Motorcycle specifications Aprilia1200 CAPONORD RALLY 2016 To turn travel into adventure

Aprilia couldn't be satisfied with a maxi-trailer that could travel the roads. Like its friends and competitors, it needed a machine that could go further, that would make you want to blast rocks under its wheels. And let's face it, this RALLY version of the 1200 Caponord is a fine exercise. In its Giallo colorway, the scent of sand sprinkles over the eyes, the perfume of the dunes seems to glide over the fairing. The taste of adventurers is in full effect.

the 1200 Caponord Rally seems intent on returning to the arid paths its ancestor had already trodden. Remember the 1000 Caponord Rally Raid of 2003-2005? The spirit was already there. Fortunately, in 10 years, we've gone from granite boulders to sand roses; the 1200 is undeniably sexier. But the Rally name doesn't just bring a warm color like the Sahara horizon. Noale's machine has undergone a number of changes, and now boasts the very best of the manufacturer's technology.

let's start with what's new, and what's more appropriate to the rebirth of a vocation. The wheels have changed size and profile. They are now spoked rims with enduro tires (Metzeler Tourance). The latter also evolve in size: 120/70-17 and 180/55-17 for the standard version; 120/70-19 and 170/60-17 for the Rally. The front wheel has been upgraded from 17" to 19", which should make navigation easier in rough terrain.
Shoes on! All that's left is to set off - and far. With aluminum suitcases that smell of trekking, we've already packed the essentials for camping between Melun and Timbuktu. A set of tubular protectors is there to limit breakage, as is the generous engine mount. The triple headlamp, an Aprilia trademark since the RSV4, is reinforced by two LED fog lights. A new adjustable windscreen enhances aerodynamic protection.

The 1200 Caponord Rally is equipped with ADD (Aprilia Dynamic Damping) active suspension, making it the must-have of Aprilia's touring range. Lacking development in its early days, then improved as it should be, the system controls damping in real time, depending on riding and road conditions.
This is the beginning of electronic assistance. The list of extras in the package is sure to charm technology fans: ride-by-wire throttle, cruise control, triple fuel injection mapping, and a number of co-pilots that can be deactivated at the rider's discretion: 2-channel ABS and 3-level adjustable traction control.

the Caponord, whether standard, Travel Pack or Rally, carries 24 liters of benzine. Aprilia hasn't followed BMW's lead, which is topping up the fuel tanks of its R 1200 GS Adventure models. Yet the engine is reputed to be a bit greedy. This big twin, built into the tubular steel trellis/aluminum frame, doesn't just drink. It also knows how to put its 125 hp and 11.7 mkg of torque to the test with Aprilia's passion. Far from chasing after the KTM Adventure and Ducati Multistrada, the category's fighter jets, the Caponord plays in the realms of fun and personality. The Caponord 1200 Rally offers a full range of adventurous features. Pricing will of course reflect this, being relatively hefty but more affordable than segment benchmarks with the same level of equipment.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos