Aprilia SMV 750 DORSODURO 2014 — Specifications

There are motorcycles that apologize for existing, and others that assert their presence at first glance. The Aprilia SMV 750 Dorsoduro clearly belongs to the second category. Before even turning the key, it's clear that Aprilia wanted to place a precise marker on the supermoto chessboard: above the mild urban trail bikes, below the two-wheeled behemoths like the KTM 950 SM or the Ducati Hypermotard. A tailor-made segment, occupied with rare conviction.

The 90° L-twin 750 cc engine powering this machine is no stranger. Shared with the Shiver, it develops 92 horsepower at 8,750 rpm with 82.4 Nm of torque available from 4,500 rpm. Aprilia reworked the fuel mapping to beef up the mid-range, where a supermoto is truly put to the test — in tight sequences and sharp roll-ons. The ride-by-wire manages all of this with precision, without pulling the rug from under the rider. For a twin of this size, the figures are solid, and direct competition has nothing to laugh about.

The design deserves a closer look. The gold thin-spoke wheels, the petal brake discs paired with four-piston radial Brembo calipers, the tubular steel trellis frame anchored to aluminum plates, the blood-red cylinder head covers, the exhaust outlets tucked under the seat with their shark gill cutouts. Every detail seems designed to provoke a reaction. The 43 mm inverted fork with 160 mm of travel and the matching rear monoshock complete a chassis built to bite the asphalt. The 186 kg dry weight remains within reasonable proportions for the segment, though the tall 870 mm seat height will naturally select for taller riders.

Who is the intended audience? Certainly not the beginner looking for an easy first bike. The Dorsoduro speaks to the rider who already knows their limits and wants to push them further — the supermoto enthusiast who no longer accepts the compromises of trail bikes and refuses to pay the steep price of large-displacement machines from another era. With a listed price of €7,999 for this 2014 model year, it positions itself competitively against its Germanic and Italian rivals. The absence of passenger footpegs neatly sums up the overall philosophy: this machine only makes sense solo, leaned over, soles scraping the tarmac through the bends. No concession to daily commuting, no ambiguity about its intentions.