After a little more than a year, I began seriously considering selling my Triumph Rocket 3 Storm R. Many will wonder why, since it’s a true motorcycle icon, but the simple answer is, it just wasn’t the right bike for me.

I rode it in a rather sporty way, and while it can handle that despite being a cruiser at heart, it’s ultimately too heavy and its geometry isn’t made for aggressive cornering or fast transitions.

That led me to look for something lighter, and my first choice was the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS. I was immediately impressed. Its electronics are excellent, and the engine is extremely capable. Right then I realized the Rocket 3 had to go, and a naked bike would be its replacement.

Encouraged by my son, and partly out of curiosity, I decided to try the Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory 1100. The excitement only grew. The performance was close to the Speed Triple, but the sound made all the difference.

The 1100 cc V4 engine with a 65° angle sounds incredible, probably the best motorcycle sound I’ve ever heard.

Last year I also tested the Ducati Multistrada V4 S, but its sound wasn’t nearly as striking, likely because its cylinder angle is 90°.

I also considered trying the Ducati Streetfighter V4 S, but the rainy period started, and the local dealer wasn’t particularly cooperative, so I ended up buying the Tuono instead.

I won’t keep praising it, just try it for yourself; you might not like it as much. For now, I’m very satisfied, and my garage will keep two bikes: the Kawasaki H2 SX SE MY2023 and the Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory 1100 MY2025.

The Aprilia serves for daily rides and shorter solo trips with a distinctly sporty style, while the Kawasaki is my choice for longer journeys and two-up touring.

Now, this article is primarily about Top Block Racing frame sliders. If you’ve been following my blog, you’ve probably noticed that I’m a fan of this brand, so I was pleased to see they offer a model for my new bike.

They looked quite solid in the photos, so I decided to order them. Another option was Evotech Italy frame sliders, but they appeared less robust. They’re probably lighter than the TBR sliders, which I later found out weigh almost 1 kg each, but I decided that durability matters more and I can always lose 2 kg myself to make up for it.

The sliders arrived well packaged, they have rubber dampers for impact absorption, and installation was straightforward. I won’t go into mounting details, just follow the instructions and you’ll be fine. I tightened the engine mount bolts to 50 Nm based on data from a service manual for an older model, but don’t rely solely on that, check your own sources.

In conclusion, I’m satisfied with the purchase. They fit the Tuono nicely, blend well with the bike’s design, and yes, they’re heavy, but as always, a compromise has to be made somewhere.