By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Hyper Naked
Kawasaki Z H2 (MY2020) vs Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 (MY2015)
Kawasaki Z H2 vs Aprilia Tuono V4 1100: which one's easier to live with every day.
At the first tight bend, the Kawasaki Z H2 carries its bulk into the turn and won't flick from side to side in a hurry. On the Aprilia Tuono V4 1100, you'll commit to a line and the front end holds it. Its fork doesn't stop reporting grip on the way in.
So which one do you buy?
The Z H2 has the edge if…
Character, looks and sound
Narrow edge: Z H2
The Z H2 carries slightly more attitude. It's down to more distinctive styling. A close call, and a personal one.
Daily commuting & city riding
Inches ahead: Z H2
Your daily ride leans slightly toward the Z H2. The difference is simpler maintenance. Fit and price can easily outweigh that.
The Tuono V4 1100 has the edge if…
Racetrack use
Small edge: Tuono V4 1100
The Tuono V4 1100 nudges ahead once you're on a closed course. What tips it: a sportier chassis and more suspension adjustment. Hardly a big enough gap to bank on.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Slight edge: Tuono V4 1100
Once the road starts to bend, the Tuono V4 1100 noses ahead. The reason: more feel through the bars and better suspension. Your own skill counts for more than a gap this size.
Which one's the smarter buy
Value pick: Tuono V4 1100
The Tuono V4 1100 is the better buy here. You get more handling for the money.
What makes each one tick
Z H2
Even a whisker of revs gets the Z H2's supercharged inline-four shoving hard, and its whine climbs with every gear. Through Texas Hill Country, the inline-four's happy to trundle along in top gear at low revs. There's real bite from the Brembo brakes at the lever, while 527 lb (239 kg) of mass keeps the bike from getting nervous at high speed. Each roll-off brings the supercharger's chirp.
Nils rode the Z H2 in Austria in 2020 (NastyNils Testride).
Tuono V4 1100
Low and tucked, the Tuono locks its rider in at the tank cutouts. Despite the aggressive lower position, neck and shoulders stay loose. Gear, engine speed, and selected map all feed into the engine braking continuously and automatically. Broken, potholed pavement doesn't knock the chassis off its track. There's no rear chatter when the throttle shuts for a corner, and the bike settles almost neutrally. At the exit, the V4 bites.
Nils rode the Tuono V4 1100 in Italy in 2015, and in Austria in 2020 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Tuono V4 1100 has the lower wet weight: 461 lb (209 kg) vs 527 lb (239 kg).
- The Z H2 makes more peak power: 200 hp (147 kW) vs 175 hp (129 kW).
- The Z H2 makes more peak torque: 101 lb-ft (137 Nm) vs 89 lb-ft (121 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Not their thing
Long-haul comfort is a weak spot for both. If you tour, shop with that in mind.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Z H2
What owners say
Strengths
- Distinctive supercharger sound
- Excellent electronics package
- Surprisingly compliant road manners
Trade-offs
- Heavy weight blunts agility
Tuono V4 1100
From Nils' own saddle time
Strengths
- Usable low-end torque
- Front end you can trust
- Locks you into the machine
- Traction control without menu diving
- Wild yet genuinely composed
Trade-offs
- Slow hairpins need rear brake
- Tall riders must check fit
- Light on comfort kit
Known problems to check before you buy
Z H2
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
Tuono V4 1100
- Front brake master cylinder failure (2017 models) Recall 16V691000 Brembo front brake master cylinder may fail, causing loss of front braking ability. Affected 2017 Tuono V4 1100 RR and Factory Superpole models.
- Front brake pad delamination Recall 16V691000 Front brake pad friction material may detach from the pad plate, reducing braking efficiency, particularly in corrosive environments. Affects 2017–2020 Tuono 1100 RR/RF models.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 6-year-old Z H2 with a 6-year-old Tuono V4 1100.
- Z H2
- about $15,000
- Tuono V4 1100
- about $9,600
At six years old, the Kawasaki Z H2 sits around $15,000 while the Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 runs about $9,600. That's a $5,400 gap in the Tuono's favor. These are US market estimates, not live listings.
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Peak power at
- 11,000 rpm
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 190/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Z H2 | Tuono V4 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.7 in (830 mm) | 32.5 in (825 mm) |
| Wet weight | 527 lb (239 kg) | 461 lb (209 kg) |
| Z H2 | Tuono V4 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 998 cc | 1077 cc |
| Engine | Inline-four | V4 |
| Power | 200 hp (147 kW) | 175 hp (129 kW) |
| Torque | 101 lb-ft (137 Nm) | 89 lb-ft (121 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 8,500 rpm | 9,000 rpm |
| Z H2 | Tuono V4 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.0 US gal (19 L) | 4.9 US gal (18.5 L) |
| Z H2 | Tuono V4 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 320 mm | 330 mm |
| Wheelbase | 57.3 in (1455 mm) | 56.9 in (1445 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Z H2 | Tuono V4 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Steering Damper | Not offered | Standard |
| 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.
