Aprilia Tuono V4 R APRC 2014 — Specifications

When a factory wins the Superbike World Championship, it has two options. Put the trophy on a shelf and move on. Or wonder what it’s like, the same machine, without fairings, with a handlebar, and a seat you can occupy without suffering martyrdom after twenty kilometers. Aprilia chose the second option, and in 2013, the result is called the Tuono V4 R APRC. The recipe is simple on paper; the execution, however, is much less so.

The starting point is the RSV4 R, a world champion, a purebred track machine. The double-spar aluminum frame remains largely unchanged, with two measured adjustments: the steering head angle opens by half a degree to 25°, the pivot advances 10 mm, and the wheelbase gains 20 mm to reach 1445 mm. The engine, for its part, drops 5 mm within the frame to lower the center of gravity. These are not insignificant details; they are choices made by engineers who know exactly what they are doing. The 43 mm Sachs inverted fork, the four-piston 32 mm Brembo radial calipers, the Sachs monoshock with remote reservoir and progressive linkage – all are adjustable in every way. On the APRC version, a Sachs steering damper completes the package, absent on the standard version. At €13,499, the entry ticket is already justified by the quality of the components alone.

The 999.6 cc V4 delivers 167 horsepower at 11,500 rpm, a dozen less than the competition RSV4. The truth is, we don't care. What matters is the torque: 111.5 Nm available at 9,500 rpm, with a crankshaft with increased inertia and lengthened intake ducts to muscle up the response in the middle of the range. The three lowest gears of the six-speed gearbox are closely spaced, making in-town acceleration as violent as it is on the exit of a corner on the track. Pointing the needle towards 260 km/h is just a formality; getting there without being scared is another story. Faced with a Kawasaki Z1000 or a BMW S 1000 R of the same era, the Tuono imposes a frankly unique level of performance in the category of sporty-engine roadsters.

The APRC is where things get serious. Aprilia has transplanted onto this roadster the electronic package from the RSV4 Factory APRC SE, previously reserved for special editions. The ATC traction control can be adjusted in eight levels and can even memorize the behavior adapted to a specific tire. The AWC wheelie control is also adjustable, to dose the length of the rear wheels according to the rider's taste. The ALC launch control manages three levels of launched takeoffs, clutch released abruptly. The AQS quickshifter allows upshifts without cutting the throttle or touching the clutch. Three engine maps, Track, Sport, and Road, complete the arsenal. On a motorcycle weighing 183 kg dry that easily exceeds 200 km/h in a few seconds, this digital safety net is not a gadget for lazy riders; it’s what separates a track outing from a call to emergency services.

The Tuono V4 R APRC does not target the Sunday rider looking for a supple urban bike to navigate traffic jams. This machine is aimed at experienced riders who want the sensations of a superbike without the discomfort of a laid-back position on the tank. The problem is that even with the raised handlebar, even with the seat adapted for a passenger, this Aprilia remains a two-wheeled beast that constantly reminds you where it comes from. It’s precisely for that reason that it’s exciting. And precisely for that reason that it deserves to be respected.