Aprilia MANA reviews

This is a unique motorcycle, I thought they were different, and when I had a chance to buy a very low mileage 2009 in 2014, I jumped on it. I don't ride a ton, but have managed to put about 4000 miles on it since then. Very smooth, no slouch off the line. The ride modes are nice, but Touring is really the only one you need. The handlebar paddle shifters and foot shifters allow engine braking, and the down shifts are always 'rev matched'. In reality, it us the same drive train as a Maxi-scooter, but has the trellis frame of a naked. New models come with fairing and Abs which make it more of a lightweight tourer. So it's not for everyone, but if you a looking a good looking bike that is easy to ride, and pretty inexpensive to buy, this is for you. Just make sure you have an Aprilia dealer nearby as it is kind of an odd-duck bike and there is not a lot of expertise on it. Show less

Until you experience the thrill of accelerating from 0 to 70+ with NO gear changes, you can't really understand this bike. The sensation is very much like taking off in a jet -- pure, straight thrust all the way. The bike may look like a sport bike, but it's really more of a GT. What you won't read about is how useful the CVT is for engine braking! I can come down from 10,000' without touching the brakes. The control I get with that throttle, both power on and off, is amazing. Then once you get under about 17 mph., it freewheels all the way to 0. I really enjoy not having to hold back the clutch or put it in neutral at stoplights just to stretch and take my hands off the handlebars for a couple minutes. This reduces the fatigue factor quite a lot. Note: I have NO issues with shifting a traditional bike, but after years of stop and go traffic where I used to live, I thought I'd give this a try. This has proven to be an excellent decision. There are so many things on this bike that have my friends jealous, most notably -- the storage compartment (where the tank usually is). I'm in and out of that thing constantly and wonder how I ever lived without it. Overall, I would encourage anyone to disregard any naysaying about the CVT. So far exactly 0 EXPERIENCED bikers have failed to notice the fact that it's CVT unless I point it out. This is by far the best bike I've ever ridden, period. Get one! Show less