2009 Aprilia Mana Review

Aprilia, the Italian motorcycle manufacturer owned by Piaggio, introduced the Mana 850 in 2009. In terms of style, it’s an arguably naked bike. However, Aprilia intended it to be all-around commuter machine for the European market, so it has an unusual (at least for a naked bike) continuously variable transmission, typical of those found in scooters rather than motorcycles. Honda also introduced a machine with sport styling and a CVT the same year, the Honda DN-01, but the Japanese company only produced it for a couple of years. Aprilia not only continues to make the Mana, but the manufacturer has added several other models to the line in succeeding years.

Powered by an 839.3cc, liquid-cooled, V-twin four-stroke engine, with a single overhead cam valve configuration and Weber Marelli fuel injectors, the Mana has a number of unusual features. The automatic transmission lets a rider twist the throttle and go, scooter-style, but he or she can switch to a manual shift mode and engage the seven-speed gear box. Although it looks like the 4.2-gallon fuel tank is in the usual place, in actuality that space is a storage compartment, and the tank is under the seat. The extra storage is nice for anyone using the machine for a daily commute, though Aprilia also sells optional trunks and side cases to expand the available storage.

An inverted fork with 4.7 inches of travel in front and a twin-sided swing arm with adjustable rebound damping and a spring preload shock in back provide the suspension. Hydraulic disc brakes front and back may look like Brembos, but are in fact Taiwanese. While they may not be high-end, they are fully up to the task of stopping the 500-pound (curb weight) Mana.

With 76.1 horsepower and 53.8 lb-ft torque, the Mana can quickly and smoothly reach 75 miles per hour on the highway – so installing an optional windscreen is recommended with this bike. The Mana 850 is somewhat controversial in motorcycling circles, with some people believing that a machine that looks like a naked bike ought to come with a clutch and a manual gear box, and others appreciating the ease of use and the fact that it is almost impossible to stall the engine.