By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Hyper Naked
Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 (ZD4KZ-Factory) vs Yamaha MT-10 (RN78)
Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 vs Yamaha MT-10: which one to buy, and what actually separates them.
You'll meter the Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 with tiny wrist pressures, even in Race mode. On that same twist, the Yamaha MT-10 pulls like a big twin from low revs. Its intake note growls off-beat the whole way up.
So which one do you buy?
The Tuono V4 1100 has the edge if…
Racetrack use
Narrow edge: Tuono V4 1100
Between the curbs, the Tuono V4 1100 asks a bit less of you at speed. Put it down to more suspension adjustment and a sportier chassis. It's a fine margin, nothing more.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
By a nose: Tuono V4 1100
The Tuono V4 1100 is a touch more fun when the road starts bending. The reason: better suspension and more feel through the bars.
The MT-10 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Slight edge: MT-10
Day in, day out, the MT-10 nudges ahead in traffic. It's down to friendlier manners and simpler maintenance. It isn't a big enough gap to plan around.
Character, looks and sound
A touch ahead: MT-10
On style, the MT-10 makes a slightly stronger case. Go see both in person.
Which one's the smarter buy
No clear advantage
The price gap doesn't produce a clear winner. Neither bike is the clear better buy for the money.
What makes each one tick
Tuono V4 1100
Through fast sweepers the Tuono holds whatever line you pick, and its front doesn't wallow when the road flicks the other way. There's a soft hole at low rpm, yet past it the throttle wakes the V4 and the shove keeps building to the limiter. Earplugs aren't optional against that howl. The front tire talks back through the turn.
Nils rode the Tuono V4 1100 in Hungary and Italy in 2021 (NastyNils Testride).
MT-10
The MT-10 puts you upright behind a wide, tapered bar, with room to spare between the seat and the pegs. Braking for a corner, the front lever's first bite comes on softer than on the Stylema-equipped rivals, and there's less feedback coming back through it.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Tuono V4 1100 makes more peak power: 175 hp (129 kW) vs 165 hp (121 kW).
- The Tuono V4 1100 makes more peak torque: 89 lb-ft (121 Nm) vs 83 lb-ft (112 Nm).
- The Tuono V4 1100 has the larger engine: 1077 cc vs 998 cc.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Neither is a natural fit
Neither one is built for long-haul comfort. For big miles, look at a proper tourer or sport tourer.
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
MT-10
What owners say
Strengths
- Strong, accessible mid-range from the CP4 crossplane inline-four
- Aggressive, distinctive intake/exhaust soundtrack
- Comfortable, upright ergonomics for a hyper-naked
- Competitive pricing in the litre-naked class
Trade-offs
- Front brake feel rated below class-leading rivals
- Wind protection is minimal
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.
MT-10
- Throttle response abruptness in Mode A / Sport (early MY2022 units) Several owners and reviewers reported snatchy on-off throttle transitions in the most aggressive ride mode on early 2022 production units; Yamaha addressed throttle mapping in later production and via dealer ECU updates.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 3-year-old Tuono V4 1100 with a 3-year-old MT-10.
- Tuono V4 1100
- $13,700
- MT-10
- $12,600
Three years on, the Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 sits around $13,700 while the Yamaha MT-10 lands near $12,600. That's a $1,100 gap in the MT-10's favor. They're pulled from earlier US market records, not live listings.
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Peak torque at
- 9,000 rpm
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Tuono V4 1100 | MT-10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.5 in (825 mm) | 32.9 in (835 mm) |
| Wet weight | 461 lb (209 kg) | 467 lb (212 kg) |
| Tuono V4 1100 | MT-10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1077 cc | 998 cc |
| Engine | V4 | Inline-four |
| Power | 175 hp (129 kW) | 165 hp (121 kW) |
| Peak power at | 11,350 rpm | 11,500 rpm |
| Torque | 89 lb-ft (121 Nm) | 83 lb-ft (112 Nm) |
| Tuono V4 1100 | MT-10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 28 mpg (US) / 8.5 L/100 km | 36 mpg (US) / 6.5 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 4.7 US gal (17.9 L) | 4.5 US gal (17 L) |
| Tuono V4 1100 | MT-10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 330 mm | 320 mm |
| Rear tire | 200/55-17 | 190/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 57.5 in (1460 mm) | 55.3 in (1405 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Tuono V4 1100 | MT-10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Control | Standard | Not offered |
| Electronic Suspension | Standard | Not offered |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Option | Not offered |
| USB Charging Port | 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.
