Aprilia Dorsoduro Central America w/ hyper comparo

[joeR6]

Just got back from our annual Costa Rica xmas vacation where I spend a good week or so with my wife and her family. In the middle of our trip I get to talking with my brother-in-law, a fellow ducatisti who tells me about his new purchase of a Ducati Streetfighter. I say “cool, I’d love to see your bike.” He replies with “I’ve also got a Aprila Dorsoduro 750 that you can borrow– want to go for a ride in the mountains?” .0025 seconds later “hell yeah! That’d be awesome” Ignoring my wife’s disapproving glare, we proceed to work out the details of our trip.

Next morning I hear the distinct rumbling of an Italian twin pull up outside the in-laws house where I am staying. TIME TO RIDE.

The 2010 Aprila Dorsoduro 750 came equipped with aftermarket handgards, gel seat, and full titanium LV exhaust (which sounds awesome.)

This bike is so similar to the hyper it is scary! Trellis frame, engine exposure, body panels all very hyperish. Granted I ride an 09 hyper 1100 and the 2010 Aprilia is a liquid cooled 750 but the bikes are very alike when it comes to looks. No single sided swingarm though…

After I put on my borrowed helmet, jacket and gloves I’m off on a very nice, new, and expensive (remember this is Costa Rica, where motorcycles and cars cost a good 40%-50% more than what we pay here in the USA) borrowed bike.

Upright riding position is the same as the hyper – although the seat height is a tad taller on the hyper. Aprilia has a small fairing that does a better job of deflecting wind than the hyper. Aprilia also has 3 riding modes (Rain, Touring, Sport) of with I stayed mostly with Touring mode as I found the Sport mode a bit twitchy. I’d say the hyper is somewhere b/w Touring and Sport when comparing throttle response. Gearing on the Aprilia is shorter than the hyper’s very tall gearing.

Quick jaunt on the highway and we arrive to some really nice twisties northwest of San Jose. My job is to follow my bro-in-law on his streetfighter (he had a buddy on a CB1000R follow), have a good time, and DO NOT WREAK THIS BIKE. Again, this is Costa Rica where stop signs, stop lights, and speed limits are all merely suggestive. Not to mention there are no street signs and my cell phone doesn’t work down there so I make it a point so stay close behind the duc – barreling 90mph inches past a line of soot spewing semi-trailers up a narrow mountain road while crossing the double yellow line – pucker factor very high.

Power of the Aprilia has lots of low-end grunt just like the hyper. Where the hyper pulls all the way to redline (quickly I might add) the dorso plateaus a bit once into the upper revs. I had no problem passing cars or following the streetfighter. I can tell the hyper is more powerful but its not that much more powerful.

Aprilia handles very well in all types of conditions. From high speed sweepers to tight hairpins to gridlock traffic. It is very flickable. Again, very alike to the hyper although the hyper feels like it takes less effort to turn-in. We passed through a few small towns dodging cars, trucks, motorcycles, cows, dogs, garbage etc. Costa Ricans give a new meaning to the term lane-splitting: Traffic blocked up ahead? Use the sidewalk.

Countryside of Costa Rica is absolutely gorgeous – sorry I couldn’t get more picks. Lush green valleys and mountains once you get away from the city. Looks like Switzerland in the summer. Sure beats winter in Chicago where I am now. Anyways, halfway through our ride we turn around and head back on some more great twisty roads.

Overall a great riding experience in Costa Rica on the Aprilia. Although I still like the looks of the hyper better I have no complaints whatsoever on this bike. Hopefully next year I’ll be able to ride the streetfighter…

[freezer16801]

I wish my bro-in law had as much to offer. Actually any thing to offer would be a step up. Sounds like a great trip and thanks for the review, I always wondered.

[disgo duc]

great little write-up..sounded like fun!that ape looks bad as hell!...oh yea and the 1200 version is coming out or is already out w/130hp!

[CAlexio]

wonder what the 1200 dorso is like then.

[yabo0569]

Joe,

Give me heads up next time you go to San Jose. I'm in Honduras and I always want an excuse to ride to San Jose. I understand about the lane splitting it is very crazy here too.

[joeR6]

Originally Posted by yabo0569

Joe,

Give me heads up next time you go to San Jose. I'm in Honduras and I always want an excuse to ride to San Jose. I understand about the lane splitting it is very crazy here too.

U got it. Central American lane splitting is a bit chaotic but it keeps the flow of traffic moving. Hyper's stock mirrors would not fair well down there.

Seems that there are just as many cars as motorcycles, even though most motos are 125cc.

[AXE]

Originally Posted by disgo duc

great little write-up..sounded like fun!that ape looks bad as hell!...oh yea and the 1200 version is coming out or is already out w/130hp!

Cycle World says they have a version that is suppose to be 150 hp in the works "for other applications". Whatever the hell that means...........maybe they are gonna race MotoGP with it.
Out!