The nice thing about being unencumbered by the restrictions of racing is you get to make things like these. It's our two new favorite naked sports bikes, the 2015 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 RR and its upgraded Factory sibling.
Since Aprilia doesn't have to worry about making a homologation-friendly engine like it does for the RSV4, they've taken that same V4 and blown it out its bore to 81mm for a total displacement of 1,077cc. That boosts output by 5 horsepower for a total of 175 at 11,000 RPM and 90 pound-feet of torque spread evenly over the low and mid-range. Just as importantly, with the upgraded displacement and software, the RR delivers 20 more hp at 8,000 revs than its predecessor.
Aprilia upgraded its suite of on-board technology – APRC – tuning the electronic quick-shift, traction control, wheelie control, and launch control for the new model. There are eight settings to adjust slippage through a joystick on the handlebar, along with three ride modes: Road, Track, and Sport.
The same aluminum dual beam frame is carried over from the RSV4 (which remains unchanged as well), but the swingarm gets a 6mm stretch, while the headstock benefits from a slight bend and is joined by narrower handlebars and a seat that's been lowered to 32.5 inches.
The RR gets adjustable 43mm Sachs forks, along with Brembo calipers clamping 320mm front discs and a 220mm rear disc, all controlled through Bosch's ABS system. The new 1100 also benefits from a new onboard computer that connects to the rider's smartphone, combining GPS information to tweak the electronics depending on where the rider is on the track. It also provides telemetry data and a kind of onboard race instructor that'll tell you the best points to accelerate and brake.
If you upgrade to the Factory variant, you get some shouty livery, but more importantly, Ölins suspension and steering damper, upgraded brakes, and forged aluminum wheels wrapped in 120/70 rubber up front and 200/55 out back (the RR gets a choice of three rear tires sizes, 190/55, 190/50/ or 200/55).
Aprilia claims a curb weight of 406 pounds (and from what we can gather, a 3 pound drop on the Factory), with sales and pricing in the U.S. still undisclosed. Regardless, it's a nice set of upgrades to our favorite pair of evil twins.