2021 Yamaha MT09 SP VS 2022 Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory | Plus 0 - 60 Tested.

Having owned both bikes from new, and clocking up a couple thousand miles on each, I thought I'd do a quick comparison from my perspective. Plus 0-60mph battle (the results might surprise you!).
A bit of an odd pairing, since they don't really compete on paper, but they are surprisingly similar yet very different on the road.
In summary:
The Tuono is more stable, has much better brakes and abs settings, feels a bit more serious/capable in the chassis department, has better wind protection, better front end "feel" and the V4 engine is ever so slightly more engaging than the 3 cylinder (the 3 cylinder in the MT is that good).
The Tuono (with its Superbike chassis and swingarm) puts the power down better than the MT and the suspension is also slightly more plush and composed on the Aprilia. I don't really think that it is fair to compare the dash (due to the difference in price) but the Aprilia dash is much nicer.
The MT09 is more flickable, the quickshifter is better on the MT, the paint finish is better on the MT, the MT is more of a wheelie machine (short wheelbase) and the bike doesn't take itself as seriously. The MT also runs significantly cooler and has that all important Jap reliability (although the Aprilia is still very well made). The MT09 is also not that far behind in real world performance terms below 100mph. It might actually be faster out of the hole.

[@DJSixty]

I do have an 2019 S1000RR and a 2021 MT09SP and I compare those two all the time. Of course the S1000RR it's a different beast, but for the price of the 09 it's incredibly capable and in the twists they are quite comparable in terms of corner speed

[@mxengineer1]

I owned a 2016 Tuono Factory and now have a '21 MT 09SP. Both are so different yet similar in the Fun to Ride department. The MT09SP has such agility and makes 120hp feel plenty fast with such instant acceleration and effortless wheelies combined with that quick shifter and great intake and exhaust sound (and less engine heat) and all for such a reasonable MSRP. Does anything sound as good as a V4 Tuono at WOT? So much acceleration and sublime handling in that chassis especially with the Ohlins suspension. Nice to have choices!

[@tankslapmoto9999]

I couldn't agree more! It's an unlikely comparison, since they don't really compete on paper, but in the real world they are surprisingly close in terms of rider engagement and fun factor (and not worlds apart in actual performance). I'm loving the Tuono, but I do miss the MT09 sometimes. People understandably expect the Tuono to be capable, but Sportsbike riders always seemed more surprised by the pace of the "little" MT09😅

[@garyrayner6330]

I had a mt10, r1 then a zh2 but just bought a new model mt09 cause I’m not a cat and I don’t want to run out of lives :) I’ll say even though the mt09 on paper is majorly outclassed it definitely doesn’t give anything away in the fun department. It’s super composed, flickable and fun and you can ride hard as hell without thinking you may die.

[@tankslapmoto9999]

The Gen 3 Mt09 is without doubt a great bike, certainly can hold its own in the fun department, 120hp has never felt so lively...

[@bosk1n]

Owned a Gixxer 1000 before. Now own 3rd gen mt09. I finally feel that I can use pretty much most of the power range of the bike at decent speeds, where as on liter bike it felt stupid to use like 5, 10% of power most of the times.

[@Seale-en2fp]

I’m going the other way. I sold my 2021 Tuono and buying a MT09. More comfortable and don’t need that top end speed and I want to live a little longer.

[@tankslapmoto9999]

All valid reasons but be warned, the little MT is still a bit of a missile😉

[@mattochaz]

Im thinkn the same, hav u done it yet wat u think? Im up for another valve check on my 17 tuono, maintenance costs taking the fun out of it for me. I love the v4 but think the triple would hav a tonne of character too and for 4 majors on my tuono it adds up quick

[@Peter-Parkey]

I'm about to do the same. TV4F is awesome but I'm never able to use all that power in the streets. Never get to use 5&6th gears. Ride with an older friend (60y old) on his 21' mt09sp and he rips, it's hard to keep up on the twisties.

[@Seale-en2fp]

I ended up buying a mint low mileage 2014 BMW S1000RR HP4 Competition….😂

[@Peter-Parkey]

@@Seale-en2fp how do you like it compared to the Tuono?

[@TheeMisterspain]

Just pulled the trigger on an 2022 MT09. Coming from a S1000R the yam really is all the power and fun you need for a road bike. Was very torn between the mt or the new rs triumph street but saving nearly 2.5k swayed it towards the yamaha.

