By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Hyper Naked
Ducati Streetfighter V4 (MY2020) vs Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 (MY2015-Factory)
Out of a slow corner, the Ducati Streetfighter V4 isn't at its best until the revs climb high. The Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 shoves from low down at that same twist of the wrist and doesn't let up toward the top. Its exhaust note howls all the way up.
So which one do you buy?
The Streetfighter V4 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Inches ahead: Streetfighter V4
For the ride to work, the Streetfighter V4 noses ahead. Don't let that alone make the call.
Which one's the smarter buy
Value's a wash
At these used prices, neither bike comes out ahead. The Streetfighter V4 and Tuono V4 1100 sit close enough that the money doesn't pick a winner.
What makes each one tick
Streetfighter V4
The Streetfighter V4 hangs a wide one-piece bar over the Panigale's engine and frame on gearing that's shorter at the back. With a counter-rotating crank and a wet clutch, it's civil on ordinary pavement, and the engine saves its hardest pull for the upper rpm range. On the V4 S, the brake lever hauls it down through Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers, hardware that's the model's strongest argument. On track, it leans further than the field.
Nils rode the Streetfighter V4 in Austria in 2020 (NastyNils Testride).
Tuono V4 1100
There's room to stretch out on the Tuono V4 1100, and its padded seat doesn't pinch. On the Angeles Crest Highway, the V4 pulls in one even line from low grunt to top-end rush. On the Factory trim, a bump goes into Öhlins suspension, semi-active from 2019, that doesn't knock the ride off its civil footing. The bar still answers instantly.
Nils rode the Tuono V4 1100 in Hungary in 2016, and in Austria in 2017 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Streetfighter V4 has the lower wet weight: 443 lb (201 kg) vs 461 lb (209 kg).
- The Streetfighter V4 makes more peak power: 208 hp (153 kW) vs 175 hp (129 kW).
- The Tuono V4 1100 has the larger fuel tank: 4.9 US gal (18.5 L) vs 4.2 US gal (16 L).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Neither is a natural fit
Big miles aren't where either one shines. You'll be watching for the next rest stop.
For track days, character, and twisty roads, you won't find daylight between them. Let the test ride settle it.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Streetfighter V4
What owners say
Strengths
- Class-leading peak power and track pace (V4 S)
- Surprising street civility for the spec sheet
Trade-offs
- Tall seat height
- Throttle abruptness in Sport / Race modes
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
Known problems to check before you buy
Streetfighter V4
- Quickshifter (DQS) missed upshifts and Gear Position Sensor failure Two related symptoms reported across MY2020–2024 units. (a) The DQS misses upshifts intermittently — most often 3→4 and 4→5 — and occasionally finds neutral on a missed shift. (b) The Gear Position Sensor (GPS, mounted on the engine case) can fail under heat exposure, requiring replacement and a Ducati Diagnostic System (DDS) relearn procedure. Downshift function intermittently fails when the GPS is degraded. Quickshifter problems are among the predominant issues reported by owners of MY2023 units. Service-bulletin DDS updates reportedly improve part-throttle quickshifter feel.
- Rear wheel axle recall (NHTSA 25V570) Recall 25V570000 The rear wheel axle could lose its structural integrity and break, leading to a loss of motorcycle control. A safety recall was issued covering 2020-2022 Streetfighter V4 motorcycles; dealers replace the rear wheel axle free of charge.
- Water pump shaft seal weeping coolant via designed external "weep hole" The water pump shaft seal weeps coolant via a designed external weep hole in the V of the engine — early-2020-build pumps channelled this leak into the V (risking oil contamination), and a later revision adds tubing routing the drip out below the bike. Multiple owners report onset within the first months or first 600 miles (1,000 km) of use. Pump replacement has been reported within the first month of ownership on MY2021 units. Replaced under warranty when reported in time.
- Twitchy / abrupt initial throttle pickup in Sport and Race ride modes Sport mode (medium power, progressive ride-by-wire) and especially Race mode (full power, direct ride-by-wire) produce an abrupt initial throttle pickup — owners describe a small dead-band followed by a surge in the first inch of throttle travel. More noticeable on the Streetfighter than on the Panigale V4 because of the upright posture (rider's mass over the bars amplifies any abruptness). Common owner mitigation: select Sport-with-Low power mode for street, custom ECU flash (Woolich), or aftermarket exhaust + remap. Not a defect — a calibration trait.
- Rear-cylinder heat radiating into rider's thigh and seat area Heat from the rear cylinder bank radiates through slits beside the seat. Owners report calf and inner-thigh discomfort, and in extreme cases burns, in stop-and-go traffic and ambient temperatures above 77°F (25 °C). Some owners report symptoms after a 20-minute ride. Cylinder deactivation at standstill helps at sustained idle (long red lights) but not in slow-rolling stop-and-go. Mitigations cited in the community: aftermarket frame heat covers (Lieb-Speed), heat-shield tape under exhaust covers, full Akrapovič exhaust (better airflow).
- Battery drain when DDA stick or tracker module is left connected during parking The Ducati Data Analyser USB stick, when left plugged in, draws current during parking and drains the battery within 1–2 weeks of inactivity. Aftermarket trackers / alarm modules add to drain. Ducati issued an internal dealer-bulletin email instructing owners to remove the DDA when not riding. A trickle charger or a battery tender is required for storage longer than approx. one week with DDA installed.
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.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 6-year-old Streetfighter V4 with a 6-year-old Tuono V4 1100.
- Streetfighter V4
- about $13,300
- Tuono V4 1100
- about $12,400
What they share
- Engine
- V4
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Streetfighter V4 | Tuono V4 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.3 in (845 mm) | 33.0 in (837 mm) |
| Wet weight | 443 lb (201 kg) | 461 lb (209 kg) |
| Streetfighter V4 | Tuono V4 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1103 cc | 1077 cc |
| Power | 208 hp (153 kW) | 175 hp (129 kW) |
| Torque | 91 lb-ft (123 Nm) | 89 lb-ft (120 Nm) |
| Streetfighter V4 | Tuono V4 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.2 US gal (16 L) | 4.9 US gal (18.5 L) |
| Streetfighter V4 | Tuono V4 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear tire | 200/60-17 | 200/55-17 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Streetfighter V4 | Tuono V4 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic Suspension | Option | Standard (from 2019) |
| Cruise Control | Not offered | Standard |
| TFT Display | Standard | Standard (from 2017) |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS) | Option | Not offered |
| Heated Grips | Option | Not offered |
| LED Headlight | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
