RSV Tuono Racing (2003) review
Barking: try one. Although don’t be upset if you can’t afford the top spec, as the standard Tuono is just as good
The Tuono was the first of what is now becoming a long list of very silly naked bikes. You have to love Aprilia’s thinking, which probably went along the lines of ‘We need a sporty naked bike, so let’s just rip the fairing of the RSV-R and stick on a set of flat bars.’ And this is exactly what they did.
The Racing is the highest spec Tuono, with Öhlins suspension, lightweight wheels and carbon bodywork, and it rocks. The engine is the old-model RSV-R’s and while it is a tad rough it works brilliantly in the Tuono.
Handling is excellent on back roads and it’s a real sportsbike-annoyer on track, easily keeping up despite the lack of fairing. It’s a very silly bike that is tons of fun.
The Tuono was the first of what is now becoming a long list of very silly naked bikes. You have to love Aprilia’s thinking, which probably went along the lines of ‘We need a sporty naked bike, so let’s just rip the fairing of the RSV-R and stick on a set of flat bars.’ And this is exactly what they did.
The Racing is the highest spec Tuono, with Öhlins suspension, lightweight wheels and carbon bodywork, and it rocks. The engine is the old-model RSV-R’s and while it is a tad rough it works brilliantly in the Tuono.
Handling is excellent on back roads and it’s a real sportsbike-annoyer on track, easily keeping up despite the lack of fairing. It’s a very silly bike that is tons of fun.
| Length (mm) | 2070 |
| Width (mm) | 800 |
| Dryweight (kg) | 180 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Seat Height (mm) | 820 |
| Suspension Front | 43 mm Öhlins titanium nitride coated upside-down fork. 120 mm wheel travel. Shortened stanchions. Radially fixed calliper. Solid machined light alloy top yoke. |
| Suspension Rear | Aluminium alloy swing-arm. Aprilia Progressive System (APS) linkages. Öhlins Racing monoshock with piggy-back cylinder. Wheel travel 135 mm. |
| Adjustability Front | External adjustment system for rebound, compression and preload |
| Adjustability Rear | Adjustable in rebound, compression, preload and length |
| Wheels Front | 3.50 x 17 |
| Wheels Rear | 6.00 x 17 |
| Tyres Front | 120/70 ZR 17 |
| Tyres Rear | 180/55 ZR 17 |
| Brakes Front | Brembo double stainless steel floating disk, Æ 320 |
| Brakes Rear | Brembo stainless steel disk, Ø 220 mm. Twin 32 mm |
| Tank Capacity (litres) | 18 |
| Tank Capacity (miles) | 145 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 1415 |
| Rake (degrees) | 25 |
| Trail (mm) | 99 |
| Chassis | Box section, sloping twin spar frame in aluminium alloy. Öhlins Racing adjustable double chamber steering damper with monoblock fitting. |
| Colours | Black |
| Cubic Capacity (cc) | 998 |
| Valves | 8 |
| Max Power (bhp) | 115 |
| Max Power Peak (rpm) | 8700 |
| Torque (ft/lb) | 74 |
| Torque Peak (rpm) | 6700 |
| Bore (mm) | 97 |
| Stroke (mm) | 67.5 |
| Compression Ratio | 11.4 |
| Valves Per Cylinder | 4 |
| Cooling | Liquid |
| Fuel Delivery | EFI |
| Drive | Chain |
| Max Power | 114.7 |
| Max Power Revs | 8700 |
| Max Torque | 73.7 |
| Max Torque Revs | 6700 |
| Standing Quarter Mile - Terminal Speed MPH | 125.22 |
| Standing Quarter Mile - Time | 11.59 |
| Test Fuel Consumption - Average | 36 |
| Test Fuel Consumption - Best | 41 |
| Test Fuel Consumption - Worst | 31 |
| Top Speed | 141.9 |
