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Aprilia is running a special on new 2009 Aprilia Mana 850. I would love to own a Hi-tech automatic Motorcycle.

I had in mind either Honda DN-01 or Aprilia Mana 850.

Go for Mana 850?

Aprilia's are great, but the automatic transmission has no appeal to me since shifting is part of the fun. If you are specifically looking for an auto then I'd probably go with the Aprilia since the Honda is more of a cruiser. But if I'm buying an Aprilia for the street a Dorsoduro 750 would be more fitting.

If this would be your first bike I wouldn't get either, go with something small and cheap if that is the case.

There's just something wrong with an auto 2-wheeler. Of course, YMMV.

Bikes are like women, what I think is a 2 might be a 10 to you.
Both are interesting bikes made by quality makers. Go with the one that "speaks to you".

When I last rode bikes, an automatic transmission that worked was a fairy tale. I am curious as to how well it works on this Aprilia.

There was a time when I was young and skinny (and kinda dumb too), and I rode sport bikes exclusively. I was also actively involved in SoCal club racing, and my home tracks were Willow Springs and Riverside Raceway. When I rode on the street, I rode too dang fast. I was blessed by living a couple of miles from the beginning of the Angeles Crest Highway, and between it and the other connected mountain highways, I had probably something like 200 miles of winding mountain road on which to scratch my itch—everthing from twisties, to high-speed sweepers, to chicanes, to long straigtaways with a clear view.....and the occasional deer jumping out onto the highway. It was crazy fun, but crazy.

Anyway, I had always thought that direct (non-electronic) manual shifting was a prerequisite to performance riding/driving...but then along came Formula 1 cars with paddle shifters, then supercars with paddle shifting, and now you can even find paddle shifters in the lowly SmartCar. If it weren't truly a better system, I serioulsy doubt that manufacturers of $200K supercars would force their paying customers into buying it. If the world's very best high-performance drivers are content to use paddle shifting, it is hard to imagine what kind of conditions might better profit from a human being directly linked to the tranny through an old-fashioned clutch and shifter.

So on occasion, I've rented cars that gave the driver the option of using fully automatic shifting, or the stick equivalent of a paddle shifter.....Nissan Altimas and Maximas come to mind. In 95% of driving conditions, I was happy to just use the automatic shifting mode. But a few times, I've played around with the other mode—push stick to the right nets an upshift, pull it back to the left nets a downshift—and it was kind of fun....although I couldn't entirely stop the vestigial movements of my left foot on the floor, looking for a clutch pedal.

Anyway, all of that is to say that I wonder if the tranny on this Aprilia (or the Honda) allows you to operate in either mode: letting the tranny do the work for you when you're just cruising around, or actively managing it through the motorcycling equivalent of "paddle shifting" when you're strafing a set of twisties. Also, is there any significant weight penalty on a bike for having this kind of system? I find it intriguing.

TAM,

Both bikes have paddle shifters. There shouldn't be more extra weight, maybe extra cost for maintenance and transmission repairs if any. I was trying to get and negotiate $300 on the 2009 Mana 850 deal. Dealer wants $7048 on $5999 special price offered by Aprilia with 2.9% at 36 months. The new 2011 Mana 850 GT with ABS has MSRP $11,200. I would be spending $1000+ on rider safety gears.

The first issue, is seat height, I am 5'-7.5" and Mana 850 could have a tall seat which might need a professional lowering. An moderate issue of extra money to spend and trust in who will ever do said task.

Now, it isn't a problem of money. It is a problem of convincing my wife to accept the idea that I will be a riding a bike. Her dad was run-over by by a commercial truck while riding a scooter at night. She was 9yrs old when that happened.

My first attempt, is that I will buy bike and ride only on closed circuits roads till I accumulate enough experience to ride on the streets and HWs. It seems it working.

Here is a review: http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycles ... na-850.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Beiruty, if you have not done so already, I would recommend the Motorcycle Safety Course...I think it's pretty much a requirement these days anyway to get your M endorsement. As far as learning techniques and what to do when "things go bad" I would highly recommend some dirt time with a dirt bike (of course). That way, when you rear tire slides/skids out, well, you'll know what to do...dirt is a better place to crash than the street.

