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Providing the correct amounts of fuel to produce these horsepower figures are huge 51mm throttle bodies.  These pass gas to the cylinders via an indirect multi-point electronic injection. Providing the fire is a digital electronic ignition system with twin spark ignition. Each cylinder uses two spark plugs for cleaner burning and the ignition timing is integrated with the injection control system.

The big V is extremely compact, this is certainly helped by the use of the dry sump. The hydraulic clutch is a breeze to pull and is fully adjustable up at the lever. It has an attractive and robust looking braided steel line to take the fluids to the engine and a neat little remote reservoir up on the handlebars.

I droned the bike 300 miles south on the incredibly un-scenic I-75 on my way to the Jennings GP track and would not want to make a regular habit of it. Not that it was unbearable, just a little harsh on the rear end, even after I softened the suspension.

Pulling off the interstate after my ride, all was forgiven. I found some deserted Florida country roads and proceeded to rail through some high-speed sweepers and indulge in some long, controlled second gear wheelies; no more than a light tug on the bars and a little throttle snatch needed to implement the bad behaviour.  The wide handlebars, standard seating position and super smooth engine and gearbox just added to the fun, and I wished time would have allowed me to make the whole trip on secondary roads.

I think this period of acclimatization helped me get up to speed a lot quicker out on the track, and from the first session on I was flying. The Tuono is just so easy to ride.  The Jennings GP track is a pretty technical circuit so the first couple of laps are a big learning curve. Here the Tuono was a great friend. Just stick the beast in third gear and concentrate on braking markers, apex’s and the like and soon it all starts to make sense. The slick sifting six-speed gearbox gets a little work when the pace starts to get hot, but requires only the lightest tap to select the next ratio.

With the bike coming directly from Aprilia, it had received a little treatment from PR Guy, Robert Pandyia. The front fender was replaced with a sexy looking carbon fibre version, as was the rear hugger. I have already mentioned the exhaust and air-box mods he carried out, and I am sure the suspension was not left alone. It worked fantastically from the start, after I had put it back from my softer highway settings.

The rear shock is a Boge hydraulic unit, adjustable for pre-load, compression and rebound damping. It is attached to an aluminium swing arm by a progressive linkage system and has to be one of the sweetest looking pieces of hardware currently available on a production motorcycle.

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