Motorcycle specifications Aprilia900 Dorsoduro 2020 Road storm

The supermotard is the ideal machine for going all out, attacking mountain passes at full throttle and negotiating tight bends at the speed of a horny rabbit. Even if the market is rather discreet in France, that doesn't prevent us from producing road-going SMs of fine craftsmanship and character.

This is why Aprilia has kept its Dorsoduro in the catalog, with a serious engine upgrade. As with the Shiver, from which it takes the twin, its displacement climbs to 900 cm3.

With a name like that, the 900 Dorsoduro is bound to be a sports and physical therapy machine. Like yesterday, the silhouette can't wait to get out there. A small facelift would certainly have affirmed its renewal, but the Noale-based brand has only made a few color touch-ups. Whatever the angle or the parts, the bike hasn't changed one iota compared to the previous 750. Only the more pronounced, RSV4-RR-inspired color codes catch the eye. A red frame/shock absorber/head cover pack, a black swingarm and a few black parts - that's the end of the decorative changes. Because the main thing is under the seat, in this pumped-up twin-cylinder, for its longevity and not for bloat.

The kids didn't feel cramped, so the bore is unchanged at 92 mm. They did, however, want to go the distance. So the Italian engineers increased the stroke from 56.4 to 67.4 mm. Now that's torque. And indeed, it's the big winner of this increased cubic capacity. With 9.17 mkg, it develops 9% more muscle. A maximum you'll have to go 2000 rpm higher to reach. Never mind; the torque curve is always higher than on the 7.5.
Horses are not outdone, but the increase is more moderate. 3 more horses allow the twin to announce 95 hp in the vilo.
This increase in displacement also makes it possible to pass Euro4 without suffocating the twin too much. The exhaust makes a significant contribution to engine pollution control. And while we're at it, we might as well take the opportunity to review the lubrication system. It should also be noted that the 900 Dorsoduro can be bridged to 35 KW / A2.

This machine is a far cry from the supermoters of yesteryear, derived from a trail bike with a souped-up engine, a cracking pot and 17-inch wheels. Like sports bikes, roadsters and GTs, a good dose of electronics makes silicon sweat. ABS and ride-by-wire throttle were already present. The latter has been completely redesigned to be more precise and 550 grams lighter. Engine management benefits not only from the more powerful Marelli 7SM ECU, but also from 3-stage, deactivatable traction control and 3 injection maps.
Sport provides direct, sweetener-free engine response for aggressive driving.
Touring smoothes engine response for everyday use.
Rain calms the ardor to avoid the rodeo in the rain.
And to take full advantage of modern solutions, the 900 Dorsoduro gains an all-digital TFT instrument panel, with a 4.3-inch screen and optional Aprilia multimedia platform, so you can connect your grinding wheel to your smartphone.

That's all well and good, but it's not the hits and mp3s that will keep you on course. The job's for the Aprilia's ad-hoc chassis. The main structure remains unchanged, with a mixed aluminum side-plates/steel tubular trellis frame. The ground linkage is a different story. The 900 Dorsoduro is equipped with a new, lighter 450-gram Kayaba fork, with adjustable preload and rebound damping. A new pair of rims shaves off a further two kilos. As for the brakes, the 4-piston radial calipers on 320 mm tracks have been retained, and are no longer petal-type. The same smoothing applies to the 240 mm rear disc, assisted by a single-piston caliper.

This evolution of the Dorsoduro plays on a cocktail: engine and chassis closely derived from the 900 Shiver, provocative styling from the 750 enlivened by striking colors, dashboard taken from the violent 1100 Tuono from the same company. And in terms of dynamics, it promises to be more powerful and more agile. The machine aims to win back the hearts of enthusiasts. And above all, to tickle the Ducati Hypermotard, which just keeps getting better and better. If the suspensions have been tightened up, the road ahead will be a lot of fun for / with this corner-turner.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos