Aprilia's
new mini v-twin - Which model
should they put into production first?
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MaxMoto News. 6th October 2010
In one of the world's worst kept secrets, Aprilia have revealed their Aprilia 1200 Dorsoduro at the Cologne Motorcycle Show. The brand new 1200cc 130bhp 90° v-twin has been under development for some time, and with that and Aprilia's reputation as Italy's Honda we expect it be every bit as bullet proof as the outgoing Rotax 1000cc unit. The engine has class leading performance in both the mid-range and upper-range of the rev range (unlike some of it's competitors that sacrifice either one for the other).
It has 85 ftlb of torque at 7,200 rpm, allowing the rear wheel to slide in a gradual and controlled way as you turn on the gas out a corner, but with all that torque on tap Aprilia have carried over the Traction Control from Aprilia's World Superbike Championship winning RSV4 Factory APRC. The Traction Control has three settings: 1- essentially off, 2- Normal road use, 3- strictly limits rear tyre slip for exceptionally slippery conditions.
Like the 750, the 1200 comes with three maps - S(port), T(ouring) and R(ain) - that can be changed on the fly with a handlebar switch. Touring is probably the most useful for the road as Sport sharpens the throttle response quite a lot. Like it's smaller sibling, it has a fly by wire throttle that is now so refined that it's a real asset. The noise from the stainless steel exhaust is superb, especially at the higher end of the rev range.
The chassis is a beefed version of the 750, with fully adjustable Sachs suspension front and rear similar to the 750 Dorsoduro Factory. The brakes are Brembo four potters with steel braided hoses that are strong but well modulated and come with a well refined ABS (the rider can turn off the ABS if they desire).
We have the Dorsoduro 1200 ABS TC (ie the Traction Control version - we don't believe the non ABS/TC version will imported to the UK) now in stock at £9,920 OTR.
