WHAT ’ S IT LIKE TO RIDE ? The bike in these pictures is mine . Almost 17 years to the day after riding that first one , I bought this lovely . I ’ d always been smitten with the one I rode in 2003 , but could never afford one . They were £ 11,425 in 2003 , when the standard Tuono was £ 7250 ( and Honda ’ s Fireblade was £ 8349 ). To put it into context , my wages as a motorcycle magazine journalist wages at that time were a heady £ 15,000 . I remember the Racing being tall and taut ( verging on stiff ) with brutal mid-range acceleration . My opinion hasn ’ t changed . It ’ s still stiff and very fast . Sure it ’ s ‘ only ’ got 130bhp , but it puts it down quickly and sharply . A handful of throttle coming out of corners on twisty roads , the Racing punches forwards in the 6000-9000rpm range , lofting the wheel to a glorioulsy booming staccato sound track . The thing that has changed , though , is me . I ’ ve become accustomed to ABS , traction control and all these other modern rider safety aids , softened if you will . This bike has none . No ABS , TCS or rider modes . It ’ s literally the motor on the end of a throttle cable and brakes at the end of a hose . There ’ s no onboard computer intensely factoring an algorithm of road speed , throttle position , lean angle and wheel speed differential , effectively keeping an eye on me . Cold tyres and too much throttle has the big twin-cylinder Rotax motor spinning the back tyre , highsidingly so , if it ’ s leant over . After a diet of modern bikes , it ’ s an intimidating ride that demands I ’ d best be paying attention . And that ’ s part of the beauty in the beast . I love that I have to pay attention , be right there exactly in the moment , feeding in the throttle while at the same time feeling for grip and the signs of the back tyre starting to creep before it slides . It ’ s the same with the brakes ; squeeze , squeeze and feel for the squirm that comes just before it starts to lock . Like any mid-2000s sports bike , the Tuono Racing is a bike that needs to be actively ridden , or it ’ ll bite back . Treat it with respect and it ’ ll reward like few others . BEN WILKINS
TUONO RACING – AP WORKSHOPS Want to know more about the Tuono Racing or need advice for your own ? Griff Woolley at AP Workshops in the UK is world-renowned when it comes to Aprilias and he also knows a disconcerting amount about the Tuono Racing . They sell parts and create informative videos on everything to do with the older Aprilia V-twin models as well as the new V-fours . Fire them an email to sales @ apworkshops . co . uk or head to www . apwork shops . co . uk if you want to know more .
54 KIWI RIDER