Aprilia is going after Ducati‘s Multistrada big time with the new Caponord 1200. It’s taken the V-Twin from its Dorsoduro 1200 model and tuned it for touring perfection with torque in all the right places. The Caponord 1200 is comfortable with a not too high seat and very good ergonomics. I tested the Travel Pack version which features hard luggage, a centerstand, ADD (Aprilia Dynamic Damping), traction control and ABS brakes.

The most impressive thing with the new Caponord is its handling abilities and how it all comes together with the extensive use of electronics. The Caponord 1200 makes any rider pretty fast from the word go. Solid is my impression of the super-stable chassis which stays calm in any situation, helped in a very large part by the ADD system. Continue Reading »

Our Euro correspondent Tor Sagen is one of the first in the world to ride MV Agusta’s brand-new F4 and F4 RR, both equipped with lean-angle sensors, electronically assisted shifting and more. The up-spec RR flagship features an electronic Ohlins suspension and steering damper controlled by a dedicated Ohlins ECU unit, enabling full suspension adjustment (excluding preload) via the press of a button.

Also new is the F4’s engine, with the RR claiming 201 crankshaft horsepower at 13,600 rpm, just shy of its new 14K redline. The standard model has to settle for “only” 195 horsepower made at 13,400 rpm. Sagen sends us his early impressions after ripping around the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia, Spain. –Ed.

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Both F4s are ferocious above 9000 rpm, but the F4 RR is in a different league all together. Whilst there’s plenty of electronic brain within the fairings, it takes its toll from the rider to keep up with the sheer speed. Things happen so quickly above 10K rpm and acceleration is immense!

The F4s are not the most comfortable motorcycles in the world, and it’s a real struggle to escape the wind as I can’t push myself far enough backwards to get any protection from the windscreen. On the Valencia circuit, this didn’t really matter as the 201 ponies pushed big holes in the air like a hot knife through butter. Continue Reading »

Our Euro correspondent got an early ride on MV’s latest creation, the 800cc Brutale powered by a larger version of the Triple from the F3 675 and Brutale 675. We’ll have his full review published soon, but below you’ll find his brief impressions of this sexy and thrilling new Italian roadster.

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The new MV Agusta Brutale 800 differs from its 675 little brother in one obvious way: ferocity! It’s simply a more brutal motorcycle living up to its name. Boosted by 125cc, the Brutale 800 pulls a lot stronger and is more exciting.

The new Triple explodes into its power band around 5000 rpm and the rush is very addictive. Its 125 horsepower (rated at the crankshaft) is more than a match for the lightweight machine that’s purported to weight just 417 pounds with its fuel tank full. Continue Reading »

Our European correspondent Tor Sagen was invited to test the 2012 offerings from Italy-based Headbanger Motorcycles. Headbanger offers six different models, some of which available in a couple of variants. Tor shared with us some of his first impressions of Headbanger’s 2012 range. Continue Reading »

Back in 1993 Piaggio had developed the Hexagon, which became the world’s first so called GT scooter. Through the X7 to the all new X10, Piaggio has developed its new flagship scooter, and in Paris I got to sample the 350cc version of the X10.

Piaggio will offer the X10 as a 125, 350 and 500cc version. When I arrived in Paris I was told that the 500cc version wouldn’t hit production until in May 2012, so I had to make do with the 350cc version which proved to be a nippy tool around Paris’s busy streets. Continue Reading »

The new Aprilia SRV850 V-Twin maxi-scooter is coming to North America, likely slated to arrive later this year as a 2013 model. The Piaggio Group presented the SRV850 alongside the Vespa 946, Aprila Caponord 1200 and Moto Guzzi California 1400 at its North American dealer meeting in Miami, Fla.

Piaggio announced it will bring all four of those models to North America, though as yet only the California has a launch date, set for fall 2012. The SRV850 will likely arrive at the same time, if not earlier, as the scooter has already been launched in Europe. Continue Reading »

Our European Correspondent Tor Sagen is in Sicily, Italy, this week testing the Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200. We’ll have a full review coming up but first here are Tor’s first impressions.

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I’ve just finished testing the updated version of Aprilia‘s Dorsoduro 1200. On paper Aprilia has merely upgraded a few things and, as such, it isn’t the most interesting new motorcycle of 2012.

The upgrades include new Aprilia wheels that are said to be nearly 6 pounds lighter than previous models. This reduces unsprung weight, and I felt their effect during my test – the “new” Dorsoduro is more responsive than ever. A new front mudguard, a less-bulky exhaust heat shield and a new license-plate holder shaves an additional 300 grams.
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Despite the Diavel Carbon weighing in at 207 kg (456 pounds) dry and featuring bulkier dimensions than any other Ducati it still handles very well. This is down to true Ducati know-how where the 162hp 1200cc L-twin and trellis frame are based on the 1198 superbike developments. The engine is in fact the same Testastretta II found on the Multistrada but with a massive exhaust system that boost power over the Strada by 12 horsepower. The midrange of the Diavel engine is very impressive.

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Diavel power cruiser. Below are his impressions from the event.

Carcano Theatre, Milan, November 1.

Fransesco Rapisarda, Gabriele del Torchio and Diego Sgerbati introduced us into Ducati’s financial and marketing status before Claudio Domenicali entered the stage and introduced all the news starting with the Superbike family we already know from Intermot that I have already tested at Imola. Then Domenicali continued with the EICMA news starting of with the Monster family where the Monster 1100 EVO is new. The 1100 EVO gets the Hypermotard 100hp engine, new exhaust with new tubing at the front similar to what’s on the Diavel. It also gets traction control.

Then it was time for the big one everybody had been waiting for – the Diavel. After showing several new videos showing the Diavel in action the stage exploded in light and smoke as a female rider rode the Diavel on to the stage. After some banter about the rider having to move off the bike so that we could appreciate the Diavel without any eye candy two more Diavels entered the stage. One white/aluminum colored and one in all black. The Red/black version is called Diavel Carbon and as the name implies it gets lots of carbon fiber bits.

Ducati revealed that the 1200cc engine is a devil indeed with figures claiming 162hp @ and 128Nm @ 8,000rpm. The Diavel gets DTC and ABS slightly modified from the items on the Multistrada 1200. New is also an extra display on the fuel tank dealing with the rider aids. The LCD panel is made from pretty much the same goodies as modern smart phones.

Interestingly Ducati has developed the bike to feature an all new rear tire size with Pirelli. The new Pirelli Diablo Rosso II in 240/45-ZR17 has an extremely low profile that makes the bike look menacing from the back coupled with an equally wide tail section. The front end is dominated by a huge round headlight flanked by what look like air intakes. The seat height is very low at 30.3 in. and the seat is well padded and looks comfy. ABS on Brembo monoblock brakes will be interesting to test. The bike is very long and it looks like the front would be pushed a bit with those powerful brakes and long wheelbase. The fuel tank carries 4.5 gal. of fuel.

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Take one Ducati Desmosedici 200+hp engine and put it into a super lightweight NCR chassis and you’ll quite possibly have the world’s fastest and most powerful motorcycle. At 145kg dry weight it’s lighter (even) than a MotoGP bike… The 989cc V4 produces a staggering 200hp @13.800rpm and 116Nm @10.500rpm. We’re going to have a chat with Michele Poggipolini of NCR about this bike, but we strongly suspect it’s a one off special.

Read what NCR say themselves after the jump.

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