Aprilia introduced the Caponord nameplate in 2001 on the ETV 1000 Caponord, a large-capacity adventure-touring motorcycle that helped broaden the brand beyond its sportbike roots. The original Caponord was part of Aprilia’s early-2000s push into bigger roadgoing machines and sat alongside models such as the RST Futura and Tuono. That first Caponord era ran through the 2000s before the nameplate disappeared from the lineup.
Aprilia revived the Caponord in 2013 with the Caponord 1200, a completely different generation and a clear return to the adventure-touring segment. The new model was positioned as a modern maxi-enduro for long-distance riding, and Aprilia later expanded the range with a Rally version aimed at more rugged touring use. This second production period gave the Caponord name a more tech-forward identity and linked it to Aprilia’s broader high-end street and travel lineup.
The nameplate was not a single continuous run, but rather two distinct eras separated by a gap: the original ETV 1000 Caponord of the 2000s, and the later Caponord 1200 revival in the 2010s. For that reason, the Caponord is best understood as a revived Aprilia adventure name rather than one uninterrupted model line.