Crotchrockety
So, I finally got to ride the new Tuono V4R. Thunder is not a proper description for this bike. Lunatic is a better descriptor.
I guess the place to begin is with the engine. The sound is intoxicating. Even with the stock cans, the bike, eh hem, draws attention. While winding the throttle out to "test" the speed shifter and merge onto the freeway, the exhaust note drew the attention of one of CA's finest. He stopped writing the ticket to his latest victim, and both of them locked their gaze upon me as I rolled through. So, yes, the V4R definitely turns heads.
The dealer had the beast set up with the nanny's mostly off. The wheelie control was off. The TC was set at 2 of 8, 1 being the least intervention. The throttle response was set at the track mode, for fastest throttle response. Simply put, this was wayyyy to fooking much.
The bike is an unleashed wild animal at those settings. Maybe crazy Max can ride the beast with all the nannies backed down, but I'm not him. A millimeter of throttle twist translated into about 10 mph. And, make no mistake about it, the bike straightens your arms when you make that 1 mm bobble. (I think that is where the bike gets its reputation for having a surging throttle. If this bike has a surging throttle, I didn't experience it. Unlike the SD, it did not hunt around for the speed it wanted below 45 mph, but you had to have an absolutely steady throttle hand. If you were not surgeon smooth, you were rewarded with a jerky ride.)
Frankly, this bike will take some getting used to to ride fast. Unlike the SD, you can't just yank the throttle open and hang on, well, at least I couldn't. Even while feeding in throttle judiciously, the front wanted to lift at 90 mph in second gear. I shifted to third before it lifted and never did get to experience the full power this monster had in the upper rev range. Wind blast was about the same for the Tuono as the SD, maybe a bit more than my SD with its Puig screen.
Although I eluded to it above, I really didn't discuss how quickly this bike builds speed. It pulls hard through the middle revs then explodes on top. Its quick. Its really quick.
The V4R has some engine braking, not as much as the SD, but more than a typical I4. I down shifted twice in rapid succession to test the slipper, and was rewarded with exactly the same amount of engine braking. Pretty cool.
The bike was about the perfect size for me. I suspect that people with longer legs may feel a bit cramped on the V4R. The pegs are high (my stubby knees fit squarely in the tank recesses) so, I think it might be an issue for those over 6' tall. Riding position is more sportbikish than the SD: feet back and more weight on the wrists. Still more comfortable than a true SBK though.
The bike felt light and was very nimble. The steering was precise, but not telepathic like the BMW. It seemed to work better when I pushed it a little harder as I became more comfortable with it. I tested the front end by charging a marked 25 mph turn at 60 mph. The front felt planted and tracked perfectly.
The stock suspension worked well for me at 210 lbs. It was not too soft or too taught. The rear did tend to squat on acceleration, so, it probably could be improved. A stiffer spring might also tend to reduce the bike's propensity to wheelie.
The brakes were typical Brembos. Both the front and rear had more power than my SD's stockers, but less than my bike has with the CL pads.
Speaking of wheelies, I may be a puss, but I had no confidence that I could control a wheelie the way this bike was set up. I'm certain it would wheelie off throttle with very little effort in first and certainly second, probably third.
I guess the place to begin is with the engine. The sound is intoxicating. Even with the stock cans, the bike, eh hem, draws attention. While winding the throttle out to "test" the speed shifter and merge onto the freeway, the exhaust note drew the attention of one of CA's finest. He stopped writing the ticket to his latest victim, and both of them locked their gaze upon me as I rolled through. So, yes, the V4R definitely turns heads.
The dealer had the beast set up with the nanny's mostly off. The wheelie control was off. The TC was set at 2 of 8, 1 being the least intervention. The throttle response was set at the track mode, for fastest throttle response. Simply put, this was wayyyy to fooking much.
The bike is an unleashed wild animal at those settings. Maybe crazy Max can ride the beast with all the nannies backed down, but I'm not him. A millimeter of throttle twist translated into about 10 mph. And, make no mistake about it, the bike straightens your arms when you make that 1 mm bobble. (I think that is where the bike gets its reputation for having a surging throttle. If this bike has a surging throttle, I didn't experience it. Unlike the SD, it did not hunt around for the speed it wanted below 45 mph, but you had to have an absolutely steady throttle hand. If you were not surgeon smooth, you were rewarded with a jerky ride.)
Frankly, this bike will take some getting used to to ride fast. Unlike the SD, you can't just yank the throttle open and hang on, well, at least I couldn't. Even while feeding in throttle judiciously, the front wanted to lift at 90 mph in second gear. I shifted to third before it lifted and never did get to experience the full power this monster had in the upper rev range. Wind blast was about the same for the Tuono as the SD, maybe a bit more than my SD with its Puig screen.
Although I eluded to it above, I really didn't discuss how quickly this bike builds speed. It pulls hard through the middle revs then explodes on top. Its quick. Its really quick.
The V4R has some engine braking, not as much as the SD, but more than a typical I4. I down shifted twice in rapid succession to test the slipper, and was rewarded with exactly the same amount of engine braking. Pretty cool.
The bike was about the perfect size for me. I suspect that people with longer legs may feel a bit cramped on the V4R. The pegs are high (my stubby knees fit squarely in the tank recesses) so, I think it might be an issue for those over 6' tall. Riding position is more sportbikish than the SD: feet back and more weight on the wrists. Still more comfortable than a true SBK though.
The bike felt light and was very nimble. The steering was precise, but not telepathic like the BMW. It seemed to work better when I pushed it a little harder as I became more comfortable with it. I tested the front end by charging a marked 25 mph turn at 60 mph. The front felt planted and tracked perfectly.
The stock suspension worked well for me at 210 lbs. It was not too soft or too taught. The rear did tend to squat on acceleration, so, it probably could be improved. A stiffer spring might also tend to reduce the bike's propensity to wheelie.
The brakes were typical Brembos. Both the front and rear had more power than my SD's stockers, but less than my bike has with the CL pads.
Speaking of wheelies, I may be a puss, but I had no confidence that I could control a wheelie the way this bike was set up. I'm certain it would wheelie off throttle with very little effort in first and certainly second, probably third.