Aprilia Tuono 125 2019 — Specifications

When Aprilia revives a name from the archives, it’s rarely just for show. The Aprilia Tuono 125 2019 doesn’t arrive as a simple exercise in style — it arrives with a legacy to uphold. Those who remember the early 2000s 2-stroke version recall a nervous engine and a striking design. The Aprilia Tuono 125 2t was a different era, a different philosophy. Today, injection, four valves per cylinder, and a perimeter aluminum frame have taken over, within a bodywork directly inspired by the larger Tuono 1100. The result is a motorcycle that clearly isn’t afraid to lie about its age.

Aesthetically, the Aprilia Tuono 125 test begins long before the engine starts. The 40 mm inverted fork, the lower fairing that cleanly houses the exhaust, the muscular flanks, the look borrowed from the RSV4 – all of this builds a silhouette that few 125s can rival. Faced with a KTM 125 Duke or a Yamaha MT-125, the Italian plays a different score: less minimalist, more theatrical, almost ostentatious. Some will appreciate it, others will find the whole thing a bit overloaded for a 125 cc. It’s a matter of taste. What is less debatable is the perceived quality, well above the average for the segment.

Technically, the Aprilia Tuono 125 specifications list a 124.80 cc single-cylinder engine with a compression ratio of 12.5:1, a bore of 58 mm for a stroke of 47 mm. Power is limited to 15 horsepower at 10,500 rpm, peak torque is 10.90 Nm at 8,250 rpm. This is A1 license standard in all its rigor. The maximum speed of the Aprilia Tuono 125 is around 120 km/h, which places the machine in the upper average of its category without truly surpassing the Kawasaki Z 125 in this area. The subject of derestriction often comes up in discussions, but Aprilia has taken care with homologation and the original potential is sufficient for sustained urban and suburban use. The six-speed gearbox does the job without a hitch, shifting gears with correct fluidity for the displacement.

The braking system deserves attention. At the front, a 300 mm disc is clamped by a radial four-piston caliper, with ABS as standard. This is serious hardware for a 125, and it really changes the game in emergency stops. The rear has a more modest disc with a single-piston caliper, logical for a weight that does not exceed 130 kg. The seat height of 820 mm may worry those of shorter stature when buying used, but remains manageable in practice thanks to a contained weight. The 14-liter tank allows for long stages without stress.

The Aprilia Tuono 125 price is set at 3,999 euros in the catalog, making it one of the most expensive naked 125s on the market. It is objectively expensive compared to an MT-125 or a Duke 125. But you also pay for an analog and digital window instrument panel, optional smartphone compatibility, and the ability to add a quickshifter. The general consensus on the Aprilia Tuono 125 from owners generally converges on one point: this motorcycle is designed for the young A1 license holder who wants to ride without complexes and without being noticed for the wrong reasons. It also seduces drivers who are stepping down to a 125 for practical reasons and refuse to sacrifice visual pleasure. The 2020 and 2021 versions have not revolutionized the formula, confirming that Aprilia hit the mark from the start with this 2019 model year.