Motorcycling Blog

Aprilia Mana 850 Is Born

Aprilia Mana 850 Is Born

With its exclusive and unmistakably Italian design, the 850 Mana is unique among motorcycles. Its revolutionary Sportgear transmission is electronically controlled to deliver unrivalled riding pleasure.

No ordinary motorcycle, the 850 Mana is destined to change the riding habits of bikers all over the world.
The Mana takes all the stress from motorcycling while injecting more satisfaction and more fun into riding under all conditions, from commuting to sports touring on the open road.

All you need to do to enter a whole new world is press the button on the handlebars. Everything is managed by an electronic control system that leaves you free to relax and enjoy the ride.
The transmission management system offers a choice of three “Autodrive” mappings plus a manual, seven speed, sequential gearshift.
The clutch lever has gone: the extraordinary sportgear transmission gives the pleasure of a very quick gearshifting with brilliant performance, especially in acceleration.
On the Mana you can be absolutely certain to find the perfect ratio for any traffic condition and riding preference. Whether you are just nipping across town or blowing away the cobwebs on a winding country road, the 850 Mana always delivers the ideal response and the same unique riding satisfaction. Whatever the conditions, and whoever the rider (even the most demanding), the Mana guarantees a perfect, peak-efficiency ride that lets you discover hitherto unknown potential.
The Mana offers the rider three possible options:

– Sequential mode: The rider decides for himself when to change gear, either using the conventional pedal or a switch on the handlebars. A servo mechanism shifts the main pulley to change between the seven gear ratios amazingly quickly.
– Fully automatic mode (Autodrive): Sophisticated electronics assume control over everything, and the CVT transmission keeps the engine running at maximum torque speed for optimum pickup and acceleration. The Sportgear transmission offers a choice of three mappings:
Touring: for minimum consumption and maximum usability,
Sport: for top performance with blistering acceleration,
Rain: for use on wet or slippery roads
– Semi-Autodrive mode: it allows the rider only to change down independently. This is particularly useful for overtaking at maximum torque revs or for boosting engine braking when riding down a hill.

DESIGN
Aprilia has always believed in utility design, but has developed the concept to its maximum expression on the 850 Mana, creating a naked that is more versatile than any other. The saddle height is only 800 mm. Loading capacity has no comparison in the motorcycle world. The 16 litre tank is located under the seat, lower than normal, to distribute weight more evenly and lower the bike’s centre of gravity. The “traditional” tank location is occupied instead by an illuminated storage compartment that is lined with non-slip, non-scratch material and big enough to house a full face helmet. The compartment also incorporates mobile phone storage and a 12V power socket. The vehicle documents and toolkit are also located inside the same compartment.

ENGINE
The 90° V engine configuration, chosen for torque and power delivery, is the perfect match for this type of transmission. The engine delivers 76 horsepower at the crank and well in excess of 7 kgm of torque (at 5,000 rpm).
As is traditional for Aprilia’s big bike engines, lubrication is provided by a dry sump system, with a separate oil reservoir integrated inside the engine to minimise overall weight.
Efficient engine breathing is ensured by a generous size filter box and exhaust system. The electronic engine management system incorporates a sophisticated Weber Marelli electronic fuel injection unit with a single 38 mm throttle body and twin spark ignition.
The Mana’s high performance engine respects the environment keeping emissions well within the limits established by Euro 3.

FRAME, SUSPENSIONS, BRAKES: 100% APRILIA
The robust steel tube trellis frame sets new standards for this class of machine and ensures top level handling in line with the characteristics of the innovative engine. The single piece aluminium swingarm is damped by a monoshock that is laterally offset to free up space for the exhaust pipe behind the engine and make the motorcycle more compact. The 850 Mana has a wheelbase of only 1,463 mm, extremely short for a naked. The 43 mm upside down fork slides easily and features an optimised setup for excellent performance even under sport riding conditions.
At the rear, the monoshock is operated directly by the swingarm and offers adjustments for spring preload and hydraulic rebound damping.
Impressive stopping power is delivered by the very best braking technology currently available, developed in-house by Aprilia. Radial calipers with 4 pistons are the state of the art for motorcycle brakes and ensure maximum active safety under all braking conditions. The generous front discs are 320 mm in diameter, the standard size for Aprilia’s big bikes, and are complemented by a single 260 mm rear disc.
The Aprilia Mana will be available in Italy starting October 2007.
Colour versions: Blue Couture, Competition Black, Red Passion and Lead Grey.