Aprilia Tuono V4 R APRC 2012 — Specifications

Imagine that you are handed the keys to a Superbike World Championship RSV4 and asked to turn it into a roadster, with the sole constraint of not damaging anything. That is precisely the brief Aprilia set itself with this Tuono V4 R APRC. The result: a machine costing €13,499 that is more akin to a stripped-down predator than a civilized naked bike.

The base is, therefore, that of the RSV4 R, and Noale didn’t try to reinvent the wheel. The aluminum twin-spar frame remains unchanged, the steering angle opens at 25° with a half-degree offset, the pivot advances 10 mm, the engine drops 5 mm within the cell – all surgical refinements that lengthen the wheelbase to 1,445 mm and stabilize the front end without killing agility. The 43 mm Sachs inverted fork, fully adjustable for preload, compression, and rebound, works in tandem with a similarly adjustable piggyback monoshock. Four-piston 32 mm Brembo radial calipers bite down on stainless steel floating discs, with metal braided hoses standard. On paper, it’s the chassis of a track bike. In practice, the same.

The 999.6 cc V4 develops 167 horsepower at 11,500 rpm and 111.5 Nm of torque at 9,500 rpm. Compared to the original RSV4, Aprilia deliberately softened the curve to favor mid-range torque: a more inertial crankshaft, lengthened intake ducts, the three lowest gears of the six-speed gearbox are closer together. The result is a motorcycle that propels itself from 4,000 rpm with a conviction that neither the KTM Super Duke 990 of the time nor the Ducati Streetfighter S could fully oppose. Exceeding 7,000 rpm is like opening a trapdoor under the rear wheels. With 183 kg dry weight and 17 liters of fuel capacity, the power-to-weight ratio borders on the unreasonable. The high seat at 835 mm doesn’t help those of smaller stature, and the announced top speed of 260 km/h isn’t reassuring for novice riders.

It is precisely to frame all this that Aprilia included the APRC on this specific version – and that’s where the bike takes a dimension superior to its direct competitors of 2012. The ATC traction control is adjustable in eight levels and can even memorize behavior based on the tire fitted. The AWC wheelie control manages mass transfers during acceleration. The ALC launch assistance, in three levels, allows timed starts without sacrificing the engine. The AQS quickshifter allows gear changes without cutting the throttle or using the clutch. This package already existed on the RSV4 Factory APRC SE, sold at a much higher price; seeing it appear on a naked bike at this price constituted a real breakthrough in the segment. The Sachs steering damper, standard only on this APRC version, completes the picture.

Three engine maps – Road, Sport, Track – allow the character to be adapted to the mood or conditions. In Road mode, the bike remains livable for everyday use, almost docile. In Track mode, the filter is bypassed and the 167 horsepower are expressed without compromise. This Tuono V4 R is not a jack-of-all-trades motorcycle nor a reasonable choice for a recent license; it is a tool designed for riders who know what they are doing and are willing to work to tame the beast. Those will find few equivalents as sharp, as precise, and as honestly armed on an open road or on a racetrack.