Is India ready for the Aprilia Tuono 250S?

China just got the rebadged Tuono 250S, a handsome quarter-litre ideal for the Indian market 

Ok, let’s play a fun game of ‘what if’. What if Aprilia decided it was time to launch its Tuono 250S in India, would you like that? What if it also decided to price it at Rs 2.85 lakh (roughly, before taxes), would you buy it? What if the 249cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine made 27.8Ps and 21.5Nm, would it be exciting enough? Aprilia has launched the Tuono 250S in China as the 2022 Aprilia GPR 250S, what if India is next? If so, let’s have a closer look at this quarter-litre streetbike and the hardware it packs!

Design

This baby Tuono’s silhouette mimics its larger sibling’s streetfighter look rather well. From afar or at a glance, you could even mistake it for one, especially from this front profile. It wears the same, short windscreen, split headlight, and the quarter fairing doubling up as air channeling winglets. But on closer inspection, you can tell this GPR 250S is still a teenager and lacks the sharpness of its bigger, older and brawnier siblings like the Tuono 660 and Tuono V4. Especially, when viewed from the side.

It’s in this profile that the GPR 250S reveals its entry-level characteristics. The compact single-cylinder motor visibly scales down the motorcycle’s big-boy look and so does the underbelly exhaust. The GPR 250S gets a single-piece seat and not a split seat like on Tuono 660. Even the rear subframe looks designed to allow for a roomier pillion seat, unlike most Aprilias that encourage you to live the solitary life.

Features

The instrument console appears to be a basic back-lit LCD unit with a little corner for a gear indicator. Does it get Bluetooth connectivity and ride modes? Seems unlikely. The whole unit seems to be built to a budget no bigger than a teengers pocket money, and it shows.

Underpinnings:

Much like the GPR250 that was launched back in 2019, this GPR 250S also comes equipped with similar hardware underneath. The 41mm USD fork and the rear monoshock should allow this motorcycle to handle urban riding rather well. Interestingly, it features a box-section swingarm that’s made to look like a large cast aluminium swingarm on one side.

The front gets a 300mm disc brake, and at the rear is a 218mm unit. Dual-channel ABS is standard but may not be switchable. The GPR 250S also features 17-inch alloy wheels at both ends. The expected weight should be around 155kg (dry). 

Engine:

The 249cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine makes 27.8Ps at 9,000rpm and 21.5Nm at 7,500rpm. That’s a shade more than the Bajaj Dominar 250 and lesser than the KTM 250 Duke.

Sadly, however, this dream is still a distant reality for us. That said, the 250cc segment in India is a highly competitive space, one with options leaning towards affordability and outright fun as well. Have a look at the models like the Bajaj Pulsar F250, Yamaha FZ-25, Husqvarna Vitpilen 250, and Suzuki Gixxer SF 250. However, if the model has made its way to the urban markets of our northern neighbors, we can hope Aprilia to look down South at India and say, “Hey, what if…”

Image Credit: newmotor.com.cn