Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 2013 — Specifications

When Aprilia launched the Dorsoduro 750, the market for large-displacement supermotards was divided between two extremes: on one side, tame and accessible machines, and on the other, 950 or 990 cm³ monsters that require a tamer’s license to be tamed. The Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 slipped between the two with relentless logic: 750 cm³ V-twin, 92 horsepower at 8,750 rpm, 82 Nm of torque available from 4,500 rpm, and a dry weight of 186 kg. On paper, this is exactly what the Ducati Hypermotard and the KTM 950 SM of the time did not offer: performance without the hefty feel.

This V-twin engine, shared with the Shiver roadster, received a specific mapping here. Aprilia boosted the mid-range curves so that the rider doesn't systematically have to twist the throttle to feel something. Ride-by-wire handles all of this behind the scenes, and the result in riding exceeds what the figures suggest: this V2 hits hard and early, with a progressivity that reassures without ever lulling you to sleep. For those looking for a used Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 in this segment, it is precisely this engine signature that differentiates the machine from its Japanese rivals, often smoother but less engaging.

The chassis is the other major selling point. The bolted steel trellis, attached to aluminum plates, with a detachable rear frame, is not just an aesthetic choice: it is an architecture that stiffens where needed and absorbs where necessary. The 43 mm inverted fork offers 160 mm of travel, the rear monoshock is adjustable for preload and rebound. For road use, this level of adjustability is generous. For those contemplating a few committed supermotard sessions, the Factory version pushes the cursor even further with Öhlins components. In the Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 technical specifications, everything that is read is consistent with a machine designed to go fast on winding roads, not to swallow highways.

The design, just so, deserves that we stop there. The gold spoked wheels, the petal brake discs associated with radial Brembo calipers, the exhaust outlets under the seat cut out as vents, the red-lacquered valve covers: every detail has been thought out so that the machine is recognizable from 100 meters. The Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 graphics kit that some owners add after purchase seems almost superfluous given how complete the machine is from the factory. Shod in Pirelli SuperCorsa tires, 120/70 at the front and 180/55 at the rear, the Dorsoduro clearly displays its ambitions. The 870 mm seat naturally selects its audience: medium and tall builds will be comfortable, others less so.

At €8,499 at launch, the Dorsoduro 750 positioned itself aggressively against its competitors. Questions about Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 reliability and any Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 problems circulating in the forums mainly concern the electronic management and a few sensors in the early years, nothing eliminatory for those who properly maintain their machine. The 2008 to 2016 model years share the same mechanical base, with progressive evolutions on the instrumentation and settings. This is not a motorcycle for absolute beginners: the seat height, the engine's temperament and the responsiveness of the steering demand a minimum of experience. But for an intermediate rider who wants a characterful machine without breaking the bank on insurance and tires, the general Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 opinion has been clear for years: it is one of the most complete supermotards ever built in this displacement.