Trail – Caponord 1200 test: sports trail according to Aprilia – Discovery of the new Caponord

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Caponord 1200 test: sports trail according to Aprilia

Trail - Caponord 1200 test: sports trail according to Aprilia - Discovery of the new Caponord

In 2013, Aprilia launched a new road trail: a Caponord 1200, from the explosive Dorsoduro! It has ABS and traction control, as well as electronic suspensions in its Travel Pack version, being tested on site !

Discovery of the new Caponord

As often, the Italians have reserved a few little last minute surprises for us! First of all, the technical sheet has undergone some modifications since the presentation of the motorcycle at the Milan show (see our technical sheet on the last page)…

Thus, the maximum power of 128 horses announced to the French press loses three units. It doesn’t matter after all, since crossing the Italian-French border, the bike will only develop 100 horsepower at the rear wheel, as required by the legislation in force here (until 2016).

Likewise, Site readers – who, as everyone knows, have a more developed sense of observation than others – will have noted that the socket angle closes slightly, from 27 to 26.1 °. Finally, the initial width of the rear tire (190 mm) drops to a more common and reasonable value: 180 mm.

The other big surprise that awaited us the very morning of the press launch of the Caponord 1200: the rain! Fortunately, the first contact with the new Aprilia was made the night before, after the press conference….

Placed at the entrance to the meeting room, the Caponord 1200 is impressive. Admittedly the Italian is thin, but seen in profile, we can see that this bike is full like an egg and therefore seems very massive. The weight estimated by the manufacturer also confirms this impression: dry, the Caponord 1200 Travel Pack weighs 228 kg !

Be careful, the Aprilia is not easy to move with the engine off, especially as the center of gravity is quite high. Fortunately, the saddle placed at 840 mm is easily stepped on and allows the rider, even small, to maneuver once perched on the beast..

Take care of yourself

The buttocks also have an excellent reception: no comparison possible with the "very" duro Dorso! Likewise, the feet naturally find their place on the wide gums of the footrests. Wide and suitably set back, the handlebars finally give the rider a comfortable and dominant position: a good point for the city !

We also appreciate the settings of the two levers which, unlike those of the Dorsoduro, will not only satisfy large hands or very large hands! By seizing the left lever unfortunately, we realize that the force necessary to disengage is important: a bad point for small riders, and for the city in the long run….

The general appearance of the bike is successful and the Caponord rivals from this point of view with the Multistrada. Admittedly, the bevelled mufflers and the rear mudguard fixed on the single-sided arm of the Ducati are lighter than those of Aprilia. But the front part of the Capo ‘- thank you the RSV4 – is more harmonious than that of the Multi’ !

In all objectivity, the pilot regretted that the finish of the Capo ‘is not free from flaws. It mainly retains the rough fit of certain plastic parts, the absence of covers behind the headlights – this facilitates access to the bulbs, but leaves the ugly blue or green lugs visible – and the proliferation of cables around the engine….

Equipped with side cases in its Travel Pack version, the Caponord is not disfigured once the two elements have been removed: the presence of the two rigid saddlebags was integrated into the project from its inception by the engineers (see the "Travel Pack" part of our technical point, on the penultimate page).

Unfortunately, the Italians have not managed to free up any space under the saddle: it is therefore impossible to do without a suitcase to transport an anti-theft device, a disc lock or any other personal effect! Here again, the Aprilia trail does not make the daily life of its owner easier..

Note – before setting off on the Sardinian roads! – that the suitcases are easy to use, but that they lacked waterproofing during our test, copiously watered during the first half of the day … !

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