Aprilia Caponord 1000 and 1200 Problems – Scary Symptoms

It is well impossible to resist the allure of Italian bikes. Odds are, you visited the near motorbike shop in search of the perfect vehicle. Just when you were certain you won't find anything you laid your eyes on one of the Aprilia Caponord models. It was love at first sight and you were satisfied with your choice. But like with every relationship, issues surfaced soon enough. 

Well, don't be put off by the scary symptoms. Every problem has a solution. Is your battery dying? Have your spoke nipples fallen off somewhere along the road? We've got all the answers. 

Soft forks

An indispensable motorbike component, a motorbike fork links the front wheel to the frame of the bike. In addition to facilitating steering, bike forks absorb shock resulting from bumps. Though vintage bikes might still use coil springs for this purpose, most modern bikes rely on a hydraulic system. Aprilia Caponord is one example of such a bike. 

Owners of Aprilia Caponord have complained about the front forks being too soft. This makes it harder for you to steer your bike but the real problem occurs when you're braking. The Aprilia tends to lurch forward whenever you do so. Sometimes, it might feel as if the rear end was trying to come around when you brake too hard. 

Since the forks on this model cannot be adjusted, there is only one way you can remedy this problem - you have to replace the fork springs. The price for new ones ranges from $100 - $200. It might cost more than that if you wish to leave it in the hands of a mechanic. 

Faulty regulator rectifier

Your bike's battery operates on a direct current. However, it is an alternating current that your stator produces. That's where the rectifier steps in. This device not only changes the current type so that the battery can be charged but also adjusts the voltage so that it won't be harmed. 

The rectifiers used in the Aprilia Caponord are notorious for their poor quality. This is a problem because a faulty rectifier won't be able to supply the battery with sufficient power. As a result, you can expect frequent stalling, and eventually, you won't be able to start the bike at all. 

In some cases, the rectifier might not be tuned properly. If it is set to high voltage, it might overcharge your battery and thus reduce its longevity. 

As far as troubleshooting's concerned, look for symptoms associated with a failing battery. Does the engine act up? Are the headlights dimmer than you're used to? Then something is clearly amiss. 

The surest way to tell that the rectifier on your Aprilia doesn't work properly is to measure the battery voltage. A common voltmeter is all you need for this test. If it reads voltage below 13 V, then you're battery's not being charged. Conversely, a voltage over 17 V indicates an overcharged battery. 

Sadly, replacement is the best action to take if this happens to you. But don't despair - rectifier regulators are quite cheap, usually costing below $100. 

Broken Fuel Hoses

These rubber tubes distribute fuel from the gas tank to the engine itself. Because they are multi-layered, fuel hoses are considered quite resilient. They are built to last, but accidents do happen. Over time they might dry and begin to crack, but this should happen only if your bike is old. This does not hold true for either one of the Aprilia models. Caponord riders report that their fuel hoses break down way sooner than expected. 

This poses a health hazard. Gas is a very flammable liquid that won't be able to withstand the heat near the engine. Internal leaking might result in fire and explosion and you must deal with it without delay. 

Three signs exist that point to faulty fuel hoses. 

Check whether you can smell fuel. Minuscule cracks in the hoses will lead to minor leaks. If that's the case, the liquid won't be able to pass through. However, fuel vapors that form due to the high heat might escape the system. That's what leads to the foul, fuel odor.  

Severe damage might lead to the formation of visible leaks. They range from mild dripping to lakes of fuel forming under the motorcycle. Stalling and misfiring are often concomitant with visible fuel leaks. 

Should everything appear normal to your naked eye, inspect the fuel lines themselves. Oftentimes, you can see the cracks right on the fuel hoses. 

Repairs of this caliber likely lie outside of your expertise. You will have to visit the mechanic. 

Rusty Spoke Nipples

True to their name, spoke nipples connect the wheel's rim to its respective spoke. Don't be misled by their deceivingly small size - they are vital to maintaining the wheel's stability. Should they loosen, your entire wheel could collapse. If you are driving, this might leave you with expensive repair bills at best and a visit to the hospital at worst. 

Damaged spoke nipples are just as unreliable. You definitely need to pay attention to this if you own an Aprilia Caponord bike, as the spokes rust easily. 

The most prudent decision here would be to opt for a rust-resistant material. Stainless steel doesn't rust and it is the go-to choice of many bike owners. You should replace both spokes and nipples for maximum safety. 

Electrical Connectors Melt

Electrical connectors are devices attached to the main circuit to distribute the current to the electric components mounted to your bike. The greater the current which flows through them, the more heat they emit. This high heat damages the protection around the connectors which means they will melt eventually. 

Such cataclysmic fate befalls Aprilia Caponord's connectors only too often. Of course, this will disrupt the flow of electricity. However, the high temperatures might also damage your bike. 

Once the electrical connectors melt, they are beyond salvation and you'll have to replace them. Fortunately, these electromechanical devices are rather cheap and easy to install. 

Faulty Ignition Coils

An ignition coil is an electrical transformer. It enhances the voltage coming from the battery which would otherwise not be sufficient to create a spark. Without it, the engine wouldn't work. 

The device consists of two coils. The larger one is attached to the source of power while the smaller one is responsible for creating the spark itself. A bad ignition coil will lower the performance of your engine. 

Just like with any other engine component gone wrong, the AI system will detect the malfunction and turn on your Engine Light. 

If you suspect your Aprilia's coil might be busted, check whether you experience any of the following issues.  

A weak spark means your bike will be harder to start. Not only will it take longer, but you might also hear odd noises coming from the engine. 

Misfiring and backfiring are also telltale signs that something is awry. Does your Aprilia lose its steady rhythm at random? Do you sometimes hear a loud noise akin to an explosion behind you? Then the ignition's faulty. 

Excessive vibrations and problems with acceleration are also common. 

Unfortunately, replacement isn't exactly cheap. A new coil might cost you up to $200.

Leaky Master Cylinder

The master cylinder is an indispensable part of your bike's brake system. This piston moves brake fluid into the caliper whenever you want to stop your motorcycle. 

Aprilia Caponord 1200 has some widely known issues with the master cylinder. These leaks are dangerous because they allow air to enter the hydraulic system. Since it relies on the fact that liquids cannot be compressed, gas bubbles, which can be compressed easily, lower its efficiency. As less pressure gets transferred from the front brakes to the brake discs, you'll have a harder time stopping your bike. 

Fortunately, Aprilia recognized the potential health hazards this problem posed and they issued a recall.

If you own an Aprilia bike made between 2010 and 2016, you'll have to replace the master cylinder. 

Is Aprilia Caponord 1000/1200 worth it?

The greatest appeal of these two models is their splendid value for money. Compared to other motorcycles in their class, they are significantly cheaper. AC 1000 costs about $13,000 if you're buying a new vehicle and only up to $5,000 for a used one. AC 1200 is slightly costlier, given that it's a new model. A brand-new bike will cost about $15,000 while a used one costs slightly above $8,000.

Aprilia bike owners have formed tight-knit communities across the entire Internet. You can expect a great deal of help with whatever issues you might encounter on these forums. 

That said, Italian bikes are known to be temperamental. Thus, they might require a lot of attention and maintenance. This might leave a greater dent in your wallet than buying a costlier bike. If you are new to the world of bikes or you simply don't want to play the tinkerer all the time, Japanese bikes might be the better option. They tend to be more stable and reliable. 

Conclusion

To sum up, both models are good options owing to their affordable price. However, there are some innate issues in their build. Though the problems are mostly minor, you'll have to spend extra money on new parts.