PUCKER wrote:Beiruty, if you have not done so already, I would recommend the Motorcycle Safety Course...I think it's pretty much a requirement these days anyway to get your M endorsement. As far as learning techniques and what to do when "things go bad" I would highly recommend some dirt time with a dirt bike (of course). That way, when you rear tire slides/skids out, well, you'll know what to do...dirt is a better place to crash than the street.

100% agree with both recommendations.

Do you recommend to negotiate safety gears from the dealer? It would AF1 racing: http://www.af1racing.com/store/Scripts/default.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Or, research and shop online?
And for safety course, that is a req for me and I will be scheduling with MTC http://www.texasmtc.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This what I posted on Aprilia forum:

I used to ride scooter up to 125cc some 20 yrs ago. I am now 44. I all the time enjoyed bikes with auto transmission. I loved the looks and CVT on Honda DN-01 but never purchased one. Almost in the same year Aprilia introduced the new Mana 850 and I like the bike, its performance and the fake gas tank that hides your full face helmet.

I would love to own an auto bike and ride again, for pleasure around the town drive, commute if any (I do work from home for the last 2 yrs). Maybe some 260 miles trip to Houston.

However, Mana 850 would be my first big bike. And, till date I do not have the M- endorsement. For sure, I need to basic rider ed and lic.

Is the Mana 850 is tolerable first big-engine bike? Should I pass on 09 deal and look for deals onMana 850 GT?

Also, I checked around in DFW, there is no more 09 Mana 850 in stock and I would have to consider Austin/Houston or OK dealers. Also, the more I can save on the more I can spend on Accessories and rider wear and helmets. Safety will ride would be top priority.

I am sorry if my questions have been answered before. Thanks for your help.

From my experience (and it's been a few years since I've owned a motorcycle, but I still rent every now and then and ride dirt on a buddy's stuff) the dealers (aka "stealers") have horribly high mark-up on gear/accessories. You are probably better to go to an independent gear / performance shop (maybe Moto Liberty?) and try stuff on, do some research (that way, if you decide to buy at a dealership then you know what retail price is, and you tell them that's what you'll pay). Also, motorcycle shows are a good place to try and buy, usually good deals there. Get the best helmet you can, do NOT skimp on this, trust me!

Also, quality boots, gloves and a jacket at the minimum, a full suit is nice but probably not practical. If you are not comfortable, you are not going to wear it (same with a holster for conceal carry).

I have never ridden an automatic motorcycle (well, maybe a little scooter years ago) but I *have* ridden an automatic 4-wheeler/ATV. It was a "piece of poo" in my opinion. Throttle response was lacking, the engine seemed to always be "hunting" for the right gear (if you will) and it seemed that the automatic was very parasitic, meaning that it robbed power. Maybe Aprilla and Honda have it figured out. I think that after a few miles I would be pretty bored with an auto bike, and probably less than thrilled. Can you drive a standard transmission car/truck? If so, maybe you should consider a "normal" motorcycle? You will be riding a standard transmission motorcycle during your motorcycle safety class (unless that has changed). It would be a shame for you to buy something and then get bored with it after a few miles/days in the saddle. It is your money though.

I should mention that my daily driver is a 6-speed manual, I would not want it any other way. However, I not have to deal with much traffic. Every now and then I'll get stuck in stop and go traffic and that clutch does get a tad heavy for my left foot.

I have no issue in driving stick shifts in cars. Back then when I rode a 125 cc motorcycle, it had a standard foot shifter, but no clutch, you need only to lift on the right handle and shift. It was fun to ride to the American University of Beirut for some 15 mins in crazy congested Beirut streets. Everyone was in CA-like traffic, but my motorcycle zipped around cars. I only dropped my bike once on wet up curve with minor let leg rush.

I test rode a Piaggio BV 350. If someone doesn't want to shift gears, it's not a bad choice for commuting and pleasure rides. You won't beat Corvettes off the line at stoplights but highway speeds are no problem.

