The first mode has all the power available and is truly exciting to ride, the second is more easy going and great for city use and the third is designed for slippery surfaces. In short, the Dorsoduro seems destined for inevitable success.

After the first part of the course with the Sport mode, we moved on to the Touring where the power of the motor is the same but the throttle opens more quickly even with the slightest rotation of the accelerator. The difference can be noted - in the Sport mode gas opens at 40% acceleration and with Touring it opens at around 60%. Even in the passing stages the engine reacts more rapidly.

For on the road riding and especially in the lower gears the Touring mode is more gratifying, while we preferred the Sport for the higher gears or for tracki use. For more “adrenalin” riding and to better manage one-wheeling, the ideal choice is again the Touring as it manages to better maintain stability and is easier to hold the front wheel off the ground at a constant height.

In general the new “ride by wire” convinced us, even bewitched us. The Dorsoduro benefits from the latest evolution in riding modes and this adventurous and innovative project seems to have reached its highest stage and the benefits can be felt. This new system is the same as the

Shiver’s 2008 version and has been sensibly improved since the previous one.

The thing that most impressed us is the natural response to accelerator manipulation, no late response in the system and that sensation of immediate connection between right wrist and rear wheel. Fantastic even is the feeling and response demonstrated during partial acceleration or when closing of the gas, with which the Aprilia technicians have always spoiled us from the technical point of view. But this time they have really surpassed all expectations because on this aspect, especially as many were ready to point the finger about the acceleration.

The other point of eccellence with this bike is its riding style, equipped with a longer wheelbase and great suspension with 160mm for each wheel. The bike can be maintained quite flat giving the sensation of riding on a table, as the suspension works in syncronisation keeping the bike at the perfect angle. The balance of this bike pushes you to seek out its limits, while staying up both on the track and road, leaving the rider a great margin in the opportunity of managing it in more delicate situations.