Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory 2017 — Specifications

Taking a superbike engine, expanding it to 1077 cc, grafting on a wide handlebar, and letting it retain all its fury—this is the brutal equation Aprilia posed with the Tuono V4. The 2017 Factory version pushes this logic even further, adding a layer of equipment that transforms this roadster into an instrument of precision as much as a workhorse.

The figure that sums it all up is 175 horsepower at 11,000 rpm, extracted from a 13.0:1 compression V4 that knows no compromise. Torque follows with 121 Nm at 9,000 rpm, which concretely means that the machine pulls hard, very hard, from the middle of the tachometer. Faced with a KTM Super Duke R or a BMW S 1000 R from the same era, the Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory positions itself without complex in the most brutal segment of the naked market, with a resolutely track-oriented temperament. The price of 17,199 euros at the time left no doubt about the machine's ambitions.

What distinguishes the Factory from the RR version is first the gold color of the Öhlins fork tubes, 43 mm in diameter, with TIN surface treatment to reduce friction. An Öhlins shock also manages the rear end, and a Swedish steering damper completes the ensemble to neutralize parasitic reactions at high speeds. The whole thing weighs 184 kg dry on a wheelbase of 1,445 mm, which places the Tuono in the category of lightweight motorcycles for its level of power. The Superpole graphic fairing and the 200/55-ZR17 rear Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa tire, against a 190 on the RR, clearly signal the use this motorcycle is intended for.

The 2017 Euro4 update did not reduce the potential; it served as a pretext to rationalize the electronics. The APRC pack receives traction control on eight levels of sensitivity, an anti-wheelie coupled with the IMU inertial sensor for greater finesse in corrections, a launch control on three settings, and a bidirectional quickshifter that allows downshifts without a clutch. Cruise control and a pit limiter complement a standard color TFT dashboard. For those looking for an Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory used or consulting forums to compare model years, it should be noted that this 2017 version constitutes an important hinge in the evolution of the range, before the stylistic and technical refinements that will gradually come on the 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 versions.

The weak point is the target audience. This motorcycle has nothing to offer to a beginner, and even the experienced rider who has not frequented the track regularly risks being overwhelmed in the first few hours. The seat height at 825 mm and the 18.5 liters of tank provide correct autonomy for road journeys, but the dimensions and ultra-high-performance tires demand constant commitment. The 330 mm floating front discs with four-piston Brembo radial calipers stop the machine with an effectiveness that can surprise. It is not a versatile mount designed for long crossings; it is a weapon designed for those who know what to do with a high-revving V4. Whether equipped with an Akrapovic or SC Project exhaust, it asks for nothing more. It just requires a rider up to its level.