Tuono 1000R Factory

[Mr_Tickle]

Since I left the UK at the end of last month I've been without a bike and this weekend it's finally time to go and buy myself something. A a 2008 Tuono Factory has caught my eye and I'm looking for real-world experience to see if this would be the right bike for my needs.

I would use the bike daily for commuting, approx 30 mile round trip, motorway and A-roads. Are these bikes reliable enough for daily commuting? Do they need specialist maintenance from the Aprilia garage or can I do the majority myself plus a few things in the local garage? Will the bike just fall apart from heavy use? Are parts excessively expensive?

I also need to be able to cover large distances on it occasionally so is this bike comfortable for several hours riding? It doesn´t have to be like a sofa on wheels, but I don't want 600 supersport levels of discomfort.

Please feel free to add any other things I should consider. If I don't go for this bike the other options are a Z1000 and a GSXS-1000.

[Tall_Paul]

Mr_Tickle said:

Since I left the UK at the end of last month I've been without a bike and this weekend it's finally time to go and buy myself something. A a 2008 Tuono Factory has caught my eye and I'm looking for real-world experience to see if this would be the right bike for my needs.

I would use the bike daily for commuting, approx 30 mile round trip, motorway and A-roads. Are these bikes reliable enough for daily commuting? Do they need specialist maintenance from the Aprilia garage or can I do the majority myself plus a few things in the local garage? Will the bike just fall apart from heavy use? Are parts excessively expensive?

I also need to be able to cover large distances on it occasionally so is this bike comfortable for several hours riding? It doesn´t have to be like a sofa on wheels, but I don't want 600 supersport levels of discomfort.

Please feel free to add any other things I should consider. If I don't go for this bike the other options are a Z1000 and a GSXS-1000.

Missed this thread, this may be too late now but thought I'd give my experience (so far) of my 2009 Tuono Factory.

Commuting: If it's heavy filtering, and/or lots of slow speed riding then it won't be the best at it. I've only done 1000 miles on mine so far, but have done a few commutes and in general it felt like a 'caged lion' - just itching to be set free. It doesn't like to be sat at 30/40mph behind traffic or dawdling cars too much.

Filtering is just hard in general, the bars are wide and steering lock is tiny. Add to that the high gearing meaning lots of clutch use...

The Rotax 60 degree engines are pretty much bullet proof, if anything goes wrong it'll be the electrics.

Comfort for long distances: The footpegs are high as it's basically an RSVR with no fairing and high bars, they changed very little from the RSVR sportsbike to the naked Tuono. The seat is quite firm, but I reckon it'll be fine for long distances. I've got a 3500 mile Alps trip in August so will get to test that out! You'll be forced to make stops every few hours anyway as the fuel range is 140 miles maximum on a steady motorway run, closer to 100 miles with 'spirited' riding.

The gearing is worth changing if it's not been done already, from the stock 16/40 to 15/42, at 80mph it will be pulling just over 5000rpm. This change makes it a lot more manageable in slow speed/town riding.

The factory model is 100% worth getting over the standard R model, you couldn't buy the extras for the difference in cost.

[Mr_Tickle]

Thanks for the reply, some good info in there. I'd already decided I was going to buy the Aprilia but when I went to the shop they weren't open, so I ended up buying the Kawasaki instead.

[Renn Sport]

Mr_Tickle said:

Thanks for the reply, some good info in there. I'd already decided I was going to buy the Aprilia but when I went to the shop they weren't open, so I ended up buying the Kawasaki instead.

Wow really? I have one and its a very capable bike. Very torquey and comfortable, however its a bit lardy if I am honest. Its just decent at doing everything in a typical Japanese way. However I do like the engine as it does have a character. At first it seems buzzy but it soon becomes part of the charm. Hard to explain but you'll know when you ride it.

I can't really think of any downsides for your choice but the Tuono seems more special in my mind.

Just more wow.

[Tall_Paul]

Probably more suited to commuting on though, the tuono doesn't feel at home sat in traffic.

[Pegscratch]

Tall_Paul said:

Probably more suited to commuting on though, the tuono doesn't feel at home sat in traffic.

I don't care, riding my 2016 1100 Factory is simply the most special feeling you could get on two wheels.