Earlier this year, I visited our local Aprilia showroom, after a 16 year absence from biking. Sat there was the new Caponord model. After sitting on it, I surprised myself as to how at home I felt on it. As a youngster I had a race rep and a trail bike for messing about on. I’ve always liked the adventure bike genre and so started looking at the earlier Caponord ETV. In all truth, I prefer the bulkier Paris Dakar styled look of it to the newer slender model.
After lots of research I ended up going for this one owner gem, complete with full supplying main dealer history and a few extras.
On the day of collection the weather couldn’t have been any worse. Howling winds, driving rain and flooded muddy roads. It was a baptism of fire for me having not ridden in these conditions since the age of 16. The Capo handled it perfectly, inspiring confidence from the outset with its stable and perfectly balanced chassis and smooth engine delivery, attributes which I have grown to appreciate all the more during my ownership.
This is the bike that seemingly does it all, long distance touring, country lane hacking, it’s sporty chassis and thumping low down torque combined with long travel suspension and smooth power delivery bestows it with a surprising turn of pace and agility, which in the real world makes for a highly competent and versatile steed, without much in the way of compromise.
Among the list of components for this special are handmade Kevlar and all Carbon bodywork components, Ergal aluminium, lightweight OZ wheels, Ohlins front forks, rear damper and steering damper, the full power 130bhp Mille engine with Aprilia Racing Titanium silencer and ECU Racing chip, aluminium hand made oil tank, kevlar material seats and the Diablo matt black overpaint on the carbon bodywork, limited edition engraved top yoke as well as other goodies.
