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Aprilia Test Ride
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I test rode the Caponord:
All I can say is that this is a much better bike than the Buell Uly.
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Who are you, Rush Limbaugh? Esplain how por favor...
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Well, first and foremost: it doesn't shake at idle like it's going to fly
into pieces.
Number 2, the redline is 8500 rpm. It shifts better. It has all the torque
of the Buell.
It is smoother and quieter. It feels lighter. I had low expections of the
Rotax motor, I was proven wrong..
The Brembo brakes did not really impress me, however.
Did I say it shifts better? The transmission is like butter, no clunks.
It's got the torque and the easy rideability of the Buell, but better.
I really liked the Buell, it is a fine motorcycle, the Aprilia is a step
above. Next week I'll try the Ducati, then I'll pass full judgement on the
V twin "trailies".
I guess I should try a Suzuki also.
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If it's about smoothness and power the Duc will win hands down.
90 degree twins are way smoother than the 65 degree Rotax and the 45
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I like the 60 degree Rotax purely because the Britten was 60 degrees.... :)
The new Aprilia Shiver 750 will be running a 90 degree motor.
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Now The Shiver interests me!
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degree HD lumps.
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Think of a way. Less vibey, lower seat height, more power, less of an RPM
restriction, lighter clutch, etc.
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I don't see the RPM as a big restriction. Here in the midwest, the
Buells soundly trounce on the Aprilias in supertwins on a regular basis.
And '08 Buells have a 300 higher rev limit... all the way to a whopping
7200 RPM now :)
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My guess is that all the idling vibration gives a bad first
impression.
A book I recently read "Blink" discusses such unconcious phenomena in
some detail with lots of anecdotes. People relate to that which they
know. When give someone something foreign to them, they will resist
it even if they can't consciously explain why. I rode a ZX-10 for the
umpteenth time today. It gets great press and can be ridden really
hard and really fast without question. When I get on it, it feels all
wrong. Top heavy, too short, no steering leverage, brick seat,
handlebars near my ankles, and 5th gear feels like 3rd gear on a
normal motorcycle. The fact that I don't get on with it doesn't make
it any less of a motorcycle, it's just not one for me.
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Yup, same reason why the air cooled Buells are accused of being 'slow'.
When I have absolutely ZERO trouble keeping up with others in the
twisties on much more "superior" japanese inline 4s.
I just can't see riding a liter class inline 4 on the street every day.
But hey, that's me. I like my lazy air cooled lump. I can even change
the plugs without major surgery :)
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It is smooth, powerful and quiet. My only complaint was the wind buffeting
at 60+ mph. It needs either a taller or shorter wind screen.
The Aprilia is also not as tall as the Uly, it fits me better.
The test ride included heavy suburban traffic and a quick run up Provo
Canyon. Even though the holiday traffic was rather heavy we were able to
get quite spirited on the way down, taking a few curves at 85mph. Wearing
our bright green "Demo Ride" vests, hehe.
Sorry Troy, I didn't ride the Tuono. I did sit on it. The seat is rock
hard and even though the handle bars give the illusion of an upright seating
position in reality it is rather aggressive. The RSV is a full on sport
bike and makes my F4i feel like a standard.
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