Demo'd a Tuono... Got a question.

[U235Power]

I had the opportunity to demo a Tuono yesterday... I have to say fit and finish of the bike it awesome. My question has to do with mid-range power. I noticed a distinct flat spot in the 4 to 7000 rpm range. I'm suspecting this is due to choking the bike up to meet US emissions standards.?.? Is there a simple mod (wire cut or something) that can give you back more mid-range? I would be looking to do a pipe and chip at somepoint, but probably not until next summer.

Thanks for any input. -c-

:peace:

[Tripdog]

Get a slip on and the chip from this site. That will set it free. You can do the airbox mod as well, but the chip and pipe are the key.
Trip

[King Atlas]

All 3 (pipe, chip & airbox) are considered the "derestriction" process. I think the airbox mod made a significant difference.

[Ricky J]

Are you in the nuclear field, "U235Power"? I'm at DCPP.

[cornercarver]

Originally posted by King Atlas
All 3 (pipe, chip & airbox) are considered the "derestriction" process. I think the airbox mod made a significant difference.

That's not true at all. The bikes do come in a restricted form, although it is unlikely that a dealer would leave a demo bike restricted. That restriction involves removing a restrictor plate from the airbox and a restrictor baffle from the can.

The airbox is too small for the motor, however, so most folks use some kind fo expanded airbox. There are kits that use the underside of the gas tank as the top of the airbox and some which just exand the volume of the original.

A full system or slip on will definitely free up the exhaust, too.

If you do either or both of those mods, you'll definitely want a chip for the bike. Most folks use what comes with the pipe or the factory pro Tuono chip. The Tuono chip is really developed for the evoluzione race airbox and some aftermarket pipe, probably the Aprilia race can, but it works well with just about everything. Your best bet, of course, is a custom map on a chip or via a power commander.

I used the FP Tuono chip with the stock pipe and evo airbox for quite some time and had good results. No dyno, but the 5K dip seemed reduced.

[U235Power]

Originally posted by Ricky J
Are you in the nuclear field, "U235Power"? I'm at DCPP.

Yes I am... I'm a reactor engineer at Vermont Yankee.... I know it's kind of a geekish name, but it's easy to remember... And I really do like splitting atoms...

Diablo.... Nice... You guys need any RE's out there? I know a lot about PWR's... Rods in from the top and no bubbles in the water.:D

[525]

My new Tuono had a bad stumble right around 3500. Had the Aprilia slip-on and chip installed at first service. It improved it a little, but not much.

It’s worth mentioning that the work on the bike up to this point was done at Pro Italia (supposedly one of the best shops in the country), yet the service manager there told me that derestriction (removal of the air box restrictor) was unnecessary. I mentioned that I had read this on the Aprilia Forum and it sounded like many informed folks had great success with it. He said I “should not believe the BS out there on the internet” and that Aprilia did not recommend derestriction with the slip-on.

Then I found Evoluzione. I had Ken (owner of Evoluzione) put his chip in and finally derestricted (which Ken says is quite necessary if you are looking to gain anything from aftermarket pipes and such) also had their race air box and air filter. The throttle response is smooth throughout the whole RPM range now. Apparently Ken worked with Factory Pro to develop this chip. I’d say they did quite a good job. A friend of mine who works at a Yamaha/Aprilia dealership said it was the smoothest running Tuono he has ridden. He had no previous exposure to or experience with the Evoluzione chip. I think he will now.

FYI: I have made other praising posts on this forum about Evoluzione. For the record I have no affiliation with Evoluzione other than VERY satisfied customer.

[Ricky J]

If you want a contact out here I can provide one, we see those folks nearly everyday. Hopefully our reactors can be taught to understand Beacon soon, so they can do what it says!

[U235Power]

What do you do at DC?

[Ricky J]

Senior control operator (SCO), licensed since 6/93.

[cornercarver]

Originally posted by Ricky J
Senior control operator (SCO), licensed since 6/93.

Homer Simpson's job?

--sam

[U235Power]

Originally posted by Ricky J
Senior control operator (SCO), licensed since 6/93.

Sweet... I sat through a license class to get a plant cert. with some STA's. I really enjoy working in the control room with our operators. we do a lot of rod moves and rod pattern adjustments in the BWR world and the Reactor Engineers are in the control room during just about any power maneuver.

Geographically the two places I'd like to move to both have PWR's and no BWR's... California or Oconee in Seneca, SC (my first choice).

It's kinda cool to actually come across someone from the nuke industry that also rides a cool bike...

