Aprilia Shiver and Dorsoduro 900, fun in a double interpretation [ROAD TEST]

12 and 13 June, Madonna di Campiglio, these are the space-time coordinates that distinguish the international launch of the new Aprilia Shiver and Dorsoduro 900. In the splendid setting of the Dolomites we find ourselves testing two motorcycles which, 10 years ago now, appeared on the market as valid antagonists in the middle class, then dominated by the Japanese.

The Shiver, born first, followed a few months later by the Dorsoduro, which stood out from the average Japanese 600 due to a typically Aprilia and also typically Italian engine, namely the 750 cc twin-cylinder. The two bikes were essentially very similar, the technical basis was the same and this has remained unchanged, even in this new version which rises to 900 cc. Let's remember that the Shiver was the "normal" version of the two, the one with which to go to work every day, the one that perhaps your father would take if he had both available in the garage, while the Dorsoduro went hunting, in what was which has become the terrain of Italian and Austrian maxi motards. A bike to ride on the Alpine passes at the weekend, with a decidedly more aggressive and youthful style than the more mature, but still captivating, Shiver.

Shiver and Dorsoduro we said, same heart, but with two different souls and which open up to a very broad spectrum of customers. Two bikes which, in terms of sales, could do really well for this very reason, given that they are essentially for everyone, from the novice driver who may have weakened them for the A2, to the geek who could love both, obviously with different logics and motivations.

I dettagli

The engine, which went from the previous 750 cc to the current 900, has received much more than a simple "boring", also because the stroke is growing. This is a completely new unit, while the main reason for this increase in displacement is a careful study by the Aprilia department, which evaluated customer requests. The engine was in fact designed as the central element of the project and the displacement was considered the best compromise between the previous 750 (considered by some to be a little below average in terms of performance) and the exuberant (but for others too much) 1200 of the latest version of the Dorsoduro. Therefore having to design a new engine, which also reflects the regulations Euro 4 so we opted for this intermediate displacement which, as we will see later during the test, turns out to be powerful and manageable at the right level.

The technique

The unit that equips both bikes is a liquid-cooled 90° V-twin with 4 valves per cylinder capable of delivering 95 hp at 8.750 rpm and, very importantly on the road, 90 Nm of torque at just 6.500 rpm. This configuration ensures that you have a bike with exemplary fluidity of delivery, without major jerks at lower speeds, thanks to the 90° V, but at the same time guarantees an almost immediate response as soon as you turn the throttle. Speaking of the throttle, it is fair to remember that, way back in 2007, the Shiver was the first road motorcycle equipped with electronic throttle, now known as ride-by-wire.

In the years of evolution that have passed from the first 750 generation to the current one, the ride-by-wire control (electronic and without the steel cable) has evolved considerably and now there are 3 different riding modes. Specifically, the options are Sport, Touring and Rain. The first two maintain full power, but the Touring stands out from the Sport for a softer delivery than the latter. The Rain, on the other hand, limits power to 70 horsepower, at the same time with "smooth" delivery, to better manage the bike in conditions of poor grip.

Nice to see, since we're talking about power, that both bikes are available in the A2 version, detuned to 35 kW for new drivers. Yet another demonstration of how much Aprilia is focusing on these models. So what chassis does an engine like this deserve? The two bikes cannot be defined as identical, we would risk doing a great disservice to the Aprilia technicians, who configured them differently, precisely to be able to have two different souls, perhaps even addressing different customers. However, the chassis, like the engine, was also built with a view to optimizing costs in the face of multiple functionality. This is why it is composed of a trellis in the front part, headstock and engine area, which is hinged on two plates in the footpeg area. The front trellis is in fact easier and quicker to "modulate", so much so that the inclination of the steering head of the two bikes is different, while the die-cast plates, which are more difficult and complex to manufacture, are identical for both.

Like both bikes, they have a double-sided swingarm, with an offset single shock absorber, perhaps a more aesthetic yet technical choice. The swingarm, however, is built in different ways for the two bikes: box-type for the Shiver, with a reinforcing truss, die-cast for the Dorsoduro, but always both in aluminium. The Shiver differs from the Dorsoduro for the rear subframe, which is cast and not trellis, while both are fitted with new and lighter Kayaba forks, with different travel (greater for the Dorsoduro). At the rear we find a Sachs monochrome on both, again with different heights, precisely to distinguish the two bikes.

How are they on the road? Let's start with the Shiver

We start the day of testing with the Shiver and we can say that, from the first meters, we immediately feel "at home". The riding position is natural, you are well "inserted" into the bike and the suspensions, calibrated to be soft in favor of comfort, allow you to ride easily without too much effort. The motorbike can be guided through curves in a very natural way and allows you to ride relaxed even on unfamiliar roads (as in our case), but it is also very useful when traveling around the city where we are often forced to improvise unexpected maneuvers to avoid other road users less “attentive” to us.

