2009 Aprilia Tuono Factory for Sale
Miles: 8,700
Second Owner
Clean Title
Price: $5,600 OBO
Listing ends: May 30th, 2024
For a long time, naked versions of popular sportbikes were suspiciously low-spec. For some reason, the Japanese insisted on using detuned, last-generation engines along with completely new, often heavier frames using less aggressive geometry to build their sporty nakeds. Ironic since the popular “streetfighter” trend of the late 80s and early 90s pointed the way forward for unfaired sporting machines: just take a normal, often Japanese sportbike, rip the [conveniently and recently damaged] fairings off, bolt up a headlight or two [or three?], fit some risers and a flat handlebar, chop the exhaust obnoxiously short, and call it done. Even Ducati used an older lower-spec motor for their otherwise very sporty Monster S4, but Aprilia finally did what riders and journalists had been clamouring for and upset the apple cart: they took their excellent RSV Mille superbike, left the frame and engine alone, ripped off the fairings, fitted a weird headlight/fairing thing along with lower bars, and then sold it to the public as the Aprilia Tuono. This example is a second-generation bike, and based on the RSV1000R that followed the Mille in Aprilia’s lineup. Powered by the Rotax-developed V990, the engine featured an unusual 60° v-twin with four valves per cylinder and overhead cams. The 60° configuration was chosen to create an engine that could reach the revs required to make competitive power, but was much more compact than the 90° v-twins favored by Ducati and Suzuki. A pair of balance shafts sapped some power, but kept vibrations to a minimum, and the result was 133hp along with wheelies any time you asked for them. The Factory seen here was no slouch in the handling department either, with fully-adjustable Öhlins suspension at both ends and forged aluminum wheels. From its inception, the Tuono Factory was a complete hooligan, a street-ripping monster masquerading as “a more comfortable choice for… mature sportbike enthusiasts…”
Here is a two owner Aprilia Tuono. Bike runs excellent has never been even dropped. Paint is close to mint condition. Bike has bigger springs than stock but will include the stock fork and shock springs. Bike has one small scratch on the swing arm. Also the bike has stock RSV non-forged black wheels as the second owner liked them better then the gold forged wheels.
A few things to clear up with the seller. First of all, is he the second or third owner? The listing shows two owners, but the description mentions “the second owner.” Are they speaking about themselves in the third person? Has it never been registered in their name? And when he says “bigger springs,” does he mean “stiffer”? Also, exactly how much are the back CA DMV fees? The missing Factory wheels are a big bummer, as they look great, are lighter, and will likely be a pain to source in good condition. That being said, this is a low-mileage example of a wild and raucous, if slightly strange-looking bike that helped get us to the “supernakeds” of today like Aprilia’s current V4 Tuono and Ducati’s Streetfighter V4, only featuring slightly more manageable [without heavy technological intervention] performance.
-tad
