Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 2014 — Specifications

When Aprilia launched the Dorsoduro 750, the question was frankly posed: was there a need for a 750 cc supermotard in a lineup that already included the Pegaso Strada for Sunday rides and the SXV 550 for pilots on the verge of an aneurysm? The answer arrived on the center stand, and it weighed 186 kg dry with 92 horsepower delivered at 8750 rpm. In other words, the Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 filled a void that no one had really identified, and did so with the particular style of machines that don't need to justify themselves.

The 749 cc V-twin shared with the Shiver isn't simply transplanted without reflection. Aprilia reworked the mapping to muscle up the response in the mid-range, where a supermotard truly expresses itself, in tight chicanes and brutal acceleration. The result is a torque of 82 Nm available from 4500 rpm, managed by a ride-by-wire system that still leaves the hands in the grime of sensation. Faced with a heavier and more bestial KTM 950 SM, or a Ducati Hypermotard that plays in a different price category, the Dorsoduro occupies a precise territory: that of the rider who wants real performance without the daily torment of machines designed solely for the track. The Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 technical specifications speak for themselves, with a wheelbase of 1505 mm and a seat height of 870 mm clearly oriented towards an experienced build.

The 43 mm inverted fork works in tandem with a adjustable mono-shock absorber for preload and rebound to absorb road imperfections without betraying precision in corners. The trellis steel frame bolted onto aluminum plates is an architecture proven on the SL 750, and it provides remarkable rigidity without weighing down the whole. Double stainless steel wave discs with four-piston calipers and ABS complete a serious braking package, the one found on the Factory version in particular, which pushes the level of finish even higher. At 7999 euros at launch, the proposition is honest in this segment.

What truly distinguishes the Dorsoduro from its competitors is the aesthetic consistency. No parts that clash, no visible compromises. The spoked wheels, the exhausts housed under the seat, the carefully treated valve covers: each element has obviously been thought out in the same breath. Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 owner reviews often return to this point, the machine attracts attention without force, which is the privilege of successful designs. The Pirelli SuperCorsa tires fitted as standard clearly announce who it is for: not beginners looking for a first machine, but riders who know their trajectories and are looking for a tool to refine them.

The real drawback of the Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 remains the perceived reliability on some generations, with some feedback on vibrations at high speed and a consumption that can climb depending on usage. The 12-liter tank imposes discipline on long journeys, and the top speed of 200 km/h remains anecdotal on a supermotard whose natural habitat begins well below. But looking for a fatal flaw in this machine is missing the essential: the Dorsoduro 750, whether we are talking about the original Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 2008 or the refined versions up to the Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 2016, has always been a proposition of pure pleasure, without dilution. For the rider looking for a lively, communicative and Italian motorcycle down to the last hose, the Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 used market today offers a serious opportunity at prices that have become reasonable.