Gilera DNA.org

I’ve had a certain amount of comment to my last post that is worth responding to. I think sometimes people lose sight of the fact that my site is called Gilera DNA.org and therefore that is the bike that frames my point of view. I like the DNA because it is small, light, reliable, cheap and has a motorcycle like feel. The Mana and the GP800 are large, expensive, heavy and unproven; I only include them in the blog because the Mana is the descendant of the DNA and the GP800 is a Gilera and shares an engine with the Mana. I’m not really likely to like them 100% am I?

To respond to specific points:

• On the reliability and recall of the Aprilia Mana.

Many moons ago Piaggio released the long awaited 500 version of the X9 but this machine had a design fault which meant the bike wobbled at high speed. This was very disappointing at the time. It shows that Piaggio (who own Aprilia) are capable of cocking up majorly on a larger bike. Again, they could of made the Mana without the electronic gear control thus there would have been one less thing to go wrong, but they chose to include it so I’m going to be suspicious.

• On why I would want a geared larger motorcycle. 

I don’t subscribe to the gears as being ’sporty’, my objection to large capacity scooters is simply one of fuel economy. Fuel is very expensive these days and gears make for a more economic vehicle. I would favour scooters that go in the Piaggio Hys direction.

I could drone on but I hope this clears things up for everyone.