Aprilia SMV 750 DORSODURO 2009 — Specifications

When Aprilia decides to play seriously in the supermoto arena, the result doesn't look like a timid attempt. The Aprilia SMV 750 Dorsoduro arrived in 2009 with a clear proposition: to position itself between the pleasant but toothless small-displacement machines and the heavyweights like the Ducati Hypermotard or the KTM 990 SM, whose extra kilos eventually take their toll on winding roads. Between the two, the gap was there, wide open, and Noale claimed it with confidence.

The engine is at the heart of the matter. This 90-degree L-twin of 750 cc, borrowed from the Shiver with some mapping adjustments, produces 92 horsepower at 8,750 rpm and 82.4 Nm of torque at just 4,500 rpm. That low torque peak in the rev range is precisely what changes a supermoto's behavior: you exit corners with a clean, assertive push, without needing to wring out the revs. The electronic ride-by-wire throttle management smooths out the delivery of that power, avoiding the brutal surges that would make the machine exhausting in daily use. For a twin of this displacement, the numbers are solid, and up against a Yamaha MT-03 or a Husqvarna SM 610, the difference in engine size is felt immediately.

But reducing the Dorsoduro to its figures would be missing the point entirely. This machine is first and foremost an object of desire, shaped with an aesthetic rigor that few manufacturers achieve. The thin-spoked wheels, the petal brake discs paired with four-piston radial calipers at 320 mm, the steel trellis frame connected to aluminum plates, the swingarm carved like a blade — every component seems to have been designed so that the whole remains visually coherent. The red cylinder head covers, the exhausts tucked under the seat with their machined-out vents, everything contributes to a strong visual identity. You think of an Italian thoroughbred, not a worksite tool. The Pirelli SuperCorsa tires fitted as standard complete this sporting portrait without ambiguity.

The intended audience is fairly specific. The 870 mm seat height naturally filters out shorter riders, and the 212 kg wet weight demands a minimum of experience to manage at a standstill and during slow maneuvers. On the other hand, once speed builds up, that weight disappears behind the machine's overall balance. The absence of passenger footpegs as a catalogue option clearly signals the machine's ambition: solo use, riding pleasure-oriented, B-roads and twisty routes. This is not a tourer in disguise, nor an adventure bike pretending to be something it isn't. The six-speed gearbox and a claimed top speed of 200 km/h confirm that it can swallow motorway miles when necessary, but that is clearly not its preferred territory.

On the question of pricing, what does an Aprilia SMV 750 Dorsoduro 2009 cost in France? At launch, Aprilia listed it at €8,849. A price sitting in the upper range of the segment, justified by the level of finish and quality components, but placing it in a fiercely competitive zone against well-established machines. The 12-liter fuel tank remains the most concrete weak point: in spirited use, range becomes a parameter to watch closely. It is the only real criticism one can make without stretching the point. For the rest, Aprilia built a coherent machine, uncompromising in its choices, and one that makes no attempt to please everyone. That kind of mechanical honesty deserves recognition.