Aprilia Tuono 125, unique and unmistakable style for the "little Tuono" [ROAD TEST]

Aprilia tuono 125 – A streetfighter dedicated to young people, but not only, which convinces, with an aluminum frame, die-cast alloy beams, a 125 cc 4T single-cylinder engine and a comfortable riding position that is easy to manage in traffic thanks to its short length and to the high handlebars. Aggressive, sporty and capable of offering fun to both budding riders and that segment of small-displacement enthusiasts, just as happened in the 80s/90s when sales of 125s were much higher than today. The line of Aprilia tuono 125 is clearly inspired by that of Thunder 1100 V4, distinguished by the headlight made up of three individual units and a modern and sporty line just like the top models of the Noale company. The 125 2017 version boasts a 4-stroke single-cylinder engine with electronic injection and 4 valves. Let's say it straight away and say it clearly: forget the power delivered by the 125s of the past. Today's motorcycles are Euro 4 approved and thus guarantee maximum performance while respecting the environment.

Aesthetics and finishes:

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A unique and distinctive look with a decidedly original and captivating appearance

The fairing has a sporty look and is stripped from the fairing which highlights the eye-catching aluminum perimeter frame. The wide and raised handlebars, together with the reduced weight, guarantee incredible handling, ideal for city traffic. The pilot's riding position is comfortable and never extreme. The bike also has various "racing" details, starting from the compact and very light dashboard, which provides all the functions of a true super sports car, as we were saying, the multifunction digital (and very readable) display which houses the speedometer, trip master, voltage battery, clock and stopwatch capable of memorizing up to 20 laps, the fuel reserve indicator and the cooling circuit temperature indicator.

The new Aprilia 125 Tuono 2017 has small dimensions and in line with its competitors, but is well-balanced and welcoming thanks to the integral half-fairing which places the tank at the center (with a capacity of 14 litres), with dimensions that allow perfect integration of the motorbike -pilot.

The riding position was developed by the Noale company to guarantee good rider comfort. The correct height of the handlebars and footrests (covered with rubber inserts) allow you to ride without getting tired, while at the same time eliminating annoying vibrations. The fork has been completely redesigned, soft and well manageable even on damaged stretches of asphalt: it sinks in the first part, but is extremely stable at high speed, always ensuring an excellent feeling. The response of the rear monocle, fixed to the asymmetric swingarm, is good, ensuring top-level performance and comfort.

The brakes work correctly, with the front (a 300 mm steel disc) powerful and modular, also managed by the Bosch ABS system, while we would have preferred a more immediate response with regards to the rear.
It is also possible to mount the practical USB socket to conveniently charge the smartphone and any compatible device, using the AMP control unit as an accessory which enables interconnectivity between the motorcycle and the smartphone itself to be able to display a mass of data on the screen.

Engine and performance:

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A streetfighter with a gritty soul that expresses its best from 7.000 rpm

The liquid-cooled Euro 4 approved engine is a modern and technological single-cylinder 125 cc, 4-stroke 4-valve electronic injection engine, with a balancing countershaft useful for reducing vibrations caused by its imbalance, which generates alternating forces of the second order and of inertia forces, improving both engine performance and rider comfort while driving. The power of 15 HP (the maximum allowed by law) is well manageable both in urban and extra-urban sections even if to make it sing you have to keep it cheerful above 7000 rpm; “below”, that is, when you are there with the throttle opening in a medium gear, it seemed a little too lazy and not very responsive.

The Tuono 125 is set up for the installation of Quick Shift, an innovative quick change system tested by Aprilia on circuits all over the world, which ensures an electronic system capable of managing the torque interruption for changing the gear engaged, allowing the driver to shift up by keeping the throttle open without using the clutch. The gearbox is well geared and the shifts are sufficiently precise.
The exhaust is completely integrated into the lower part of the fairing and this gives the bike a decidedly racing look.

Ride and handling:

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Reference chassis, designed and designed exclusively in Italy

Moving on to the chassis, the Aprilia Tuono 125 is based on a frame made entirely of aluminum that is first in its class among the 125s. Designed on the basis of the experience gained in all these years of racing, it is able to offer and guarantee precision and agility thanks also to the steering geometry and a wheelbase of 1.350 mm.
The small Aprilia proves to be very balanced, easy to handle and above all fun even when leaning, it descends quickly and is not demanding, it behaves very well before reaching the ground with the footrests, even if in our opinion we would have preferred another type of tire on the split-spoke rims (130/70-17 and 100/80-17) from the Czech Republic manufacturer (Mitas) as with the low temperatures the feeling with the tires was not the easiest.

The Tuono 125 is very simple to manage, even when maneuvering when stationary, thanks to the reduced weight of 129 kg dry and 144 kg in running order.
When starting at the traffic lights you need to work on the clutch and it is better to tackle tight bends or hairpin bends in second gear, because the elasticity is certainly not that of other engines.

I can say that in the past I have ridden the fastest and most powerful 125s that have ever existed, but I can assure you that, for those who want to learn how to make a bike flow as much as possible by riding cleanly on a 125 horsepower 15, this Aprilia is a good launching pad. . The Tuono is a naked bike, with all its advantages and limitations.

Price and consumption:

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It is fully included among the best 125 proposals for city use

To go to school or simply to spend weekends in the company of high school friends, this bike lacks absolutely nothing. The price? 4.899 Euros, in two colors: Red Energy and Silver Energy.

As for running costs, a scooter would probably be more demanding, given that a pair of tires costs around 120 euros. The bike is quite simple and promises to be very economical in maintenance. As for consumption, then, they are really low. They depend on your driving style, but you won't go to the petrol station very often, thanks also to the 14,5 liter tank, capable of bringing the autonomy to something exaggerated (even well over 500 km).

PROS AND CONS
We like it:
Ease of driving, consumption, look.
We do not like it:
ABS only on the front wheel, standard tyres

Aprilia Tuono 125 MY2017: the Motorionline Report Card

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Test clothing:
Jacket: Alpinestars Marshall Drystar Jacket
Trousers: Alpinestars Crank Denim Pants
Gloves: Alpinestars C-30 DRYSTAR GLOVE
Boots: Alpinestars Lunar
Helmet: KYT Espargaró Replica