tuono 101...

[repoe3]

so with only 1200 miles under the belt with the tuono, i worked out a airbox replacement kit (carbon plate, hi-flow foam filter over intake trumpets) and swapped the 17T sprocket for a 16T. holy schmokes.

buttoned her up on friday but didnt happen to try her out until saturday and even then it was only for 5 minutes.

took it down a service road adjacent to a local highway. ran it down one side and noticed the lovely intake noises borne from the new air intake setup...very nice. turned a u-turn, as soon as i was upright, i rolled on the throttle with some enthusiasm. the road starts downhill and with the upright ergos, the bike felt normal, albeit witha lighter than normal feeling front end. it wasnt until the bars had lifted even further did i realize i was about 2 feet off the ground with the front wheel. it did it so effortlessly, without warning, but without any jerky or twitch, it was rather surreal.

now make now bones about it, i liek to ride fast, but i have (had) never wheelied before...aside from getting a bit of a light front from a strong drive out of a corner on the track. even then, they are minor crossed-up wheelies. not that there is anything wrong with wheelies, just never added the to the list of riding skills. well having realized the front was on its own, i chopped the throttle and made a less than graceful landing promptly crunching my left nuticle on the tank. the pain was rather numbed against the increased heart rate at the realization of what this bike can do.

this thing is bone stock aside from the 16T countersprocket and the intake setup. can't imagine what she will be like with a pipe and chip or PCIII tuned.

the airbox replacement kit is something we (firebolter and i) whipped up and looking to spead the love to interested folks. we wont have everything completed until december some time, but its a domestically available kit that should make some aprilia owners happy. will post more info as we make more progress. the unit on my bike is the first prototype and i may not change anything on mine, but for the production models, we will tweek a few things. next thing to add is the shorter intake trumpets. hidden bling with more go to boot.

repoe3

[windy]

r3

Read my post titled "sorted" spooky coincidence.

MF

[repoe3]

r3

Read my post titled "sorted" spooky coincidence.

MF

yeah, read that right after writing mine. this bike rocks.

repoe3

[CarlosT]

No heated grips though, Repoe

[repoe3]

No heated grips though, Repoe

yeah, i got ready to do that, but something tells me i will be holding off on that for a while...but i wont lie...i have a pigtail off the battery for heated vest and or charging the ipod

repoe3

[CarlosT]

Did that before the bike even rolled outta the showroom

So the topic is...Winter Bikes...Tuono or S?

I've been digging the safety and low HP of the S recently in the more slippery days...

[repoe3]

Did that before the bike even rolled outta the showroom

So the topic is...Winter Bikes...Tuono or S?

I've been digging the safety and low HP of the S recently in the more slippery days...

the S, hands down. rode the tuono in today...but its the S the rest of the week. the added weight and the amount of saddle time i have on that thing leaves me with more confidence in less than sticky road surfaces. plus i can bounce off things a little better when on the S

repoe3

[mikeodial]

the S, hands down. rode the tuono in today...but its the S the rest of the week. the added weight and the amount of saddle time i have on that thing leaves me with more confidence in less than sticky road surfaces. plus i can bounce off things a little better when on the S

repoe3

What is the S you use in the winter?

[repoe3]

What is the S you use in the winter?

BMW R1100SBX...been riding on since 1999. have over 50-60k miles in the saddle on three different examples. love the bike. do-all kinda thing, but sprive to boot. nothing like a proper sportbike, mind you, but stable when the weather blows and plenty of strage with bags mounted. i can make her move too. never got comfortable on my R6. i could out pace myself on one of our local smaller tracks with the beemer versus the R6. but it was a learning experience to appreciate a 4 cylinder 600. they are worth the money for that purpose. but i love twins and the tuono is perfect for the second bike in the paddock.

of course riding season about over in the next couple weeks, i can see it. the S is my primary ride no matter what time of the year. 'bolter and i did a coast to coast blitz for the motoGP back in july. DC to CA in 3 days!!!

repoe3

[mikeodial]

Was wondering if it was the new K1200S. I have an 2002 KRS and that thing is also bulletproof in all weathers, however is also a fat pig, which has got me considering a Tuono as a stablemate.

[repoe3]

Was wondering if it was the new K1200S. I have an 2002 KRS and that thing is also bulletproof in all weathers, however is also a fat pig, which has got me considering a Tuono as a stablemate.

after bridging the gap of "if i can only have one bike" with the R1100S, once i got a second bike that was honestly more of a play toy, but would also be used on the occasional commute to work to spice things up, i could not be without a second bike. i am lucky to drive 5k miles a year and bikes rule the day for me. had an R6 for year and a half. so when i sold it, the requirements were, chain drive, 100lbs+ lighter than the beemer, had to be a v-twin and HAD to have 100hp+ AT the rear wheel (and also italian). so ruled out all but two bikes. rode a monster S4, ruled it out, figured the S4R would do the trick, but got a killer deal on the tuono. the rest is history. i rode the tuono for 725 miles from KY back to VA the day after i picked it up. so it does EVERYTHING about as equally well as the S. But there is something about having that added weight when the weather gets blustery.

repoe3

[mikeodial]

Very similar to my circumstances. I do not plan to get rid of the KRS at this stage for similar reasons, and have sort of got used to "bullying the pig" around corners, it does track like a gyroscope, but is certainly not flickable. In bad weather, huge rain, it behaves like a watercraft.

Anyway, am looking at a Tuono, would be interested in what sort of price I might be looking at, for differing years/configuration. I am sure there will be some good 05 deals out there soon.

I do a few track days every year, but would be using the Tuono mainly for fun local rides up to 150 miles.

[repoe3]

Very similar to my circumstances. I do not plan to get rid of the KRS at this stage for similar reasons, and have sort of got used to "bullying the pig" around corners, it does track like a gyroscope, but is certainly not flickable. In bad weather, huge rain, it behaves like a watercraft.

Anyway, am looking at a Tuono, would be interested in what sort of price I might be looking at, for differing years/configuration. I am sure there will be some good 05 deals out there soon.

I do a few track days every year, but would be using the Tuono mainly for fun local rides up to 150 miles.

heck there are stil 04's out there. call the guys at rollinfast.com in NJ...heard they are looking to get rid of 05 tuonos for 9500 OTD. got an 04 leftover for 9300.

repoe3

[repoe3]

thought i would revive this thread with a couple pics of the final intake kit:





repoe3

[Firebolter]

I've been digging the safety and low HP of the S recently in the more slippery days...

Carlos, loving the Donkey bike again heh?