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Italian bikemaker Aprilia has launched its 2013 Caponord 1200 in South Africa and our resident bike guru DAVE FALL has been checking out this awesome Italian stallion and its price!
The new Caponord 1200 comes hot on the wheels of another Italian stallion, the Moto Guzzi Stelvio, but more about that bike some other time.
Image gallery
27% INCREASE IN POWER
Cape Town dealer principal Nibs Cragg told Fall: “The all-new Aprilia shares nothing but its name with the earlier 998cc Caponord 1000 that was discontinued some years back. The latest version's 1197cc, 900, V-twin derived from that of the Aprilia Dorsoduro has been retuned to deliver 92kW – that's 27.5% more than the previous Caponord – and 115Nm of torque from 6800rpm.”
The big bruiser retails for R186 500.
Watch the video!
There’s some really exciting standard fare usually only seen as accessories, such as the latest motorcycle technology that’s electronic rather than mechanical. Aprilia arguably leads the industry in this field, so it won't surprise you to discover that the new bike comes with the most advanced package of electronic riding aids available on any adventure bike yet.
For starters there’s a ride-by-wire accelerator that works with the engine control unit to offer three modes: Rain, Touring and Sport. There's also two-channel anti-lock brakes and three-mode traction control.
The anti-lock braking system and traction control can be turned off, depending on road conditions.
The cherry on top for most will be the “travel pack” version of the Caponord which will be sold in SA with dynamic shock-absorber and a semi-active suspension system. The suspension measures the energy transmitted by bumps on the road and continuously adjusts the front and rear shocks to lessen the impact on handling and comfort.
TAKING ON THE ROUGH STUFF
Hard-core bikers are now suitably taken care of, reckons Aprilia.
Numerous sensors monitor rider input and recalibrate the suspension to take things such as throttle position and braking into account. Unlike other electro-mechanically adjustable suspension systems, the rider need not press any buttons to select the mode; the bike's computers do it automatically to suit the conditions and riding style.
The frame of the Caponord is a healthy mixture of robust steel trelliswork tubes connected to a pair of die-cast aluminium plates. The rear sub-frame is a beefy structure allowing it to cope with bad roads and heavy loads, the Sachs rear shock-absorber is laterally positioned to keep it well away from the heat generated by the exhaust system, as well as keep the weight low down.
Completely adjustable upside-down 43mm Sachs forks look after the front end and Brembo monobloc four-piston calipers grip the 320mm floating front discs.
A single-piston floating calliper does the job on the back wheel.
Price:
Aprilia Caponord - R186 500
The Aprilia Caponord is sold with a two-year unlimited distance warranty.
Specifications
The new Caponord 1200 comes hot on the wheels of another Italian stallion, the Moto Guzzi Stelvio, but more about that bike some other time.
Image gallery
27% INCREASE IN POWER
Cape Town dealer principal Nibs Cragg told Fall: “The all-new Aprilia shares nothing but its name with the earlier 998cc Caponord 1000 that was discontinued some years back. The latest version's 1197cc, 900, V-twin derived from that of the Aprilia Dorsoduro has been retuned to deliver 92kW – that's 27.5% more than the previous Caponord – and 115Nm of torque from 6800rpm.”
The big bruiser retails for R186 500.
Watch the video!
There’s some really exciting standard fare usually only seen as accessories, such as the latest motorcycle technology that’s electronic rather than mechanical. Aprilia arguably leads the industry in this field, so it won't surprise you to discover that the new bike comes with the most advanced package of electronic riding aids available on any adventure bike yet.
For starters there’s a ride-by-wire accelerator that works with the engine control unit to offer three modes: Rain, Touring and Sport. There's also two-channel anti-lock brakes and three-mode traction control.
The anti-lock braking system and traction control can be turned off, depending on road conditions.
The cherry on top for most will be the “travel pack” version of the Caponord which will be sold in SA with dynamic shock-absorber and a semi-active suspension system. The suspension measures the energy transmitted by bumps on the road and continuously adjusts the front and rear shocks to lessen the impact on handling and comfort.
TAKING ON THE ROUGH STUFF
Hard-core bikers are now suitably taken care of, reckons Aprilia.
Numerous sensors monitor rider input and recalibrate the suspension to take things such as throttle position and braking into account. Unlike other electro-mechanically adjustable suspension systems, the rider need not press any buttons to select the mode; the bike's computers do it automatically to suit the conditions and riding style.
The frame of the Caponord is a healthy mixture of robust steel trelliswork tubes connected to a pair of die-cast aluminium plates. The rear sub-frame is a beefy structure allowing it to cope with bad roads and heavy loads, the Sachs rear shock-absorber is laterally positioned to keep it well away from the heat generated by the exhaust system, as well as keep the weight low down.
Completely adjustable upside-down 43mm Sachs forks look after the front end and Brembo monobloc four-piston calipers grip the 320mm floating front discs.
A single-piston floating calliper does the job on the back wheel.
Price:
Aprilia Caponord - R186 500
The Aprilia Caponord is sold with a two-year unlimited distance warranty.
Specifications
