2009 Aprilia Mana 850 Vs. Flatbush Avenue
Photo: Brk in Brklyn
What is the Aprilia Mana 850? With its CVT transmission and parking brake, is it a scooter? Do the powerful v-twin, chain final drive and steel trellis frame make it a naked bike? Does the storage area in the fake tank make it a tourer? We ride it from Brooklyn's outer reaches to its richest neighborhood via the land that real estate agents forgot -- all on one road -- to find out.
Click below for the feature:
Aprilia Mana 850 Vs. Flatbush Avenue
What is the Aprilia Mana 850? With its CVT transmission and parking brake, is it a scooter? Do the powerful v-twin, chain final drive and steel trellis frame make it a naked bike? Does the storage area in the fake tank make it a tourer? We ride it from Brooklyn's outer reaches to its richest neighborhood via the land that real estate agents forgot -- all on one road -- to find out.
Click below for the feature:
Aprilia Mana 850 Vs. Flatbush Avenue
Grant Ray. April 14, 2009 — Permalink
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Your graphs are my favorite part of this site. Thanks another unique review.
Thanks, Remy.
As a Mana owner and one whose forebears (one generation removed) inhabited the lands of Flatbush, I read with great interest your review of my current steed. Sure, it has its' little quirks but it does indeed live up to the original plan...the perfect commuter with a possible wild side. Your story seems to agree.
I think I saw this bike parked in DUMBO yesterday and I wanted it.
You should, Matthew. Select Full-Sport mode and the fly-by-wire paddle shifter works like an air-shifter on drag bikes. Come out of the stop light hot, never let off the throttle through the shifts, go directly to your nearest Hoons Anonymous facility. Otherwise you'll be trying to race anything from Subaru STI's to grannies at every light, just because you know you'll slaughter.
Who would've expected the automatic transmission to seem desirable? As I continue to work on making the 1-2 shift anywhere near as smooth as every other shift I make, I can see the temptation. :P
Well, it gives you the option. You can run in full auto or in full manual. I prefer full manual, but there's still no clutch, so sitting in traffic for hours doesn't make your left hand numb. You can shift with your left foot or with bar-mounted buttons.
Elegantly written, Grant. Nice vignette of riding through Brooklyn. Thanks.
Thanks Doug, but Wes wrote that one.
its a auto motorbike, great bike, wish a can sent u a pic. Viva Flatbush!!!!!!
Thank you for most entertaining review of the Mana! As older chick considering this bike (do they still say 'chick'?) you've given me plenty of ammo against gear-head sales people who roll their eyes when I say their bike has to compare favorably to the Mana..
fuck bike salesmen. i've only met two that weren't total douchebags. if you know your shit, that's all you need.
stuck between this and Kawasaki Versys. I am a purist at heart and feel this is somehow "cheating". I expect to do a lot of riding in Manhattan with ocassional forays two western CT, Vermont, etc...