Aprilia Dorsoduro
The concept that revolutionised the world of Supermoto has now
engendered the Aprilia Dorsoduro 750. This unique, elite
motorcycle applies all of Aprilia’s vast racing experience
to just one mission: the offer of pure riding enjoyment. 92 HP
and exclusive Tri-Map ride-by-wire technology mean that the
lightweight and powerful Dorsoduro 750 can satisfy even the most
expert riders in search of a state-of-the-art motorcycle.
Aprilia has certainly made its mark since entering the world of
supermotard racing: 4 world titles since 2004 clearly demonstrate
the superiority of the Aprilia off-road concept. Now Aprilia has
taken its success story one step further with the Aprilia
Dorsoduro 750, the machine that sets completely new standards for
the road-going supermotard market. The Dorsoduro is
Aprilia’s first 750 cc supermotard, with a level of
performance and equipment that places it in direct competition
with far bigger machines. Unlike its more expensive rivals,
however, the Dorsoduro gives you an unbeatable combination of
performance and equipment for its price. The Aprilia Dorsoduro is
an ideal motorcycle for advanced riders in search of total
performance. But thanks to its 750 cc engine, advanced electronic
engine management system and selectable triple mapping, it also
adapts perfectly to the needs of less experienced riders, and
represents an intelligent access to the world of fun
motorcycling. The Dorsoduro is made for pure enjoyment, and
creates a perfect symbiosis between man and machine, especially
when ridden solo. The Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 has been developed in
close collaboration with Aprilia Racing (the department of
Aprilia responsible for thirty-seven world titles in all, and
five in 2007 alone, including four in Moto GP’s 125 and 250
cc classes and one in the Supermotard World Championship). The
result is a bike that combines the best of supersport and
supermoto racing technology. The Aprilia Dorsoduro gives you
absolute riding pleasure and fun. A distillation of performance
and technology, the Dorsoduro is a special, extreme, and elite
motorcycle, capable of elevating its rider to motorcycling
excellence.
The lightweight, agile, and powerful Dorsoduro is driven by a new
generation of engine incorporating the most advanced technical
solutions found on any bike of its kind. Thanks to advanced
electronic engine management, Aprilia’s compact 90° V
twin delivers superb performance, well beyond the reach of its
rivals. Specific power is 122.6 HP/litre and maximum torque is 82
Nm at only 4,500 rpm.
As you would expect from Aprilia, the chassis is unique in the
supermotard segment. Having achieved amazing results on the
super-specialist SXV, Aprilia’s mixed trellis and aluminium
frame is now one of the most distinctive features of the
Dorsoduro, giving it the sort of directional control,
responsiveness and precision the competition cannot hope to
achieve.
Despite its essential design, the Aprilia Dorsoduro boasts the
highest level of components, technical equipment and finish. Four
piston radial calipers, wave discs, a hydraulic wet clutch,
adjustable front and rear suspension, Tri-Map ride-by-wire engine
management and a Matrix instrument display with on-board computer
are just some of the many items that make the Dorsoduro unique.
Let’s look at the features of the Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 in
greater detail:
- 90° V twin engine with four-valve heads, double overhead
cam and liquid cooling
- Tri-Map second generation ride-by-wire technology
- Electronic fuel injection with the latest generation
injectors
- Mixed gear and chain timing drive
- Three way catalytic converter with Lambda probe
- Modular steel trellis and aluminium alloy frame for extremely
light weight and high torsional rigidity
- Aluminium alloy swingarm with laterally offset monoshock
- Fully adjustable 43 mm upside down fork
- Radial front brake calipers combined with 320 mm wave discs
- Also available in a restricted 25 kW version
DESIGN: CONCEIVED TO THRILL
The Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 is a concentration of pure technology
enhanced by stunning lines and an aggressive look that comes not
only from power and torque but from amazing agility too.
Everything about this new Aprilia has been designed to be as
light and effective as possible. The Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 is a
motorcycle built to stimulate the senses of its rider.
