What to do? As we have already pointed out, a Japanese manufacturer might take the motor, castrate it to about 110 hp and stick it in a cheaper, heavier chassis with low-spec suspension and brakes and slice an ‘R’ or two off the name. That’s not how Aprilia rolls, though: to create the Tuono V4R APRC, Aprilia designer Miguel Galluzzi (who also penned the original Ducati Monster, if the name sounds familiar) left the frame, suspension and brakes alone, but street-o-rized the 65-degree liquid-cooled, four-valve, dohc V-Four by extending the inlet tracts, changing valve timing, increasing flywheel inertia and shortening gear ratios in the first three gears. He lopped about 12 hp off the top end compared to the (also retuned for 2012) RSV4R motor, but also moved power and torque peaks 1000 rpm down from the 12,500-rpm redline.
There are other changes from the RSV4R. Chassis geometry is more relaxed than the sportbike’s: steering-head angle is a half degree more, to 25, the wheelbase is 20mm longer, yielding 2.5mm more trail. The bodywork is unique, but has an interesting continuity with the RSV4R’s aggressive shapes. There’s a tiny passenger seat and shrunken windscreen, and the minimal bodywork lets you eye-hump all the sexy details—that compact V-Four, the vast aluminum radiator, giant, braced swingarm, deep, angled oil sump. Plenty of internet-forum haters unimaginatively typed “fugly!” when they first saw photos, but in person—especially with the glittery gold-painted example we had—the bike triggers desire.