[@tankslapmoto9999]

Nice one, can't go wrong with the MT09, it is a great bike - all the performance anyone could want and so much fun to ride. Lots of character with the 3 cylinder

[@flyska1000]

Was looking @ buying the new Tuono V4 1100 Factory have the gen 3 MT 09 SP, To be honest the tuono looks awesome that is until you get up close the build quality plastics, stickers ,paintwork,even engine castings are poor for the money you are departing with ! but the shocker is the real world fuel consumption figures they are shocking even more so @ current fuel prices,you need some deep pockets to run one ! the sound is awesome though. The MT 09 SP is a brilliant all rounder , gives you smiles for miles :) and fuel economy is very good even when riding hard,as an all round package hard to beat for the price,absolutely love mine ! so much so decided to reserve another new one, I can't find anything else that can compete for the price :)

[@tankslapmoto9999]

Loved my mt09, truly a great bike but the Tuono is a step ahead dynamically in terms of handling and performance. I hear you on the the fit and finish of the Tuono, probably not on the same level as Yamaha or Ducati but I have to say my one is pretty good, there seems to be a lot of variation between the bikes with Aprilia (some are really well put together wheras others not so much). My MT wasn't perfect either to be honest (thin paint on the wheels, poorly finished wiring harness around the headstock, cheap looking horn, cam chain rattle, ecu recall, annoying indicator mounts...) but I'd still buy another one, it punches well above its weight 👍

[@StreetRossi-mm1gt]

Alright guys, moving to Valencia Spain just sold my bikes here in Texas. Do I buy the MT-09SP or Tuono Factory?? I was thinking MT09SP and then also buy a track only bike for the circuits which would almost be the money of the Tuono by itself but after looking at all the Tuono videos I'm not sure, please advise

[@tankslapmoto9999]

Nice one, it is a cool city and there's some great roads in the hills inland from Valencia. Tough choice between the bikes, I'd say if you want something a bit special to ride on the weekends on faster roads, carving long fast sweepers and a bit of track work then the Tuono. However, if you want something thats more of a do it all daily rider, city traffic & commuting, canyon roads, general hooning and just fun to ride, without being too serious, then the MT09 is the way to go, especially the SP which can hold its own in the canyons as well👍

[@StreetRossi-mm1gt]

@@tankslapmoto9999 Cheers TankSlap, that helps, think it's going to be the Tuono

[@morri03]

The only thing bad about the mt09 is it’s looks

[@Marchautowerks]

100% agree! For crying out loud, I’d already have one but I can’t make my mind up between that or a monster even tho the monster runs hotter, doesn’t have cruise control, only standard suspension, cost more, less reliable, more often and expensive maintenance, more expensive parts in case of a drop, may have better numbers on paper but not real world times... but it doesn’t look like it was designed off a 5year old child’s plastic toy! Mt09sp is a no brainer but Jesus Christ you got to black out the wheels and the tank and ad a screen at least just to let it out of the garage! I may come off as a bit vain but my money doesn’t mean nothing to me.

[@morri03]

@@Marchautowerks I’ve started looking at the new XSR900. Still hardly gorgeous but you lose the semi adv styling and stance for a proper standard riding position. Not a fan of the new Monsters look but they review well. I have a Monster S4RS so biased towards the older style

[@Marchautowerks]

@@morri03 love the older monsters. New one is a totally different bike, at this point the scrambler has a closer relation then the new monster. It is an awesome bike as it is and can’t be ignored when looking at mid weight nakeds

[@barryvenison6803]

I just rode the Tuono Factory yesterday and it loved going fast , loved the canyons. I haven’t ridden the MT-09 SP but spent a fair bit of time on the standard 2021 09 and it’s lively as F .. great fun .My question is , where would you place the BMW S 1000 R ( 2022) in this mix ?

[@tankslapmoto9999]

The s1000r is a great bike, well made and does everything really well but it's not as engaging (in my opinion) as the Tuono or the MT09 (or MT10) just because of the inline 4 cylinder and the way it makes power. Although it is still very fast and good fun, just not as fun as the others👍 The 2023 version sounds spicy though...

[@no2rides115]

@@tankslapmoto9999 2023 version does sound spicy but starting price is 19k something so won't see many of those around just like street fighter v4

[@GhostHammerX]

Are you running your camera on a chest mount? Also, what mic setup are you using?

[@tankslapmoto9999]

Yes standard Gopro chest mount and a relatively cheap (£30) Sony bidirectional mic wired into an old gopro hero 4, ECM-LV1 Lavalier Microphone with Stereo Sound.

[@GhostHammerX]

@@tankslapmoto9999 thanks!

