mods, move this if you feel its not specific enough for this area.

Hey everyone. Just trying to get some opinions before my friend makes the wrong? jump.

He's had quite a few bikes, and after 6-7 years (like me) is ready to get back into something 2 wheeled. He's had (in order) a Honda nighthawk, 01 yzf600r,02 zx-9r, drz400?, 03? fz-6, 04 gsxr 750, 06 triumph daytona 675...

His words, the 750 was the quickest, easiest to ride, most intuitive bike he ever rode. perfect balance, outright animal in the twisties. could almost hang with my 03 R1 in the straights, and I was too scared to chase him in the corners.

NOW. the question, and why I put this here in the 14r section.

His first thought was to get a new 750. makes sense, 10K+tax and 0% for 60mo goes a long way to making it easy to buy one NOW.

BUT, he has always liked naked, open class bikes. Im trying to get him to go with an FZ1. for the money, hard to beat. especially since mint, used ones are 4K. He prefers new.

SO, he drops the bomb on me today about the Aprilia Tuono V4 R. I would have brought up the redesigned one - 2011+? but knew it was more money than he wanted to spend. like 15k msrp? His wife wont be happy as a passanger on the GSXR, so that's likely out. naked/touring it is.

So. The Tuono has wheelie control, traction control, like our bikes. he likes that. The tuono is lighter by 80 #'s, makes around 145rwhp/80tq. not in our league. I think a passanger will be more comfy on a 14r. The Tuono gets ABYSSMAL fuel mileage. ~25mpg. ugh. I can rage on my bike all day and still get 32+.

The BIG question. does anyone think a 14r can handle with a tuono v4r on the street. GIVEN that we (he and I) both know that our days of dragging knees on the street are over. We have no desire to push that hard on public roads, and have seen too many people crash riding - too hard.

I think for the money, a 14r is a better choice. Especially when adding in rides with his wife. (did I just say that? lol.) can I talk him into one? hmm.

Tell him to try both im sure the 14R will win his heart !

Wow man you can't compare those bikes at all. Hell they are different enough I couldn't imagine someone choosing between the two. The best bike is usually the one the heart wants. It's To personal to try to talk him into what you want him to get. And I don't know what you mean my if the 14r can handle him on the street. The 14r can really do it all very well. If anything it's if he can handle keeping up with the 14 if the pace gets a little heated. Cause he won't. And finally the 14 is a great bike for passengers, I can't even feel my lil wife on the back.

* Last updated by: zx14racer on 7/18/2013 @ 4:15 AM *

What Z said.

The ol'ady is going to hate the V4. "Stiff. Narrow seat." More a one person bike that needs shocks no matter watt the mode toggling the googaz use [inn]. Now you rev piss out of it with more weight. Ol'ady is going to cry in about 12 miles to 15 minutes: whichever comes first.

Knee down is for below jobsandshit you now pay for: standing up. Dem days is obeerightchewR. So a V4 is more gimme Marilyn Moan row, row, row your boat, your shipiss IN. She's stuck INN some motel6 recovering, meaning, you have that 7 year itch going and the compromise is take a guess?

Still gotta go fuck the big girl just to get your rocks off!

I can't even feel my lil wife on the back.

* Last updated by: bean07 on 7/18/2013 @ 9:54 PM *

BUT, he has always liked naked, open class bikes. ...

+1 what Z said. This is not a naked, open class cycle.

But, if he decides he likes this model, and if him and the wife can be happy with it, and if they can afford one, then...

Pull the trigger!

Thats a bunch of "if" gates to get through, tho...

'If gates' I like it Meb!

First of all, if he compares both...he's going to love the seat on the 14r and absolutely hate the seat on the tuono, it's as hard as a rock. After that, there is really no comparison......just my opinion!

Funny you should ask that, as I have a 14R and my best friend who I ride with every weekend has a Tuono V4R. Both are 2012s. I ride his all the time and he rides mine, so allow me to share my thoughts. Both bikes are best in class, but as different as chalk and cheese. The 14R is an amazing handling bike for its size but you can't have any realistic expectation that its going to out turn a bike with 4in less wheelbase and a hundred pounds lighter. That being said, because I'm a slightly better rider, I can keep up with him in the twisties but let me tell you - it's WORK! If I was on his Tuono it'd be adios sukka. The Tuono is a fantastic bike - best naked sport bike ever.

But I love and would pick my again 14R in a heartbeat. The Tuono is too many compromises for me. Hardass seat, brutal suspension, no wind protection, no passenger provision unless their bottom is the size of teacup, lousy range. The 14R is like an Maserati GT, the Tuono is more like a 911. It's hard to believe someone would be cross shopping the two.

Funny you should ask that, as I have a 14R and my best friend who I ride with every weekend has a Tuono V4R. Both are 2012s. I ride his all the time and he rides mine, so allow me to share my thoughts. Both bikes are best in class, but as different as chalk and cheese. The 14R is an amazing handling bike for its size but you can't have any realistic expectation that its going to out turn a bike with 4in less wheelbase and a hundred pounds lighter. That being said, because I'm a slightly better rider, I can keep up with him in the twisties but let me tell you - it's WORK! If I was on his Tuono it'd be adios sukka. The Tuono is a fantastic bike - best naked sport bike ever.
But I love and would pick my again 14R in a heartbeat. The Tuono is too many compromises for me. Hardass seat, brutal suspension, no wind protection, no passenger provision unless their bottom is the size of teacup, lousy range. The 14R is like an Maserati GT, the Tuono is more like a 911. It's hard to believe someone would be cross shopping the two.

norcalHank, thanks for the info. Everyone else too.

I'm not saying he's actively cross shopping the two. But I think he should. Given all the criteria he said he wants out of a bike; and then the fact that his wife wants to ride along.... the 14r will give him OK handling compared to the Tuono; and better comfort (for her), range, power, economy, and maybe reliability.

To be honest, if I knew Aprilia was going to be knocking 2g's off the Tuono, I might have wanted one myself.

I guess it doesn't matter now, over the weekend he switched to buying a used 1st gen fz1, to now he might want a boat. guy cant make up his mind. lol.

Say my twin is the same chassis almost. That bike is a sweetheart. Quick steering puts it anyplace. You're right, Hank... Harsh seat. Harsher suspension. I still think it's one of the best naked bikes I've jumped on in a long time. Yeah and it's a potatoes and prunes difference in handling between the asian and euro flavors too.

I'd love to have a V4R as a second bike, a Sunday-morning hooligan, but as an only bike, I hope you have a trailer to take it to where it can stretch it's legs. As was said, the seat's a suppository, zero wind protection and sporty-stiff suspenders.

Danno hits a fly ball. Had a little business to do so I extended the ride. 3 stops along the first 20 or so miles out. Then home without stopping. ASSoon ASS I got off that seat... Fly ball out of the park. It didn't catch up to me the first round. Second I got off that bike...

I wonder if one of them taxi cab wooden seat cushions would work? Or is that a backrest deal?

Hahahaha! Hung one low and inside!