I’m thinking of changing from my '07 ER6-F to one of these. Maybe '02-'03
Anyone have any experience of these bikes? Reviews seem awesome - even on reliability(!!!) The motor is well known and the components seem to be top shelf. They look awesome, sound amazing, and it seems like it would do the things I’ve found out that I’m looking for in a bike - cruise large distances in relative comfort (the rotax v-twin, slightly relaxed position, and good wind protection) while being a sound enough bike to take for the odd thrash or trackday. I’ve got a soft spot for anything Italian built.
Has anyone ridden or owned one? I’d be keen to hear anything.
I’ve just bought one myself, an 05 (the last year it was made) with 1500mls, basically just run-in. The bike is pretty good looking and exceptionally built (they say Aprilia is the Italian Honda) but, confortable it isn’t… I bought it for exactly the same reasons as you (as a kind of powerful sports-tourer) but the riding position is still pretty sporty and considerably leant-forward - more so than my old ZZR, plus it’s taller. In other words, it’s not a sit-up bike like the Tuono, not as extreme as the RSV but not far from it. So the advice is: if you find one try it first for a bit and not just around a car park as i did.
Interesting to hear your experience with the riding position. Is the seat itself good though? Also how tall are you and do you find the bike too tall? I’m 5’10"
I’ve found one to test on the weekend. '01 in black with 6k miles.
Funny you mention this, i was reading reviews in magazine lately about it. Sounds good, but hard to get one, plus the clocks look like something from the 70’s
Raised aftermarket bars would indeed be a good idea, I’d be interested too. Your website says 6.96 euros, what is that price referring to, surely not to the actual bars? Are there any info in English?
In answer to your other questions, the seat is also not your typical touring seat, quite thin although not in RR territory, ok overall. In terms of height it’s ok, 815mm I think, which is average. I had a ZZR before which is a very low bike, 780mm or something, so it was a substantial jump for me which, coupled with the low handlebars, felt quite forward-leaning. I’m shorter than you at 5’8" and reach ground with both feet, so you’ll be alright.
As I said the best way is to do a good test ride, then think about the use you’ll do (probably not the best town bike for position + tight turning circle). Also see what engine feels like, not everyone likes V-twins and, being a slightly de-tuned Mille lump, it thumps considerably.
Let us know know how your test ride goes, I’ll be out riding it this weekend for the first time since I collected last saturday, hopefully I’ll warm up to it too with a good ride.
Shopping for motorbikes. One of my favourite things to do…
I test rode two aprilias today - Tuono and Falco. That is one sweet motor they share - it’s exactly what I’m after. In the words of Jeremy Clarkson it sounds like god having kinky sex. I can’t decide which of the two bikes is more suitable though. I could see the combination of uprightness and lack of a full screen on the Tuono being less than perfect on a long motorway/a-road haul. But otherwise, completely awesome performance, and mostly versatile and practical. Easy to use in town traffic.
The Falco was perfect for the kind of touring I want the freedom to be able to do though; great wind protection combined with a pile of torque, good tank size and solid feel, but it would take some adjusting to learn to handle it around the city well. I had it for more than an hour so tried alot. Slight snatch in first and quite heavy to filter with, on first impressions.
Falco wins for now but only really because it’s cheaper.
Yep I think you summed it up pretty well there, I know some people who toured France with the Tuono but it is still more of a street bike.
I clocked up a couple of hundred miles between yesterday and today on the Falco and, as you say, the wind protection is great - real wind tunnel work there.
Still, I must admit, I’m still not convinced she’s the one for me…:doze: It’s not the bike, it’s me: the ergonomics just don’t suit me. The forward position badly affects my neck more than my wrists and I have to be careful there as I’ve had problems in that area.
Plus, (I’m gonna make some people choke here…) I’m not really a V-Twin man, I’ve always preferred the slow progression and smothness of the fours. :smooooth: The actual bike I wanted to get was a Fazer 1000.
So I’m gonna do a bit of thinking in the next few days and consider whether to keep her or not, I shouldn’t have many problems selling it as it’s pretty mint, it still smells of new. Went to Southern Cross for some advice yday and the guys were quite impressed and ‘interested’.
There are a bunch of folk on the Tuono forum (follow the link from the Falco one I posted), who have ridden to the alps (they also had a big meeting in Yorkshire at the weekend). A taller screen helps and the newer models, even though they have a lower screen give better wind protection.
It depends what kind of touring you do, if you want to blast along motorways at 120mph then a Tuono will not be that comfortable, however if you like to cover long distances on A roads then it is a practical proposition.
I commute about 30 miles a day on mine, a mixture of London traffic (where it is excellent) and fast dual carriageways, and find it very good. I like you description of god having kinky sex, that pretty much sums it up. It has soul and passion…
(Sorry but it’s just not possible to have kinky sex if you own a Fazer 1000)
I think I’ll run a falco with a bar riser kit for the next six months then maybe change to a newer Tuono - I agree with what you say about town riding. Awesome for that job, and I could imagine myself being one of the sacriligous bastards who fits a screen to it.
One good reason for the Falco is that I have a 6/7 day return trip to Milan on the cards to meet an Italian mate who has a GS. He wants to ride it back to London. Sounds like a good end-of-summer mission for early September and there’s no way I’d try that on the er6 but it’s perfect for a Falco. Slightly less so for the Tuono perhaps, having experienced the wind protection on the Falco now.
Also this way I can convince myself I’m leaving the door open to more fun bike shopping in the near future!
