Aprilia Dorsoduro 900
Aprilia Dorsoduro is the fun bike par excellence. Born out of an ingenious intuition by Aprilia, it was built with the sole objective of providing the most possible road riding fun, drawing from the best characteristics of sport bikes and the best characteristics of supermotards. The result is a bike with advanced technical solutions, agile and with performance at the top of its category. A truly special bike, achieved not only thanks to Aprilia’s skills in packaging particularly efficient chassis architectures combined with high performance powerplants, but also thanks to collaboration with the Aprilia Racing Department, capable of earning a total of 54 world titles in the most difficult and selective competitions where they have participated, 7 of which in the world Supermoto championship.
Dorsoduro 900 is born out of Aprilia’s solid tradition in this motorcycle segment and it is a true thrill generator. The exclusivity is also due to its original and innovative technical choices, like the mixed steel trellis/aluminium plates frame with excellent handling and tight cornering characteristics. The 90° V-twin engine puts a smile on the rider’s face every time the throttle is twisted, thanks to the new characteristics of maximum torque and power that amplify its personality. The fine electronic management that includes, besides the Ride-by-wire multimap accelerator, traction control and ABS, complete the technical equipment on the Dorsoduro 900.
The design: the balancing point between form and function
The Aprilia Dorsoduro 900 project places riding fun at the centre of its focus: for this reason, the superstructures are reduced to the minimum indispensable, as anything that is not essential for performance and maximum riding pleasure has been foregone. The technical elements, on the other hand, play a fundamental role, becoming a fundamental part of the design. It is not just the hand guards on the handlebar and the number plate on the front that highlight the close bond with the racing world. The shape of the centre area, the one that most involves the rider during sporty riding, also highlight the design created to achieve optimized and compact dimensions that allow the rider to find the right feeling straight away. Aprilia engineers achieved this result by designing a long and flat saddle, clearly derived from the sports world, capable of ensuring the most effective riding position at all times and allowing plenty of room for longitudinal movement. The tail is one of the most representative aesthetic aspects of the Dorsoduro: sleek and slender, it also houses the double exhaust, a solution that allows for excellent proportional symmetry and weight distribution.
Better performance from the revamped V-twin engine
Starting from the 750 cc 90° V-twin engine base, well-known and popular because of its character and reliability, Aprilia developed a new 900 cc unit with the goal of obtaining more torque and response at low and medium rpms for a thrilling riding experience. The Aprilia V-twin was therefore revisited in numerous details to achieve this purpose. The new engine capacity was obtained by increasing the stroke from 56.4 mm to 67.4 mm and leaving the bore unchanged (92 mm). By so doing, maximum power now peaks at 95.2 HP at 8,750 rpm, but more important is the maximum torque value that goes from 8.4 kgm (82 Nm) at 4,500 rpm on the 750 cc V-twin to 9.17 kgm (90 Nm) at 6,500 rpm on the new 900 cc V-twin, a value that is truly at the top of its category. It should be noted that, despite the fact that maximum torque peak for the new 900 cc V-twin is reached a higher rpms, the torque curve is actually flatter and always higher than the 750 cc predecessor. This change allowed the acceleration response to be increased, all to the advantage of a fun ride, without limiting in any way whatsoever the proverbial reliability of the powerplant, that in any case, now benefits from a new internal lubrication circuit capable of limiting power loss due to churning and lubrication consumption. The exhaust system, fitted with a double oxygen sensor, contributes to bringing the engine to within the limits established by the Euro 4 pollution standard. Aprilia Dorsoduro 900 is also available in a limited-power 35 kW version, ideal for newly licensed riders.
New electronic management
Chassis architecture: better handling and control
All Aprilia bikes have always been considered a point of reference for their excellent chassis architecture. The Dorsoduro 900 chassis provides high characteristics of efficiency, balance, a tight ride and precision even in extreme track riding, but at the same time it is easy and intuitive for daily use. These qualities are the merit of the particular layout of its various elements.
The frame takes advantage of the know-how Aprilia has developed in racing competitions, drawing deeply from the experience gained on the mixed structures used in the Supermoto world championship. The trellis upper part in steel tubing (now painted red, like the saddle support frame) is combined with wide spread aluminium lateral plates using special, high-resistance bolts. The result is an extremely rigid and lightweight structure, the best solution for taking full advantage of the revamped capacity of the 900 cc V-twin, with an aesthetic impact that communicates light weight, extremely high technical content and Italian style. Another strongly distinctive technical feature is the lateral and inclined positioning of the shock absorber, a unit that is adjustable in spring preload and hydraulic rebound. This solution has created precious space for an optimum exhaust manifold layout, without having an impact on the length of the bike and without stressing the shock absorber thermally. The aluminium swingarm is sized to withstand the asymmetrical stress due to the lateral positioning of the shock absorber and it boasts the torsional stiffness and elasticity characteristics indispensable for precision at rest and the ride feeling in transitory stages.