The minimal and aggressive bodywork of the Aprilia Dorsoduro 750
adds the perfect finishing touches to the advanced motorcycle
technology that forms the basis of its design. The Aprilia
Dorsoduro 750 is built around the rider to deliver maximum riding
thrills. That is why this radical, daring and sporting machine
shuns everything that does not contribute effectively to maximum
riding pleasure. Plastic body panels have been reduced to a
minimum for this very reason. As with top competition machines,
anything that does not improve performance has been eliminated.
Only the place for a number has been left to emphasis the
bike’s close ties with the world of racing. The middle of
the bike, the area most important to rider movement under
competitive riding conditions, shows just how compact this design
really is. The Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 is incredibly slender and
agile and enters into instant symbiosis with its rider. Only a
few metres on this amazing machine are enough to feel completely
at one with it. Aprilia’s design team have achieved this
impressive result by giving the Dorsoduro a long, flat seat,
derived directly from the world of racing, allowing the rider to
find the most effective position at all times.
The sleek, compact tail houses a twinned exhaust, a solution that
not only gives the bike a mean, aggressive look but also achieves
perfect symmetry and ideal weight distribution. The hand guards
are derived from those of the SXV supermotard and, despite their
streamlined look, offer effective protection against accidental
impacts with the control levers.
APRILIA’S 90° V TWIN: STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY
Aprilia’s 750 cc 90° V twin engine has been improved in
a number of ways, through extensive bench testing and trials on
roads and circuits all over the world. The engine development
team at Noale has succeeded in shaping the character of this
unique engine to precisely match the Dorsoduro’s extreme
agility. Improvements have been made to various areas of the
749.9 cc engine with its bore and stroke of 92 x 56.4 mm. As a
result the electronic and mechanical content of this V twin
engine sets new standards not only for engines of this size but
for many far larger units too.
The V twin engine that powers the Aprilia Dorsoduro incorporates
the latest, most advanced technology:
- 90° V twin layout
- Liquid cooling
- Tri-Map engine management and ride-by-wire throttle control
- Very over-square bore to stroke ratio
- Four valves per cylinder
- Double overhead cam valve timing
- Electronic fuel injection with two throttle bodies
- Stick-coils integrated in the spark plug caps
- Three way catalytic converter and Lambda probe
Hydraulically operated wet clutch
The fuel injection system uses micro-spray injectors for optimum
burn, guaranteeing high power and extremely low emissions.
Aprilia was the first motorcycle manufacturer to believe in the
potential of ride-by-wire electronic throttle control. This
sophisticated technology, transferred to production directly from
the world of racing, lets riders get the very best performance
out of their motorcycles. The electronic engine management on the
Dorsoduro 750’s engine leads the field in technology and
performance. The Dorsoduro features a second generation
electronic throttle with Tri-Map selectable triple mapping.
Three performance modes, Sport, Touring and Rain, can be selected
on the move from a switch on the handlebars (with the throttle
closed for safety reasons). The Dorsoduro changes its character
radically, depending on what mode you select. Sport mode gives
you aggressive instant power; Touring mode gives you a smoother
action, better suited to relaxed long distance riding; and Rain
mode gives you ultimate safety slippery surfaces.
The Tri-Map electronic throttle also means smoother, more
consistent power thanks to more accurate and precise throttle
control based on parameters including engine speed, gear
selection, air flow, throttle position and temperature. The V
twin engine performs superbly at low and medium revs and even at
partial throttle openings, situations typical of the sort of
riding the Dorsoduro 750 supermotard is designed for.
Whatever mapping you select, the engine is always ready to
deliver the best possible performance in terms of acceleration
and rev range, giving you an amazingly satisfying and
entertaining ride.
The exhaust is made entirely from stainless steel. The collector
pipes meet in a single silencer under the seat before splitting
again into two tail pipes. The large volume of the exhaust system
also aids engine breathing and boosts efficiency.
