The Aprilia Caponord, internally designated as the ETV1000, was Aprilia’s response to the surge in demand for big adventure bikes. Production began in 2000, with a detuned, but more robust, version of the Rotax 1000cc V-Twin used in the RST Futura. The Aprilia Caponord is a rare sight on American roads, but its owners are very passionate about it and its capabilities. They’d suggest you think of it as a faster, prettier version of BMW’s GS series.
Like other big adventure bikes, you might think the Aprilia Caponord is actually best off on highway tours and gentle sweepers – you’d probably be right. Weighing over 520 pounds, this bike can be difficult to manipulate until you’re above parking lot speeds, and the engine is tuned to thrive above 3,000 rpm, so slow moving city traffic can be a pain.
But don’t be turned off by my seemingly negative thoughts – this is truly a fun bike to ride, as long as you’re a fan of an upright seating position. Marzocchi front forks and a Sachs monoshock in the rear help make this bike incredibly composed in the corners. Simply put, this is a fast, comfortable sport touring bike that can also handle dirt and gravel. And as a bonus, the rarity of this bike has translated into lower resale values than you might expect. Some would think that the exclusivity would bring a premium, but instead it seems that this bike is usually cheaper than its more common competition!
This specific Aprilia Caponord has several minor, but well thought out, upgrades, including metal fuel connectors, factory panniers, crashbars and centerstand, and a Givi top case. In addition, you can enjoy a Catfish map, Stebel Nautilus air horn, Symtec heated grips, a Sargent seat, hand guards from the BMW 1150GS, and much, much more. It’s clear that a lot of thought has gone into the fine details of this Capo.
Find this Aprilia Caponord here on ADVRider for $5,500 in Chicago, Illinois.