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Driving report Aprilia NA 850 Mana

Button thing

No more pulling the clutch, shifting into gear, disengaging and driving off: With the new Aprilia Mana, all you need to do is press a button and it goes ahead automatically.

The car in the right lane is slowing down. In a moment he will turn on the indicator and want to turn right. The motorcyclist behind him veers briefly and audibly shifts into one or two gears before he accelerates fully and pulls away. Just strange: his left hand doesn’t move, doesn’t reach for the clutch lever. There is no such thing. Nevertheless, the motorcycle shifts audibly.

Such mysterious processes can soon be a common sight. Aprilia NA 850 Mana is the name of the motorcycle on which the driver can shift gears without manual clutch operation or, even more simply, just accelerate without even having to shift. The Mana just presented in Turin masters both types of gait. Production is just starting and it should be available from dealers for around 9,000 euros from the end of October.

Piaggio’s liquid-cooled 90-degree V-two-cylinder with 839 cm³ displacement, four-valve technology, injection, which is also used in the recently introduced Gilera GP 800 maxi scooter, serves as the drive. He does indeed "just" 76 HP, but is able to supply the belt automatic with full torque over a wide speed range.

Operating the automatic system is child’s play: start the engine, select one of the three automatic modes (sport, touring or rain) at the push of a button on the right handlebar switch, accelerate and off you go. Mana picks up speed in a mannered manner and without jerking. Basically, the CVT gearbox works continuously, but its electronic control gives the driver the impression of fixed gear steps, similar to a conventional manual gearbox. As expected, the engine revs the highest in sport mode and accelerates the mana best before the automatic shifts to the next higher of the total of seven virtual gears. With the maximum speed cut, touring mode is quieter and more refined. Goal even now the Mana accelerates quite strongly and pulls through properly, so that you don’t miss performance in any situation in the hectic city of Turin.

The different driving modes

Jahn

With the Mana, all you need to do is press a button and the corresponding gear appears in the display.

It is noticeably weaker in rain mode. Here not only is the speed of the V2 reduced again for the individual gear ratios, but depending on the throttle position, the engine management is changed so that the twin accelerates even more gently and the rear wheel does not slide unexpectedly on slippery ground. "rain" was a popular mode on the bitumen and cobblestone streets of the Fiat metropolis on the day of the test, when a violent low swept over Turin.

With the three automatic modes, the capabilities of the Aprilia CVT transmission are far from exhausted. From the sport mode, the gears can also be shifted with a sequential shift. At the push of a button on the left handlebar or by using the foot lever, the servomotor switches between the various specified gear ratios ?? noiselessly, precisely and emotionally even faster than a conventional manual transmission. Because the Mana does not have a rev counter, LEDs in the cockpit warn you to change gears. Three green lights are followed by a red warning. If the driver does not react, the automatic system automatically intervenes and shifts up a gear.

You cannot interconnect with the Mana. Only first gear can be engaged when the vehicle is stationary; the other gear steps can only be reloaded beyond walking speed. If you forget to downshift when stopping, the variator automatically shifts to first gear. The electronics prevent a brutal downshift from full speed to first gear ?? it only accepts speed steps that match the speed being driven.

But it is not just the automatic transmission that make this Aprilia an unusual motorcycle. Practical features of a scooter can also be found on it. At the push of a button, the top part of the dummy tank opens, revealing a spacious compartment that can even hold a full-face helmet. Nevertheless, the 850, which turned out to be extremely agile and handy in the hustle and bustle of the big city, is not a distinctive city vehicle. The comfortable, comfortable seating position, in conjunction with the high-torque motor and the powerful, easily adjustable brakes, also invites you to go on long weekend tours. Aprilia also offers a topcase, case set and windshield. Unfortunately, safety-conscious motorcyclists have to wait until summer 2008 for an ABS.

Data Aprilia NA 850 Mana

Engine:
water-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke 90-degree V-engine, one overhead, chain-driven camshaft, four valves per cylinder, rocker arm, wet sump lubrication, injection, Ø 38 mm, regulated catalytic converter, 450 W alternator, 12 V / 10 Ah battery, Centrifugal clutch, electronically controlled V-belt automatic with seven gear ratios. O-ring chain.

Bore x stroke 88.0 x 69.0 mm
Displacement 839 cm³
Compression ratio 10.0: 1
Rated output 56.0 kW (76 hp) at 8000 rpm
Max. Torque 73 Nm at 5000 rpm

Landing gear:
Steel tubular frame, load-bearing motor, upside-down fork, Ø 43 mm, two-arm swing arm made of aluminum, central spring strut, directly hinged, adjustable spring base and rebound damping, front disc brake, Ø 320 mm, four -piston fixed calipers, rear disc brake, Ø 260 mm, single-piston -Swimming saddle.
Cast aluminum wheels 3.5 x 17; 6.0 x 17
Tires 120/70 ZR 17; 180/55 ZR 17

Mass and weight:
Wheelbase 1463 mm, steering head angle 66.0 degrees, caster 103 mm, spring travel f / h 120/125 mm, empty weight 202 kg, tank capacity 16.0 liters.
Two year guarantee
Colors dark blue, red, silver, black
Price around 9,000 euros

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