Beiruty wrote:TAM,

Both bikes have paddle shifters. There shouldn't be more extra weight, maybe extra cost for maintenance and transmission repairs if any. I was trying to get and negotiate $300 on the 2009 Mana 850 deal. Dealer wants $7048 on $5999 special price offered by Aprilia with 2.9% at 36 months. The new 2011 Mana 850 GT with ABS has MSRP $11,200. I would be spending $1000+ on rider safety gears.

The first issue, is seat height, I am 5'-7.5" and Mana 850 could have a tall seat which might need a professional lowering. An moderate issue of extra money to spend and trust in who will ever do said task.

Now, it isn't a problem of money. It is a problem of convincing my wife to accept the idea that I will be a riding a bike. Her dad was run-over by by a commercial truck while riding a scooter at night. She was 9yrs old when that happened.

My first attempt, is that I will buy bike and ride only on closed circuits roads till I accumulate enough experience to ride on the streets and HWs. It seems it working.

Here is a review: http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycles ... na-850.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you don't mind going to Austin to get one for $5999, here you go: http://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2009 ... -102517999

Agree with the MSF recommendation, the course is very good and the parking lot exercises are fun. Many insurance companies will give you a discount for having completed it.

For gear, Moto Liberty in DFW and Newenough in Lubbock are great to deal with. If you know exactly what you want check ebay too, especially for things at the ends of the normal size spectrum.

I might be the only one, but I actually find a motorcycle's manual transmission easier to manipulate than a car's. The gear shifter moves in fewer dimensions and the clutch is operated by a limb with greater dexterity.

To lower the seat the easiest, least intrusive way is to get a thinner seat. Corbin or one of the other companies may make one, or you could just peel off the seat cover, have a go at it with a carving knife, and staple it back on. I wouldn't recommend messing with the suspension since, to me at least, needing to do that means the bike doesn't fit and it is probably good to look at something else.

The Annoyed Man wrote:

Beiruty wrote:TAM,

Both bikes have paddle shifters. There shouldn't be more extra weight, maybe extra cost for maintenance and transmission repairs if any. I was trying to get and negotiate $300 on the 2009 Mana 850 deal. Dealer wants $7048 on $5999 special price offered by Aprilia with 2.9% at 36 months. The new 2011 Mana 850 GT with ABS has MSRP $11,200. I would be spending $1000+ on rider safety gears.

The first issue, is seat height, I am 5'-7.5" and Mana 850 could have a tall seat which might need a professional lowering. An moderate issue of extra money to spend and trust in who will ever do said task.

Now, it isn't a problem of money. It is a problem of convincing my wife to accept the idea that I will be a riding a bike. Her dad was run-over by by a commercial truck while riding a scooter at night. She was 9yrs old when that happened.

My first attempt, is that I will buy bike and ride only on closed circuits roads till I accumulate enough experience to ride on the streets and HWs. It seems it working.

Here is a review: http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycles ... na-850.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you don't mind going to Austin to get one for $5999, here you go: http://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2009 ... -102517999

Same dealer I am talking to about this bike. Now wants $7300 OTB with 30mm lowering kit installed.

For your first street bike I would suggest that you buy something smaller (physical size, weight and displacement) and cheaper. Craigslist is a pretty good place to buy motorcycles. I've purchased several bikes via CL and still own two that I purchased that way. There are MANY people that buy too much bike as a first bike, start riding and hate it because the bike is too much for their skill set. IMO an 850cc Italian rocket is more bike than any new rider should attempt. Get yourself a nice, used 250 to 500cc small, light bike as a starter. Once you master it, get something bigger.

When you're learning to ride, having too much motor, weight and seat height will suck the joy out of the experience. I guarantee it. I've been riding motorcycles for 30+ years and I've helped a dozen new riders get started on the 2-wheel path.

IMO, YMMV

ETA: Here's an old Hondamatic for sale... http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/mcy/2964263613.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
250 cc Ninja.. REALLY fun to ride.. http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/mcd/2964190432.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
This 650R is about the biggest bike I'd suggest for a new rider... http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/mcy/2963344752.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The "R" is set up to be more upright with higher bars vs a traditional Ninja. Plenty of bike for a new rider, maybe too much, but, manageable size and weight.