P
Peaches
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New automatic motorcycle is an all-rounder
Arilia South Africa will soon take delivery of the Italian manufacturer's highly futuristic automatic motorcycle the Aprilia Mana for evaluation.
Unlike earlier self-shifting motorcycles that faded into oblivion due to lack of interest caused by sluggish performance, the lively Mana offers riders the option of using any of three fully automatic modes (sport, touring and rain), as well as two manual options, operated either through the usual lever near the left foot or sequentially via using two buttons on the handle bars.
The auto modes are continuously variable, with electronics manipulating gear ratios and throttle response to suit the selected riding conditions, and the two manual options both provide slick shifting through seven ratios without the need for a clutch -- much like the speedshifter on a racing motorcycle. The factory says that gear changes are quicker and slicker with this system than with a standard transmission.
The Mana -- meaning "the stuff from which magic is made" in Polynesian and other Oceanic languages -- is unique in that it is a full-sized 850cc V-twin motorcycle that combines exciting sports-bike levels of performance on the open road with the practicality of a scooter around town.
The bike is loaded with features that make it perfect for the city commuter: there's a dummy fuel tank that opens to expose a non-slip, non-scratch luggage compartment (with a courtesy light) big enough to accommodate a full-face helmet, along with cellphone and document storage compartments.
There's also a 12v power socket, an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT) that relieves the rider of the burden of operating clutch and gear levers in traffic, an under-the-seat fuel tank that keeps the centre of gravity low, a handbrake for when you park on hills, and a stainless-steel exhaust incorporating a catalytic converter.
But that's all about the practical side of the Mana as an urban commuter. What about when you just want to have fun, or cover huge distances cross-country in a day? All the right ingredients are there: 76 horsepower from an 850cc, 900 V-twin with four valves per cylinder, Weber Marelli fuel injection, a seven-speed manually operated sequential gearbox that allows lightning-quick clutchless shifting, a steel trellis frame with a single-piece aluminium swing arm, 43mm upside-down front forks, monoshock rear suspension adjustable for preload and rebound damping, four-pot radial front brake calipers clamping twin 320mm discs, and a single 260mm rear disc.
The Aprilia Mana has been well received in Europe, where many scooter riders are expected to use it as a means of shifting from basic two-wheeled transport to serious motorcycling, and motorcyclists who do a lot of city commuting are buying it to make life easier in heavy traffic on weekdays, while the sporting nature of the machine makes it an ideal recreational machine.
Arilia South Africa will soon take delivery of the Italian manufacturer's highly futuristic automatic motorcycle the Aprilia Mana for evaluation.
Unlike earlier self-shifting motorcycles that faded into oblivion due to lack of interest caused by sluggish performance, the lively Mana offers riders the option of using any of three fully automatic modes (sport, touring and rain), as well as two manual options, operated either through the usual lever near the left foot or sequentially via using two buttons on the handle bars.
The auto modes are continuously variable, with electronics manipulating gear ratios and throttle response to suit the selected riding conditions, and the two manual options both provide slick shifting through seven ratios without the need for a clutch -- much like the speedshifter on a racing motorcycle. The factory says that gear changes are quicker and slicker with this system than with a standard transmission.
The Mana -- meaning "the stuff from which magic is made" in Polynesian and other Oceanic languages -- is unique in that it is a full-sized 850cc V-twin motorcycle that combines exciting sports-bike levels of performance on the open road with the practicality of a scooter around town.
The bike is loaded with features that make it perfect for the city commuter: there's a dummy fuel tank that opens to expose a non-slip, non-scratch luggage compartment (with a courtesy light) big enough to accommodate a full-face helmet, along with cellphone and document storage compartments.
There's also a 12v power socket, an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT) that relieves the rider of the burden of operating clutch and gear levers in traffic, an under-the-seat fuel tank that keeps the centre of gravity low, a handbrake for when you park on hills, and a stainless-steel exhaust incorporating a catalytic converter.
But that's all about the practical side of the Mana as an urban commuter. What about when you just want to have fun, or cover huge distances cross-country in a day? All the right ingredients are there: 76 horsepower from an 850cc, 900 V-twin with four valves per cylinder, Weber Marelli fuel injection, a seven-speed manually operated sequential gearbox that allows lightning-quick clutchless shifting, a steel trellis frame with a single-piece aluminium swing arm, 43mm upside-down front forks, monoshock rear suspension adjustable for preload and rebound damping, four-pot radial front brake calipers clamping twin 320mm discs, and a single 260mm rear disc.
The Aprilia Mana has been well received in Europe, where many scooter riders are expected to use it as a means of shifting from basic two-wheeled transport to serious motorcycling, and motorcyclists who do a lot of city commuting are buying it to make life easier in heavy traffic on weekdays, while the sporting nature of the machine makes it an ideal recreational machine.