A latest generation ECU manages all engine parameters, with a CAN
(Controlled Area Network) line carrying all signals to an
instrument cluster that incorporates a self-diagnostic terminal.
Because the CAN line uses only two wires to transfer all the
necessary data, the Dorsoduro’s electrical system is
beautifully simple and a major factor in the bike’s
impressively light weight.
Thanks to its advanced electronic and mechanical technology, the
Aprilia V twin engine develops 92 HP at 8,750 rpm and a maximum
torque of 82 Nm at 4,500 rpm. These figures enable the Dorsoduro
to compete directly with motorcycles powered by far bigger
engines.
The Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 is also available, right from its
introduction, in a restricted 25 kW version. The use of a
ride-by-wire electronic throttle has allowed Aprilia to avoid
cutting power right across the range, as happens with less
advanced restricted versions. Instead, the power curve of the
restricted Dorsoduro is identical to that of its full-power
sister right up to the point where the permitted power limit is
reached. The 25 kW Dorsoduro 750 therefore delivers far superior
acceleration to the equivalent models of the competition, to the
benefit of riding satisfaction and pleasure.
FRAME: PERFECT BALANCE
Aprilia motorcycles have always been acclaimed for the excellent
chassis designs. The Dorsoduro 750 is no exception, thanks to a
chassis that makes it the best balanced and most effective bike
of its type. The new Dorsoduro is easy and intuitive to ride
despite its blistering performance. It is designed to be ridden
at the limit under all conditions, to perform extreme power
slides, and to blast out of bends under full power. The secret
lies in an ultra-responsive chassis, whose ergonomics suit riders
of all statures and allow you to “take it to the
limit” and enjoy the thrills of a motorcycle built for pure
entertainment.
The frame incorporates all of Aprilia’s vast racing
experience, and makes full use of the latest mixed steel and
aluminium designs derived from the world of Supermotard World
Championship racing. The top half of the frame is a tubular steel
trellis. This is secured to generous aluminium side members by
special high strength bolts. The resulting structure is extremely
rigid and lightweight, and provides the best possible means of
harnessing the exuberant power of the Aprilia V90 engine while
still communicating a strong impression of lightness, high
technology and Italian style.
Continuous co-operation between engine and frame designers has
led to the perfection of high-tech, performance-oriented
solutions and to total integration between engine and frame. The
intelligent design solutions applied to Aprilia’s V twin
engine have made it shorter than ever, permitting the development
of a rational and efficient frame and a superbly agile and
incredibly responsive motorcycle.
The lateral position and acute angle of the rear monoshock has
freed up the space needed to ensure optimum exhaust geometry
without any increase in the bike’s overall length, and
without subjecting the monoshock to thermal stress. The aluminium
swingarm is robust enough to withstand the asymmetric stresses
generated by the lateral positioning of the rear suspension. The
swingarm has been specially developed to satisfy the needs of a
supermotard like the Dorsoduro 750, and combines excellent
torsional rigidity with the elasticity needed for precision under
acceleration and intuitive control under changing conditions.
SUSPENSION: EFFECTIVE ON ALL SURFACES
Optimum suspension setup has always been one of the strong points
of the Aprilia design and testing team. The 43 mm upside down
fork features shell-cast bottom outers with radial calipers
mountings, and offers adjustments for spring preload and rebound
damping. This sophisticated fork offers a superb sliding action
and a wheel travel of 160 mm in line with the latest trends in
supermotard racing. Both yokes are forged, and the top yoke is
also anodised to match the Dorsoduro’s high level of
finish.
The laterally offset monoshock pivots directly on the swingarm in
a cantilever configuration, and is also adjustable in spring
preload and rebound damping. Rear wheel travel is 160 mm, again
in keeping the requirements of a top level supermotard, on which
effective, controlled long stroke suspension is a must.
