Aprilia Mana 850 Review Motorcycle Performance

<h3 style="text-align: center;" class="post-title entry-title"><a href="http://motorcycle-performance.blogspot.com/2010/08/aprilia-mana-850-review.html"><br /></a> </h3><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;" class="post-header"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;" class="post-body entry-content"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDjLWUy78CTRcAUFiUa6MOIC_ukytkaguss8IkLLk6dyoZT7rbRD2-LG0BV43wZ0jKgJkoewEJwg8OTRt1T36kzpG5gTl19bLfiwsbBHHDCudrIBNkaNF_RnPCZ_FWF6zejOlQGxb7nk/s1600/Aprilia-Mana-static.jpg"><img alt="Aprilia Mana 850 Review" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505457676169794130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDjLWUy78CTRcAUFiUa6MOIC_ukytkaguss8IkLLk6dyoZT7rbRD2-LG0BV43wZ0jKgJkoewEJwg8OTRt1T36kzpG5gTl19bLfiwsbBHHDCudrIBNkaNF_RnPCZ_FWF6zejOlQGxb7nk/s320/Aprilia-Mana-static.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 293px; text-align: center; width: 390px;" /></a><br />The Aprilia Mana 850 will be a motorcycle of consequence. At least that’s the conclusion I come to while swooping through curves on Southern Californian backroads aboard the Piaggio Group’s pitch for the entry-level/crossover crowd. Corner after corner I dip the bike in, rolling on and off the throttle, no shifts to worry about, no clutch to pull.<br /><br />Sure, the Mana and its unconventional automatic Sportgear transmission could just as easily flop - remembered as an oddity, an unsuccessful offshoot in motorcycle evolution. Yet, whatever its fate, here it is, the Mana, a full-fledged motorcycle flaunting the unofficial rule that twist-and-go simplicity always be relegated to the scooter realm.<br /><br />The naked Mana is a motorcycle plain enough, with obvious chain-drive and a 90-degree V-Twin powerplant on display. Only closer inspection reveals the lack of a clutch lever, made possible by the Sportgear transmission, a CVT design with four separate drive modes.<br /><br />2009 Aprilia Mana 850<br />The Mana's Sportgear transmission has four settings - three fully-automatic "Autodrive" and one manual sequential-shift mode.<br />The first three “Autodrive” settings: Sport, Touring and Rain, are fully automatic engine mappings, selected by the rider via right side switchgear button. The fourth setting, a manual sequential shift mode dubbed Sportgear, operates similar to a traditional gearbox. Seven gear ratios are modulated by a traditional pedal or +/- trigger switch on the left-side switchgear.<br /><br />In practical application, the Autodrive settings make a noticeable difference in power delivery. In Sport the engine revs high, with quicker acceleration - at least we felt it revs higher, as the Mana has no tach to gauge the RPM. Rain mode, which unlike the others makes an audible clunk once selected, has a more relaxed throttle delivery for its intended wet-weather application. Touring is a happy medium and preferred default setting. In all three auto modes a rider can manually downshift, for better acceleration on passing maneuvers. But once committed to the mindless application of Autodrive, I found it much simpler to just twist the throttle and go.<br /><br />In fact, the auto setting works so well I found little interest in operating in the Sportgear mode at all. The manual shift mode does a decent job simulating a regular gearbox with seamless upshifts, but I didn’t shift better than the computer – so what’s the point? The entire system, which is electronically controlled, is idiot proof. Even in manual mode the bike will downshift when it needs to and stalling the Mana is impossible.</div>

The Aprilia Mana 850 will be a motorcycle of consequence. At least that’s the conclusion I come to while swooping through curves on So...