By NastyNils· ·
Motorcycle comparison · Hyper Naked
Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 (ZD4KZ-Factory) vs KTM 1290 Super Duke R (MY2020)
Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 vs KTM 1290 Super Duke R: which one's easier to live with every day.
Roll on the throttle of the KTM 1290 Super Duke R and it's shoving hard before you've left the stop, then again in every gear after that. On the Aprilia Tuono V4 1100, that same wrist held open at speed doesn't become a fight with the wind. Its small screen keeps you settled up there.
So which one do you buy?
The Tuono V4 1100 has the edge if…
Racetrack use
Inches ahead: Tuono V4 1100
For track days, the Tuono V4 1100 comes out a touch ahead. Put it down to more suspension adjustment and more feel through the bars. Your setup and tires matter just as much.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Nose ahead: Tuono V4 1100
On a twisty road, the Tuono V4 1100 edges ahead. The difference is better suspension and a sportier chassis. Not by enough to settle it alone.
The 1290 Super Duke R has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Slight edge: 1290 Super Duke R
On the way to work, the 1290 Super Duke R asks a little less of you. The reason: simpler maintenance and easier everyday riding. Close enough that the test ride should settle it.
Which one's the smarter buy
Even on value
At these used prices, neither bike is the clear better buy for the money.
What makes each one tick
Tuono V4 1100
Out of a corner, the Tuono V4 1100 hangs on the gas even in Race mode, and there's still enough feel to feed the torque in by degrees. At the brake lever, the bike sheds its pace and drops into the turn at once, with the front tire reporting back the whole way. On the fast sweepers of Angeles Crest Highway, the chassis takes a line and the front doesn't wander off it. The V4 howls through every bend.
Nils rode the Tuono V4 1100 in Hungary and Italy in 2021 (NastyNils Testride).
1290 Super Duke R
All that LC8 V-twin power has a frame to match on the 1290 Super Duke R, whose shock linkage keeps the bike steady once it's leaned over. The Brembo Stylema calipers slow it in a progressive squeeze, then corner entry takes little effort at the bar. It goes where you've pointed it. The LC8 twin hooks you.
Nils rode the 1290 Super Duke R in Austria in 2020, and in Hungary in 2021 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The 1290 Super Duke R makes more peak torque: 103 lb-ft (140 Nm) vs 89 lb-ft (121 Nm).
- The 1290 Super Duke R has the larger engine: 1301 cc vs 1077 cc.
- The Tuono V4 1100 has the larger fuel tank: 4.7 US gal (17.9 L) vs 4.2 US gal (16 L).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Not their thing
Both of these get tiring on a long day. A proper tourer will treat you better on big miles.
Nothing splits them on character. Ride both back to back and the decision usually makes itself.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Tuono V4 1100
Strengths
- Throttle You Can Actually Feel
- Rear Steers You To The Apex
- Faster Without More Horsepower
- Slim Tank, Real Room
- Planted Through Fast Sweepers
Trade-offs
- Too Loud For Long Days
- More Plastic Than A Naked Wants
- Runs Hot In City Traffic
- Soft, Uneven Low-Rpm Power
- Build quality below class standard
1290 Super Duke R
What owners say
Strengths
- Brutal engine power
Trade-offs
- High tire wear
- Quickshifter not standard
- High running costs
Known problems to check before you buy
Tuono V4 1100
- High coolant temperatures and overheating tendency at low speeds The Euro 5 Tuono runs very hot in slow city traffic and when idling at traffic lights, because the radiator and fan cannot shed enough heat without steady airflow. Coolant temperature climbs into the warning range and stays high until the bike is moving at a sustained pace again. Owners report having to switch the engine off during long stops to keep temperatures under control.
- Dog wear in 3rd and 4th gear with intensive quickshifter use With frequent quickshifter use under full throttle and high rpm, the dogs in 3rd and 4th gear wear faster than normal. False neutrals then occur between 3rd/4th and 4th/5th gear. Aprilia has hardened replacement parts available for 3rd and 4th gear. The problem has been documented since the V4 platform and is also confirmed for Euro 5.
- Valve guide failure requiring cylinder head replacement An exhaust valve guide in the rear cylinder can work loose or detach, resulting in substantial loss of cylinder compression during leak-down testing and severe engine power loss resembling an electronic limp mode.
- Noticeable power deficit and uneven throttle response in the lower rpm range The Euro 5 mapping causes a measurable power gap below 5,500 rpm. Throttle response at 4,000-5,500 rpm feels uneven/pulsating. When transitioning from 5-15% throttle to closed throttle, the engine can react jerkily. An Aprilia Race Map or Rapid Bike tuning kit largely resolves the problem.
- Soft paintwork, scratch-prone surfaces, corroding fasteners The paintwork is described as extremely scratch-prone — without adequate clear coat. Graphics/decals in some areas have no clear coat and are quickly damaged by stone chips. Fasteners and washers (particularly mudguard mountings) are not stainless and show early corrosion. Body panels do not fit precisely and have visible panel gaps.
1290 Super Duke R
- Various error messages and function failures at low battery voltage A failing or undercharged battery can trigger a cascade of spurious error messages (ABS, MTC, ride modes) until the voltage is restored.
- Coolant loss due to casting defect at the water pump housing A porous casting on the water pump housing can lead to slow coolant leakage, identified by white residue or low coolant level.
- Moisture in the TFT display Condensation can form inside the 5-inch TFT display housing, potentially causing fogging or long-term damage to the unit.
- Oil seepage behind the front cylinder Oil can weep around the valve cover gasket or cam chain tensioner area on the front cylinder, leaving stains but rarely causing a critical loss.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 5-year-old Tuono V4 1100 with a 5-year-old 1290 Super Duke R.
- Tuono V4 1100
- about $13,300
- 1290 Super Duke R
- about $14,400
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 200/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Tuono V4 1100 | 1290 Super Duke R | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.5 in (825 mm) | 32.9 in (835 mm) |
| Tuono V4 1100 | 1290 Super Duke R | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1077 cc | 1301 cc |
| Engine | V4 | 75° V-twin |
| Power | 175 hp (129 kW) | 179 hp (132 kW) |
| Peak power at | 11,350 rpm | 9,500 rpm |
| Torque | 89 lb-ft (121 Nm) | 103 lb-ft (140 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 9,000 rpm | 8,000 rpm |
| Top speed | 168 mph (270 km/h) | 174 mph (280 km/h) |
| Tuono V4 1100 | 1290 Super Duke R | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 28 mpg (US) / 8.5 L/100 km | 31 mpg (US) / 7.5 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 4.7 US gal (17.9 L) | 4.2 US gal (16 L) |
| Tuono V4 1100 | 1290 Super Duke R | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 330 mm | 320 mm |
| Wheelbase | 57.5 in (1460 mm) | 58.9 in (1497 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Tuono V4 1100 | 1290 Super Duke R | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Control | Standard | Option |
| Electronic Suspension | Standard | Not offered |
| Quickshifter | Standard | Option |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Option | Standard |
| USB Charging Port | Option | Standard |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS) | Not offered | Standard |
| Heated Grips | Not offered | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
