The new Aprilia Dorsoduro launched in India. Read the full Aprilia Dorsoduro review below to find out more…
Aprilia’s latest offering to the Indian market comes in the form of the Dorsoduro 900. Well, first impressions about the bike – it immediately strikes a chord with the riders who are on the cusp of switching from a hardcore, track-focused superbike to a supermoto. Keeping the international aspect aside, Indian conditions are, without doubt, less suitable for superbikes due to numerous reasons, ranging from lack of proper road infrastructure to the limited track availability. This is where the supermotos truly shine, their easy-to-use power and comfortable riding position make the much more usable and more importantly, much more fun to ride.
The Dorsoduro, apart from its striking looks, performs exceptionally on Indian roads. During my ride, I found the power delivery to be smooth, coupled with an immediate throttle response. The high centre of gravity also means that one can throw it about into corners without worrying about any loss of grip. However, what impressed me the most about the Dorsoduro is the suspension setup, which is soft enough to tackle bumpy and pot-holed surfaces without compromising any ride stability.
The Dorsoduro derives its power from an 896cc liquid-cooled V-twin, developing a maximum of 95.2 bhp at 8750 rpm and providing 90 Nm of torque at 6500 rpm. The Dorsoduro comes fitted with the new Marelli 7 SM ECU, like that on the Aprilia RSV4 and the Tuono. This unit looks after the new ride-by-wire electronic throttle system, the three fuel maps (Sport, Touring and Rain) and the 3-stage traction control system along with the ABS. On the outside, it features a 4.3-inch TFT instrumentation display. Weighing at about 219 kg, the bike never feels heavy thanks to a sorted chassis.
However, the weak braking is a major let down to an overall well-performing bike. The four-piston callipers on the dual 320mm front discs and the single-piston calliper on the single 240mm rear disc can certainly do with much more bite.
At Rs. 13.84 lakhs, prospective buyers will find the price tag to be quite astonishing but, one has to consider the fact that for a comparable price tag, a superbike will be much less usable than one of these, period. The Dorsoduro’s ease of use will also allow people to use it for daily commute (what’s better than that?). With a comfortable ride and ample power to put on the road, the Dorsoduro 900 will surely prove to be a fun and exciting everyday sports bike.
For more bike reviews and information on new upcoming bikes in India, visit the autoX website.
