...cos there's a new Aprilia coming later this year that looks more convincing. In two versions, a 750 and 1200 V-Twin but with a narrower angle than the Duke giving more clearance plus the more dedicated enduro 750 has the 21 inch front wheel the Multistrada lacks.

Should be much cheaper too




Aprilia Entering Large Displacement Enduro Market

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Ah but will it have trick adjustable suspension? The thing I like about the Multistrada, or at least the Multistrada reviews, is the way you can tune the suspension to either the load you are carrying or the surface you're riding on at the touch of a button. To me, that's the deal maker between the Multistrada and the Adventure 990, which is/was the other option.

I have serious doubts whether the trick air suspension can keep up with a "real" setup, especially off-road. The Multistrada makes a nice road touring bike, where the word "road" includes gravel roads. I don't think it's an option for leaving the road, which the KTM clearly is.

The Aprilia does look interesting. Looks like it would deserve the Tenere name more than what Yamaha recently came up with

That 750 motor is a peach , and no mistake. I love the Doursoduro, it rides like it's made from fire and brimstone, so if the Tuareg is anything like the rumours then it'll be a peach too. Then again, the Super Tenere was rumoured to be a stonker, and turned out a little less than the hype (probably still a very good bike, but not what it was billed as).

I don't think it's fair to compare the Aprilia with the new Multistrada, chalk and cheese realy. The Multistrada is an awesum bike, it's quality built and well thought out, but it's no desert raider, not even a decent adventure bike, it's a powerhouse of a tourer. Have a good look around the bike and the clues are there, plastics (expensive Ducati plastics!) indicators in the hand guards (and they look both expensive and easyish to destroy), alloy wheels, small front wheel, the bike might have an enduro setting, but I think anything more than a gravel road and the bike would flounder. I'm still waiting for a test ride (any day now!!), but this isn't going to be an off road sand cleaver, more of a transcontinental mile muncher.

Of course the Multistrada is available now, and the 1200 Aprilia is still an asperation.


The other one to consider is Honda, the Varadero is getting long in the tooth and is probably more comparable with the Multistrada, but are Honda going to bring out a version of a 1200 AT, or another Varadero with the v4 VFR motor in it ? It's well overdue an update and Honda would be crazy to miss out on some of this market, or will they just retire from it?

Good sense spoken above; the Ducati is an ace bike but needs substantial adaptations to make it an adventure bike (although "as is" it makes the BMW look old fashioned) and whilst less, the Aprilia will also. Perhaps the 1200 Aprilia would be more comparable to the Ducati but there are fewer details on that bike as yet.

That Aprilia 750 engine does look good though; more compact than any other and Aprilias are eminently tunable. All in all, the 750 looks like a good bike on which to base a true adventure bike. Let's hope they read forums like this and don't bottle it.

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If that picture is to scale and the rear wheel is a 19" rim I make the seat height a little over 42". Yet I see no where to mount a step ladder so I could get on it

Do you own a Dorsoduro? I've only seen them in the dealers. They look great but I don't know anyone who actually owns one and I've not ridden one.
What's it like? How many miles have you done so far?
The world has been waiting for Honda to get off the dime for about 10 years (at least) now. My idea was for them to use the RC51 sport bike motor in an all new Africa Twin. Use CRF450 based chassis, make it tour-able, add a few amenities and its there. Honda have been winding down production of the Varadero for years now. They were giving them away in the UK a couple years ago and I'm not sure they are even imported to the UK now. The Varadero is done. Never any good. I don't see an upgrade coming at this point.

I agree regards Multistrada and Tuareg being Chalk & Cheese. The Multi will be for rich sports bike guys who want to tour with their BMW GS buddies. The Multi will be a great bike as the ultimate sports tourer.
Would I go RTW on one? Never. (can't afford it anyway!)

Aprilia has a great opportunity with the Tuareg. A 750 could be the new perfect middle weight Adventure bike. Could knock out the DL650 Wee Strom and If done well, could undercut KTM's 990 as well.

But lots of question marks here. Since Piaggio are now doing the motors In-House and no longer using Rotax, there are unknowns here. Do they know what they are doing? Making the jump from 10 HP scooter motors to 100 + HP motors is a big deal. They claim to have the engineering depth to do this. Time will tell.

The Shiver and Dorsoduro are too new to really know how good they are or if they are truly reliable for the basis for a RTW platform. Piaggio have also been building the little v-twin dirt/supermoto bikes as well. Mixed reviews on those as early ones had LOTS OF PROBLEMS. (450 and 550 V-twins)
But now they are winning enduros! Can Piaggio do it?

The key for the Tuareg will be weight. If Aprilia can make it light enough, yet strong, it could kick butt.

In this mix of middle weight adventure bikes you also have to look at Triumph. Triumph are coming along with a new dual sport based on the 675cc Daytona motor. This new "Tiger Cub" could be very interesting. The 675 motor is super light yet makes over 100 HP. Its also very small, so a smaller adventure bike could possibly be built around it. We'll see. Should be out later this year. (Milan Show)

The short answer is no. I've ridden one a number of times (dealer had one as a demostrator) and it's truly an awesum bike, even the quality is better than Aprilia of old. However it just isn't practical, it's very high and stupidly quick, but the mode selection (for throttle response) is good. I find it pretty much unridable in town in sports mode, but superb in normal mode (forgive me I forget the actual names of the modes now).

Smiles per mile are very high. You are thankfull (just for the sake of your licience) to get back to a slower bike afterwards though.

One thought about the 750 motor though, it is maybe a little too powerfull for an off-road bike, hopefully the mode selections will de-tune it for the rough stuff.

So, where would you mount your panniers?

John

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Nostradamus Ate My Hamster

Who needs panniers?? Strap a tent on the back, sleeping bag and clothes tail pack, rucksack tankbag job done!
If you need panniers buy a car! P)

You travel alone, don't you?

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Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

Im the only one on my bike yes, I ride with other riders, my fiancé rides her own bike, my mates rides there's, so yes I ride alone, and I like to leave the filing cabinets in the office!

Of course there are times when I use the soft panniers, tank bag and tail pack, but then we can't always travel light!

Anywho, has anyone seen anything directly from aprilia about this bike?

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Moto Treks

now this looks interesting ....

All waiting on that magic weight number now ...

Like the first feedback post on that link, I had been hoping Aprilia would offer some sort of detuned adventurised RXV 5.5, at around 130 kgs, but this is still the most interesting adventure bike to come out in quite some time.

I can only hope they are joking when they mention 445 lbs (200 kgs)

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...nah - there's no way Aprilia would make a 750 that weighs 200kg! I read this bike will be at the shows this autumn.

BTW - hope you keep writing your blog for your Russian trips this summer too - loved your blog from last year.

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