Topic: Aprilia Caponord

[medic09]

Anyone have any experience with these?  One is available locally, and I'm thinking of it in place of my '02 Tiger.  Miles are very low, and the price seems fair though not cheap.  No Aprilia dealer in the area.

[simon#42]

to be honest it would want to be cheap before you bought one . great engine , crap suspension , dodgy build quality . i borrowed one for a few weeks a couple of years ago and it was a very comfortable mile eater but i suspect your triumph is a far better bike . didnt sell well at all over here and were very heavily discounted , if you really fancy it try a low bid first !

[Gaucho]

Having an Aprilia dealer nearby sometimes means squat, most of them have a bad reputation. So go into the Ape forum and ask around.
Your are better off knowing what kind of maintenance did the PO do in the bike.
The Rotax engine in those bikes is bullet proof. Look for melted starter solenoid and stator connector. Also worn out starter sprague clutch (expensive repair).
Other than that look for a cheap price, Aprilias don't have a high resale value in the US. 
Gaucho

[chickenman_26]

I've owned a Caponord for 7 years. It's a great do-it-all bike and the best long distance 2-up touring bike I've ever owned - and I've owned plenty over 43 years of riding. They can have some issues, depending on year of manufacture. But nothing really that can't be ironed out by an owner who's halfway competent with a wrench and a volt meter. Hyperpro springs front and rear fix the soft suspension. '04 and earlier models had French-made ignition coils that were ultra-unreliable. Then there's the plastic fuel quick couplers that Triumph and other brands had so much trouble with. That's a quick and easy fix. Oh - and let's not forget the China Syndrome affecting the alternator wiring connectors. Again, more of a pain in the a$$ than a terrible problem. Fix these things right up front, and you'll have a comfy, reliable bike. Check the Caponord section on the AF1 Racing Aprilia forums for more opinions from current owners. http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=15  My opinion (YMMV) - stay away from examples that have been loved to death with such "upgrades" as aftermarket exhaust cans, Tuneboy remapping (aka unenlightened fiddling), removing the intake snorkle, etc. Most of those guys spend more time chasing self-induced problems than actually riding. Then they get disgusted that the bike won't run right and sell it (to you, maybe). It's not a crotch rocket, and all the fiddling in the world won't change that. Keep it stock, keep it tuned, and enjoy it.
Stu O

[medic09]

Thanks Stu, for that info.  Since we're practically neighbors, we'll have to get our 'Nords together sometime.

Yep, we bought it.  I traded in my '02 Tiger (great bike, but a tad tall for me of the barely 30" inseam) for the '07 'Nord.  It was lowered by the PO, which suits me fine.  Otherwise bone stock with less than 7,000 miles.  I spoke with a mechanic at Beemers and more (an aprilia dealer in Fort Collins) who sounded unusually competent and nice.   Too bad it's an 8 hour ride to get there for service.  He looked up the VIN, knew the bike, and confirmed that most of the problems Stu mentioned were either not in the later model, or had been fixed.  It shows 'service' in the display; but he said he almost never has to adjust valves on these motors, so I'm probably fine until I can get up there one day.

Big bonus: after the ride home (my wife decided to leave her ride at the dealer for service and pillioned home with me), the wife said this was by far the most comfortable ride on the back of all our bikes.

Now I need to find some luggage.  Can't haul the groceries and dog and cat food without luggage.

[chickenman_26]

Mordechai,
Congrats. You got the best and most refined model, including ABS. Lowering that bike was not a great idea on the PO's part. I also have a 30" inseam. After I installed the factory lower seat, I can easily flat-foot the bike and haven't compromised its ground clearance or suspension travel. See the above pic. As a bonus, the low seat has a different foam density and is more comfortable. Plus, it sets you lower behind the windshield and reduces air turbulence on your helmet. I really recommend putting OEM dog bones back on and lowering the front tubes till the line scribed on the tube is even with the top bridge. AF1 stocks almost every piece of that bike.

To get rid of the service reminder (for 5000 miles), connect the two diagnostic wires under the rider's seat near the battery. Turn on the key switch, then press and hold the red "mode" and "set" buttons till the indicator disappears. It may take 15 or 20 seconds - keep pressing. Then turn off the switch and disconnect the two wires. The time will not be present in the clock display when the wires are connected - just a Zero or one, depending on kill switch position. Valve adjustments -I've been checking at 10K intervals but only needed one actual adjustment in 60,000 miles. Two valves had gotten marginally on the loose side at around 40K.

My wife echos your wife's comments on the seat. We used to do our long summer trips on a 850 pound Gold Wing. But that bike wasn't necessary after getting the 'Nord. The factory saddle bags are pretty inexpensive compared to other brands. They hold an amazing amount of stuff, they keep the weight low, and they don't foul the passenger's legs. For a rear case, you're pretty much limited to GIVI if you want a plug & play solution. That's an E52 in the picture. I changed last year to a 50L Shad case (below) which I like much better but had to fabricate my own mount.

Stu

[medic09]

We took our first 'real' ride the other day, two-up from Los Alamos to Santa Fe.  About 50 minutes, part twisty mountain roads and part fast straights and sweepers.  The bike felt very well-planted while handling well, and my wife was very happy on the back.

Unfortunately, the wife is now sensibly agitating for me to try selling the 750Four.  Most of the time, my daily riding is on my modern bike.  And we have a '75 Triumph project languishing in the garage, that we are both supposed to work on this winter.  (I have to renew communication with Bryanj and see if he can guide us.)  So we'll see.  With the economy the way it is, and Craigslist pretty full of bikes, I doubt it would sell.  And I hate to part with history.  If anyone local is really interested in the Honda, drop me a line.