Etc

etc

DORSODURO!

How to take on Ducati’s Hypermotard? Aprilia rolled out its Dorsoduro (“Hardback”) mega-motard, based on the Shiver platform. Engine is the same dohc, liquid-cooled, 90-degree 750cc V-Twin producing 95 horsepower, mated to the composite steel-trellis/ cast-aluminum frame. A new swingarm is used, and front suspension is a step up, with a long-travel, fully adjustable 43mm Showa fork. Lightweight 17-inch wheels are shod with 120/70 and 180/55 radiais. Joining the Dorsoduro on the Aprilia stand was the radical concept FV2, powered by the yet-to-be released 1200cc, 140-hp version of the new Shiver 90-degree V-Twin. A parallelogram front suspension is used, while the swingarm is carbon-fiber. The engine functions as the main chassis member and is a lot closer to becoming a production item than the bike itself. There was no sign of the 65-degree VFour Superbike engine that was said to be making its debut in Milan.

HYPEREST MOTARD

Ducati hop-up house NCR went crazy on the Hypermotard to come up with the Leggera (“Lightweight”). Biggest upgrade is the titanium frame! Öhlins supplies suspension components and BST the carbon-fiber wheels. Weight is just 345 pounds, so the stock 90-hp DS1100 engine should be plenty. Options exist to drop weight to 301 pounds and power up to 132 ponies (bring money). Price in Europe will start at about $46,000.

ROUNDUP

MV POWERS UP

Continuing its logical model evolution, MV Agusta released the F4 R312 RR (above), a hotted-up version of R312, named after its claimed top speed in kilometers per hour. The RR gets a 3mm overbore to bump displacement to 1078cc, reworked cylinder heads and 10mm-longer intakes to boost power to a claimed 190 hp. New Monobloc Brembo brake calipers, a slipper clutch and recalibrated suspension are also fitted.

In the naked line, the Brutale

910 is replaced by the 978.

Claimed output is now 141 hp.

Of course, why not just drop in the 1078 motor? MV did so with the Brutale 1078 RR, which tuned for this model produces 154 hp. Last but not least (and not for the U.S. ket) was a Cagiva sportbike with “Mito SP525” graphics (above). But this was not the hoped-for 525cc four-stroke-Single-powered sportbike. Instead, this “525” is actually a 15-hp, Euro 3-compliant two-stroke 125cc Single. Cagiva did sell Husky to BMW, so maybe the whole four-stroke inventory is gone.