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2011 Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200
2011 Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200
A few weeks ago, some eager beaver at Aprilia posted the owner’s manual for the new Dorsoduro 1200 on Aprilia’s web site, which I reported here. That was odd, because the existence of the bike hadn’t actually been announced by Aprilia. That’s all changed now, as Aprilia has announced the bike, and given us the first official picture.
The Dorsoduro is sort of the Aprilia version of the Multistrada, that is to say, kind of a dual sport/megamoto kind of bike that’s considerably more comfortable on road than off. Think streetfighter built along supermotard lines.
The specs from Aprilia say the 1196.63 cc L-Twin spits out 134.5HP at 9,oo0RPM, and 76 ft-lbs of torque at 4,000RPM. Dry weight is 467 pounds, however, so that comes out to something around 520 pounds ready to ride. So, it’ll be quick, but not quite a bike that will leave you slack-jawed with stupefaction is twist the throttle a bit too much. Compression ratio is also 12:1, so get ready to shell out for premium fuel.
The seat height is decently low, though, at 29.5 inches, which means that, unlike some of the taller offerings out there, the average person doesn’t have to worry about tippy-toeing it at a stop sign.
Full tech data follows below, all presented, sadly, in the metric measurements so favored by heathen foreigners.
TECHNICAL DATA
Engine Type 90 ° V-Twin DOHC 8V LC
Bore x stroke 106 x 67.8 mm
Displacement 1196.63 cc
Maximum power 134.5 bhp at 9500 rpm
Maximum torque 10.5 kgm at 4,000 rpm
Compression ratio 12,0:1
Electronic Fuel Injection (Multi)
Electric Start
Digital Electronic Ignition CDI
6-Speed
Multi-plate clutch in oil bath and hydraulic
Chain final drive
Steel and aluminum chassis with high strength bolts and aluminum side plates
Swingarm in cast aluminum
Front suspension fork 43 mm inverted telehydraulic, three-way adjustable
Rear suspension Hydraulic shock absorber adjustable rate. Wheel travel 150 mm.
Front brake Dual discs 320 mm, 4 piston radial calipers
Rear brake 240 mm disc, single piston caliper
Tyres 120/70 x 17 “and 180/55 x 17″
Total length 2248 mm
Maximum height 1205 mm
Maximum width 925 mm
Wheelbase 1528 mm
Seat height 750 mm
Empty weight 212 kg
Fuel tank 15 liters
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Luckiest. Pope. Ever.
It was a big day for His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, as Ducati Holdings CEO Gabriele Del Torchio popped by the Pope’s residence at Castel Gandolfo to drop off two brand new Multistrada 1200s. Both bikes are nicely custom painted with the gold and white papal color scheme.
Pope Benedict XVI and his new Ducati Multistradas
Il Papa himself won’t be riding the bikes, however, as they are slated for use by the Papal Gendarmerie. I just hope that they can manage to keep their speed down low enough not to leave the papal motorcade shrinking on the horizon behind them.