On the Dorsoduro 900 a new Kayaba fork makes its début (combined with forged aluminium steering yoke plates), 450 grams lighter, adjustable in hydraulic rebound damping and spring preload and better capable of withstanding the stress of sport riding and absorbing bumps on the road surface, providing control in aggressive riding and greater comfort for those more relaxed rides. The overall improved performance of both the Dorsoduro 900 suspension systems is also due to the new pair of three-split-spoke wheels, more than 2 kg lighter than those that equipped the Dorsoduro 750. Reducing the gyroscopic effect increases handling and acceleration, as well as providing benefits for suspension performance because of the reduction of unsprung masses.
The Dorsoduro 900’s top shelf chassis structure is completed by a sport-derived braking system. The front end relies on radial 4-piston callipers and a pair of 320 mm steel floating discs, lightweight and capable of guaranteeing reduced braking distances and excellent modulability. The 240 mm rear disc is gripped by a single-piston calliper. Both the front and rear systems have metal braided brake lines derived from the aeronautic sector, which eliminate the annoying buffering effect of conventional lines and guarantee precision and resistance to force.
Original Aprilia accessories range: for sport and touring
A wide range of accessories dedicated to sport and touring is available for the Dorsoduro 900 as well. The former highlight the sport soul and the unmistakable Aprilia racing character: parts in precious carbon, billet aluminium components, such as brake and clutch fluid reservoir covers, brake and clutch levers and mirrors, as well as the must-have frame guard and fork bumpers. The accessories dedicated to touring increase the comfort of the Dorsoduro 900, such as the comfort saddle, side panniers and the seat bag. As with the other Aprilia motorcycles, the Aprilia Multimedia Platform is available which, thanks to Bluetooth connectivity and the interface with handlebar controls and the new TFT display, allow the rider to manage and share all the trip information, from data on more sporty riding to touring-related information, with indications on consumption, routes and trip speeds, grip conditions and Aprilia service centre locations.
APRILIA DORSODURO 900 – TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS |
Engine type | Aprilia V90 Longitudinal 90° V-twin engine, 4-stroke, liquid cooled, double overhead camshaft with mixed gear/chain timing system, four valves per cylinder, Ride-by-wire system |
Fuel | Unleaded petrol |
Bore and stroke | 92 x 67.4 mm |
Total engine capacity | 896.1 cc |
Compression ratio | 11 : 1 |
Maximum power at crankshaft | 70.0 kW (95.2 HP) at 8,750 rpm |
Maximum torque at crankshaft | 90.0 Nm (9.17 kgm) at 6,500 rpm |
Fuel system | Integrated engine management system. Injection with 3-map Ride-by-wire throttle valve opening management (Sport, Touring, Rain) |
Ignition | Digital electronic, integrated with the injection |
Starter | Electric |
Exhaust | 100% stainless steel 2-in-1 exhaust system with three-way catalytic converter and oxygen sensor |
Alternator | 450 W at 6,000 rpm |
Lubrication | Wet sump |
Gearbox | 6 speeds, drive ratio: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 | Multiplate wet clutch, hydraulically operated |
Primary drive | Straight cut gears, drive ratio: 38/71 (1.87) |
Secondary drive | Chain-driven |
Frame | Modular tubular steel frame fastened to aluminium side plates by high strength bolts. Dismountable rear frame |
Front suspension | Upside-down fork, stanchions Æ 41 mm. Adjustable hydraulic rebound damping and spring preload. Wheel travel 160 mm. |
Rear suspension | Aluminium alloy swingarmHydraulic shock absorber with adjustable extension and spring preload
Wheel travel 160 mm. |
Brakes | Front: Dual Æ 320 mm stainless steel floating discs. Radial, four-piston callipers.Metal braided brake hose |
Rear: Æ 240 mm stainless steel disc. Single piston calliper. Metal braided brake hose.Continental two-channel ABS system | |
Wheel rims | Aluminium alloyFront: 3.50 X 17″ Rear: 6.00 x 17″ |
Tyres | Radial tubeless tyres;front: 120/70 ZR 17
rear: 180/55 ZR 17 |
Dimensions | Max length 2210 mmMax width 905 mm (at the handlebar)
Max height 1100 mm (at the instrument cluster) Saddle height 870 mm Wheelbase 1500 mm Trail 108 mm Steering angle 26° |
Tank | 12 l (range > 200 km) |