APRILIA ETV1000 CAPONORD - your opinion?

[Africa Tipple]

HELP

I'm trying to get back onto "big trailies", AT, Varadero or possibly the Aprilia Caponord ETV1000.

The AT and Varadero, I know about - but know nothing about the Capo.

Know it can be difficult to get parts, and some love its looks, while others hate them - each to their own.

Been offered a PX on a 2004 Capo with 21k miles.

Your opinion is valued ... ... ...
Johnny

[Shep]

I looked carefully at getting one of these before i got the Varadero this is what i gleaned

Real strong motor as it is a detuned RSV engine which was designed and built by ROTAX. Build quality questionable on rest of bike, parts can be slow but the bike is inherently reliable with no real issues aprt from coils

Finally i went for the Varadero becuase i managed to get locally a really mint 2000 model, with centrestand, full givi Pannier set, Honda top box, and 2 replacement screens. Only 4700 miles on the clock and still on original tyres for £2300. I also really like and trust HONDA. But if the right Caponord had come up i would have gone for it

[Africa Tipple]

Cheers Shep

This machine I'm looking at has 21k, had last dealer service at 14K and oil changes etc by owner since then.

All the reports say they are a great machine, but parts hard to get.

Also resale value is very low - all the dealers over here in Nordy Irlund think you should only so 2500 miles a year!!!!!

I'd be taking this bike blind - only seen pics and chatted to the seller - that's whats making the decision so tough

[Jenna]

agree with Shep , watch out for build quality as its been a real problem in the past (like with Cagiva) I also heard parts are very pricey but cant back that up as haver never bought any personally.

[Africa Tipple]

Thanks Jenna - all words of wisdom appreciated

[Shep]

I met a guy last year on the way back from the Le Mans 24 hour for bikes in Le Havre ferry car park. He was on a Caponord and his mate was on a Aprilla RSV who was an Aprilla dealer.

I rode his Caponord around the ferry car park !!! I told them that i was not interested in buying as i had the Africa Twin, but i was interested to hear about the bike maybe for the future. They were both raving about the Caponord and it was obvious they were both genuine and not trying to sell to me at all.

So that was a good reccomendation

[Africa Tipple]

Thanks Shep

Will take that "onboard".

[SteveWilko]

I have a write up about them in an old copy of TWO..... it runs a comparison of 4 big trailies... BMW/HONDA/PRILLA/VSTROM ....

I will look it up tonight after work and let you know the result...

[z-weiser]

Mate of mine is a bike instructor and he uses his as his school bike, not heard that it's given him any problems so i'm guessing they are pretty good!

mega comfy apparently!

[Xander]

I took one out on an aprilla ride day a few years back.. it was very nice on the road, smooth good power delivery, nice in the turns, good seating position, brakes great (almost too good locked the front up one with out trying) it was pissing with rain and the protection was excelent.. I did find it a bit heavy on the dirt, but then again i was riding a 600 at the time and so it was a big jump and i am a wimp...

my take home inpression was : this is the bike that i will get when i still want to dirt road it, but am too old to get in to the hairy stuff.. My wife was on the back for part of the ride and she loved it... (but compared to an xtz630) anything would be more pillion friendly.

What is the brace thing?????

and i agree it does look like a wasp but i kinda like its waspishness....

heheheh quoting myself... but i wanted to hit the 400 post mark today..

anyway there are some good pics on this posting
http://www.xrv.org.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=8404