Tuono Fighter (2003 - 2008) review

The Aprilia Tuono really should have a sign on it saying ‘Come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough’. This is a bike with a big presence and muscles to match so, not being the proud owner of any tattoos, I felt a bit out of place in its company.

I found this big streetfighter a comfortable bike on longer trip. From Glencoe to Ballahullish then on the tight twisty road into Fort William, I enjoyed feeling like a hooligan on the big twin. Although our trip wasn’t about racing, I reckon this would be the bike that would manage the whole trip in the shortest time.

It likes to be ridden hard and being an old model RSV with no clothes on, its stopping and turning talents were pretty faultless. Sitting high up behind its wide gold anodised handlebars gave great visibility, but felt more like being behind the wheel of a Scania than the bars of a motorbike. If I were to fault anything, it would be the lack of top-end rpm and the dated looking square black clocks.

Scarily, I also felt like I’d prefer to bulldoze other road users out of the way rather than actually come to a halt. I did like the sit–up-and-beg riding position though, as it gave me plenty of legroom and wind blast hindering speeds was never an issue due to the abundance of horsepower.

The Aprilia Tuono really should have a sign on it saying ‘Come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough’. This is a bike with a big presence and muscles to match so, not being the proud owner of any tattoos, I felt a bit out of place in its company.

I found this big streetfighter a comfortable bike on longer trip. From Glencoe to Ballahullish then on the tight twisty road into Fort William, I enjoyed feeling like a hooligan on the big twin. Although our trip wasn’t about racing, I reckon this would be the bike that would manage the whole trip in the shortest time.

It likes to be ridden hard and being an old model RSV with no clothes on, its stopping and turning talents were pretty faultless. Sitting high up behind its wide gold anodised handlebars gave great visibility, but felt more like being behind the wheel of a Scania than the bars of a motorbike. If I were to fault anything, it would be the lack of top-end rpm and the dated looking square black clocks.

Scarily, I also felt like I’d prefer to bulldoze other road users out of the way rather than actually come to a halt. I did like the sit–up-and-beg riding position though, as it gave me plenty of legroom and wind blast hindering speeds was never an issue due to the abundance of horsepower.

Length (mm)2070Width (mm)800Height (mm)1200Seats0Seat Height (mm)820Suspension FrontShowa 43 mm upside-down fork with adjustment for preload, compression and rebound dampening. 120 mm wheel travel. Suspension RearAluminium alloy swing-arm with differential section members. APS (Aprilia Progressive System) linkage. Boge hydraulic monoshock. Wheel travel 135 mm. Adjustability Rearadjustment for preload, compression and rebound dampeningWheels Front3.50 x 17Wheels Rear6.00 x 17Wheels Made OfCast aluminium alloyTyres Front120/70 ZR 17Tyres Rear190/50 ZR 17Brakes FrontBrembo double floating disk in stainless steel, Ø Brakes RearBrembo stainless steel disk, Ø 220 mm. Twin pistonTank Capacity (litres)18Wheelbase (mm)1415Trail (mm)99ChassisBox section double sloping beam frame in aluminium alloy. Removable aluminium alloy saddle mount frame

Cubic Capacity (cc)998Max Power (bhp)129Max Power Peak (rpm)9500Torque (ft/lb)75Torque Peak (rpm)7250Bore (mm)97 Stroke (mm)67.5 Valve GearDOHC Compression Ratio11.4 IgnitionDigital electronic with Twin SparkValves Per Cylinder4CoolingLiquid cooling with three-way pressurised circuitFuel DeliveryIntegrated electronic engine management systemStroke TypeFour StrokeDriveChain

Top Speed144.450-60mph1.6350-70mph3.2650-80mph5.0550-90mph6.88Max Power119.3Max Power Revs9582Standing Quarter Mile - Terminal Speed MPH126.42Standing Quarter Mile - Time11.56Standing Start 0-100mph7.12Standing Start 0-60mph3.74