Comments on: 2011 Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200: MD Ride Review (Bike Reports) (News)

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:12:47 +0000

I own a Shiver 750 and I have ridden both models of the Dorsoduro (a good friend is an Aprilia dealer.) I suspect that Dirck was in Sport mode when he tried the wheelies. Aprilia’s sport mode is insanely sensitive, too sensitive and downright annoying for daily riding. All three bikes are wheelie monsters straight out of the box. All three bikes have a bit of head shake as Dirck described. I have made a few tweaks to my Shiver, which some others have copied on their 750 Dorsoduros, and I suspect they would work on the 1200 as well. Raise the forks in the triple clamp about 5 to 7 mm to put a bit more weight on the front end. This will reduce the tendency to wheelie on every WOT gear shift and will also eliminate the head shake in the twisties. You might have to put a extra washer or two in the bottom headlight mounts to re-align the headlight. Run the bike in touring mode. The only difference between sport mode and touring mode is the shape of the throttle response curve. The actual horse power one gets is the same in both modes. The only real rider difference is the amount of wrist twist required to get to the same power setting, and touring mode allows one to finesse the throttle more easily. Sport mode is too on-off like a two-stroke and can surprise you with its harshness when leaned over coming out of the apex. I use sport mode on a track day, but that is about it.

Report this comment

By: zrx4me

zrx4me — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 22:10:38 +0000

I’d love to have this bike,but the dealer network sucks.Few and far between and a lot of fly by night dealers with no inventory listed on aprillia website.Contact me aprillia if you want a dealer in orlando.You pay for the franchise and I’ll do all the hard work-LOL.

Report this comment

By: Treg

Treg — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:10:13 +0000

Finally a review right on the money….I had this baby for a month and all the reviews that I read on the web were off. Dirck got it right, and as for throttle sensibility you get use to it…and Dirck pull your wheelies in 2nd gear it’s much easier to balance it…:) amazing bike!!!!

Report this comment

By: Stinky

Stinky — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:37:56 +0000

I’ve been quite adamant, I like twins, I like nakeds. I’d looove to have one of these, aaand a KTM, BMW, Duc Hyper. I’m guessing the touchy throttle is that throttle by wire instead of cable. I’d prefer the KTM or Hyper but they’re too expensive, poor seats, no fuel capacity or all of the above. What’s with the poor fuel mileage? Poor mileage + no tank size = ?. I’ve got a Ulysses, S1 and an old Monster. Early motards with shorter suspension. Their tanks are a little on the small side but good mileage makes them liveable. Most would blast my bikes for rough suspension, lack of power, poor seats… but they’re a hoot. So would this big girl. Hope they sell and get to swap rides with someone on a good road!

Report this comment

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:26:18 +0000

Currently, raw materials are significantly more expensive in Japan and the US than in Europe

Report this comment

By: mxs

mxs — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:22:40 +0000

On/off throttle feel was a problem on the 750, so I can imagine it must be a bigger problem on the 1200 (consider it has substantially more power) …. Looks like instead of getting the weight down (750 is a pig) and fixing fuel mapping, Aprilia’s boardroom ordered to increase displacement …. boooo

Report this comment

By: Stratkat

Stratkat — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 11:57:59 +0000

er… it may be ‘new to you’ but KTM have been building big ‘tards for years now, and then there is the Ducati Hyper. Aprillia just hopped on the wagon not really innovative as much as trying to grab a piece of the proverbial pie, just sayin’

Report this comment

By: sliphorn

sliphorn — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 02:18:56 +0000

First photo he’s got a lean going on, plus it’s not the best angle to view the tire to see whether it’s a bit low or not. Second photo he’s upright so it’s easy to see. Besides, Dirck has confirmed that it was low.

Report this comment

By: Yoyodyne

Yoyodyne — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:50:47 +0000

+1, touchy throttle is not promising…

Report this comment

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:35:22 +0000

There is a point where tire pressure can be too low. If DE’s post from below is accurate “roughly 30 psi”, then the tire pressure was fine. That is more of a track pressure though.

Sorry to hear about the two wrecks. Checking tire pressures before a ride takes maybe a minute. And the guages themselves are fairly cheap.

Report this comment