Aprilia ETV 1000 Caponord

The large-capacity trail-styled bike market is a lucrative one in Europe, and Aprilia's entry is certainly distinctive. The large twin-headlamp fairing follows the quirky design brief of the rest of the firm's bikes, while providing good weather protection. The familiar RSV Mille-based engine has been re-tuned to produce 73kW (98bhp) rather then the 97kW (130bhp) of the donor bike, providing a flatter, less peaky power delivery, more suited to relaxing progress. The unusual 'Double Wave' frame is very stiff, and long-travel suspension soaks up the worst bumps. Like most big-bore trailbikes, the Caponord is mainly aimed at touring use, so it has a large 25-litre (5.5 gal) fuel tank, spacious pillion accommodation and a large, comfy dual seat.

Caped crusader

Aprilia's big-bore dual-sport contender, the Caponord, is yet another brilliant take on the genre - you'll go places you normally wouldn't dream of. AMT's Mark Fattore investigates.

There is a strong pedigree in the dualsport class these days, and Aprilia's ETV1000 Caponord - named after Scandinavia's North Cape - is right amongst it. Why, it's full of cunning, opportunism and daring - melded with just a touch of larrikin. On that premise, you'd think that the Caponord and its dualsport cohorts - the BMW R1150 GS, Triumph Tiger, Suzuki V-Strom and Cagiva Navigator - would be able to infiltrate the Australian psyche just a little more than they have been able to thus far. Sure, the class is not moribund, but it's not a cause celebre either, with sales best described as moderate next to their sports bike siblings.

I, for one, hope the relationship between the big trailies and the buying public has reached a nadir, because I reckon the Caponord represents the antithesis of sports bike riding - the ability to head to a rustic pub deep in the bush, complete with compliant suspension, long-haul fuel range, plenty of leg room, weather protection, great ergonomics, 50 litres of pannier capacity, and adequate accommodation for a beloved. And arriving at a destination without having to repatriate your arse to a local masseuse for attention before you can sit down for dinner.

That's just the off-road side of the equation too. Offer some blacktop on the riding menu, and the Caponord still continues to be a treat; it sacrifices little in the cause of being an all-rounder.

With its liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 60-degree V-twin, a derivative of the widely-acclaimed RSV Mille powerplant, providing the firepower, it's possible to gain some serious lean angle on the 'Nord, certainly enough to start scraping the panniers! That feeling of sideways movement is accentuated by the high and wide handlebars, but the pannier shenanigans do bear testament to just how far the Caponord can be pushed.

Tipping the scales at 265kg fully-fuelled, the Caponord certainly doesn't fight in a lightweight division, but is thereabouts compared to the opposition. What the bulk means is that it's a bit top-heavy for performing U-turns, but at speed it's all 'can-do' from the massive aluminium beam frame; just pitch it in and the bike stays where it should, 100 percent of the time.

With the engine (our test unit was fitted with aftermarket Staintune pipes) producing the bulk of its torque between 4000rpm and 6500rpm - up around the 9.1kg-m mark - the V-twin is busy where it counts, which means that tap-dancing through the sweet-shifting six-speed doesn't have to be a constant grind. Saying that, the bike does rev all the way to the 9000rpm redline.

At 100km/h, the bike purrs over at around 3700rpm, which means that well over 300km is possible from the 25-litre tank at sensible highway speeds. Pillion appointments are top notch on the Caponord, with solid pegs, massive grabrails and a comfy perch. But before the pillion gets comfy, get to work on the preload via the remote adjustment know, especially if off-road work is going to be on the agenda.

All in all, the Caponord is not going win a MotoGP or major desert race, but if you're after something in time of need, you can't go past it. Sure, it is a few dollars more than most of its dual-sport contemporaries, but at $18,799 ($19,802 with panniers and tank bag) it still represents a lot of high-quality bike for the buck.

Source: BikePoint

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