Aprilia Tuono V4R APRC vs. Ducati Streetfighter S | Brute Force!
The Streetfighter S rolls on Marchesini wheels supported by Öhlins suspension. Looking for something less spendy? The Streetfighter 848 goes for $12,995.
Aprilia’s RSV4R APRC costs $16K, making the $14K Tuono the most affordable way to enjoy Aprilia’s incredible V4. The electronics let you tailor the bike to suit your mood.
The Streetfighter S rolls on Marchesini wheels supported by Öhlins suspension. Looking for
The Aprilia Tuono V4R and Ducati Streetfighter S epitomize road-going aggression. This pair of Italian machines is viciously powerful and entirely unapologetic; engineered to exhilarate and impress—and even scare you a little bit! These nakeds give away nothing to their fully faired superbike siblings in terms of handling.
In fact, the upright riding position and altered chassis yield better control on tight roads and more comfort around town. The two are separated by just $4000, 35 lbs. and 10 horsepower, but one of them is bound to do a better job of balancing the thrill of an upright repli-racer with the manners necessary to function in civilized society.
The Streetfighter’s chiseled tank and tail leave no doubt as to this bike’s origins. It’s rooted in the 1098 Superbike, and uses the same 1099cc 90-degree V-twin engine wedged into a frame with a 35mm-longer swingarm and slacker steering angle. Different intake and exhaust plumbing reduce peak output to 135 bhp at 9750 rpm, but the Streetfighter retains the 1098’s omnipresent torque and linear power delivery.
Press the starter button and the big twin cranks over laboriously before firing. The dry clutch is concealed behind a magnesium cover, but its rattle is still audible and mixes with the loping exhaust note and desmodromic din to create a compelling cacophony of sound. The “S” suffix following the Streetfighter’s name means carbon-fiber where plastic would ordinarily do, eight-level traction control and, most importantly, Öhlins suspension holding lightweight, forged-aluminum Marchesini wheels.
Dab the starter and the Tuono V4R’s 999.6cc V4 fires quickly, the tachometer jumping as the ECU automatically blips the ride-by-wire throttle. Tuono means “thunder” in Italian, and while that name might have better suited the original Mille-based V-twin, the current V4 still makes itself known with a raspy bark overlaying a deep, booming bass line.
Updating the decade-old Tuono wasn’t as simple as stripping the bodywork from Aprilia’s RSV4 superbike; the engine, chassis and riding position all were altered to tailor the bike to the street. The 65-degree V4 produces 145 bhp at 11,800 rpm. That’s 7 bhp down on the world-beating RSV4, but this engine has been tuned for more midrange power with revised valve timing and longer velocity stacks.
Performance is enhanced with a heavier flywheel and shortened gear ratios in first through third. Aprilia also lowered the swingarm pivot and the engine position to bring the center of gravity closer to the ground. Like the RSV4R APRC, the Tuono comes equipped with the Aprilia Performance Ride Control electronics package that includes eight-level traction control, variable power modes, a quick-shifter, wheelie control and launch control.
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