Aprilia Dorsoduro 750, 2011
Features
The unique characteristics of the Aprilia 750 Dorsoduro in detail:
" 90° V2 engine, four valves, double overhead camshaft, liquid cooling;
" second generation "Tri-Map" Ride by Wire technology;
" electronic fuel injection with state of the art injectors;
" Mixed gear/chain timing system;
" ultralight modular trellis/aluminium frame with superlative torsional stiffness;
" aluminium swingarm with lateral shock absorber;
" fully adjustable 43mm upside down fork;
" radial front brake callipers working in conjunction with 320 mm Wave discs;
" 25 kW version for newly qualified riders;
" latest generation 2-channel Continental ABS;
DESIGN: STYLE AT THE SERVICE OF FUN
On the Aprilia Dorsoduro 750, the minimal and aggressively styled top structure frames the visually spectacular mechanicals, which become an integral part of the design. The Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 has been designed around the rider to create a radical, outrageously agile and sporty bike, in which every individual element is geared precisely for maximum riding pleasure. All outer bodywork has been pared down to the absolute bare minimum; just like on a racing bike, anything that is not essential for performance has been stripped away, while the front race number panel has been retained to emphasise the bike's close ties with the racing world.
The narrow mid section of the bike - the area that interacts most with the movements of the rider's body when riding hard - emphasises the extreme compactness of the bike. Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 is incredibly slender and agile, allowing the rider to feel immediately at one with the machine. After a few short metres, you already feel as if the bike is an extension of your body. This result has been achieved by Aprilia's engineers by designing a long, flat saddle - a configuration borrowed straight from racing - that allows the rider to assume the most effective riding position at all times and allows ample freedom of movement for tackling tight turns.
The compact, curvy tail fairing also envelops the dual exhaust: a solution that not only creates a really aggressive design feel, but also excellent symmetry in the proportions and weight distribution. The hand guards, derived from the Supermoto SXV, display a sleek style and effectively protect the levers against any accidental contact.
ENGINE: A STATE OF THE ART TWIN
Aprilia's 750 cc 90° V-twin has been extensively revised and now features new maps developed specifically to emphasise the fiery temperament of the Dorsoduro. This optimisation exercise has touched upon numerous aspects of the 749.9 cc engine (with bore and stroke of 92 and 56.4 mm respectively), and the resulting mechanical and electronic improvements make this twin cylinder engine a benchmark not only for its capacity class, but also for its larger engined rivals.
The advanced electronic engine management system establishes the Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 as the new benchmark in terms of both technology and performance. Dorsoduro features second generation electronic throttle control, with "Tri-Map" management.
Selectable directly by the rider from a handlebar mounted control, even with the bike in motion (but with a closed throttle - for greater safety), the three options - Sport, Touring and Rain - radically alter the character of the Dorsoduro, with aggressive, immediate response in Sport mode, gentler power delivery in Touring mode, which is ideal for everyday use, and extremely safe power delivery, tailored for poor grip conditions, in Rain mode.
The "Tri-Map" Ride by Wire electronic throttle also ensures more fluid, more uniform power delivery as throttle valve aperture is controlled with more precision. Throttle valve aperture is determined on the basis of a number of parameters, including engine speed, gear selected, air flow, throttle grip aperture angle and aperture rate, and temperature.
Whatever the map selected, engine torque delivery is optimised for the best possible performance during acceleration and pickup, resulting in an extraordinarily rewarding and fun riding experience.
The exhaust is made entirely from stainless steel, with manifolds converging into a single undersaddle silencer with twin tailpipes. The generous volume of the silencer lets the engine breathe freely for optimum performance.
The advanced electronic and engineering technology used allow Aprilia's twin cylinder engine to pump out 92 hp at 8750 rpm, and a maximum torque of 82 Nm at 4500 rpm: values that put the Dorsoduro in direct competition with bikes of a much higher engine capacity.
As soon as it hits the showrooms, the Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 is also available as a detuned version for newly qualified riders, with power limited to 25 kW (or 35 kW in Spain). Ride By Wire throttle management means that power does not have to be cut over the entire rev range, as occurs with less advanced bikes, so the power delivery is exactly the same as it is on the full-power version, up until the maximum power limit is reached. As a result, the Dorsoduro 750 offers better acceleration than the equivalent 25 kW versions of its rivals, for a much more rewarding riding experience.
CHASSIS: TOTAL BALANCE
Aprilia bikes have always been considered as the benchmark for chassis excellence. And true to tradition, Dorsoduro 750 is one of the most effective, best balanced bikes in its class. The new Dorsoduro is easy and intuitive to ride, yet still delivers mind-bending performance. This machine is designed to be ridden at the limit in any conditions, allowing the rider to turn on a dime and blast out of bends with the throttle wide open. This is made possible by the incredibly responsive chassis architecture, which has been designed with particular focus on ergonomics, allowing the Dorsoduro 750 to adapt perfectly to any rider and letting all users access the extreme potential of this pure fun machine in any situation.
The chassis exploits the most of the notable expertise acquired by Aprilia during competitions, fully drawing on the experience gained on the mixed structures used in the Supermoto world championship. The upper narrow tubular steel trellis section is connected to the generously sized lateral aluminium plates by special high strength bolts. The result is an extremely stiff, light structure and the best solution possible for reigning in the exuberant power of the Aprilia V90, with looks that conveys lightness, ultra-advanced technology and Italian style.
Ongoing collaboration between the powertrain engineers and the chassis engineers has produced optimised solutions in terms of technical content and performance, and resulted in mechanicals that are integrated perfectly into the frame. The architecture chosen for the Aprilia twin, which is optimised for longitudinal compactness, made it possible to create a rational, effective frame and, as a result, a bike that is incredibly agile and reactive.
The lateral and substantially raked position of the shock absorber freed up lots of precious space for an optimised exhaust manifold geometry without influencing the length of the bike or exposing the shock absorber itself to thermal stress. The aluminium swingarm is sized to support the asymmetric stress caused by the lateral positioning of the shock absorber. This component has been specifically conceived for the needs of a super-motard like the Dorsoduro 750 and responds ideally to requisites for torsional stiffness and elasticity, which are indispensable for precise wheel placement and to ensure communicative feedback in transitory conditions.
