Burn the Hell's Highway

APRILIA TUONO V4 R APRC 2011 HIGHLIGHTS

Bodystyle : Sports Naked Bike
Warranty : 24 months
Manufacturer Country : Italy
Model Year : 2011
Displacement (cc) : 999.6
Engine Type : V4, longitudinal 65° V-4 cylinder, four-stroke

VEHICLE REVIEW

2011 Aprilia Tuono V4 R APRC

The Tuono V4R is the only naked powered by a narrow V (65°) 4 cylinder engine with unique characteristics. Extremely compact, as slim as a twin-cylinder and installed in an ultra-compact chassis, the 65° V4 engine is the epitome of Italian engineering ingenuity. The Tuono gives away very little to its RSV4 sibling in terms of pure performance, but in exchange offers a greater fluidity that make it more enjoyable and rewarding to ride on the road and when carrying a passenger. To achieve these results, a number of different modifications were made to the Aprilia V4 engine :
• New valve timing diagram.
• Fixed intake ducts now 20 mm longer.
• Crankshaft flywheel with increased inertia for improved smoothness and overall balance.
• Shortened gear ratios for the first three gears.
• Engine speed at maximum power reduced to 11,500 rpm on the Tuono V4R
The narrow V architecture translates into an engine that is incredibly compact in length, offering advantages in terms of mass centralisation and making it possible to define a chassis architecture centre of gravity that is both very low and almost perfectly centralised in the engine and vehicle for neutral, intuitive behaviour and maximum responsiveness on the road.
The innovative valve timing system (with the chain camshaft driving only the intake camshaft, which in turn drives the exhaust camshaft via a single gear) has allowed the use of extremely compact heads (just 250 mm at the rear of the engine), especially in the area beneath the frame spars, which are thus much narrower than would otherwise be possible.
A countershaft dampens vibrations even more than in a 90° V engine.
The monobloc crankcase with integrated aluminium cylinder liners ensures maximum rigidity and consistent performance.
The electronic management system is another example of the 65° V4 engine's technological supremacy. Full Ride by Wire technology eliminates any direct connection between the throttle grip and the throttle valves, which are entirely controlled by a latest generation Marelli control unit that also controls the ignition and the 4 injectors
Each bank has a dedicated servo unit actuating its own two throttle bodies only. This means that the aperture of the throttle valves and, as a consequence, the quantity of fuel injected, can be controlled independently. A solution that opens up practically infinite possibilities for power delivery control and works hand in hand with the APRC system.
This technology, adapted appropriately for the prevalently road based usage of the Tuono V4, offers immediately tangible benefits to the rider, with triple mapping (adjusting power delivery and maximum power) selectable directly from the handlebar allowing the character of the bike to be modified to suit the rider's personal riding style or the track conditions at any time.
• T - TRACK: no compromise. All 167.3 hp of power available at the slightest twist of the throttle.
• S - SPORT: maximum fun on the open road. Smooth delivery, maximum power. Torque limited in all gears for fun yet less demanding riding.
• R - ROAD: usability in all conditions. Smooth delivery and power attenuated by 25% across the rev range. Greater usability in all conditions. Ideal for the city or wet road conditions.
The transmission has also been designed to the meet most advanced criteria to offer the maximum performance possible. To underscore the racing soul of the 65° V4 engine, it is mated to a cassette gearbox with a wet sump lubrication system (with oil in the crankcase). The wet clutch features a mechanical slipper system for optimised engine braking torque control and stability under hard braking.
This is the most complete version, equipped as standard with a steering damper and the APRC second generation vehicle dynamic control suite.
APRC is based on an automotive inertia sensor platform, with two gyrometers and two accelerometers allowing the engine ECU to determine the dynamic state of the motorcycle and control engine torque accordingly to help the rider exploit the full performance potential of the bike.
The APRC suite equipping the Tuono V4 R includes:
• ATC (Aprilia Traction Control) with eight different settings for controlling sliding when powering out of curves in relation to bank angle and throttle aperture. The system has been tweaked to make the more conservative settings even more suitable for road use, while leaving the racing spirit of the less restrictive levels intact;
• AWC (Aprilia Wheelie Control) which helps the rider maintain control in extreme wheelie conditions by gradually bringing the front wheel back to the ground, has been appropriately adapted for the different weight distribution of the Tuono V4;
• AQS (Aprilia Quick Shift), which allows instantaneous upshifts without closing the throttle or using the clutch. Completing the suite of four functions is the most exhilarating of all: ALC (Aprilia Launch Control).
• Simultaneously pressing both buttons on the joystick on the left hand handlebar arms the system, as confirmed by the specific message on the display. From this moment on, all 167,3 horsepower of the beast from Noale are ready to slingshot the Tuono V4 R like a missile as soon as the rider releases the clutch, unleashing the astonishing power onto the tarmac through every available square millimetre of the 190/55 rear tyre. And tyre size does not matter to APRC, as with its Calibrating function, it is the only system of its kind on the market capable of self-adapting to tyre size and drive ratio.
Tuono V4 R APRC is a bike with two personalities, with two distinct display modes - Road and Race - to cater for even the most exacting rider.
In keeping with the Aprilia tradition of creating state of the art chassis architectures, the aluminium frame of the Tuono V4 R exploits the strength and flexibility of cast and pressed elements in a structure that sets new benchmarks in terms of balance and dynamic efficiency. The result is maximum torsional stiffness and flexional stiffness optimised for improved feedback.
Unlike the previous generation twin cylinder Tuono 1000R, the frame developed for the Tuono V4 R has been completely revised with respect to the unit used in the RSV4 to maximise directional control and stability for a naked capable of over 270 Km/h - on the track, of course - while maintaining the legendary safety and impeccable precision typical of Aprilia frames.
This in turn led to new solutions in terms of chassis geometry, such as modifying the trail and lowering the engine in the frame to lower the centre of gravity, for exceptionally neutral behaviour and truly catlike high speed stability.
This means that the Aprilia Tuono is not just a bike with devastating performance, but one whose greatest strength is precisely the incredible ease with which any rider can access its full potential. The swingarm also uses the same constructional technology as the frame and offers the same perfect balance between flexional and torsional stiffness to contribute to the extraordinary responsiveness of the Tuono V4 R.
The unique construction technology of the frame and swingarm allows them both to proudly flaunt the naturally gleaming colour of brushed aluminium, yet another feature that is increasingly rarer in production bikes that contributes to pure racing look of the Tuono V4.
The mind-blowing new naked from Aprilia comes equipped with the best components available on the market: Brembo brake system with radial callipers and 320 mm floating discs at the front (220 mm at the rear), aluminium wheels with an all-new three spoke design weighing 2 Kg less than the five spoke version, fully adjustable Sachs upside down front fork with 43 mm stanchions, and Sachs shock absorber with separate piggy back nitrogen canister featuring adjustable spring preload, compression and rebound damping and length, to modify the setup of the bike to suit different riding styles, roads and loads - including a passenger. The choice of dual-compound tyres is also new, with three different sizes approved for the rear wheel: the 190/55 tyre fitted as standard may be replaced with a 200/55 or a 190/50 tyre to explore the full performance potential of the bike - even on the track.

OVERVIEW SPECIFICATIONS