Aprilia Caponord?

[Ulsterkiwi]

I'm on my third Aprilia for a total of about 140,000km. None of them went "wrong" (other than an oil leak on my current bike - leaking blanking plug fixed under warranty).
I'll ask a friend in the UK about his experience with his Caponord.
Or you could look in here: http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/f...-Caponord-1200

QED 10 chars

[Ulsterkiwi]

Depends on the rider really - half the magazine test riders look like fat buggers to me so their idea of soft may be perfect. Point in case a couple magazines have issued their recommended suspension settings for bikes - i'm a relative light weight and their recommendations for my ride are way too firm for me.

much sense do you make, lead me to the dark side you do.

[Ulsterkiwi]

so in the musings I am at the following list, its not an apples with apples, I grant you. The main things which link are: at least 90HP, hopefully torque for a fair bit and an upright ride with some legroom for my 1.94m frame.

New Aprillia Caponord with travel pack
New MT-09 Tracer (guy at the dealership says it needs resprung in the back.....from new......)
One or two year old DL1000 with some bells and whistles
2008 R1200GSA farkled to buggery, very low kms

Methinks I know what the Gremlin will suggest.

[Gremlin]

New Aprillia Caponord with travel pack
New MT-09 Tracer (guy at the dealership says it needs resprung in the back.....from new......)
One or two year old DL1000 with some bells and whistles
2008 R1200GSA farkled to buggery, very low kms

Methinks I know what the Gremlin will suggest.

Well, I'm slightly biased, but the 2010+ GSA did get more power, better performance, and I actually saw a few 2012/2013 GSA a few weeks ago on TM for $22-23k. Depends on your budget but that would probably be my pick. 2013 was the wethead GS, 2014 the wethead GSA, so anything just prior is the hexhead.

Otherwise, you're comparing new bikes to 2nd hand ones. Little unfair. Also, on Caponord you're getting active suspension, the others you aren't.

Bearing in mind the new DL1000 was about the same as a Caponord (or one slightly used), I'd pick the Caponord out of those two. I think nadroj in New Plymouth has an MT09, or MT07, and seemed to like it a lot. I'm annoyed that almost every new bike has had the accountant slice the suspension budget...

[nzspokes]

De-cork the FA, 130hp not hard to get. Few more $$ and get in the 140 to 150 range.

[nzspokes]

thats what concerned me

the travel pack version is being offered at $23k, $10k less than a base GS with nada accessoryizmos. Soft suspension I know all about, I had the stock setup on the FA after all. Mr Taylor sorted it but he took some $$$. The Aprillia is fitted with Sachs as OE. It concerns me that OE equipment like that is still considered to be soft. Its a touring bike not an off roader, why would it need soft suspension?
A test ride will harm nooone but I do wonder.....

I would buy the Prilla without question If I could be assured of warranty and parts backup. A Tuono Factory is the bike I lust for. This is why I will probably end up with a BMW.

[Ocean1]

I would buy the Prilla without question If I could be assured of warranty and parts backup. A Tuono Factory is the bike I lust for. This is why I will probably end up with a BMW.

Question. Who is the importer / distributor for Aprilia? BMW?

[nzspokes]

Question. Who is the importer / distributor for Aprilia? BMW?

Fecked if I know.

[DMNTD:Me]

Question. Who is the importer / distributor for Aprilia? BMW?

The very same person for the past 3 years

[Ocean1]

The very same person for the past 3 years

Aye, wasn't sure if it'd changed recently.

What other marques are in that family?

[James Deuce]

Fecked if I know.

They look after their main customer base very well.

[DMNTD:Me]

Aye, wasn't sure if it'd changed recently.

What other marques are in that family?

From memory: MV Agusta, Aprilia, Triumph, Moto Guzzi, Gas Gas, BMW...there are a few more I think but I've been out of the game for a bit now

[Ocean1]

From memory: MV Agusta, Aprilia, Triumph, Moto Guzzi, Gas Gas, BMW...there are a few more I think but I've been out of the game for a bit now

Aye, Husqvarna too I think. For what it's worth.

And yes Jim, they're not bad on the triumph stuff.

[DMNTD:Me]

Aye, Husqvarna too I think. For what it's worth.

And yes Jim, they're not bad on the triumph stuff.

+ Husky too

[Gremlin]

+ Husky too

Add Piaggio last time I checked?

Ocean, BMW wasn't a while back, then changed to them.