Bike India

Best Bikes in India | No.1 Two Wheeler Magazine

  • Home
  • News
    • Upcoming Launches
    • Latest News
    • New Bike Launches
  • Reviews
    • First Ride
    • Road Test
    • Comparison
  • Features
  • Our Bikes
  • Videos
  • Subscribe
  • NG Auto
    • AUTO COMPONENTS INDIA
    • CAR INDIA
    • COMMERCIAL VEHICLE
  • Brands

Hoot Motard: Aprilia Dorsoduro First Ride Review

April 9, 2015 by Aninda Sardar Leave a Comment

Aprilia Dorsoduro (3) (555x370)

The Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 ABS is a veritable grin factory on two wheels as we found out on the windy roads up to Nandi Hills in Bengaluru

Story: Aninda Sardar
Photography: Sanjay Raikar

Corner. Sighted. Bike. Tipped in. Throttle. Open. And she shoots out of the bend like a slingshot. You are suddenly aware that your helmet feels tighter. The reason? The wide grin pasted on your face like a joker’s mask has stretched the cheek muscles to their max. Think I’m off my rocker? Trust me, the Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 ABS is such a hoot to ride that it excites you to a point where even speaking becomes staccato bursts of chatter like the bike’s exhaust note. By the time I finish the ride and head back to base at the Golfshire golf resort, I am nearly convinced that the grin is there to stay for quite a bit longer than the time it takes for me to get off the bike and remove my helmet.

Riding an Italian motorcycle, especially a 1.2-litre Supermotard, doesn’t happen daily. Not even in my profession. Naturally, when the opportunity did come up, I for one clung to it for dear life. Now, I had never ridden this format of motorcycles before. I have ridden sports bikes, sports tourers, nakeds and cruisers in the past and my leanings are definitely towards the former two rather than the latter two. As a result, I had absolutely no idea what to expect when I approached this somewhat outlandish looking motorcycle with its beaky carbon finish nose and third eye like single pilot lamp. Although it doesn’t really look it from a distance, the Dorsoduro is a tall bike. Tall enough for a six-foot tall rider like me to have to stretch his legs a bit to have both feet on the ground. The upside of this is extra ground clearance, which is always a boon on Indian roads, and a commanding view of the road ahead, which is another boon on our hazard-prone highways.

The other thing that is immediately apparent is how well-put-together the machine feels and the amount of attention that the bike’s Italian makers have lavished on details. Even the 1.2 sticker on the shroud flanking the fuel-tank announcing the bike’s engine capacity is embossed and feels nice. Nice enough for you to want to run your fingers over it at least once. If you’re used to Japanese machines, then it is advisable to take a couple of minutes to orientate yourself with the bike’s controls. Ergonomics are top-notch and every switch on either side of the flatish handlebars fall to the fingers quite instinctively and you don’t really need to search for them.

Aprilia Dorsoduro (8) (555x370)

 

More on page 2 >

Aninda Sardar – who has written 312 posts on Bike India.


Email • Twitter

Related posts:

Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 and NS 200 Update Review — Enhanced Agility
2023 Triumph Street Triple 765 R and RS First Ride Review
Reise Moto TrailR Tyre Test
Pages: 1 2 3

Filed Under: First Ride, Review Tagged With: 1200cc, Aprilia, bike, dorsoduro, First, India, latest, launched, review, Ride, Supermotard, V-Twin

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

AlphaOmega Captcha Classica  –  Enter Security Code
 ⟲    ➴
 


MARCH 2023

Bike India - India's no. 1 two-wheeler magazine

17TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL

Bike India - India's no. 1 two-wheeler magazine

Anniversary Ride to the Isle of Man with Freddie Spencer and Sid Lal

TVS Ntorq Ncounters I – Navigating the Night

BMW G 310 GS Explores Nagaland

SPECIAL Featured Story

Yamaha MT-10 SP – Ready for Road, Track, and Touring

Yamaha MT-10 SP – Ready for Road, Track, and Touring

In recent years, however, the MT-10 has begun to show its age, especially in terms of technology and rider aids. It was always on the thirsty side, too, and, by modern standards, the brakes were lacking. It was time for an update, which is why for 2022 Yamaha introduced a new MT-10 earlier this year.

More about this.

Car India and Bike India Awards 2019

Recent Posts

  • Bajaj Pulsar NS 160 and NS 200 Update Review — Enhanced Agility
  • California Superbike School – Taming the Track
  • Royal Enfield 650 Twins Get Cast Alloy Wheels and Other Updates
  • Bajaj Pulsar NS200 And NS160 Gets USD Forks

Car India

Car India Magazine - Get your Digital Subscription

Latest News

Royal Enfield 650 Twins Get Cast Alloy Wheels and Other Updates

Bajaj Pulsar NS200 And NS160 Gets USD Forks

Hero MotoCorp And Zero Motorcycles Collaborate For Premium Electric Motorcycles

Massive New Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle 135 Crate Engines

Subscribe to Car India

Subscribe to our Car India Magazine

Bike India: India’s no. 1 two-wheeler magazine

BIKE India covers the two-wheeler industry in its entirety, both from the local and the international perspective. Also delivers the most definitive verdict on machinery and performance by explaining the hows, whys, and whats on every new bike in a lucid and user-friendly manner. BIKE India is the India’s most authoritative two-wheeler publication, a magazine for people with a passion for bikes and everything to do with their history and heritage.
SiteMap

Copyright © 2023 · BIKE INDIA INDIA’S NO. 1 TWO WHEELER MAGAZINE, BY FAR! ·