All Tests – Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 Test: Italian cracking … – Casting error?

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Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 test: Italian cracking…

All Tests - Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 Test: Italian cracking ... - Casting error?

Sophisticated (ABS and traction control), powerful (130 hp) and dressed like a sports car, the new Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 is the ultimate maxi-supermotard. Attractive, the concept unfortunately suffers from some unfortunate details… Test.

Casting error ?

Selfish, angry with the right grip and a bit masochistic, the pilot of the Dorsoduro 1200 will treat the multiple shortcomings of this bike with the indifference of a La Poste employee at ten to twelve: after all, a maxi-supermot ‘n ‘never intended to cut the road … but rather to cut shorts for anything that rolls in the winding !

To avoid ending up in the ditch for lack of having been able to deal with the impressive potato of the 1197 cc twin, Aprilia has equipped its novelty with a few accessories with proven benefits. With a flick on the starter with the engine running, the pilot can first of all choose between the three injection maps as on the Shiver: Rain (power limited to 100 hp), Touring (130 hp delivered smoothly) and Sport ( 130 hp … without filter!).

More innovative, the optional presence of an ABS and traction control (ATC for Aprilia Traction Control) reassures when taking the transalpine to stretch the rods on tricky roads. Especially since these disconnectable electronic "crutches" operate remarkably and with great transparency: the ABS intervenes very late and smoothly.

Less advanced than that of the RSV4 APRC (read in particular our), the ATC of the Dorsoduro 1200 compares the rotational speeds of the toothed crowns placed on the wheels – like the ABS – and intervenes instantly on the arrival of power when ‘a difference is detected.

Direct corollary, this configurable device in three positions also plays the role of anti-wheeling.

A function that is not superfluous, as the Italian moulbif breathes hard from 6000 rpm to 9500 rpm of the breaker: the twin takes 250 km / h in sixth (!) And a frank acceleration in second at top of a hill quickly propelled the 17-inch front wheel skyward !

Obviously, the typical supermotard position of the "Dorso" (bust leaning on the imposing handlebar that ends with practical hand protectors, footrest placed low and forward) is a real incentive to this kind of figures..

And as the anti-skating has the good taste to intervene discreetly – and more or less early according to the wishes -, in the event of optimism the arrival of the virolos is greeted with a frank smile. !

Unfortunately, the stretching of the zygomatic muscles quickly gives way to a facial tension worthy of an advertisement for constipation … In the first place, the Dorsoduro 1200 is not a ballerina with its pronounced wheelbase (1528 mm) and especially its weight of 195 kg dry with ABS andAprilia Traction Control. That’s 23 kg more than a Hypermotard 1100…

Despite good weight distribution and a rigid chassis in line with the claimed positioning, this overweight greatly hinders agility in small bends. What is more, the front axle falls slightly and is reluctant to take the right lever on the angle. It should also be noted that the pronounced attack and the power of the Brembo braking do not favor improvised slowdowns in curves. !

But where the Dorsoduro 1200 loses big points and even arouses a slight apprehension when releasing the big attack, it is in the more than perfectible cohesion of its suspensions. To believe that the springs are compressed to the maximum in preload – undoubtedly to avoid mass transfers – and that the elementary laws of the calibration of the hydraulic compression and expansion have been set aside…

Result: Aprilia reacts as sharply as a blow with a stick to the slightest irregularity and waddles like a belly dancer when you re-accelerate full force on a bump! The notion of progressiveness is completely obscured and it appears that the 160 mm of travel of the fork and the 155 mm of the shock absorber are far from being fully exploited to absorb shocks..

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