Aprilia Caponord 1200 leaks

THIS is Aprilia’s 1200cc dual-sport bike which revives the Caponord name and is intended to compete with the Ducati Multistrada.

Revealed at the international Piaggio dealer meeting on Friday, the bike was caught on camera phones in a repeat of last year’s leak of the prototype Moto Guzzi California 1400 and Scrambler.

Basically a revamped Dorsoduro 1200, the Caponord gets different bodywork but appears to be the same in terms of the chassis and the 130bhp engine. Less supermoto and more tourer, it should have a wider appeal than the somewhat niche market Dorsoduro.

Clearly influenced by the firm’s RSV4 – a styling direction that’s spreading like a rash across Aprilia’s range, with the same looks now encompassing the RS4 125, RS4 50, SRV850 and, soon, the Caponord – the triple headlight front couldn’t be mistaken for anything but an Aprilia. And we congratulate them for making a dual sport bike without going down the BMW/Triumph route of sharp angles and gawky proportions; there’s no beak, for a start!