Aprilia Tuono 125 2021 — Specifications

When a brand decides to dress its small-displacement motorcycle with the genes of its larger siblings, you can expect two things: cosmetic bluff or a genuine consistency of range. The Aprilia Tuono 125 2021 chooses the latter camp. This updated version benefits from the new breath infused by the RS 660 to redesign its facade: thinner LED lights integrating turn signals, a new lower fairing, blackened bodywork on the frame, engine and foot controls. The result aligns with the Tuono DNA without blindly mimicking the V4. It's an assumed stance, and it works.

Underneath this retouched attire, the 124 cc four-stroke single-cylinder engine has also undergone a serious overhaul. Regulatory constraints cap power at 15 horsepower, or 10.9 kW, achieved at 10,500 rpm, and there's nothing anyone can do about it. Aprilia has therefore focused on quality rather than quantity: new Magneti-Marelli ECU, modified camshafts, redesigned combustion chamber, iridium spark plug, revised intake and exhaust ducts, integrated catalytic converter to validate Euro5 standard. Torque climbs to 10.9 Nm at 8,250 rpm, acceleration gains in flexibility, and the rear sprocket changes to 58 teeth to soften the throttle response. It's not a revolution, but it's the kind of refinement that makes a difference in everyday use on a 129 kg dry weight machine. A quickshifter remains available as an option for those who want to shift gears without taking their foot off the peg.

The chassis doesn't fundamentally change, and that's good news: this perimeter aluminum frame with 40 mm inverted fork and asymmetrical swingarm was already one of the Aprilia Tuono 125’s strongest arguments. The 300 mm front disc clamped by a radial 4-piston caliper, coupled with the standard Bosch ABS, places the machine in the top tier for active safety. The 2021 version adopts a slightly wider rear tire mounted on Michelin tires. The 810 mm seat remains accessible for an average build, and the 14.5-liter tank ensures correct autonomy given the announced consumption of 2.7 liters per 100 km.

For the Aprilia Tuono 125, priced at 4,489 euros, the competition doesn’t feel humiliated. The KTM Duke 125 plays in the same sporty register with a trellis frame and a honed ergonomics. The Honda CB125R focuses on mechanical finesse and a premium look. The Yamaha MT-125 offers a variable phase transmission. Aprilia responds with something its rivals don’t have: a real sporty heritage validated on the track, and a top speed of 120 km/h that places the Aprilia Tuono 125 at the level of the best in the category. The digital LCD dashboard replaced for this model year brings a real gain in readability, with the possibility of connecting a smartphone via the Aprilia MIA platform. The storage space under the seat now accepts an 8-inch tablet: a detail that counts for urban uses.

Ultimately, this Aprilia Tuono 125 test confirms what the technical specifications suggested: this machine is designed for an A1 license holder who doesn't want to settle for a utilitarian machine. It is aimed at the young driver who dreams of a real sports motorcycle without suffering the compromises of an entry-level budget. It's not perfect; its price places it slightly above some Japanese competitors with impeccable finishes, and its four-valve single-cylinder engine will never let you forget that you're at 125. But in this category where image counts as much as performance, carrying the Tuono name is not a decoration. It's a commitment.