Return of the Caponord? Spy shot of the 1200

[Rincewind]

This spy shot seems to confirm that the Caponord may return, based on the new Aprilia 1200 powerplant as featured in the Dorsoduro 1200.



Rough internet translation from Italian:  Motociclismo and Motoblog.IT link via babelfish

[falconati]

pretty sweet picture they put up there

[Rincewind]

That's what you get from spies I guess - low res, crappy photos.

Here is better quality rendering of the possible bike, as based on the Dorso1200.

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/aprilia-caponord-1200-photoshop/

[st2sam]

   
You've got to be kidding me!

[R Doug]

A pretty Multi!?  

[BlueRidgeKat]

Damn, you can still buy brand new 06's with ABS for $7800 ??

http://www.europeanmotorsportsinc.com/pages/current-inventory.php

Amazing !

[Rincewind]

One-year later and they have revealed the new Caponord at the Piaggio dealer meeting.




THIS is Aprilia’s 1200cc dual-sport bike which revives the Caponord name and is intended to compete with the Ducati Multistrada.

Revealed at the international Piaggio dealer meeting on Friday, the bike was caught on camera phones in a repeat of last year’s leak of the prototype Moto Guzzi California 1400 and Scrambler.

Basically a revamped Dorsoduro 1200, the Caponord gets different bodywork but appears to be the same in terms of the chassis and the 130bhp engine. Less supermoto and more tourer, it should have a wider appeal than the somewhat niche market Dorsoduro.

Clearly influenced by the firm’s RSV4 – a styling direction that’s spreading like a rash across Aprilia’s range, with the same looks now encompassing the RS4 125, RS4 50, SRV850 and, soon, the Caponord – the triple headlight front couldn’t be mistaken for anything but an Aprilia. And we congratulate them for making a dual sport bike without going down the BMW/Triumph route of sharp angles and gawky proportions; there’s no beak, for a start!

Read more: http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news-new-bikes/aprilia-caponord-1200-leaks/20018.html#ixzz1lbUBfetw

[Cablebandit]

A pretty reliable Multi!?  

There ya go.

[spd2918]

That's what you get from spies I guess - low res, crappy photos.

Here is better quality rendering of the possible bike, as based on the Dorso1200.

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/aprilia-caponord-1200-photoshop/

Those look very much like the Suzuki bags from the new DL650 Adventure.  Cheap and flimsy.

[Rincewind]

Those are Suzuki bags from the DL650 Adventure.  Cheap and flimsy.

It was just a photoshop.  But those bags in the photoshop (and on the DL650A) are SW-Motech Trax aluminum cases, which I thought were quality cases (?).  

[falconati]

I hope it has cruise control like the Triumph.

[Skee]

A pretty Multi!?  

Or a Wee with guts.  

[spd2918]

It was just a photoshop.  But those bags in the photoshop (and on the DL650A) are SW-Motech Trax aluminum cases, which I thought were quality cases (?).  

At the show they had a bag on a stand.  It felt very cheap.  The bottom skin had a ripple in it and the corners were hunks of plastic.  I'd rather spend the bucks on aftermarket units.

[BlueRidgeKat]

THIS is Aprilia’s 1200cc dual-sport bike which revives the Caponord name

Theres nothing "dual sport" about it. Maybe "street adventure tourer" or "sport adventure tourer" ??

Looks like it may also have the Dorso1200's rock hard 30 minute seat.

[Croak]

Aprilia knows how to make a comfortable seat for non-Italian asses when they have to.  

But the reality is that the Dorso's seat is that hard to make sure that you're ready to get off BEFORE the microscopic fuel tank is empty.  Same applies to the RSV4 and Tuono V4.  

Think of it as a safety feature.  

[Cablebandit]

Good to see the internet has advanced to the point where we can judge seat hardness via a fuzzy pic.  

[Royal Tiger]

Good to see the internet has advanced to the point where we can judge seat hardness via a fuzzy pic.  

 

For the record I have done 400+ miles on my RSV-R with it's stock seat.  It wasn't great, but it wasn't bad.  I think the 2nd fuel stop lasted longer for some strange reason.......  

[Croak]

The 1st-gen RSV/Tuono had a pretty decent saddle that mated well with tank range.  Second gen, not so much, current gen is a torture device IMHO.  

[Royal Tiger]

The 1st-gen RSV/Tuono had a pretty decent saddle that mated well with tank range.  Second gen, not so much, current gen is a torture device IMHO.  

I agree.  The RSV4R was a lot less comfortable then mine.

I'm dying to try the Tuono V4.

[Croak]

I agree.  The RSV4R was a lot less comfortable then mine.

I'm dying to try the Tuono V4.

I'm not, because if I had one, I couldn't go on my favorite routes in these parts with that sad sub-100 mile tank range.  

[Royal Tiger]

I'm not, because if I had one, I couldn't go on my favorite routes in these parts with that sad sub-100 mile tank range.  

I haven't checked the specs yet.  They didn't fit it with a bigger tank?  That sucks.  I get 32-35mpg on mine regardless of how hard I beat on it.  Or since I'm ALWAYS beating on it, it has 40mpg potential.  

[Croak]

4.5 gallon tank, and a low of 23mpg when thrashing hell out of it.  Be gentle and you might see 33mpg with a tailwind.  That's the price you pay for having 165hp on tap.

[Royal Tiger]

4.5 gallon tank, and a low of 23mpg when thrashing hell out of it.  Be gentle and you might see 33mpg with a tailwind.  That's the price you pay for having 165hp on tap.

I thought they would have gotten the Tuono to be a bit more frugal then the RSV4 with a re-mapped ECU.  Still looks pretty sinister.  Can't wait to see how it fares when it goes into "shoot out" articles in the magazines this year.

[Croak]

All the Euro testers have done the comparisons, since it's been out for a better part of a year there.  It usually wins handily in every category but range.

[Royal Tiger]

Thanks Croak.  

[atadaskew]

Aprilia knows how to make a comfortable seat for non-Italian asses when they have to.  

Yup.
The Futura has the best seat I've ever tried.

[Royal Tiger]

Yup.
The Futura has the best seat I've ever tried.

I love the Futura.  I would have bought one, but I wanted something different to keep the RSV-R company in the garage.  

[Rincewind]

WOW!!  











http://www.motoblog.it/post/36341/aprilia-caponord-1200-2013

[Croak]

And look ma! No shaft!  Which will of course doom it with most of the ADV types.

That said, Aprilia sure knows how to make a pretty DSSA, don't they?

[R Doug]

That's a great looking bike.  

[spd2918]

WOW!!  

Doesn't Suzuki already make this bike?

[Croak]

Actually, it's the other way around...the V-Strom is a cheap copy of the original Caponord.  

[Hambonee]

At some point I am going to have to face reality(including my 34" inseam and cranky left knee) and probably move over to the this type of bike. I was thinking a MG Stelvio or Triumph Explorer but man...this bike is sexy!!!