SuperBike Magazine June 2020

72 APRILIA RAD KTM TUONO MOTARD V4 1100 FACTORY
this bike was built for; to get weekend riders off
their couches and out riding motorcycles.
When testing this bike it immediately brings
a smile to your face. This bike really does bring
out the hooligan within you, you start to wonder
why this bike has two wheels, as the front is
never down. When it came to the corners the
bike turns in really fast as there is no weight.
With regards to the suspension it definitely
wasn’t set up for the track, but keep in mind
this bike also needs to remain plush for the
weekend playing in the dirt. With that being said
I was really surprised with the brakes, the one
element of the bike I was the most sceptical
about impressed me the most. I thought that
the brakes would fade after around 6 laps of
riding the bike, and after having ridden the bike
consistently for about 20 laps before stopping
the brakes were still fine and did not over-heat.
This bike is a lot of fun to ride and perfect for
anyone that is torn between choosing between a
daily commute, a bike to play with on weekends
or even the occasional short circuit track day.
The idea behind having a
specific bike is usually
due to a single factor, I.e.
MX, enduro, motard or adventure
riding. The KTM EXC-F
500 can easily be converted
from an enduro bike into a
motard or even a street bike,
which should be appealing to
many customers looking for a
multifunctional bike.
The EXC-F 500 handled a
lot better than I expected with
motard tyres and the suspension
set up for enduros. I personally
feel that the EXC-F 500
turns exceptionally well as is
expected with the carbon fibre
rims and 17-inch wheels.
For the “weekend warrior”
it will easily hold its line with
the right setup. Never the less
2ND OPINION
Woodward
SAVANNAH
I enjoyed being out on the bike
due to its easy turning and
power delivery that comes with
a punch.
I could feel that there
were some slightly unsettling
factors the harder I started
pushing the bike. In saying
that I believe these issues can
easily be resolved with a few
changes to the suspension setup.
I would suggest that if you
are striving to push hard on an
asphalt circuit that the brakes
are changed to an after-market
system which will avoid
brake fade during your day out
on the track.
For the market aimed at, I
consider the EXC-F 500 to be
the perfect fit as it’s a cheap
thrill.