Aprilia Tuono 125 2017 — Specifications

Some names have a hard life, and that's a good thing. The Tuono, at Aprilia, is a philosophy before being a model: raw sportiness, without fairings to give a false sense of morality. The 125 version, abandoned after its roaring two-stroke years, returns in 2017 in a form it had never known. The two-stroke is gone, the wild displacement tamed on the fly is gone. The Aprilia Tuono 125 2017 starts from solid foundations, those of the RS 125, with the dress and arrogance of the larger Tuono 1100 as a suit.

The visual impact is real. We are not faced with a timid 125 that apologizes for existing. The headlights unmistakably recall the RSV4, the engine guard swallows the exhaust without letting a single unsightly pipe protrude, and the side panels give a build that the competition struggles to match. The Yamaha MT-125 plays the card of athletic sobriety, the KTM 125 Duke relies on a radical and angular look. The Aprilia Tuono 125, for its part, chooses theater. It's assumed, perhaps excessive for some, but devilishly effective in seducing an A1 license holder who doesn't want to ride on a learning toy.

Under the bodywork, the four-valve single-cylinder four-stroke engine runs up to 10,500 rpm to release its 15 horsepower, or 10.9 kW, and a torque of 10.9 Nm available at 8,250 rpm. These figures are those imposed by A1 regulations, identical to what direct rivals offer. The difference lies elsewhere: in the aluminum perimeter frame, the 40 mm inverted fork and the single shock absorber on an asymmetrical swingarm. It's real sports car mechanics, not recycled generic chassis. ABS is standard, which was not a given in this segment at the time, and the 300 mm front disc bitten by a radial four-piston caliper guarantees a more than sufficient bite to stop a machine weighing around 130 kilos. Deblocking, often mentioned on forums, makes little sense here: the regulations are there, and the frame asks to be used within its legal limits.

The dashboard deserves attention. Carbon background, analog needle, digital window with engine temperature, fuel range, battery voltage and a lap memory chronograph of 20 laps. The latter point is almost incongruous on a 125, but it says everything about the positioning chosen by the Italian brand. The Aprilia Tuono 125 is not intended for the student looking for an economical means of transportation. It targets the enthusiast who wants to learn to ride fast, with a serious tool in his hands. The 14 liters of tank help to cover the distance on the road, and the reasonable consumption of a 125 single-cylinder allows for stress-free stages. The announced top speed of 120 km/h is in line with the standards of the segment, without surprise.

The price, however, is less amusing: 4,599 euros at launch. This is a direct counterpart to the level of finish and the pedigree of the brand. On the Aprilia Tuono 125 used market, the 2017, 2018 or 2019 models are logically negotiated below, and probably represent the best value for money between the pleasure obtained and the investment made. The Aprilia Tuono 125 test confirms those who defend this premium positioning: you hold in your hand a coherent motorcycle, built with intention, not assembled to tick tariff boxes. It is a 125 for those who have already decided that the motorcycle would be a passion, not a substitute for a car.