2021+ Tuono worth the headache? | GTAMotorcycle.com

2021+ Tuono worth the headache?

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stangn99

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I've watched probably every YouTube clip of the Tuono V4 and read countless threads on forums. I'm at the point now where I've set up alerts for deals posted on Kijiji (and FB).

I'm wondering though...am I going to have regrets in regards to quality and reliability? There are so many posts about overheating issues with the 2021+ models. Apparently flushing the (non-diluted) coolant from the factory doesn't help. Some people are suggesting it's a design flaw and riders are resorting to shutting off the engine if stuck at a light for more than a minute or two.

Anyone have experience with Aprilia's? Specifically the 2021+ Tuono? Are the 2017 - 2020 models more reliable? They definitely seem to hold their value better than the newer models. Are the overheating issues overblown?

For example:
2023 Tuono v4 with 400kms from GP Bikes: $17,500 (basically brand new)
2019 Tuono V4 (factory, yes...but older) from GP Bikes: $17,500

Part of me thinks I should just stick to what I know and go with a Triumph. I'm very torn. I do miss my old street triple, but after my seventh year with the bike, I was definitely wanting something with a little more low-end grunt and stability on extended highway rides.
 
Spent some time on my friends 21 Tuono and it didn't have nay issues. he never put many miles on it though. Tuono isn't something I'd want to be on for extended highway miles (or more than 2hrs at a time really).
 
Heating issues definitely overblown. They're amazing bikes that handle well and have a great mid/top end power rush. They look good, they sound good, they're overall an excellent bike if you like backroad noodling and maybe some track work. It's not what I'd call a great city stoplight bike.

As for competitors: I think my Super Duke is better in the city (ok I know it is) and otherwise it's too close to call. I find the i4 bikes fairly bland but all of them except for MV's work respectably well in all conditions. There's not much out there for v2 or v4 competition except for Ducati and while I think their naked V4 is an amazing bike, it's also over-powered for the class with most of its power at the top of the rev range while the Tuono just has power all the time.

Anyway, if I had a '23 available for $18K I might have bought it instead of my Super Duke. When I was looking in March, their Factory editions were roughly $37K after taxes for a '23!
 
I suspect at some point they quietly fixed the shutting down, it does get hot in traffic, but it’s a general bubble of heat surrounding you. Not directed at a body part, never really getting uncomfortable.

But for a street bike it makes no sense, only place the bike feels at home is on a long straight at a racetrack.

It feels kind of long and low, warm, tight turning circle.

I personally don’t enjoy puttering around at 20% throttle.
 
Performance, overheating, "race bike on the street", yeah yeah
My issue is purely superficial.
The tuono 660 looks awesome in the acid gold with red wheels (in my opinion). Why can't that be offered in the V4?

2021-Aprilia-RS-660-acid-gold-696x464_grande.jpg
 
bigpoppa said:
But for a street bike it makes no sense, only place the bike feels at home is on a long straight at a racetrack.
Click to expand...
If you think that's true of the Tuono, you can see why after 12 years of owning RSV4s, I switched to the big Katoom.
 
Wind Shear said:
Performance, overheating, "race bike on the street", yeah yeah
My issue is purely superficial.
The tuono 660 looks awesome in the acid gold with red wheels (in my opinion). Why can't that be offered in the V4?

2021-Aprilia-RS-660-acid-gold-696x464_grande.jpg
Click to expand...
That’s the rs. V4 is too important to be ****** around with, with funky colors
 
My 2017 tuono 1100 rr was reliable. Didn't get absurdly hot, but wasn't a downtown traffic kind of bike.

Agreed with most of what's been said above. I loved mine. Sold it during covid, when dealers couldn't get stock. I wasn't doing any long trips, so it seemed pointless to keep when they offered me good money for it.

I put 20,000km on mine.

The rush of acceleration was intoxicating, as was the blip of the quick shifter.

I did the race map, and had a Hindle pipe on it. V4 sounds amazing.

Now I'm going back to a middleweight naked. More fun to ride at sedate speeds, and better to rip through the gears and not be going too fast when I do; more engaging to ride.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk
 
Shaman said:
Heating issues definitely overblown. They're amazing bikes that handle well and have a great mid/top end power rush. They look good, they sound good, they're overall an excellent bike if you like backroad noodling and maybe some track work. It's not what I'd call a great city stoplight bike.

As for competitors: I think my Super Duke is better in the city (ok I know it is) and otherwise it's too close to call. I find the i4 bikes fairly bland but all of them except for MV's work respectably well in all conditions. There's not much out there for v2 or v4 competition except for Ducati and while I think their naked V4 is an amazing bike, it's also over-powered for the class with most of its power at the top of the rev range while the Tuono just has power all the time.

