Aprilia Mana 850 GT - Specifications & Review

Company History

Aprilia started in Noale after WWII as a bicycle company before pivoting to mopeds and small-displacement motorcycles. Under Ivano Beggio in the 1970s–90s, Aprilia embraced racing as R&D, building fierce RS125/250 two-strokes that produced world champions and taught countless Europeans how a chassis should feel. The brand’s road lineup mirrored podium lessons: lightweight frames, sharp geometry, and brakes from the top shelf. With the RSV Mille, later RSV4, Aprilia brought V-twin then V-4 sophistication to superbikes, pairing compact engines with electronics that arrived early and matured fast—ride-by-wire, APRC traction/wheelie control, and track-calibrated ABS. The Tuono popularized the ‘supernaked’ formula, while the Shiver/Dorsoduro explored middleweight versatility. Scooter successes and the Caponord/Tuareg adventure lines broadened reach without surrendering the handling DNA. Aprilia’s factory in Noale retained a skunkworks spirit, where racing engineers and production teams traded ideas rapidly; the RS-GP MotoGP effort further refined aero and electronics that later influenced streetbikes. Historically, Aprilia matters because it democratized race feel: crisp steering, clear feedback, and tech that flatters riders rather than overwhelms them. Owners speak of precision—bikes that reward clean inputs and repay attention to tire pressures and setup. In the pantheon of Italian marques, Aprilia stands for modernity: less baroque drama, more lap-time logic, and an insistence that every model carry a little paddock in its genes.