Aprilia 1200 DORSODURO 2011

It has been known for a while, in fact since the inception of the FV2 concept car, that a big 1200cc twin was preparing its arrival at Aprilia. Here he is finally, and it is in a big Supermoto that he makes his first production appearance. In the 1200 Dorsoduro to be precise.

This machine had been anticipated for a long time and uses the same solutions as the 750 of the same name. Same sporty silhouette just fine-tuned in details (mini windshield, engine spoiler….), Same chassis profile with 43mm inverted fork, 4-piston radial calipers on 320mm discs, very nice swingarm with double branches, and truss frame in steel tubes connected to aluminum side plates.

On the other hand, on the engine side, there are big people jostling. The all new 1197 cm cube Noale twin with very square dimensions (106 x 67.8 mm). It is equipped with 4 valves per cylinder, liquid cooling, dual ignition, double ACT, and electronic technology that Aprilia particularly likes: ride by wire accelerator, triple mapping (Sport, Tourism, rain), ABS, and control of ATC traction derived from that of the RSV4. These last two elements will be provided inseparably as an option, which explains the high price of the ABS version. Each system can be disconnected, which allows everyone to choose their level of safety and / or drift according to their experience and mastery.
To break the Ducati 1100 Hypermotard and nudge the KTM SM 990, the twin didn’t skimp on the power available. Under the right hand are 130 horsepower and almost 12 mkg of torque. It starts to do a lot but then a lot of watts for a machine in this category. Maximum power is obtained at 8,700 rpm. The maximum torque of 11.7 mkg arrives a little earlier, at 7,200 rpm. Please note, the 1200 Dosoduro is also a machine weighing more than 200 kg that must be mastered, and therefore leaves less room for improvisation than a pure Supermot machine with a weight less. But where this big SMV fishes, it is on the side of the suspensions: badly adjusted, they do not allow a muscular piloting and are clearly not up to the expectations raised by this machine..

Bigger, beefier, the 1200 Dorsoduro isn’t just about power and weight. It has an increased wheelbase, a fuel tank carrying 4 liters more and Sachs suspensions allowing more adjustments. Just to give it a ladle, let our imaginations wander a bit in this launch video concocted by Aprilia.