Aprilia Caponord 1200
£6000-£11,000 123bhp 131mph 228kg (dry) 1197cc V-twin
“Just different enough to love”
Historians may dispute whether Aprilia’s semi-actively-suspended Caponord beat the similarly equipped Ducati Multistrada into production (it did), but there’s no disputing the science: Aprilia’s electronic damping was superior to their rivals’. I know because in 2014 a boffin and I measured the effect on both bikes’ suspension using computers and graphs. The Aprilia’s ride quality was astonishing.
The Caponord is hugely underrated, unless you own one; then you’ll know exactly how good it is. The motor isn’t over-powerful but it’s as creamy as the suspension and tall geared in top for stress-free cruising. Comfort is unbeatable for 2000 miles in two days (again, I know because I did it), build quality is good and reliability excellent. And the Capo has endearing quirks: an egg timer-shaped fuel tank means the fuel gauge shows full for ages, then shows empty with half a tank left. And even though it has ride-by-wire, three engine modes, traction control and cruise control, it’s eccentric to use – not rubbish, just different enough to love. Compared to the coldly efficient Multistrada – whose first-generation semi-active is competent but, frankly, not much more supple than conventional suspension (again, I measured it) – the Aprilia is an organic, symbiotic creature. It’s a bike to love, not just live with.