2010 Aprilia Mana Review

The 2010 Aprilia Mana combines the simplistic appeal of a naked bike with the comfort and progressive features of today's top touring cruisers. Redesigned for admission into the sport-touring category, the new Aprilia Mana 850 GT ABS delivers the flexibility and fun that naked bikes are known for, while providing the comfort and easy ride ability one looks for in a bike that's built for the long haul. With this 2010 addition to the Mana lineup, Aprilia delivers a two-for-one midsize bike capable of satisfying almost every expectation.

The 2010 Aprilia Mana 850 GT ABS touts a Sportsgear transmission that offers the rider his choice of driving experiences. Set it for Autodrive, and the bike's CVT transmission and sophisticated electronics control just about everything. Within the Autodrive format, the rider can customize his driving experience even further with three different mappings–Touring, Sport, and Rain. Sequential mode, on the other hand, gives the driver manual control over the gear changes for more of a customized ride. The bike's versatile Sportsgear transmission makes driving the Mana a true pleasure, even when in Sequential mode, as the bike's computerized ""brain"" automatically downshifts during deceleration when it is necessary.

The Mana is built upon a steel tube trellis frame with a single-piece aluminum sidearm. The lightweight, high-tensile durability of the frame, combined with the 43mm inverted fork front suspension, delivers exceptional shock absorption for everything from long rides on quiet fall afternoons, to maneuvering through congested traffic patterns during your daily commute. The ABS braking system, a standard feature on most touring cycles and a first for the Mana line, is a two-channel Continental ABS system that features the latest generation of brake safety technology.

What might be a surprise to American riders, the Aprilia Mana's 4.22-gallon gas tank is not where one might expect it to be. Rather than being installed in the ""normal"" position between the seat and the handlebars, the tank is located under the seat. In its place is a spacious, non-slip lined compartment that's roomy enough to fit an extra full-face helmet, a toolkit, and your mobile phone. Also, in a first for motorcycles, Aprilia provides a convenient 12V power socket inside the compartment for charging your cell phone while riding. And equally surprising, the compartment is illuminated.

The 2010 Aprilia Mana is a naked bike, so it's not exactly supposed to look flashy, but that said, the bike does look handsome with its stylish fairing, adjustable windshield, and classic round headlight. Driving it is a pleasure too, as it boasts a deceptively powerful 839cc, V-twin, SOHC, four valves per cylinder motor that's punchy, quiet, and quick. The bike's complex CVT transmission can take a second or two to sync up with the speed of the engine when starting from a dead stop, but once underway, the throttle response is spot on. With its quality suspension, stiff chassis, and standard Dunlop tires, the Aprilia Mana handles corners with the grace and agility of the best.

Available in Competition Black, Blu Planet, and Bianco Glam, the 2010 Aprilia Mana is a well-designed sport-touring bike that is neither the most aggressive naked bike on the market nor the most sophisticated touring bike, but it is an impressive hybrid that delivers two-for-one value on both counts.