all about motorcycle: 125 bikes

EICMA bike pictures

Aprilia’s Mana X was released to the public during the EICMA bike show in Milan a little over a month ago. Since then, Aprilia has finally seen it fit to get the street-meets-flat-tracking motorcycle into a studio for a proper photo shoot.

From the looks of the photo’s it looks like Aprilia has done away with the foot shifter in lieu of a hands-only choice of automatic shifting, or sequential touch shifting (via finger controls). This has allowed Aprilia to move the rear-brake lever t to the handlebar where a traditional clutch lever would be, leaving the dirt bike inspired foot pegs to dangle all by themselves.

While the bike is still a concept, it would only take a few minor changes and a little raiding of the common parts bin to make this dream become a reality.

The Mana X concept is based off of Aprilia’s Mana 850, and shares the basic parts like the motor, and trellis frame. However, the resemblance ends there with a new two lens projector headlight setup, a full MX seat, low slung muffles, and a swingarm with exposed bracing taking the bike into a completely new direction of styling.

Valentino Rossi may only be 23 years old but the Italian superstar already rates as one of the greatest motorcycle racers in history. Young, sublimely talented and dazzlingly charismatic, Rossi seems to have it all. Over a mere six seasons he has swept through Grand Prix racing, winning the 125 World Championship in 1997, the 250 World Championship in '99 and the 500 World Championship last year. This season he has headed Honda's assault on the new-look MotoGP series, riding the spectacular Repsol Honda RC 211V, a 200 horsepower, 5 cylinder, four-stroke bike. This explosive combination has led the three leaders to a new World Championship title, the first of the MotoGP era, with four races left until the end of the season.