Anyway, if I had a '23 available for $18K I might have bought it instead of my Super Duke. When I was looking in March, their Factory editions were roughly $37K after taxes for a '23!
Click to expand...
I think I'm perhaps attracted to the Tuono because of the price. There are 2021 models for $16,000 with less than 3,000km on them.

I did consider the SDR but can't get over the looks (no disrespect to your bike). I completely agree with i4 bikes being bland. After owning several of them I moved to a triple and really enjoyed it. More torque, less "revvy" and better sound.

I did also have owning a litre bike on my bucket list, even if just for a year or two. Been riding a little over 15 years and never experienced the thrill of a 160+hp bike. I typically ride for pleasure now and no longer use a bike to commute, so most of my riding is from downtown Toronto to as far away from Toronto as my body can handle 😅
 
bigpoppa said:
I suspect at some point they quietly fixed the shutting down, it does get hot in traffic, but it’s a general bubble of heat surrounding you. Not directed at a body part, never really getting uncomfortable.

But for a street bike it makes no sense, only place the bike feels at home is on a long straight at a racetrack.

It feels kind of long and low, warm, tight turning circle.

I personally don’t enjoy puttering around at 20% throttle.
Click to expand...
Yep. I read the entire Aprilia thread with Gabro chiming in on the overheating issues. I think he put out some maps that set the fan to turn on earlier, but riders still reported their bikes overheating.

Perhaps if I stop watching YouTube clips of tuonos with that glorious engine roar I'll be less inclined to make a bad (and possibly expensive) decision. Haha
 
stangn99 said:
Yep. I read the entire Aprilia thread with Gabro chiming in on the overheating issues. I think he put out some maps that set the fan to turn on earlier, but riders still reported their bikes overheating.

Perhaps if I stop watching YouTube clips of tuonos with that glorious engine roar I'll be less inclined to make a bad (and possibly expensive) decision. Haha
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You will be much happier with a middleweight(Aprilia or otherwise)
 
I get it, I was on the “I have to own a v4 train” early last year. I checked the box but had a disappointing experience (Ducati). My advice mirrors some others, get a tuono 660, you’ll stay out of trouble, still get a funky engine note and rowing the gears will be fun.
 
I had a '16 Tuono until last spring and it was 100% reliable. I sold it only because I really barely ride on the street anymore and it was a large investment to leave sitting in the shed so much. I miss having that bike so much though!!!

I've had 3 Aprilias now, all have been perfect for reliability, including my 17 RSV4 race bike.
 
Had a 2016 for a bit over a season. Did a ton of commuting around with it but more highways than traffic.
It did start to get hot on me on a heat alert day stuck in 401 without moving. Temp started to climb but I was overheating more so I filtered to get some fresh air.
Otherwise no other heat issues. None of the early hot start issues of the pre-2015 first V4 models.

Amazing bike, love the sound. I still miss it most of the time. Would get another if I had the space and $$
 
I must be the outlier, because I say go for the V4 Tuono. You've already got reservations in going back to the Street Triple, so why not try something new, otherwise you'll always be thinking about it and probably eventually buy it anyways. For what it's worth, I have a 2007 Aprilia SXV that's been trouble free for over 20,000 kms, but if you believe the hype, I should have had to rebuild the motor 20 times by now.
 
Italian bikes are gorgeous and a pain in the ass lol. I'd love to ride a Ducati Supersport S but I don't have the patience for the constant/expensive problems. So I ride a ktm and have constant but slightly less expensive problems.
 
damien2003gt said:
Italian bikes are gorgeous and a pain in the ass lol. I'd love to ride a Ducati Supersport S but I don't have the patience for the constant/expensive problems. So I ride a ktm and have constant but slightly less expensive problems.
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Still don't get it. I have owned 4 ducs and never had a problem. Mind you, they were all 2 valvers.
 
damien2003gt said:
Italian bikes are gorgeous and a pain in the ass lol. I'd love to ride a Ducati Supersport S but I don't have the patience for the constant/expensive problems. So I ride a ktm and have constant but slightly less expensive problems.
Click to expand...
Wow.... I guess you know something that I don't....

20231231_121822.jpg
 
I have owned many Aprilias and they've all been quite reliable for me. My Tuono started having the occasional old-bike problems at around 12 years in but that's to be expected from any manufacturer (stuff like fork seals leaking, some composite tank distortion that needed attention, et al) and I sold it this spring for the KTM - after 16 seasons of enjoyment with no major issue. The RSV4s have been no different, they've been reliable as well. I've beaten on this bike for 7 years now:

20170630003927-28d5d27e-me.jpg
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