2017–2020 · Supermoto · Buyer's Guide
The Italian Daily With Soul
The Dorsoduro 900 is Aprilia's supermoto for riders who want to live with one every day. At its heart sits an 896 cc, liquid-cooled 90° V-twin making 95 hp and 66 lb-ft, and that torque shows up low in the rev range, where real road riding happens. Ride-by-wire with selectable ride modes, traction control and ABS keep it tidy, and a TFT display handles the information. The steel-tube frame, the adjustable upside-down fork and the adjustable rear shock give it proper bite on a twisty road. This is not the stripped, raw hooligan of the class. It is the polished Italian take on the idea, with serious lean clearance and a design that still looks sharp.
On the road it feels composed rather than frantic. Power builds smoothly and in a straight line, the chassis carves corners with confidence, and maintenance is refreshingly straightforward for an Italian twin. The honest caveat: at 467 lb (212 kg) wet, and with that soft-edged delivery, it is closer to a sharp daily rider than a wheelie-happy lunatic. On a used one, check for coolant weeping from the hose clamps, seepage from the valve cover gasket or oil gallery, and warped front discs. All of these were usually fixed under warranty when the bike was new. Buy it if you want supermoto attitude with manners. If you want pure chaos, this isn't it.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 95 hp (70 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 66 lb-ft (90 Nm) |
| Displacement | 896 cc |
| Engine | 90° V-twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Front travel | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
| Rear travel | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
| Seat height | 34.3 in (870 mm) |
| Wet weight | 467 lb (212 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.2 gal (12 L) |
| Top speed | 130 mph (209 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 42 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Safety
Over the years I've heard a lot about the Dorsoduro 900 away from any test ride. It came up in paddock conversations, in owner chats on club nights, and in the emails and messages riders send me directly. The pattern is steady: owners like living with it day to day, and their complaints are mostly about range and a missing edge of aggression.
Owners keep saying the V-twin handles both ends of a ride well. It's easy to manage in city traffic and still keeps them interested once the road opens up. The upright position gets the same praise. Riders like the view from the tall cockpit and say it stays comfortable well past the daily commute. On twisty back roads, owners describe a bike that feels settled and sure of itself when leaned over, and they give the adjustable fork and shock the credit.
The most common gripe is range. Owners report about 120 miles (193 km) between fill-ups, and on longer trips that turns into real range anxiety. A smaller group says the bike doesn't feel as nimble or aggressive as they expected from a supermoto. The odd rider also mentions the front brakes, saying they lack initial bite and need a firm squeeze.
Warped front brake discs
A few owners have reported warped front brake discs early in the bike's life, which were replaced under warranty.
Coolant leak from hose clamps
Coolant can weep from hose clamps, often due to a poorly positioned clamp. It is typically a minor warranty fix.
Valve cover gasket oil leak
A slow oil leak from the valve cover gasket has been noted by some owners, repaired under warranty.
Oil gallery leak
Some owners have reported oil weeping from the oil gallery, noticeable during routine inspections and often caught under warranty.
Where this Aprilia Dorsoduro 900 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Dorsoduro 900 is actually built for.
For Angeles Crest weekends, it fits. Deep lean clearance and strong low-end punch make the tight canyon sections fun, but on the long, fast sweepers 95 hp will feel modest.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
On the Dragon's tight, repeating bends, this bike rewards technique over horsepower. It carves well and pulls hard out of slow corners. Just respect its 467 lb when you flick it side to side.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
For a Twisted Sisters loop and a BBQ stop, it's a fun, great-sounding companion. The tall seat and 3.2 gal tank make it a better day-ride bike than a road-trip machine.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Twisted Sisters · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2008
Italian V-Twin, Sorted Daily
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Aprilia Dorsoduro 900. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2016–2018
Italian Design, L-Twin Soul
Roughly $2,500 pricier used than this bike at 8 yr
Competitor · 2019–2024
Italian Attitude, Street Legal
Roughly $2,500 pricier used than this bike at 7 yr
Competitor · 2014–2016
Hooligan Engine, Japanese Precision
Same Platform · 2017–2020
V-Twin Pull, Italian Soul
Roughly $2,700 cheaper used than this bike at 6 yr
Similar Character · 2020–2024
Art That Corners Hard
Roughly $5,100 pricier used than this bike at 6 yr