[Ricky J]

Last week it was us, a pair of magnitude 3.4 shakers epicentered 2.9 miles from our plant site about fifteen minutes apart. Enough movement to get some of that queasy feeling, not enough to trip. But we WERE anxiously watching DRPI and "REACTOR TRIP INITIATE" alarms. Whew.

If you ever get the chance to visit DCPP you will love our seven mile access road along the coast. Not that I would condone speeding on it, nossir.

[U235Power]

That has got to put everyone's nerves on edge... Do you guys get a lot of shake ups out there?

[Ricky J]

Not very often around here. Attention getting when it does happen though! For a second there I thought one of our main turbines was trying to walk off its pedestal...and to think how people always ask if radiation frightens me...let's see, huge rotating equipment, up to 500 kilovolt electricals, high pressure/temperature steam, hydrazine, ammonia, NaOH, hydrogen-cooled main generator...rain-slickened exterior metal ladders...the answer's "not particularly".

[U235Power]

Same here... I always get the question, "So do you glow in the dark?"... With the limits they have on dose these days, rads fall low on the list of worry's... I worry more about having to address some idiot politicians concern/comments when they have not freakin' idea what they are talking about.

[oclv]

us235power, you work at vermont yankee? do you know my friend Rick Hackett? he is/was CVPS industrial metering and may now be in special projects. i used to live in killington and rick is a very good friend of mine. i know he used to spend quite a bit of time at VT Yankee. oclv

[U235Power]

Sorry oclv, I don't know the guy.... I don't have anything to do with our switch yard or transmission lines which CVPS would looking at.

"oclv" so are you a cyclist?

-chip-

[oclv]

yes, used to be. cat II road, then switched to mountain. now motorcycle. 2000 zrx 1100. looking at the tuono. was ready to get a 2003 because i don't like the red wheels on the '04. but then found this site and now am not sure. hate to buy a new bike and then spend lots of money to get rid of poor mid range. and i can't help but think the mods will lower fuel tank range. in nevada and california it can be a ways between gas stations. i've seen 120 miles between stations, and i ride hard. my zrx being an inline 4 and the way it is set up just pulls great from 3000 all the way past 10,000. i play in the sierras from reno to yosemite, and every summer go to the rockies in colorado. i pass cars where most can't. don't want to give this up. not sure the tuono will be as quick as what i have now. hate to spend $12,000 to get less quickness. i knkow the handling and suspension and brakes are way better than what i have, but i can keep up with most on my zrx. oclv

[Ricky J]

Out here in the West fuel range concerns are valid!

Since you're still only considering a Tuono another way you could go is to pick up an earlier RSV-R (pre-2001) with their greater fuel capacities- about half a gallon. My 2000.5 RSV easily takes me 160 miles on a tank and there always seems to be at least a gallon left in it. Nice! You could put Falco bars- or Helis- to increase comfort, or even do a Tuono-esque conversion and still save considerable cash over new. And if long high-speed runs across Nevada are part of the deal the extra wind protection might be attractive!

[cornercarver]

Originally posted by oclv
in nevada and california it can be a ways between gas stations. i've seen 120 miles between stations, and i ride hard. my zrx being an inline 4 and the way it is set up just pulls great from 3000 all the way past 10,000. i play in the sierras from reno to yosemite, and every summer go to the rockies in colorado. i pass cars where most can't. don't want to give this up. not sure the tuono will be as quick as what i have now. hate to spend $12,000 to get less quickness. i knkow the handling and suspension and brakes are way better than what i have, but i can keep up with most on my zrx. oclv

I wouldn't sweat it. The only place in Cali and Nevada where there are more than 75 miles between gas stops is after 10pm in the nevada desert, when the gas stations in Austin, NV close down. You won't have any issues with quickness. If anything, the Tuono is quicker. It is lighter and makes about the same power, and has better low rev torque. The standard power mods shouldn't affect fuel mileage much, since they usually include an aftermarket fuel pressure regulator, which allows you to get the fueling set up for (mostly) optimum efficiency without going through the expense of a completely custom map. My Tuono, with minimal engine mods (airbox, pipe, chip, fuel pressure) makes 122 rwhp (dynojet) and goes about 125 miles before the light comes on (used to be a lot worse until I got fuel pressure dialled in). That gives me a range of 140-160 miles depending upon how I'm riding. Riding the aofrmentioned stretch of Nevada at 120mph+, I ran out of gas at 144 miles, but I did that on purpose as I wanted to see how far I could go and I had a litre of gas in a water bottle that got me into Austin. The Tuono is a lot more maneuverable in the twisties, which, to my mind, more than makes up for a slightly limited range.

--sam