The Shiver is a motorcycle designed for use as a couple, so the single seat is still clearly divided into two sections. The first, that of the rider, inserted inside the motorbike, so as to make it easier for both feet to be placed on the ground, even for women and for maneuvers when stationary, typical of urban environments, while the passenger space is higher , so as not to bother the rider while driving and well padded, to make the trip outside comfortable and pleasant.

Dordoduro, completely different music!

As we said, the substantial difference, hence their totally different behavior, lies in the driving position, as well as in a shorter final ratio and in the suspension calibration. In fact, the Dorsoduro is more suited to urban "hooliganism", allow us this term, with a saddle that is essentially "straight", flat and almost at the same height as the handlebar risers. A bike that, even when stationary, makes it clear that it wants to be ridden with a certain "handle". For those who know the segment, all this can be defined with the word "motard". A motorcycle on which you are simply "sitting on" and not "sitting inside". This makes itself felt a lot while driving. Having jumped off the Shiver to quickly hop onto the Dorsoduro made these differences even more clear. An example above all: once the Shiver was parked, when changing bikes we had difficulty maneuvering with the Dorsoduro because, even though we were in the exact same dirt parking lot we had just faced with the Shiver, we had more difficulty touching the ground. Going in "reverse" with the Dorsoduro was more complex than with the Shiver. Keep this in mind when parking it.

You can feel that the starting point is the same, but really, on the road the bikes are very different. The "external" riding position of the Dorsoduro makes it decidedly less rapid to get in tune with the bike, even if it is a matter of taste and subjective approach. The front end is in fact much more reactive (see different steering head angle) and this makes it much quicker to change direction. On the other hand, in faster corners the front end is less communicative, also because the rider's body offers much more air resistance due to the position and it is almost impossible to crouch down or take shelter behind the Dorsoduro's always beautiful fairing.

Which one to choose

The question is legitimate, but the answer is very, very subjective. Let's say that any "normal" motorcyclist, given the possibility, would most likely buy both. Not for a show of wealth, but because, despite having the same engine, they really offer very different possibilities. I would happily go to work every day with the Shiver, perhaps equipping it with a top case to hold my PC bag or helmet during breaks, while I would gladly go down to the garage to take the Dorsoduro on Sunday morning, before going out with friends on the Favorite mountain pass. To be ridden with a suit and a backpack on the Dorsoduro, with casual clothing and companion in tow the Shiver, perhaps during a trip to the seaside.

Conclusions

The bikes really are Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, born from the same excellent test tube, but grown in a totally different way. The great thing, however, is that both have the best in common from a technical point of view, in fact both have a braking system made up of a double front disc, with radial brake calipers and a single rear disc, with single piston caliper, equipped with Switchable ABS and ATC (Aprilia Traction Control) calibratable on 3 levels or can be completely excluded. The dashboard is identical for both, Color TFT always clearly visible (it changes color when entering a tunnel or in the dark of the evening) and shows all the most important functions.

There is a long series of options available, from the set of bags for traveling (also for the Dorsoduro), to the Aprilia Multimedia Paltform (AMP) which allows you to connect your mobile phone via Bluetooth and connect to other motorbikes with intercom. So, having said that, it is you who must understand what you are looking for and what you are ready to give up, because if it is true that "both do everything", it is equally true that, if most of the time you are looking for an easy motorbike to use, comfortable for two during travel, with rare trips with friends, the Shiver is the perfect motorbike for you. You will never feel the lack of character of the Dorsoduro's engine, but you will appreciate its ease of use. If, however, you are someone who goes to work in an alternative way, but who on the weekends goes out in a leather suit and warms up the soft tires to be able to attack the curves better, then the Dorsoduro is the bike for you. A motorbike that forces you to undergo a longer period of apprenticeship, but which once you become familiar with it, will give you great satisfaction.

So make your choice well, knowing that to take the Shiver home you will need 8.340 euros, while for the Dorsoduro 9.490 are needed. The first is available in the three colors Evolution White, Hi Tech Silver and Unconventional Green, the second only in the Aprilia Racing livery. To you the choice.

Test clothing
For the test of the Aprilia Dorsoduro
Jacket: Spidi Tronik Tex
Pants: Spidi J-Strong
Gloves: Spidi S-4
Shoe: Stylmartin
Helmet: Scorpion EXO-Combat

For the test of the Aprilia Shiver
Jacket: Dainese D-Explorer Gore-Tex Jacket
Pants: Spidi J-Strong
Gloves: Dainese Ergotour Gore-tex X-trafit Gloves
Shoe: Stylmartin
Helmet: AGV AX-8 Dual Evo