Tuono

Launched in 2002, the Aprilia Tuono is the naked sibling of the RSV Mille superbike. It pairs a 998 cc 60-degree Rotax V-twin with a dry clutch, mounted in the same aluminium twin-spar frame and Brembo brakes as the Mille. A wide handlebar, short bikini fairing and aggressive styling earned it the streetfighter label long before that became a marketing term. The 2006 Tuono 1000 R sharpened the chassis, the Factory edition added Ohlins, and the V-twin Tuono ran until 2011 when the V4 replaced it.

This bike suits riders chasing big-twin character: torquey midrange, a hard exhaust note and an upright but committed riding position. It will tour at a pinch but lives for backroads and trackdays. Period rivals include the Ducati Monster S4R and KTM 990 Super Duke; the Tuono stands out with its racier chassis and the proven Rotax engine shared with the RSV1000R.