- Joined
- May 10, 2012
- Messages
- 31
- Location
- Bristol
Ok so i have just come back from a 2000 mile tour of France, 2 up fully loaded on my tuono.
So to begin with the tuono is a 2004 model(gen 1) with a carbon can co slip on exhaust, forza chip and 16 tooth front sprocket, rear is standard.
It was fitted with oxford first time luggage consisting of an 18 litre tank bag and expandable 30 litre (ish) throw over panniers, plus a ****** renntec rack rated at 2.5kg. Pillion weight 9 stone in leathers, pert breasts, with a rucksack with all her **** in.
Leaving Calais and hitting the A26 to Dijon it quickly becomes apparent that the tank range is going to be a bit of a thorn in one's side. At a steady 85 i get to 100 miles and fill up, much more than that and its really pushing it.
The heat, upto 41 degrees, seems to have little bearing on economy and performance is unaffected. I know its getting hotter the further south we go as the water temp climbs from a steady 75 up to 82. The bike still pulls like a train. Oddly when we hit the route napoleone (n85) and drop onto the valley floors the water temp plummets to 73!! Yet the air temp still feels very hot. I know u can go quicker but i now know at a steady 85 i can comfortably get 100 miles between fills.
After 600 miles comfort is good, no wrist ache and the arse is not too square, no complaints from the pillion but at 85 mph i can't hear her anyway.
Handling is still good although we did notice a bit of wallowing at 700 miles on the very quick and twisty d1075. I did wonder if this was down to the heat affecting the oil in the rear shock......i'm sure someone here will put me right. It didn't do it on the return.
The bike stood for 3 day and in 5 heavy thunderstorms and still started on the button.
Getting into Monaco was a bit of a mission and i saw the water temp hit 96 degrees very quickly. Outside temp was 38 degrees. To be fair the bikes gearbox was very slick at the higher temperatures and neutral was a doddle. The fan kicks in at 95. Once free of traffic one can see how efficient the cooling system is as the water temp quickly drops to normal and the gearbox becomes all Aprilia again.
The bike never missed a beat, not once. We generally filled with 98 ron as in France their regular unleaded has ether added to it.
Performance was incredible, the reliability inspired me and the handling boosted confidence alot. The Maxxis tyres gripping like crazy to the very hot tarmac. Only one small incident when the rear squirmed and that was on stones washed onto the road after a shower.
Faults......none, nothing at all although i was interested to note the trip computer zeros itself at 600 miles and not 999. The chain needs tightening a little and at 14000 the service light came on. Little to no oil used. Water levels all good too. Clutch fluid just got blacker and blacker but performed as expected.
Our biggest problem was a slow puncture in the front tyre we picked up in Vallbone and it was a slow puncture. Found some Holts stuff that we used to inflate and seal. It worked a treat and after 1000 miles is still good.......definatley good **** in a can. It did not affect tyre performance at all.
The panniers were resting on top of the rear indicators, yes i could of moved them but after trying pillion comfort was compromised alot, so i reckon next time i will fit some metal bars over the top of them to support the panniers and keep the indicators clear too.
On our return the bike has cleaned up as it did before we went with no marks or additional wear and tear at all......a testement to Aprilias build quality.
Service for the old girl next then Germany in September.
This is my second tour on the T and it has gone well this time it was loaded far more than the 1st. I do feel that maybe it would be ideal for 1 to tour on rather than 2up. Although saying that the continentals will tour anything. I saw a TL1000s loaded right up with an Italian plate on it near St Tropez, an SP2 of all things near Dijon, and their tank range is piss poor and i met a german who had ridden all the way to Castellane on a 910 brutale 2up!!
Oh and the bike is wheelie prone anyway but with a full rack its even more so!!!
When i have worked it out and got 5 mins i'll post some pictures up.
So to begin with the tuono is a 2004 model(gen 1) with a carbon can co slip on exhaust, forza chip and 16 tooth front sprocket, rear is standard.
It was fitted with oxford first time luggage consisting of an 18 litre tank bag and expandable 30 litre (ish) throw over panniers, plus a ****** renntec rack rated at 2.5kg. Pillion weight 9 stone in leathers, pert breasts, with a rucksack with all her **** in.
Leaving Calais and hitting the A26 to Dijon it quickly becomes apparent that the tank range is going to be a bit of a thorn in one's side. At a steady 85 i get to 100 miles and fill up, much more than that and its really pushing it.
The heat, upto 41 degrees, seems to have little bearing on economy and performance is unaffected. I know its getting hotter the further south we go as the water temp climbs from a steady 75 up to 82. The bike still pulls like a train. Oddly when we hit the route napoleone (n85) and drop onto the valley floors the water temp plummets to 73!! Yet the air temp still feels very hot. I know u can go quicker but i now know at a steady 85 i can comfortably get 100 miles between fills.
After 600 miles comfort is good, no wrist ache and the arse is not too square, no complaints from the pillion but at 85 mph i can't hear her anyway.
Handling is still good although we did notice a bit of wallowing at 700 miles on the very quick and twisty d1075. I did wonder if this was down to the heat affecting the oil in the rear shock......i'm sure someone here will put me right. It didn't do it on the return.
The bike stood for 3 day and in 5 heavy thunderstorms and still started on the button.
Getting into Monaco was a bit of a mission and i saw the water temp hit 96 degrees very quickly. Outside temp was 38 degrees. To be fair the bikes gearbox was very slick at the higher temperatures and neutral was a doddle. The fan kicks in at 95. Once free of traffic one can see how efficient the cooling system is as the water temp quickly drops to normal and the gearbox becomes all Aprilia again.
The bike never missed a beat, not once. We generally filled with 98 ron as in France their regular unleaded has ether added to it.
Performance was incredible, the reliability inspired me and the handling boosted confidence alot. The Maxxis tyres gripping like crazy to the very hot tarmac. Only one small incident when the rear squirmed and that was on stones washed onto the road after a shower.
Faults......none, nothing at all although i was interested to note the trip computer zeros itself at 600 miles and not 999. The chain needs tightening a little and at 14000 the service light came on. Little to no oil used. Water levels all good too. Clutch fluid just got blacker and blacker but performed as expected.
Our biggest problem was a slow puncture in the front tyre we picked up in Vallbone and it was a slow puncture. Found some Holts stuff that we used to inflate and seal. It worked a treat and after 1000 miles is still good.......definatley good **** in a can. It did not affect tyre performance at all.
The panniers were resting on top of the rear indicators, yes i could of moved them but after trying pillion comfort was compromised alot, so i reckon next time i will fit some metal bars over the top of them to support the panniers and keep the indicators clear too.
On our return the bike has cleaned up as it did before we went with no marks or additional wear and tear at all......a testement to Aprilias build quality.
Service for the old girl next then Germany in September.
This is my second tour on the T and it has gone well this time it was loaded far more than the 1st. I do feel that maybe it would be ideal for 1 to tour on rather than 2up. Although saying that the continentals will tour anything. I saw a TL1000s loaded right up with an Italian plate on it near St Tropez, an SP2 of all things near Dijon, and their tank range is piss poor and i met a german who had ridden all the way to Castellane on a 910 brutale 2up!!
Oh and the bike is wheelie prone anyway but with a full rack its even more so!!!
When i have worked it out and got 5 mins i'll post some pictures up.
