Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128173
Aprilia Tuana Fighter (Left) The Brembo brakes offer a bit less bite than the limited-edition Tuono Rs did, but they nonetheless excel under the vast majority of street-riding conditions. (Right) Underwear?: While Aprllia calls the Tuono FIghter a naked bike, the bike's inline four is shrouded by a myriad of engine systems. adjustable brake lever - and don't worry about the Tuono wanting to sit up and understeer, because it won't and just pull it back on line a little tighter with that wide handlebar. Hit a bump or series of ripples in the road surface while cranked hard over, and the compliant rear suspension just eats them up, offering a pretty high standard of ride quality for the sportbike it undoubtedly is. But then find a long bit of more-or-Iess straight road and revel in the Tuono's tigerish engine performance, the lusty lilt of the narrow-angle V-twin engine rising an octave or two as you pour on the power wide open in top gear noting as you do so that the bike runs completely true and straight at high speed, even with a light hand on each grip and the non-adjustable Boge steering damper located low down in front of the bottom triple clamp doing its job. There's none of the wobbles or weaves so many other performance nudiebikes throw at you when you gas them wide open at top speed. The Tuono's a thoroughbred thunderbike: it's been well sorted. It's also the start of a new family of bikes from Aprilia, as Klaus Nennewitz confirms. "I think, with the Tuono, we have managed to create a new kind of motorcycle which will be as closely identified with Aprilia as the Scarabeo big-wheel scooter has been," he says, "and the success of the Tuono R proved that. We should have made at least 500 of them, all of which we could have sold even at the higher price - but now we recognize that, in creating this style of motorcycle, we have added a new dimension to the Naked-bike sector. For sure we will make other models in the Tuono series, of which this is just the first." Sounds like the ding of the bell for round one in the Fighter's tarmac ring career. CN 24 SEPTEMBER 25, 2002' cue • e (Left) The Tuono Fighter's handlebars lend an aggressive motocross-like appearance to the bike, enhancing it's styling. (Right) Similar to Triumph's Speed Four, the Tuono Fighter utilizes a framethrough snorkel system to pressurize its airbox. The sculpted fuel tank holds close to 4.7 gallons. (Left) The shorty nose fairing offers substantial wind protection at sane velocities. The triple headlight and location of the forward tum signals are a nice touch. (Right) While the Tuono FIghter's tail section (s visually attractive, the passenger pillion appears to leave much to be desired in terms of comfort. n e _ s