Little Or Large?

They may look reasonably similar and share the same name, but how close are learner-legal bikes to their big brutish papas? We sent Carl on his way with a Tuono V4 and a Tuono 125 to find out…

- Carlos

Everyone remembers their first bike, don’t they? You know, that feeling of invincibility as a nipper when you finally get that first set of wheels, and ultimately, the keys to freedom… or more than likely the nearest garage if, like most, it fancied braking down a lot. The thing is, no matter how unreliable, slow or even damn right disgusting anyone’s first bike was, it always seemed to imprint a place in our hearts; whether you grew up in the age of two dingers, or are just reading this having splashed some cash on a new 125cc. Because the funny thing is, from the outside and as far as looks go, learners and newbies have never had it so good in terms of choice. Okay, I know that’s not quite true in reality when we’re talking about performance, but think about it. Everything from Aprilia Tuonos and Yamaha MTs, to RSV4s and R1s are now available in not only big-boy 1000cc+ sizes, but also, in the entry level sector, from 125cc and above. But the question is, are these miniature replicas really the same sort of deal, and are they man enough to earn the same name as the big daddies in the same range?