TUONO VS 675

with a long, defi ant scrape of knee slider. One light finger on the front brake is all you’ll ever need this side of a surprise tractor and even then a panic grab is lapped up by the ABS. The trouble is, the Aprilia does all this just as well. It’s very rare that you can hit a bend on the road with enough commitment to make the Triumph’s chassis advantage show. Any ground you do eke out over the Tuono, through tight, twisty sections is soon hauled in on the corner exit. The Aprilia isn’t exactly plush on a bumpy road, but it does smooth things out better than the Triumph. Plus, the riding
position on the Tuono makes absorbing the bumps through your legs a little easier, rather than getting a whack in the wrists followed by a slap on the backside. The Triumph has your back every time you brake, but the Aprilia has you covered on the way out of a corner too, smoothing over-enthusiastic throttle use with traction control-fl avoured butter.


After the fi rst hour of playing in the lanes, there’s not so much to choose between these two. The Triumph is my favourite when the roads are open, smooth and empty, but as soon as the hedges close in, it’s the V4 power I’m looking for. After the third hour, the balance has defi nitely swayed towards a more comfortable riding position and better vision. Within ten minutes of getting on the motorway, I’ve taken to ignoring all requests for a bike swap and charging home on the Aprilia.

Conclusion

Well, do we have an answer or was this just another day out riding bikes for fun?
When you look at what each of these bikes bring to the table, it’s clear that it’s not actual performance, but rather a range of appeal that differentiates them. The 675 is lightweight supersport perfection to ride. If it was a car, it would be a Caterham Seven, if it was food it would be a lump of sugar sweet, pure and unspoilt. I’ve said it before on the right road, in the right weather, with the right traffic conditions and the right mood, nothing is better than riding a supersport 600.

Coming off the brakes early and carrying speed through a turn beats the point and squirt approach any day. Get on track and you’re sucked into an addictive world of chasing minute improvements in apex speed, using every inch of track you dare and running elbow-dragging lean angles. But the appeal is limited to either those who are focused enough just to want that from a bike or people who want other people to think that they’re that focused. Or people who just like the styling.

Outside of the narrow range where the 675 is king, the Tuono does it all better. There are more rider aids to let you push harder in safety, it’s comfortable for longer and the riding position lets you see further. The handling might not be as sharp, but the motor makes up for that and lets you fire out of the corners you can’t see round. That and the fact that you can have a BMW S1000R Sport for £11,600 with everything the Aprilia has plus semi-active suspension sticks another nail in the 600 coffin. It might not be the obvious answer, but the problem with six hundreds is that they aren’t expensive enough. Or maybe they’re too expensive for something so focused. Or maybe not enough people care about getting their elbow down. Me?

I love a naked bike and my head says it’s the obvious choice. But if I’m opening my own wallet, it’s clip-ons, sticky tyres and trackdays all the way. Get those handlebars out of my way, I’m coming through on a hot lap.

Aprilia Tuono V4 R APRC £12,632

Engine

Type:  999.6cc, liquid-cooled, 65-degree V4, DOHC

Bore x Stroke (mm): 78.0 x 52.3

Compression Ratio: 13:1

Fuel system: Weber-Marelli 48mm throttle bodies, three-mode ride by wire .

Transmission: six-speed, wet clutch, cable actuation.

Final Drive: chain

Chassis

Frame: aluminium dual beam, pressed and cast fabrication.

Front suspension: Sachs 43mm inverted fork, adjustable preload, rebound and compression damping, 120mm travel.

Rear suspension: Sachs piggy back shock, adjustable preload, rebound and compression damping, progressive linkage, 130mm travel.

Brakes: (F) twin 320mm discs, Brembo Monobloc radial calipers (R) single 220mm disc, twin piston Brembo caliper.

Tyres:  (F) 120/70-17 (R) 190/55-17

Geometry

Wheelbase: 1445mm

Head angle: 25 degrees

Trail: 107.5mm

Seat height: 835mm

Weight (claimed, full fuel load, ready to ride): 199.5kg

Fuel capacity (D) : 18.5 litres

Performance

Peak power (claimed): 170hp @ 11,500rpm

Peak torque (claimed): 111.5Nm @ 9,500rpm

Rider aids

8-stage traction control, 3-level ABS, 3-mode ride by wire, 3-mode launch control, quickshifter, 3-stage anti-wheelie.

Typical finance cost

Deposit: £ 3158

Duration: 37 Months

Monthly: £ 139

Final Payment: £ 5549

APR: 4.9 %