2015,14 & 13

Happy 014 Capo owner

G'day T-dogs....I can't advise for sure about the early models, but I have a 014 Touring that I bought in Feb this year and it's great. There are heaps of stories in the other forum that would scare the socks of any punter....so I assume the later the model the better it is!

Also, the 2015 Rally (and I think) 015 touring get the exhaust optimizer standard, though the base strada doesn't. Plenty of owners have said it makes for smoother better low end riding, though my un-optimized 014 is nice - especially after fitting a 16 tooth front sprocket. The Rally gets Givi panniers so no leaks there, and also extra LED driving lights, so you'll be able to see in the darkest of night's! I would have bought the Rally version here but Aus is still waiting.....and they are selling the 014's at great prices! Cheers

Yes T-dog, those cables work the exhaust power valve (remember the Yamaha Genisis 1000 EXUP?). The exhaust opto-miser is actually a just a mod to the rear header pipe that makes the bike think it has equal length headers. You can see pictures on the Aprilia website or in forum posts of parts diagrams. The opto-miser makes for smoother low end responses so if fitted from the factory I'd say it would be worth it, whereas it would be a $1000.00 retro fit and re-map for me. Thankfully my Capo runs sweet and I don't need to go chasing smoother running mods. Cheers

Ps I am seeing the base model's on showroom floors now and I would've liked to test and compare to the Electro-wiz-Touring, but, alas, they sold me the Touring for the cost of a Strada with a centre stand. So I got the cruise control and panniers and ADD real cheap! The ADD is nice, but the Sachs suspension is top quality, so if you like the base model, you probably wouldn't miss it. I tend to use Auto on the motorways for ultra slush touring, and when I want sporty I lock it into 1+gear or, as on last weekends 1000km ride, 2-up was perfect for me and 21kg of luggage (panniers and top box included in total weight) - all at a button push....how flash is that? Of course the Strada version is the lightest 252kg, Touring 260kg, Rally 280kg full tank and panniers on. The noise it makes while overtaking is worth million's........Enjoy!

oils ain't Oils

Hi T-dogs....yeh, a chain drive bike without a centre stand....nuts! But, you could buy one later and if you're mechanically minded, fit it. I like the Strada, but we only had the full spec Touring on offer here until now. Having said that, I also wanted cruise control and the heated grips are great! You won't miss ADD even though it works well, the Sach is probably equal to Ohlins and just as easy to adjust. I've just realized that ordinary oils won't last long in a big twin, so when you buy one of these Caponord's - use Motul Twin-Syn 20w50 and maybe change to 7100 20w50 full synthetic once you have scrubbed the motor in a bit more than the first service. I am about to dump Motorex 15w50 semi-syn as it has lasted only 2000k before going so watery the motor rattles! So it's Motul for me...oils ain't oils!

Oils

G'day T-dogs.....might have been a bit over keen with the oil advice.....I have put Twin Syn in and while it seems nice, the Capo is still blackening the end can - this may be normal as it has done only 4,600km, so I can't really say if 20w50 is right or not! (the Motorex 15w50 semi syn came out 'just gone black' at 3000kms but still had good 'body', so it wasn't as bad as I thought - and oil usage is still approx 100/150cc per 1000k).

One thing I have noticed with Twin Syn is that the motor seems less edgy if that's important to anyone not used to a sharp throttle. I'll keep an eye on things and may yet go to a 15w40 full syn as the dealer's head mechanic said they did this to 'cure' oil consumption in KTM 1290/1190's.....stange things these Euro-twin's.....my 05 Blackbird hasn't used a drop from new to 122,000km and it has been on Motul 5100 10w50 with 6000k changes........so I'm waiting for Capo to settle down and be a good little gorilla!