Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 2012 — Specifications

When Aprilia decided to fill the gap between a Pegaso Strada that was too tame and an SXV 550 reserved for asphalt kamikazes, the manufacturer from Noale pulled out all the stops. The result is this Dorsoduro 750, a 750 cc supermotard that will only make you regret having a clean license.

The engine is where it all begins. This 749.9 cc V2 — the same engine that powers the Shiver, slightly re-carbureted for this application — develops 92 horsepower at 8,750 rpm and a torque of 82 Nm available from 4,500 rpm. The mapping has been reworked to muscle up the mid-range, giving the machine that aggressive temperament on corner exits that precisely what fans of the genre are looking for. All managed by a ride-by-wire system that adds a layer of precision without spoiling the pleasure. Faced with a KTM 950 SM or a Ducati Hypermotard, the Dorsoduro displays a dry weight of 186 kg, a frankly honest power-to-weight ratio for a machine of this displacement. The Ducati is heavier, the KTM more brutal: the Aprilia occupies a coherent intermediate territory, at €7,999 in the catalog.

What strikes you next is the care taken with the presentation. The gold spoked wheels, the radial Brembo calipers biting petal discs, the 43 mm inverted fork with 160 mm of travel, the bolted steel trellis frame on aluminum plates — every detail tells a story of an assumed sporting intention. The adjustable preload and rebound aluminum swingarm, the Pirelli SuperCorsa tires in 120/70 at the front and 180/55 at the rear, the exhausts housed under the seat: nothing is left to chance. The absence of passenger footrests summarizes the project better than a long speech. This machine is designed for a single person, and that person knows what they want.

In Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 reviews, owners regularly emphasize two things: the solidity of the whole over time and the seat height of 870 mm, which mechanically excludes those of modest stature. The reliability of the Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 has been built up over the model years, from 2008 to 2016, with progressive evolutions rather than a technical revolution. The Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 used remains a sought-after value on the used market, precisely because the platform has aged well. The Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 Factory, a boosted version with high-end equipment, represents the top of the range for those who want to go even further in terms of finishes. Regarding Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 problems, some feedback reports a thermal management that could be improved in dense traffic, and a 12-liter tank that requires more frequent refueling than average for a machine capable of flirting with 200 km/h.

This Dorsoduro does not claim to be a universal motorcycle. It is not made for Sunday family outings or for tourists laden with luggage. It is aimed at a rider who knows their classics, who has already worn out the tires on winding roads, and who is looking for a machine that is both usable on a daily basis and capable of transforming into a precise tool as soon as the road clears. Italian down to the last mirror, engaged without being inaccessible, it represents that rare moment when the design studio and engineering speak the same language.