Pleased you were “only” doing 40 and obviously stayed on !
Not wishing to mislead, it’s not my bike, a mates newly purchased, yes fortunately he hung on, the skid mark on the road is the only one visible
Pleased you were “only” doing 40 and obviously stayed on !
MMMBop !
Haven't watched all the video (about half of it), but it looks like the difference between the two (new and mine) is fairly marginal. Whilst mine doesn't have a petrol gauge for example (that is a bit of a pain in the arse ... story there * .... !!) and things like the indicators are still quite 'blocky', headlight is still a bulb, I am more than happy living with the slightly dated design. As Lamb-chops says at the beginning, 'If it aint broke ...'.
The motor is just sublime. It reminds me of our work cars - my team before I left had three or four very nice cars, notably a focus ST and a BM 330 x-drive. The ST was fun to drive, very noisy, a bit anti social behaviour if you wanted to light up the front wheels on a roundabout, and of course if you put in a nice down change on a blipped throttle it sounded great. But ... the serene, quiet, under the radar, super smooth X-drive would actually leave the ST for dead. The way that car put down power and its low down torque was just amazing. Much, much quicker than the ST, but didn't actually feel it.
The Aprillia feels the same to me. Its so smooth that speed on it is deceptive. Like the X-drive it doesn't feel that fast (great suspension probably has a lot to do with that - wonderful float down the road), and you look down at the speedo thinking you're doing 90 and its actually 110! I really like that!
Ive mapped it (upMap) and it now makes a tad over 180bhp, but more importantly the low rev roll on is like pouring melted chocolate! Not a hint of a glitch or a snatch anywhere. Ive played with the different engine modes and 'Track' seems to suit me best. (Track is the middle mode out of three). Race still has a bit of a glitch at low revs and I prefer the engine braking of track.
You sit very much on this bike. You're quite perched on the top of it which whilst not an odd feeling, is certainly very different to what I'm used to on say GSXR's and of course very different from the Multi's and the XR1000's of the world. Steering lock is woeful !
For me, the biggest asset this bike has and the thing that I just adore, is (going back to that X-drive thing again) its wolf in sheep's clothing theme. Its not a 'Blade, its not a 1000RR, it doesn't shout 'I'M FAST' at everyone on the road. Its not the average power ranger bike. Its the assassins bike! Fly under the radar, go un-noticed, (relative with the amazing V4 sound!), slide down the road very smoothly but blisteringly quickly. It'll pootle! If you want to chug along (especially now its been mapped) it loves it. The work Focus ST couldn't do that. The X-drive could. Same thing ... turn it on? Chill out? Enjoy the scenery? Rip up the tarmac at incredible pace? It'll do it all. That for me is what I just love.
Petrol gauge!!! *
Not having a gauge means you need to reset the trip every time you fill and i sometimes forget! I was out in the cotswolds recently (coaching course) and the fuel light came on. I now know that you have 20 miles at BEST! and not a mile more! I ran out about 1/2 a mile from the garage!!
<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/TUONO/i-KtRkQPv/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/TUONO/i-KtRkQPv/0/208d5c42/L/0f1bed6b-3d8a-4507-acfe-7e2f31736fbf-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/TUONO/i-tB3PGbg/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/TUONO/i-tB3PGbg/0/a7b1024b/L/IMG_1597-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
Test rode the Aprilia v4 Tuono Factory today - Ludicrously fast. Fastest bike I’ve ever ridden for midrange grunt. Quite ridiculous in the way it delivers it’s power.
Comfortable though, sounds incredible and handles beautifully. The engine is the star of the show. Insanely quick.
Am I going to buy one? No. It’s snatchy at low speed and just wants to go at breakneck speed all the time. And a twist of the throttle to pass a car takes you over 90mph in the blink of an eye. I’d lose my licence.
The Streetfighter v4S is equally fast but smoother, feels like it’s looking after you more and looks as cool as ice. It is far more relaxed to ride but still has the capacity to go ballistic when required. If I buy, it will be this bike. Loved it. Am going to ride it again.
Thanks for the reply Giles. I have been really interested in reading all your posts about the throttle stop and it has provoked me to get my GS to this point when the conditions allow. It is an enlightening experience! I've enjoyed the rides where I have been experimenting with hitting the throttle stop and have had to recalibrate a little to ensure progress is safe and enjoyable! I also forced myself to hit the throttle stop on my Tuono test ride, not least so I could understand where you were coming from!!! Blimey that is a fast bike! I pinned it in 3rd on a straight in the Peak District and the world blurred a little! Really enjoyed riding it and a wonderful machine.
Test rode the Aprilia v4 Tuono Factory today - Ludicrously fast. Fastest bike I’ve ever ridden for midrange grunt. Quite ridiculous in the way it delivers it’s power.
Comfortable though, sounds incredible and handles beautifully. The engine is the star of the show. Insanely quick.
Am I going to buy one? No. It’s snatchy at low speed and just wants to go at breakneck speed all the time. And a twist of the throttle to pass a car takes you over 90mph in the blink of an eye. I’d lose my licence.
The Streetfighter v4S is equally fast but smoother, feels like it’s looking after you more and looks as cool as ice. It is far more relaxed to ride but still has the capacity to go ballistic when required. If I buy, it will be this bike. Loved it. Am going to ride it again.
Ha! Excellent! All the very quick bikes (streetfighter, Tuono, 1000RR etc etc - even your GS!) take some getting used to to get to that point, but when you play with it and gently nibble at that experience and feel, it slowly becomes ...... well I was going to say normal, but that would be daft! It'll never be normal, but it might slowly become more comfortable and familiar!
If you could pick one thing and one thing only to improve the sparkle and va va voom in your road riding to make it spritely and interesting, (but still safe!!) it would be this 'exit drive'. Playing with this idea (so not necessarily throttle stop every exit!! just getting very comfortable with very brisk acceleration) makes for a very quick (safe) road rider.
Ha! Excellent! All the very quick bikes (streetfighter, Tuono, 1000RR etc etc - even your GS!) take some getting used to to get to that point, but when you play with it and gently nibble at that experience and feel, it slowly becomes ...... well I was going to say normal, but that would be daft! It'll never be normal, but it might slowly become more comfortable and familiar!
If you could pick one thing and one thing only to improve the sparkle and va va voom in your road riding to make it spritely and interesting, (but still safe!!) it would be this 'exit drive'. Playing with this idea (so not necessarily throttle stop every exit!! just getting very comfortable with very brisk acceleration) makes for a very quick (safe) road rider.
Have you tried a new Superduke R ?
Lot of bike for the money ..
I notice when occasionally riding in groups just how many riders seem to ride into a corner on the brakes, upsetting suspension geometry and leave the gear change for the exit. Not only is this bad practice, it can be dangerous if you overcook the corner, especially in the wet. I always approach the bend using converging verges technique (some call it the "vanishing point" technique), select the exit gear before the corner, just rev matching the engine so that I float into the corner without over compressing the suspension, then pin the throttle at the apex. Makes for very rewarding and rapid progress!
Yes, the front tyre needs some load to work, but the practice of smoothly in, in the right gear doesn't preclude braking to put the front under load. What it does is make you think well in advance of the corner about approach speed, and depending on the tightness of the corner, the appropriate exit gear and speed. It becomes automatic, 2nd nature after a while, to approach corners like this, so you're always in the right gear for the exit on hard or part throttle. The smoothest approach and way round will be just enough drive into the corner, maintained constantly all the way round until you accelerate out of the corner. Too many overload the front on the way in by hard, late braking. I've never found this the smoothest or swiftest way around as it upsets the loading too much and you get too radical a change of geometry.