Filed under: Motorcycles
Aprilia shows off its Mana X concept
Click above for more shots of the Aprilia Mana X concept
Aprilia went out on a limb when it designed its brand-new Mana 850 by equipping the standard-style machine with a CVT shiftless transmission. The rest of the bike isn't quite as revolutionary, but interesting features such as a large storage unit big enough to house a helmet where the gas tank would normally sit and an electronic ride-by-wire system that features multiple throttle maps allow the bike to stand out as an excellent commuter. All of that technology, along with Aprilia's first in-house developed V-Twin engine, was most definitely expensive to develop, and parent-company Piaggio surely wants to recoup that money as quickly as possible.
Variations on the Mana's basic theme are to be expected, and the first one is the Mana X concept bike that comes from the EICMA show Milan. While the same basic chassis underpins the X, everything the rider touches has been tweaked or completely redesigned. It's tough to pigeonhole the X with one particular label, as its design seems influenced by dirt trackers, scramblers and supermotos. Whatever the case, it definitely looks like it would be a blast to ride.
Gallery: Aprilia Mana X concept
[Source: Aprilia, Hell for Leather]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Alex 9:23AM (12/02/2008)
awesome styling, but i hope it'll come with a standard transmission.
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Derek 9:43AM (12/02/2008)
+1 2X
Jeff Banks 12:21PM (12/02/2008)
I agree...CVT's are great for scooters where you might not be going as fast, but it would suck not to have engine braking, especially in situations where you might not have great traction.
AWESOME concept though. Looks like a TW200 was raped by a Ducati Monster.
RMc 1:44PM (12/02/2008)
Completely agree.
I love how this has a flat seat. As someone with a 35" inseam, I love bikes like the Hypermotard that let you sit wherever feels good and don't have seat scallops that force a forward arse position. So maybe I have long legs and want to sit a few inches further back than someone who has a 29" inseam? If only more bikes were like this (outside of a supermoto) that could do some light touring and eat up graded dirt roads. This manaX looks like it could do just that if you added a bikini wind screen and added a honest clutch.
Joe 9:55AM (12/02/2008)
Maybe I am missing something, but it looks like the exhaust from the front cylinder comes down, loops around under the bike to the left-side muffler, and exhausts forward. That's weird.
Other than that it looks neat.
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Phil L. 10:01AM (12/02/2008)
You're right: It does look that way. Maybe to match exhaust lengths for both cylinders?
Meanwhile, the cover on the rear cylinder's pipe doesn't look to be enough to prevent right-inner-thigh toastiness...
crashtd 10:59AM (12/02/2008)
HFL got it wrong, this isn't a CVT transmission. It's more analogous to a tiptronic transmission, where the gear can be manually selected by clicking a button (or finger actuated lever in this case), or left in "automatic" where the bike does the shifting, with shifting points decided by what mode you're in.
Spec's on the Mana 850 from Aprilia.com:
Gear box: Sequential with manual or automatic mode selectable by the user. 7 ratios in manual mode. 3 mappings (Touring, Sport, Rain) in automatic mode. Gear change by pedal or handlebar control. The user can switch from automatic to sequential mode at any moment.
Clutch: Automatic
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Wes Siler 12:55PM (12/02/2008)
Actually it is a CVT, just one with artificial gear ratios that can be shifted through at the touch of a button.
Hot_Carl 12:42PM (12/02/2008)
Looks cool and tough as nails. I hope they also offer a standard trans for us old-timey cog-swappers.
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kwsdurango 1:39PM (12/02/2008)
Ooh, Automatic / CVT means I can talk on the phone while I ride! Still, not as good as in my car where I can talk on the phone and watch TV while I drive...
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lad 1:55PM (12/02/2008)
- 1 ur an asshole
kwsdurango 1:59PM (12/02/2008)
Sarcasm:
1. harsh or bitter derision or irony.
2. a sharply ironical taunt; sneering or cutting remark: a review full of sarcasms.
Stupid:
1. lacking ordinary quickness and keenness of mind; dull.
Seriously, can't you tell sarcasm when you see it? Man... the people they let have computers...
See I did that without calling you an asshole. Amazing huh?
RLQ 6:32PM (12/02/2008)
A CVT in a motorcycle isn't a bad idea really.
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IOMTT 7:58AM (12/03/2008)
It looks left over from the set of "The Road Warrior". Pretty cool though, but do the tires need to be that big???
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debenguzzi 2:03PM (12/13/2008)
hey if I can eat my butterstoch dipped ice cream cone while beating any 600 off the line then I'm sold sign me up.
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