Group test
On the one hand, they’re comfortable. On the other, they’re stupendously, ridiculously, hilariously crackers. Welcome to the world of the hypernaked
For those of us whose pivotal motorcycling moments were on Blades and GSX-Rs in the 1990s, these four bikes are tantalising prospects; all the power and handling of the world’s finest sportsbikes, with riding positions suited to middle-aged decrepitude. Plus, the absence of fairings means we’re less likely to accidentally do four million mph on the local bypass.
Bikes such as BMW’s S1000R and Yamaha’s MT-10 offer similar promise, but they’re soft-edged cheapies compared to the candidates here. For ultimate thrills without increasing your physiotherapy bills, these are the four to consider.
The new 1390 Super Duke R Evo is hot favourite. If the 1290 wasn’t outstanding enough, KTM have added 49cc and numerous engine and electronic upgrades to their generously proportioned V-twin nutcase. But the four-cylinder Ducati, Aprilia and BMW are not without weapons. The M1000R, for example, produces 196bhp at the back wheel, while the Streetfighter accelerates from 0 to 100mph in just 5.7 seconds. Ridiculous, obviously. But ridiculous enough to defeat the KTM? We head off to the Peak District for a riotous two days of scientific evaluation.
Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory
On paper, this should stand no chance against all these newer, fancier rivals. But no one appears to have told the Tuono…
We’re scorching down the A623 between Sparrowpit and Stoney Middleton, and yet again the Tuono Factory is oozing class and making life easy. Up ahead, road tester Carl Stevens is tucked in on the Streetfighter looking like Pecco Bagnaia with a tatty rucksack, closely followed by James ‘Toprak’ Doherty on the howling M1000R. They’re both faster riders than me and by rights should be pulling away, but thanks to Tuono magic, they’re not.
The road surface is pretty good, but you can never be sure the local council won’t have left a little present halfway round the next third ‐gear sweeper – maybe a poorly filled pothole or perhaps a few stutter bumps they couldn’t be bothered to iron out. Either way, the firmly-suspended Ducati and BMW can’t be doing with that level of real life, so Carl and James wisely adjust their entry speeds to suit. The Tuono, on the other hand, is supple enough not to care. Peel in, momentarily appreciate the V4’s off-throttle howl (think Joey, RC45, Creg-ny-Baa), notice the merest judder as the Tuono floats over a bump, engage warp drive as planned. That only needs to happen a few times before you feel invincible, smoothly carving the Tuono from corner to corner as the others brake more and then battle to deploy their extra po
