I remember how impressed I was when I got offthe Tuono 660 after my first ride on it. The 660 might be what some consider a small bike in a world ruled by litre+ machines, but on public roads, where you can only unleash so much power without seeing your licence go, too, I’d had a fantastic ride on it. ‘Who needs anything more?’ I remember thinking.
That conviction lasted about 15 minutes. Right until I had a go on the Tuono V4. Oh my!
Something’s missing…
The full-fat Tuono had all the appeal of the 660: Comfortable riding position, light and accurate steering, good brakes, quality suspension, and the rest... but what set it apart from the little ’un, was that it had almost twice the power. 175 horses. It’s mental. In a really good way.
The V4 engine is an absolute gem. It pulls you as hard as you dare to ask it to, and it sounds magnificient. But with muscles like that, you aren’t going to use very much of its potential on roads. It can break any speed limit before you can say ‘sorry officer’.
As I pottered about on the Tuono V4, admiring the firm but compliant suspension, strong brakes, light steering combined with impressive cornering stability, I couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to ride the bike on track. It felt like the Tuono was wasted on the road – like a thoroughbred racehorse made to pull a heavy cart. I wanted to ride it on a track where I could only blame myself for not reaching the full potential of the bike.
Oh, happy day
Denne historien er fra September 2022-utgaven av Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra September 2022-utgaven av Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Honda CRF1100L ES Africa Twin
Without panniers he was adventuring nowhere - so at least Bertie's got something sorted now
BMW R 12 nineT
Chad gets a track day surprise when BMW's R 12 nineT turns out to be surprisingly fun on track
Test fleet: VOGE 525 DSX
After testing the Voge's abilities on a long ride, it was time to take it to the Cotswolds and see how it would manage on the rougher stuff
Portuguese Perambulations
Nearly over before it had begun, a brief workshop stint allows Spain and Portugal to be explored
Highway to Heaven
Three friends take on the challenge of riding the length of Canada, from Vancouver in the southwest to Inuvik in the north. The road is long, the conditions merciless, and wildfires are tearing through the country. To top it all off, the final leg of the journey is the ultimate test of gravel riding skills, nerves, and courage - it's the legendary Dempster Highway...
Battlaxes at the ready!
We tend to take tyres for granted, never really looking at them in any detail, or at how they work, just hoping that they keep us shiny side up at all times. Even in the wet
Ducati Riding Experience
When I rode the Ducati DesertX to France last year, I did have a bit of an explore on some easy fire roads and gentle green lanes in the wilds of the Médoc area, but was left with the feeling that, had I the experience, the DesertX would have been capable of taking me along some more extreme trails to some even more exciting places. If only there was a way of finding out just how well the Italian adventure bike could cope with some more extreme terrain...
Four pot flyer
Many said that sports bikes, and particularly bikes in the traditional Supersports class that was populated by 600cc inline fours, were dead. Maybe they spoke too soon?...
Eastern adventurer
With an increasing interest in smaller capacity adventure bikes, the market expands with a new entry
First Time Lucky?
It's ironic that the first all-new MV Agusta model to hit the marketplace right after Italy's No.1 trophy brand was acquired by Austrian giant Pierer Mobility, owner of off-road titans KTM, should be the company's first dual-purpose model of the modern era, powered by MV's all-new 931cc three-cylinder engine that's destined to form the basis of a whole series of new models in coming months and years.
