Trail – Caponord Rally test: Aprilia maxitrail wants to shine – Aprilia and its Caponord underwater again

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Caponord Rally test: Aprilia maxitrail wants to shine

Trail - Caponord Rally test: Aprilia maxitrail wants to shine - Aprilia and its Caponord underwater again

Even in its fully equipped Travel Pack version, the Aprilia Caponord 1200 did not meet the expected commercial success. To relaunch its maxitrail, the Italian manufacturer is releasing a more adventurous version that Site has tested… under the rain !

Aprilia and its Caponord underwater again

Aprilia had no luck with the weather forecast during the press launch of its new "trail" (given the driving position) "road" (given its program) "sporty" (given its pace and of its engine), organized at the end of March 2013 in the southern tip of Sardinia (read our)…

Caponord Rally: availability, colors and price

  • Availability: immediate in the

  • Colors: yellow "Dune", green "Army" or gray "Safari"

  • Price: € 16,499

Assuming that lightning – or rain ?! – does not fall twice in the same place, the Noale brand has once again brought together European motorcycle journalists in Cagliari for the presentation of its new 2015 "Rally" version of the Caponord 1200…

Same destination, same route, same model but different accessories (read our), same tester (MNC, what else?) … and the same punishment unfortunately, since we discover this new Aprilia motorcycle in the rain !

After having had us revise in the warmth, in the conference room and in the smallest details, all the components and technologies on board their maxitrail (read our), our hosts remind us of the handling of the assistance: mapping modes (on the handlebars via starter), traction control and electronic rear spring preload (on the panel, when stationary).

Also, when we got back to our motorcycles, the rain eventually stopped. However, there was no question of dropping the rain suit, because the saddles were soggy and the skies still heavily leaded. Taxiing (limited to 150 km and 5 hours, photos and lunch included!) May take place entirely in the wet…

With their yellow "Dune" color, the Caponord Rallies put at our disposal try as best they can to warm up the atmosphere. As the dashboard does not display the outside temperature (nor the fuel consumption), Site simply estimates it between 10 and 12 ° C. Not so bad, in the heart of winter !

Two other colors are also available now in: the mat green nicknamed "Army" is indeed very military, so that to blend into the urban jungle, we prefer without hesitation the gray "Safari"..

Already imposing in its "Travel Pack" version, especially seen from the side (read our), the Caponord becomes even more impressive in this new Rally version, in particular because of the all-square 33-liter suitcases which replace the more stylish 29-liter ones. the "TP".

These aluminum cases (original Givi) have a double opening system. They can be opened completely, or only from the top thanks to clips that lock two-thirds of the cover from the inside: practical when you don’t want to drop things during quick breaks on the road.

For long stops in the workshop, on the other hand, the Rally is less convenient! In this 2015 version, the Caponord 1200 effectively skips the center stand. Supplied as standard on the Travel Pack, this element is nevertheless almost essential for lubricating and tensioning the chain….

By making its first turns of the wheel, Site also regrets the abandonment of the rear mudguard, low and offset. If the spray of water from the rear wheel does not go up to the back of the pilot – nor a priori to that of the possible passenger -, it goes high and sprinkles far behind … The future comrades of rainy trips do not go not like masses !

At the front no problem, the mudguard does its job and more: its imitation carbon finish – taken from a few other parts – adds a final sporty touch to the bike, the first obviously being the face of RSV4, its three optics and its two air inlets … Mamma mia, que bella !

Under the characteristic fork crown – almost all Aprilia range! – Protective bars to which are attached two long-range LED lights are added to the Caponord Rally. Their ability to withstand shock and break through at night could not be tested by MNC, but the gist may not be there…

By equipping this motorcycle with sweeter suitcases and bull bars / pedestrians, "Aprilia seeks through this more adventurous model to address even more people", explains to Site Marco Zuliani, product manager in the marketing department of Aprilia. Aesthetically, the Capo ‘looks like a" real "trail.

Our interlocutor takes the liberty of insisting on one point: "the spoked rims installed on the Rally can accommodate more off-road tires. 110mm wide front and 150mm rear rims are also approved". So the new Aprilia is really ready for"pushing the limits of asphalt" !

In turn, Site points to another subject: the capacity of the tank, which does not exceed the 24 liters of the original model. "It’s a deliberate choice", Signore Zuliani replies:"we retained this capacity for the Caponord and we keep it for the Rally".

Those who wanted to leave very – very! – far away or going to work for a whole week without going through the "service station" box will probably not be convinced by this answer … But "in our opinion, this is the best compromise in terms of size, weight and range (over 300 km)", believes Marco.

As the tanks are scrupulously the same, the 10 kg difference announced between the dry weights of the Caponord Travel Pack (228 kg) and Caponord Rally (238 kg) remains the same once all the fuel has been filled. Not communicated by the manufacturer, the full weight of the Caponord Rally seems important.

The maneuvers at a standstill are far from obvious, even if the two boots touch the ground without too much difficulty: the saddle is still 840 mm high and gently settles under the weight of the pilot. Also unchanged, the driving position remains very pleasant. Ready? On the way !

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