New Aprilia Tuono 250 to Land in China

[Admin]

Aprilia is set to debut the new Tuono 250, which looks to be a 250 version of the Tuono 125 currently offered in Europe. (Aprilia/)

Earlier this year Aprilia launched a 250cc version of the RS 125 onto the Asian market, and now it looks like the naked Tuono is getting the same treatment—though there’s no indication whether a similar machine might also reach dealers in the West.

Details of the new model, which will be manufactured by the Zongshen-Aprilia joint venture in China, have emerged in a new batch of Chinese government type-approval documents, including a picture of the upcoming bike. The documents call it the APR250-S, though the model’s marketing name is expected to be GPR250S in China. Over there, the new 250cc version of the RS 125 is sold as the GPR250R, but internally called the APR250-R. Regardless of its name, one look at the new naked model leaves no doubt that it’s a 250cc version of the Tuono 125 sold in European markets.

The new model will join the RS 250 (pictured) that’s already been launched in China. (Aprilia/)

Strangely, the styling is identical to the 2017–2020 version of the Tuono 125, rather than the revamped 2021 version that was revealed earlier this year. It was the same story with the Zongshen-Aprilia GPR250R that appeared a few months ago, carrying the previous-generation looks of the Aprilia RS 125. However, since the visual changes to both machines were limited to redesigned noses and new headlights, it’s likely the new 250s are using up old components or factory tooling to save costs.

The approval documents reveal that both the GPR250R and GPR250S (or RS 250 and Tuono 250, to use more familiar names) use the same 249cc version of Aprilia’s single-cylinder engine, making 27.5 hp. That’s a substantial hike over the 15 hp 125cc version that’s currently the only option for Western riders wanting a small-capacity Aprilia Tuono or RS. However, the engine itself appears to be largely the same design, and bolts straight into the same frame used by the existing Tuono 125 and RS 125. The 250 also carries over the same wheels, brakes, and suspension. That means 40mm inverted forks, a monoshock at the rear, and a single 300mm front brake disc with a four-pot radial caliper, complete with ABS. Surprisingly, despite its extra power, the 250 doesn’t even get wider tires—sticking with the 125′s 100/80-17 front, 130/70-17 rear setup.

The Tuono 250 appears to use the same frame as the 125cc version sold elsewhere (India model pictured), but uses the more powerful 249cc single found in the RS 250. (Aprilia/)

Last year, Aprilia did launch a European version of the RS 250, but as a track-only SP model to be used as the basis of an Italian one-make race series, adding choice components like Marchesini forged wheels, Brembo brakes, and an Öhlins rear shock to the mix. However, the Chinese-made Zongshen-Aprilia version is the first sight of a road-going variant.

The GPR250S (Tuono) documents show that the naked version has a curb weight of 342 pounds, some 27 pounds more than the 125cc version sold elsewhere, though given the similarities between the two bikes it’s not clear where the extra weight comes from. The faired GPR250R comes in at 348 pounds according to its approval documents.

Given the fact that most of the bikes’ components are shared with the Tuono 125 and RS 125 already sold in much of the world—though not the USA—it wouldn’t be a huge leap for Aprilia to market the 250 versions outside Asia if the market is big enough.

View the full article