Aprilia SMV 750 DORSODURO 2008 — Specifications

When Aprilia decides to play in the arena of serious supermotards, the result is called Dorsoduro. No half-measures, no timid compromise: the Aprilia SMV 750 Dorsoduro arrives in 2008 with the firm intention of shaking up a segment where the Ducati Hypermotard and KTM 950 SM reigned without much opposition.

The 90° L-twin 750 cc engine, shared with the Shiver but retuned for the occasion, produces 92 horsepower at 8,750 rpm and 82.4 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm. What sets it apart from its road-going cousin is the mapping: Aprilia worked the mid-range so the machine delivers earlier, harder, with that little punch in the back that gives the genre its whole appeal. The Ride by Wire system manages everything, which was far from standard on this type of motorcycle at the time. The result: an engine that stays civilized in the city while being capable of genuine brutality when you open the throttle hard. For a 750 cc displacement, the figures are honest — not spectacular on paper — but the way this twin delivers its power matters as much as the raw numbers.

Facing the competition, the positioning is clear-eyed. The 660 XT-X and its ilk are too tame, too textbook. The Hypermotard and the 950 SM are heavy and expensive. The Dorsoduro slots between the two, at €8,849, with 186 kg dry and an 870 mm seat height that will not forgive shorter riders. This is not a beginner's machine: the seat height, engine responsiveness, and overall character of the bike demand solid two-wheel experience. The intended audience is the rider who already knows their limits and wants a machine that respects them.

Visually, the Dorsoduro makes no pretense. The steel tubular trellis frame with aluminum plates structures a taut, almost aggressive silhouette. The gold wheels, petal discs paired with radial four-piston Brembo calipers, the 43 mm upside-down fork with 160 mm of travel: everything is there to signal that this is not a motorcycle dressed up as a supermotard — it is a supermotard built for real. The exhausts run under the seat, the cam covers are painted bright red, and the passenger footpegs have simply disappeared. Message received loud and clear.

The main limitation remains the 12-liter tank, which allows a reasonable but not comfortable range for long distances. It is not a tourer and makes no claim to be. With a stated top speed of 200 km/h, it can handle motorway stints, but its natural playground remains the twisting road, the winding national highway, and the roundabout taken a touch too fast. For those still wondering about the price of an Aprilia SMV 750 Dorsoduro 2009 in France on the used market, well-maintained examples generally sell for between €4,500 and €6,500 depending on mileage. A price that, for this level of equipment and character, remains defensible.