verdict.
Which one's the smarter buy
No clear winner on value
The Tuono V4 1100 sits slightly lower on the price tag, but that small gap doesn't make it the clear better buy. Neither bike stands out as the smarter financial choice at these used prices.
What makes each one tick
Tuono V4 1100
You'll hear the Tuono V4 1100 first, since its V4 snarls out of the exhaust in a note that sets the bike's whole mood. The seat's thick padding and a roomy riding position let a tall rider stay aboard all day. In Factory trim, the Öhlins-sprung chassis doesn't hesitate at corner entry. The bar moves, the front tucks.
Nils rode the Tuono V4 1100 in Hungary in 2016, and in Austria in 2017 (NastyNils Testride).
S 1000 R
The S 1000 R's chassis tracks true through long, fast sweepers, and there's an eerie calm to it at pace. In tight switchbacks it's genuinely agile. A squeeze of the brake lever works a 320 mm front brake that hauls the bike down from speed. Out on the highway, it's steady as a sport-tourer despite the bolt-upright seat. The four-cylinder exhaust rasps with nothing filtered out.
Nils rode the S 1000 R in Spain in 2013, in Andalusia, Spain, and the Czech Republic in 2014, in Andalusia in 2015, and in Austria in 2017 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The S 1000 R has the lower seat: 32.0 in (814 mm) vs 33.0 in (837 mm).
- The Tuono V4 1100 makes more peak power: 175 hp (129 kW) vs 160 hp (118 kW).
- The Tuono V4 1100 makes more peak torque: 89 lb-ft (120 Nm) vs 83 lb-ft (112 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Neither one fits
For all-day comfort, both fall short. Keep the rides short and you'll get on fine with either.
They come out level on track days and twisty roads. The better-kept used example is the smarter money.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Tuono V4 1100
What owners say
Strengths
- Explosive, charismatic V4 engine
- Premium components as standard
- Unexpected comfort for a super naked
Trade-offs
- Mixed reliability and build quality
- Heavy fuel consumption
- Expensive maintenance and sparse dealer network
S 1000 R
Strengths
- Usable torque, race character
- Third gear does everything
- Savage, relentless acceleration
- Traction control adds speed
- Three bikes in one
Trade-offs
- Suspension too stiff
- Wind hits hard at speed
- Loses ground on long straights
- Never lets you settle
- Cold-start and low-speed fueling glitches
Known problems to check before you buy
Tuono V4 1100
- Front brake master cylinder may fail (recall) Recall 17V811000 On certain 2017 models, the Brembo master cylinder piston could crack or fail, causing a loss of front brake pressure. NHTSA recall 17V811000; dealers replace the piston assembly.
S 1000 R
- Cold-start stalling, rough idle, low-speed surging Idle hunting and stalling on cold start, particularly in cool ambient conditions; low-speed surging in low gears at light throttle. Linked to lean cold-start and cruise mapping in the Euro 3 ECU calibration. Aftermarket BoosterPlug sells a fix product specifically for the K47 that addresses this. Some bikes were resolved through a BMW software update; others by switching fueling devices.
- Vibration through handlebars and mirrors at 4,000–5,000 rpm and at sustained cruise The K47 inline-four has no counterbalancer. Riders report buzz through the bars, mirrors, and pegs at typical highway cruising rpm; mirrors blur above a certain speed, making rear vision difficult on highway runs. Heavier bar-end weights mitigate but do not eliminate it. The MY2017 facelift added vibration dampers at the handlebar clamps, which improved the issue but did not remove it.
- Left-side handlebar switch cube intermittent failures Switches on the left-side handlebar cluster — particularly the cruise-control and ride-mode buttons — fail intermittently, with users reporting the switch becoming unresponsive. Warranty replacement of the entire cluster is the typical fix.
- Cam-chain rattle / tensioner concerns on cold start On early production models, hydraulic cam chain tensioner leak-down can cause an audible rattle on cold start until engine oil pressure builds.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 10-year-old Tuono V4 1100 with a 10-year-old S 1000 R.
- Tuono V4 1100
- $9,000
- S 1000 R
- $9,100
At ten years old, the Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 sits around $9,000 while the BMW S 1000 R lands near $9,100. The Tuono V4 1100 costs about $100 less. These figures come from earlier US market records, not live listings.
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Tuono V4 1100 | S 1000 R | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.0 in (837 mm) | 32.0 in (814 mm) |
| Wet weight | 461 lb (209 kg) | 456 lb (207 kg) |
| Tuono V4 1100 | S 1000 R | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1077 cc | 999 cc |
| Engine | V4 | Inline-four |
| Power | 175 hp (129 kW) | 160 hp (118 kW) |
| Torque | 89 lb-ft (120 Nm) | 83 lb-ft (112 Nm) |
| Tuono V4 1100 | S 1000 R | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 26 mpg (US) / 9.1 L/100 km | 38 mpg (US) / 6.2 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 4.9 US gal (18.5 L) | 4.6 US gal (17.5 L) |
| Tuono V4 1100 | S 1000 R | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 330 mm | 320 mm |
| Rear tire | 200/55-17 | 190/55-17 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Tuono V4 1100 | S 1000 R | |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelie Control | Standard | Option |
| Launch Control | Standard | Not offered |
| Electronic Suspension | Standard (from 2019) | Option |
| Cruise Control | Standard | Option |
| TFT Display | Standard (from 2017) | Not offered |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Option | Not offered |
| Heated Grips | Not offered | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
