on aluminium side plates, and
a bolt on sub-section. On a bike
like this you would almost say it’s
complicated, but it certainly works
and is tough too. At one point on
the launch we got the Dorsoduro
off road and put it through
stresses it would never face in
the real world, but it handled the
punishment. It’s worth saying
at this point that the frame is
completely different to the one on
the Shiver sister bike we tested last
issue. It also sports longer trail,
making the front end feel more
planted.
There’s also a new swingarm
fitted to cope with the extra stress
that a bigger capacity engine
places on things. Rounding out the frame package
is a set of new forged triple clamps, which are once
again stronger than the 750’s, and play a part in the
overall handling of the bike.
The suspension is new for the 900 with a
dedicated Sachs shock on the rear, and a good
quality 41mm Kayaba fork up front. While not fully
adjustable, you can play with preload and rebound
settings, and as we found out at the track, these
components are good quality and work well.
The brakes are strong too, with a pair of
320mm discs up front clamped by a set of
Aprilia emblazoned four-spot calipers that look
suspiciously like Brembos. The rear has a single
piston caliper mated to a 240mm disc and works
fabulously. Aircraft-rated braided lines supply the
hydraulic fluid, giving a solid feel to the front and
an almost perfect feel to the rear.
Ergonomically, the new bike is basicallyunchanged but the addition of a
TFT dash gives the 900 an overall
lift – for now, it’s the only bike in
its class that sports such an item.
These dashes have been around
in the car world for a while now
and I’m a big fan. They’re easy to
read and can display a lot more
information.
On board there’s a nice feel
to the Dorsoduro. As you would
expect on a bike like this, you sit
up high with a straight stance and
I think that could suit people with
back issues. It’s a decent peg-to-
seat orientation and although
we only got half a day on South
Australia’s Mac Park track I didn’t
feel cramped or tired. In fact,
normally when riding at a track launch people
tend to come in after about 10 laps, but I noticed
all the journos were doing long stints, which is a
testament to the bike’s overall comfort.
The first thing that strikes you when you’re
in the pilot seat is the nice new cockpit and the
switchgear layout. It’s all simple to use, which is
critical when you have so many gizmos.All the journos
were doing
long stints – a
testament to the
bike’s comfort
- Underseat exhaust and that V-twin soundtrack
are hallmarks of the Dorso 2. Dunlop hoops reflect
the expected use of the bike – more road than track - 12-litre tank, but you’re on the Dorsoduro for a
good time, not a long time, right? 4. Steve adjusted
preload to get a slightly stiffer feel at the rear amcn.com.au^41