Aprilia RSV4 RF and Tuono V4 1100 RR first ride

MCN Senior Road Tester Michael Neeves was in Italy riding the new Aprilia RSV4 RF and Tuono V4 1100 RR yesterday.

We updated this page throughout the day, with all of the latest news, first impressions and details from the event!

Tuono V4 1100 RR

The outgoing Tuono was our MCN super naked group test winner because it’s such a capable all round road bike, great on track, really good fun and has lots of technology.

This new bike moves the game on even further. The engine’s more flexible, the electronics are more refined and it’s a lot more comfortable – the seat used to be really hard but it’s nice and soft now.

The riding position is nice, it sounds great, the steering is nice and light – it’s just a very easy bike to ride that’s crammed full of performance. So that means if the old one was already the best super naked, this has just moved the bar even further away from all the competition.

RS V4 RF

The RSV4 was always one of the best road going superbikes because it had really nice handling, it was very agile and had some of the best electronics on any superbike. What it lacked before was outright engine power, which this new one seems to have.

It’s deceptively fast – it doesn’t scream like an inline four and it doesn’t feel as fast as, say, the BMW S1000RR but when you take these bikes to the track you realise that they’re all very close. With the class of the 1000s this year at the moment, I think that the current winner is the R1, followed by the Ducati and the BMW.  But this Aprilia has got every chance of making a good challenge, maybe even being the best.

It sounds great, it’s fast and the handling is incredible. We’re riding this bike on Pirelli Supercorsa SC2 tyres so we’ve got loads of grip, Misano has a new track surface so it’s grippy today and it’s very easy to ride fast – the electronics really help, it’s got lots of mechanical grip and it’s just an enjoyable bike to ride.

Just done a couple of dozen miles and the new Tuono is so smooth, steers beautifully and is flippin fast! https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CCoqN02WgAEbDMD.jpg:large

— Michael Neeves (@Neevesy33) April 15, 2015

And with the morning over, it’s time to jump onto the Tuono V4 1100 RR…

It’s sounds pretty sweet, eh?

With the proper riding done it’s one lap of tracking pic.twitter.com/s7q2S083qM

— Motorcycle News (@MCNnews) April 15, 2015

Our competition winner and @Neevesy33 head out for their final laps pic.twitter.com/XLgwitXqXP

— Motorcycle News (@MCNnews) April 15, 2015

A couple of quick snippets from the first time out this morning

.@Neevesy33 “I’ve been changing up instinctively at 12k and found another powerband at 13k where it pulls even more” pic.twitter.com/daiMRx1VuD

— Motorcycle News (@MCNnews) April 15, 2015

What’s new?

For 2015 Aprilia reckon the RSV4 RF breaks the magical 200bhp barrier, with a claimed 201bhp at 13,000rpm.

The new RF has already proved its pedigree on track, taking a race win at the WSB season opener in Phillip Island with Leon Haslam onboard. The RF will be available for £18,135.

The big change for the Tuono comes with the engine, which has been increased in size from 999cc to 1077cc. With the increase in size comes an increase in power from 167bhp to 175bhp. Because 167bhp on a naked bike just isn’t enough.

The Sachs suspension of the previous model has been replaced by Ohlins. It’ll cost £13,134 on the road in the UK.

Both models will come with the APRC (Aprilia Performance Ride Control) system, which includes traction control, wheelie control, launch control and a quickshifter.

And don’t forget, there will be a full review in MCN next week!