BRAKES: RACING TECHNOLOGY
The Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 is equipped with the best braking
technology currently available. The front brakes feature 4-piston
radial calipers, state-of-the-art for the motard market. The
lightweight, 320 mm wave discs ensure shorter than ever stopping
distances. The bike’s aggressive stopping power is
emphasised by the mean look of the braking system, in keeping
with the Dorsoduro’s overall styling.
The rear brakes incorporate another wave disc, 240 mm in diameter
this time, plus a single piston caliper. Both the front and rear
brakes are fitted with aeronautical type metal braided brake
lines to eliminate the sponginess associated with conventional
rubber hoses and to deliver maximum braking precision.
COMPONENTS
Supermotards are always no-frills machines, and sometimes quite
spartan. This, however, does not mean having to do without top
quality components and attention to detail. Here too Aprilia
stands apart from the competition by adopting a level of
equipment worthy of a true market leader:
- Matrix instrumentation. The mixed analog/digital instrument
cluster receives data over a CAN line and incorporates a memory
that forms an integral part of the diagnostics system. The
ultra-compact instruments feature a modern design and are
extremely light in weight. All functions can be accessed and
controlled from the handlebars. The LED backlighting is white in
the analog area and red in the digital area, and can be adjusted
to three levels of brightness.
- Dual taper anodised aluminium handlebars exactly like those
fitted to Aprilia’s racing supermotards. This
super-lightweight component is specially designed for optimum
dynamic control.
- Hydraulically operated clutch for a consistently precise
action and exceptional smoothness. The clutch is also
self-adjusting and completely maintenance free.
TECHNICAL SHEET
- Engine: Aprilia V90 four stroke longitudinal 90° V twin.
Liquid cooling. Double overhead camshaft with mixed gear/chain
drive; four valves per cylinder.
- Fuel: Unleaded petrol
- Bore x Stroke: 92 x 56,4 mm
- Total displacement: 749,9 cc
- Compression ratio: 11 : 1
- Maximum power at the crank: 67.3 kW (92 HP) at 8750 rpm.
- Maximum torque at the crank: 8.4 kgm (82 Nm) at 4500 rpm.
- Fuel system: Integrated engine management system. Electronic
fuel injection with ride-by-wire electronic throttle control.
- Ignition: Digital electronic, integrated in the fuel
injection system.
- Starting: Electric
- Exhaust: Two in one system in 100% stainless steel with
three-way catalytic converter and Lambda probe.
- Generator: 450 W at 6000 rpm.
- Lubrification: Wet sump.
- Gear box: Six speed. Transmission ratios: 1st 14/36 (2.57)
2nd 17/32 (1.88) 3rd 20/30 (1.5) 4th 22/28 (1.27) 5th 23/26
(1.13) 6th 24/25 (1.04)
- Clutch: Hydraulically operated multi-plate wet clutch.
- Primary drive: Spur gears. Transmission ratio 38/71 (1.87).
- Final drive: Chain. Transmission ratio 16/46.
- Frame: Modular steel trellis secured to aluminium side plates
by high strength bolts. Detachable rear frame.
- Front suspension: 43 mm upside-down fork. 160 mm wheel
travel.
- Rear suspension: Aluminium alloy swingarm.
- Shock absorbers: Hydraulic shock absorber adjustable in
spring preload and rebound damping. Wheel travel: 160 mm
- Brakes: Front: Double stainless steel floating disc (Ø
320 mm). Four-piston radial calipers. Metal braided brake line.
- Rear: Stainless steel disc (diam. 240 mm) with single piston
caliper. Metal braided brake line.
- Wheels: Aluminium alloy. Front: 3.50 x 17". Rear: 6.00 x
17".
- Tyres: Radial tubeless. Front: 120/70 ZR 17. Rear: 180/55 ZR
17.
- Dimensions: Overall length: 2216 mm Overall width: 905 mm (at
handlebars) Overall height: 1185 mm (at instruments) Seat height:
870 mm Wheelbase: 1505 mm Trail: 108 mm Rake angle: 26°
- Dry weight: 186 kg
- Fuel tank capacity: 12 litres (autonomy > 200 km)
