Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally 2018 — Specifications

When Aprilia released the Caponord 1200 Rally, the question wasn't about its roadworthiness, already proven by the standard version. It was about a broader ambition: to convince long-distance travelers that an Italian could compete with German and Austrian machines on trails as well as on paved roads. A bold bet, a nuanced response.

To understand this machine, one must go back to the early 2000s and the Caponord Rally Raid, a brutal and angular ancestor that had already sensed the trail. Ten years later, the adventurous gene resurfaced with much more elegance and onboard technology. The Rally differs from the base version through several technical choices consistent with its positioning. The front wheel goes to 19 inches, shod in 120/70, and the rear retains a 190/55 in 17 inches. Spoked rims replace cast wheels, and the whole thing rolls on Metzeler Tourance tires, a mixed profile that accepts dirt roads without complaining on the highway. The 840 mm seat remains accessible for average builds, even if a full tank requires a firm footing.

The engine, a 1197 cc V-twin developing 125 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 114 Nm of torque at 6,800 rpm, has nothing of the RSV4's racing temperament. It's an engine that pulls strongly, that pulls long, that heats up in hot weather and consumes slightly more than the segment average. The 24 liters of the tank could have been increased to 30 to cover long stages without anxiety, but Aprilia stuck to its line. The mixed frame, steel tubular trellis with aluminum plates, houses all of this in a stable geometry, with a wheelbase of 1,565 mm that reassures on long straight lines.

It is on the electronics that the Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally 2016 relies on its differentiation. The ADD system, Aprilia Dynamic Damping, pilots the Sachs inverted fork damping in real time according to the riding style and road conditions. The tuning process was long; early versions of the system lacked precision, but the 2016 and 2017 models offer a more mature calibration. Added to this is the ride-by-wire, cruise control, three engine maps and three-level adjustable traction control. Brembo brakes, with four-piston M432 monoblock calipers at the front on floating discs, complete the picture with a bite calibrated for mixed use. ABS remains present on both wheels.

So, who is the Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally for? Not for the track rider, clearly. Nor for the adventurer who wants to cross fords and sleep in the desert with 40 kilos of gear. The machine targets the great road traveler who wants to get off the pavement from time to time, who appreciates an active feel and a Latin character in the engine. Faced with the BMW R 1200 GS Adventure or the KTM 1190 Adventure, the Aprilia cannot claim the same off-road capability or the same commercial longevity, which makes used Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally accessible at attractive prices on the used market. New at 16,499 euros at launch, it was already more affordable than its rivals with comparable equipment. For a motorcyclist seeking an alternative to the German consensus, with style, technology and a true character, this Caponord Rally remains a solid option to consider.