Aprilia Dorsoduro

By Kevin Ash

Pictures: Aprilia Press

You’d expect a road bike based on Aprilia’s world supermoto championship winning V-twins to be a raw, uncompromising beast of a machine with little real world use except scaring people, rider and all. That seems to be pretty much what Aprilia would like you to think too, which is why the gorgeous Dorsoduro 750 is almost disappointingly versatile. I say almost because it’s a much better bike for being usable, especially as it hasn’t lost too many of its wilder genes.

Click on image for galleryIt’s the looks that beguile initially, and genes play a part here too as the Dorsoduro is the first Aprilia styled by creator of the Ducati Monster, Miguel Galluzzi, arguably the most enduring design of the 1990s, and certainly one of the most influential. When the Monster first appeared many people were referring to it as a retro, simply because the only naked, style-conscious bikes we had then were retros, there wa s nothing else quite like the Monster. Like the Monster, the Dorsoduro has poise, purpose, and visual balance, but unlike the Ducati it’s dripping with aggression too. And thanks to Aprilia’s high build standards it’s convincingly put together as well. Swing a leg across the reasonably comfortable seat (another supermoto surprise) and there’s a substantial feel which continues when the bike’s fired up and rolling. The suspension is firm almost to a fault, keeping the front end well controlled in severe braking but kicking around on poor surfaces, especially while leaned over, but once you get used to the bike shifting and shimmying it doesn’t develop into anything worse and ends up adding to the sensation that you’re really pushing things and having fun.

In fact the bike’s agility can be breathtaking, far better than you’d expect of the claimed dry weight of 410lb (186kg) which speaks volumes for the integrity and balance of the chassis, and it’s helped by the natural, commanding riding position, even if this is inevitably windblown at speed. The payback is the sensitivity at high speeds (very post legal ones...) when any movement affecting the rider, such as wind buffeting, translates through the bars as wobbles and shimmies. So relax your grip on them and the bike steadies instantly, but it’s no long distance motorway tool, as the fuel tank confirms, with the low level warning flashing at you after less than two gallons have been consumed. The on-board mpg gauge is desperately optimistic too, telling me I’d achieved 44mpg when the Shell pump said it was closer to 36mpg in mixed riding.

That limits the bike to commuting and weekend fun rides, but a Dorsoduro customer wouldn’t be expecting anything else anyway, and boy those rides can be fun... The engine is operated by a full fly-by-wire system which offers three settings: sport, touring and rain. Where the Japanese go for a normal setting and two softer ones, the Dorsoduro’s middle setting is the best for everyday use, especially around town, as the sport setting is pretty aggressive and makes trickling through traffic and pootling about hard work with the bike feeling like a bulldog straining at the leash – holding a steady slow speed takes some pretty delicate throttle control. But when you’re in the mood it’s fabulous, crisp and punchy backed up by a growling, blood curdling exhaust note that makes you wonder if Aprilia don’t have some dodgy pictures of the noise emissions tester on a weekend away. This is a much better use of the facility to alter power characteristics, as you really do use the switch rather than just tell people about it in the pub.

The bike has limitations but only generic supermoto ones and these don’t interfere with general riding as much as they should. What it offers is glorious handling and a cracking good engine packaged in some fabulous looks.