2009 Aprilia Mana 850 GT Preview

Aprilia barely finished presenting the 2009 Shiver 750 GT and already moved forward to unveiling next year’s Mana 850 GT. At its base, the bike remains the same all-rounder with nothing more than an adjustable windscreen that is new for 2009.

The engine, an 893cc V-Twin that puts down 76bhp is unchanged and still mated to the CVT automatic gearbox with seven electronically defined gears and also clutchless manual shifting. No need to go easy on the throttle as long as you’ve selected the sport, touring or rain riding mode depending on your riding preferences or weather conditions.

I wouldn’t compare it with four-cylinder Japanese sport-touring bikes such as the Hornet or FZ1, although the Mana would make a good impression due to performance suspensions and ABS, apart from the bulletproof engine and transmission.

Stylistically, the bike is pretty much up to 2009’s standards although the Italian could have done more than adding an adjustable screen to it.