[@elessar_19]

hi man, I'm looking to get MT09 in the next few months and I'm a bit tight on budget so it would help alot if I could spend extra 2000 euros on gear and stuff rather than on SP version. I dont know do I really need better suspension as an average rider. I do ride mainly in twisties at faster pace (faster relative to my skill nowhere near as you) and I do have 100kg/220lbs. suspension on my '07 honda hornet felt a bit spungy but but on '17 z900 it felt good I didnt feel I need more. I do see much better riders than myself riding on standard versions, and I really cant decide would SP be a night and day difference and worth of breaking the bank, or would it be overkill for my skill level. if you had to give advice based on this what would it be? sorry for long question :D

[@tankslapmoto9999]

Hey man, to be honest the stock suspension is very high quality, the SP suspension can actually be a little harsh on the road, unless you open up the compression and rebound damping. Most people (myself included) will probably find that it is easier to go faster on the stock setup on the road because the stock setup is more compliant and generally more confidence inspiring. The SP suspension only really makes sense if you are riding it super hard or on the track where you can benefit from the greater range of adjustment over stock. Fancy suspension is over hyped on the road if im being totally honest, I think I'd save the money unless you particularly like the look of the gold forks etc👍

[@elessar_19]

@@tankslapmoto9999 thank you very much, this comment made my day, I feel like it saved me 2000 euros :D I thought that will be the case, I was just wondering if I'm a bit too big for stock cause of my weight, but I asked one owner of standard version who is around my weight and he doesnt have any issues with stock. thank you one more time for your feedback, and I gotta say, that tuono is sooo sexy, those colors and sharp lines are really piece of art. I cant decide which looks I like more, tuono or streetfighter, but I imagine I would feel like million dollars riding any of those 2 :)

[@liammoore5192]

Outright pace in a straight line, is the tuono much quicker?

[@tankslapmoto9999]

There's not much in it up to 100mph but from a roll/in gear the Tuono would definitely pull 3 or 4 bike lengths and above 100mph the Tuono would be gone

[@reachforthesky1849]

Which do you think is better suited to a shorter rider? Asking for a friend ; )

[@tankslapmoto9999]

Probably the MT09, it is a little lower I think, the seat is narrow (so might be easier to flat foot) shorter reach to the bars, lighter weight... although on the Aprilia you can adjust the rear ride height via the adjustable linkage mount, drop the forks 30mm through the triple clamps etc. I am sure that you could make it work if you were set on the Aprilia👍

[@milostomic9460]

If you can choose again bike in the middleweight sector would you pick mt09 or new 765rs and 890r

[@tankslapmoto9999]

I'd buy the new xsr900 in blue😄 but all of the options that you listed are great bikes. The ktm is great fun but not very versatile, you would not want to go touring on one or even long trips might be painful plus I have heard they suffer from small reliability issues (mainly electronics, switch gear failures, engine lights etc). The triumph is really nicely put together but I found the engine lacked grunt when I rode the current one, it needed to be thrashed a bit like a 4 cylinder 600 which put me off, the electronics are annoying as well in that you cant seperate wheelie control from the traction control, which is over intrusive (I am not sure if they have fixed that in the new one). I'd still buy the Yamaha personally, it is the best overall package in my view, by far the best engine, great electronics, Jap reliability, although maybe not the best looking... (although I actually liked the MT looks and I think the XSR looks the nuts). Cheers👍

[@milostomic9460]

@@tankslapmoto9999 thanks for the reply.I'm buying new bike for the upcoming season and my thoughts are similar to yours but new rs with shorter gearing is tempting me.

[@tankslapmoto9999]

The new 765rs is very tempting, I haven't seen one in the flesh yet but I bet it looks pure quality, the fit and finish on these new triumphs is really impressive. The lower gearing will help wake it up as well, the brakes are also class leading on the triumph.

[@reddpill]

That Tuono is top of the game but for the money difference that MT09 is a good buy for low end performance. I wonder how you would compare the new MT10.

[@tankslapmoto9999]

I think the Mt09 is such a great bike, it has to be one of the best bang for buck bikes out there and punches way above its weight in my book. I haven't ridden the new MT10 yet but I'm sure that I'd like it a lot, the old one was pretty awesome and the CP4 is not far off the v4 in terms of character, although the new MT10 would have to be pretty special to beat the Tuono as an overall performance package. Can't wait to ride one, especially the SP!

[@ozzy88tr]

In Turkey, MT09 and tuono v4 is same price when they are new :)

[@liammoore5192]

Which phone mount are you using on the tuono mate?

[@tankslapmoto9999]

It's just the standard quadlock turned sideways👍

[@QuickRipzz]

I love you

[@osvi457]

Hello am a returning rider that’s coming from a r6 but now I want to take it easy while still enjoy the bike am 6’2 wish of the 2 you would say it’s the best of both worlds (street plus some speed if needed)

[@osvi457]

I have a family so don’t want to kill my self,yet :)

[@tankslapmoto9999]

I'd say the MT09, it's still a seriously fast bike but it is equally happy going fast or slow and it can be fairly sensible with the electronics turned on, the more upright riding position also lends itself better for casual street riding. The Tuono is a lot of bike and might encourage you to go warp speed more of the time, plus its a bit more serious and demands your full attention when you want to go fast, which might not be what you want if you are returning to bikes👍

[@osvi457]

@@tankslapmoto9999 thank you brother 👍