For me it has to be a Tuono, don’t think I’ve seen (m)any tests (that I trust) where it hasn’t munched the competition, usually convincingly. This is my 3rd, first V4 and a Factory and it’s sublime, although not cheap. Older bikes just as good but lack the TFT screen and some leaky gadgets but still amazing engines and chassis. Just been hooning around Scotland’s snow roads and it really is fantastic. Up until triple digits its faster than most bikes when holding on becomes a challenge. Didn’t gel with the 1000r as not a fan of IL4’s and the need to rev all the time although is recognised as a superb all rounder. KTM worth a look, amazingbgrunt but I found a little agricultural. Maybe one day.
I have an aesthetic problem with SF, it’s head light is too low. It seems detached/too far from the clocks. Kwack nakeds have been doing the same the last few years. I love the sharp lines and angles on both but feel the headlight should be higher.
I agree, however i think all SF style bike's suffer from how to make the headlamp look good, seems to be a common failing.
2018 Tuono Factory’s are now going for 14k - that should also bring down the 15/16 bikes. Having owned one, it’s not a bike I would rush to own out of warranty. You can’t go wrong with either the SDR or Tuono, easly the best performance road bikes available in my opinion. The SDR being a little more road bias and the Tuono edging it on track for me. The SDR 2.0 has addressed some of those agricultural neuances, although being a sit up and beg 1302cc twin it’s always going to feel a little rough and ready.
How is the SDR for starting, as getting my Ducati's started and battery woes in general has been the bane of my long Ducati owning experience since day one?
The 1000 cc Tuono had loads of problems with cams, gears , valves ,swelling fuel tanks ,rock hard seats and poor fuel range but the 1100cc bikes have had all those problems ironed out. I have a 15 plate with 10000 miles on it without a single problem so far. I can also fit ventura brackets and kit to it for touring . The screen although small does a pretty good job at "MOTORWAY" ahem! speeds ,certainly much better than my old cb1000r which was useless at 80mph.
Not had a problem in 12 months, I’ve got a trickle charger but did leave for a month off charge at one point and it started on the button.
My 2016 1100 V4 would disagree Gearbox and Cam issues seem to have gone but people are still experiencing valve failures on the 1100, although not many. My 16 bike would randomly cut out and one day wouldn’t start at all - Aprilia could not diagnose the problem but got the bike working again, unfortunately it was still cutting out every now and then. Funnily enough though, it’s such a good bike I would have another. I’ve done 10k on my SDR in 12 months, personally I think it’s a better bike if you’re putting on miles. The engine is easly capable of going 50k and beyond.
When I was a lad my next door neighbour had a BSA which had a sidecar fitted all year round, when holiday season came around he hitched up a two berth caravan to the back and would travel from Bakewell Derbyshire down to Cornwall, before the motorways were built!! Steve
yeah there have been a few valve problems on the newer ones but going by the forums ,which are an indicator of real world problems ,they are very rare . I work on trucks for a living and you can always end up with rogue trucks that takesa lot of figuring out mainly due to the mass of electronics and sensors put on them to get to Euro emissions standards. The 2016 bikes have stricter euro 4 standards and will have more electrical gubbins to go wrong.
OK, I'll nibble Tel...I'm not really getting the unfinished bit ?? Where ? It's a naked, that is what they look like ??
To me, and I stress this is my view only, around the headlight it looks unfinished and an afterthought. I’m not a lover of all the plastic bits (tank etc) either though the finish is miles better than it used to be. I’ve only ever ridden the RC8R and it was fun but I couldn’t get past the plastic bodywork overload.
