By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Supersport vs Hyper Naked
Aprilia RSV4 1100 (MY2019-Factory) vs Tuono V4 1100 (MY2015)
Aprilia RSV4 1100 vs Tuono V4 1100: two kinds of bike, and who each one is for.
At the turn-in point the Aprilia RSV4 1100 snaps toward the apex, and it doesn't get unsettled while you're still trailing the brakes. The Aprilia Tuono V4 1100's fork talks back clearly as it tips in, and your arms aren't bracing against the bars. It holds whatever line you commit to.
So which one do you buy?
Buy the RSV4 1100 if…
Racetrack use
The pick: RSV4 1100
The RSV4 1100 suits track days much better. The difference is more lean clearance and more feel through the bars. Book the first one and see.
Buy the Tuono V4 1100 if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Clear edge: Tuono V4 1100
As a daily commuter, the Tuono V4 1100 gets the nod, and it isn't close.
The RSV4 1100 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Nose ahead: RSV4 1100
On a twisty road, the RSV4 1100 edges ahead. Not by enough to settle it alone.
What makes each one tick
RSV4 1100
From low revs up, the RSV4's V4 pulls without a gap, and its midrange doesn't let up. Every extra twist of the throttle brings a ferocious rush at the top end. The reinforced swingarm doesn't squirm under heavy stopping or a hard drive out of a corner. Its V4 howl just keeps climbing.
Tuono V4 1100
Tank cutouts on the Tuono lock the rider in, and there's almost no load left on the bars. If you're over six feet, try before you buy. The mechanically tuned suspension takes each bump on cracked, potholed asphalt and doesn't wander off its track. Throttle shut and hard on the lever into a bend, the bike settles almost neutrally with no chatter at the back. Then the tire bites on exit.
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 seat: 32.5 in (825 mm) vs 33.5 in (851 mm).
- The RSV4 1100 has the lower wet weight: 439 lb (199 kg) vs 461 lb (209 kg).
- The RSV4 1100 makes more peak power: 217 hp (160 kW) vs 175 hp (129 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Not their thing
Neither of these is a mile-muncher. If big days are the plan, keep looking.
Don't look for a gap on running costs: there isn't one. Go by how each one fits you.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
RSV4 1100
What owners say
Strengths
- Brutally powerful and characterful V4 engine
- Razor-sharp handling and immense stability
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
RSV4 1100
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 7-year-old RSV4 1100 with a 7-year-old Tuono V4 1100.
- RSV4 1100
- about $13,700
- Tuono V4 1100
- about $9,600
At seven years old, the Aprilia RSV4 1100 sits around $13,700 while the Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 lands near $9,600. That's a $4,100 gap in the Tuono's favor. These are US market estimates, not live listings.
What they share
- Displacement
- 1077 cc
- Engine
- V4
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Fuel capacity
- 4.9 US gal (18.5 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| RSV4 1100 | Tuono V4 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.5 in (851 mm) | 32.5 in (825 mm) |
| Wet weight | 439 lb (199 kg) | 461 lb (209 kg) |
| RSV4 1100 | Tuono V4 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 217 hp (160 kW) | 175 hp (129 kW) |
| Peak power at | 13,200 rpm | 11,000 rpm |
| Torque | 90 lb-ft (122 Nm) | 89 lb-ft (121 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 11,000 rpm | 9,000 rpm |
| RSV4 1100 | Tuono V4 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear tire | 200/55-17 | 190/55-17 |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
