The Aprilia Caponord is an adventure-touring motorcycle made by Aprilia. The first ETV 1000 Caponord appeared in 2001 with a 998 cc V-twin from Rotax, and the ETV 1200 Caponord was presented to the press on 13 November 2012 at the EICMA show in Milan. The name is the Italian word for North Cape.
Aprilia Caponord at a glance
| ETV 1000 production | 2001 onwards; first series 2001–2003, second series from 2004 (Italian Wikipedia gives 2001 to 2017 for the Caponord) |
|---|---|
| ETV 1000 engine | 998 cc 60-degree V-twin by Rotax, shared with RSV, Tuono, Futura and Falco; Euro 1 |
| ETV 1000 frame | twin-beam frame in aluminium and magnesium with a removable steel rear subframe |
| ETV 1000 brakes | two 300 mm front discs and a 280 mm rear disc; ABS standard from 2004 |
| ETV 1200 presented | 13 November 2012, EICMA, Milan |
| ETV 1200 engine | 1,197 cc 90-degree V-twin, 94 kW (128 PS), 116 Nm at 6,500 rpm |
| ETV 1200 bore and stroke | 106 mm by 67.8 mm, compression ratio 12.0:1 |
| ETV 1200 weight | 251 kg ready to ride |
| ETV 1200 fuel tank | 24 L, of which 4 L reserve |
| ETV 1200 performance | 0–100 km/h in 3.7 s, top speed 240 km/h (German Wikipedia) |
The Italian page covers the ETV 1000 and the German page covers the ETV 1200, so each half of the table rests on one source.
History of the Aprilia Caponord
ETV 1000 Caponord, from 2001
Aprilia launched the first series of the Caponord in 2001, built until 2003. Using its experience from the 125 and 250 classes of the motorcycle World Championship, the company developed a twin-beam frame in aluminium and magnesium that carries a removable steel subframe. The bike has a 50 mm Marzocchi fork with 175 mm of travel and an adjustable Sachs rear shock with 185 mm of travel, and tubeless tyres on spoked wheels. The engine, a 998 cc 60-degree V-twin made by Rotax with Aprilia, is the one already used in the RSV, Tuono, Futura and Falco, revised in many details, with a sturdier gearbox.
The second series arrived in 2004 with a restyle: the turn signals were integrated into the fairing and the engine map became friendlier at low revs. From 2004 the bike was sold with ABS as standard, a Brembo and Bosch system that can be switched off with a button. The Italian page also points out that the first-fit voltage regulator proved unreliable, and that many owners fitted an aftermarket one.
ETV 1200 Caponord, from 2012
The ETV 1200 was presented to the press on 13 November 2012 at EICMA in Milan and built in northern Italy. Its liquid-cooled 90-degree V-twin of 1,197 cc makes 94 kW (128 PS) and 116 Nm at 6,500 rpm, with four valves per cylinder, two chain-driven overhead camshafts and two spark plugs per cylinder. A three-level traction control (ATC) and a ride-by-wire system with Sport, Touring and Rain maps are fitted, and an electronic suspension system, Aprilia Dynamic Damping (ADD), is optional.
The chassis is a modular steel-tube frame with aluminium side plates and a bolt-on steel subframe, with a Sachs rear shock of 150 mm travel and an upside-down fork. The brakes are double 320 mm floating front discs and a 240 mm rear disc, with a switchable two-channel Continental ABS. The bike weighs 251 kg ready to ride, its tank holds 24 litres and the on-board computer can be read with a smartphone over Bluetooth. German Wikipedia puts the Caponord in the average power range of adventure bikes above one litre.
Design and features
- ETV 1000 frame: an aluminium-magnesium twin-beam frame with a removable steel rear subframe.
- Wheels: tubeless tyres on spoked rims on the ETV 1000.
- ABS: standard from 2004 on the ETV 1000, switchable for rough ground.
- Electronics (ETV 1200): ride-by-wire with Sport, Touring and Rain maps, three-level traction control and optional electronic suspension.
- Fuel injection (ETV 1200): multipoint, with two injectors per cylinder.
Aprilia Caponord versions
- ETV 1000 Caponord, first series (2001–2003): the original, with the 998 cc Rotax engine.
- ETV 1000 Caponord, second series (from 2004): restyled front, ABS as standard.
- ETV 1200 Caponord (from 2012): the 128 PS bike, with optional ADD suspension.
More Aprilia motorcycles are in our Aprilia collection, for example the Pegaso 650, the Dorsoduro and the RSV Mille, whose engine started the ETV 1000.
Aprilia Caponord questions and answers
What does Caponord mean?
The name comes from the Italian word for North Cape.
What engine does the first Caponord have?
A 998 cc 60-degree V-twin made by Rotax, the same engine as the RSV, Tuono, Futura and Falco.
How much power does the Caponord 1200 make?
94 kW, or 128 PS, with 116 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm.
When was the Caponord 1200 presented?
On 13 November 2012 at the EICMA show in Milan.
Does the Caponord have ABS?
The ETV 1000 had ABS as standard from 2004, and the ETV 1200 has a switchable two-channel ABS.
Video: Reiseenduro Vergleich | Aprilia Caponord 1200 | 2013
Video by 1000PS – die starke Motorradseite im Internet on YouTube.
Sources
- Aprilia ETV 1000, Italian Wikipedia: ETV 1000 Caponord, first and second series
- Aprilia ETV 1200 Caponord, German Wikipedia: ETV 1200 engine, chassis, brakes, electronics
.jpg){kind=link}