What do you get when a scooter and a motorcycle mate on a hot Italian night? The 850 Mana—Aprilia’s hybrid love child.
By Bill Heald

When it comes to the elemental nature of motorcycles, usually what you see is what you get. This is especially true when it comes to “naked” street bikes that cruise down the road without any confining bodywork, so the engine and associated mechanicals are exposed for all the world to see. One look at the familiar shape of the fuel tank shows you where the motion lotion is located, and the transmission-aside from the number of gears—is pretty much identical no matter the bike.

The Aprilia 850 Mana, however, is one clever nudist. Despite being unclothed, this crossbreed still manages to hide groundbreaking innovations beneath its stylish lines. Concealed within this middleweight street brawler are features previously found only on high-tech scooters, stealthily housed within a polished, refined chassis that is all motorcycle. This machine integrates elements of both kinds of rides to create something very special, and the fun starts with a robust 839.3-cc, liquidcooled, 90-degree V-twin. Equipped with four-valve heads and the latest in fuel-injection technology, the Mana mill generates 76 horsepower with plenty of low-end torque. The engine is bolted into a stiff, elegant, trellisstyle steel frame with a lightweight aluminum swingarm. Excellent triple-disc brakes and stout inverted front forks give the Mana sporting character, and its light weight makes it easy to maneuver in traffic.

Clearly, this is an excellent middleweight motorcycle that is ideal for those seeking a sporty commuter
machine. But wait—something’s missing. The first thing you notice when you grab the handlebar is that someone has ripped off the clutch lever. Why would someone do such a thing? In this case, Aprilia’s engineers did it because it isn’t needed. The Mana has a very unique motorcycle transmission called a Sportgear, and this is where the scooter genes are expressed. You can opt for Autodrive, a three-mode automatic transmission, or a manual sequential tranny with seven speeds. The Autodrive option offers three different electronic maps to tune your ride for the day, including Touring (for maximum versatility
and minimum consumption), Sport (for maximum performance), and Rain (perfect when the going gets slippery). The manual option lets you select gears by using the conventional foot lever or a handlebar switch. This is a major advance in motorcycle tech, giving you all kinds of shifting options without ever having to bother with a clutch. And it even has a handy, concealed parking brake, too.

The other brilliant scooter-like touch involves the fuel tank, which is located lower in the chassis with a
filler under the rear seat; the “tank” is actually a spacious, lighted trunk that can swallow a full-face helmet, with a 12-volt socket for your cellphone. Like the transmission, it’s the user-friendly engineering from a smaller kind of two-wheeler that makes the Mana a brilliant new hybrid that goes where no street bike has gone before.

SPECIFICATIONS
Engine type: Liquid-cooled, 90-degree longitudinal V-twin
Bore x stroke: 88 mm x 69 mm
Displacement: 839.3 cc
Fuel system:Weber Marelli electronic fuel injection
Ignition: Digital electronic
Transmission: Sequential, with automatic or sevenspeed manual mode
Front suspension: 43-mm male slider forks
Rear suspension: Single shock, preload, and rebound adjustable
Front brakes: Dual 320-mm discs with radial calipers
Rear brake: Single 260-mm disc
Front tires: 120/70 ZR17
Rear tire: 180/55 ZR17
Fuel tank: 4.2 gallons
Wheelbase: 57.6 inches
Seat height: 31.5 inches
Dry weight: 507 pounds
MSRP: $9,900

Put on your beer helmet/thinking cap and dredge up memories of St. Patrick’s Days gone by. Maybe you start out nice and civilized with a few pints of Guinness, tell a few witty jokes, scope out the hot redhead in the green tank top across the bar. Then you demolish a couple of pitchers of questionable “green beer,” marveling at how great “Want to come back to my place and see Erin Go Bragh-less?” sounds … in your head. At some point between delivering said pickup line to said hottie and mysteriously waking up on your couch alone (how were you supposed to know she was dating the bouncer?), you decided the halfprice, bottom-shelf-whiskey shots would be a fantastic idea. This year, kick things up a notch and stick to the good stuff. Car bombs will keep you well lubricated on booze that goes down easy and is a hell of a lot of fun to drink. If you’re partying at home, impress the ladies with an Irish flag layered shot, courtesy of Ben Reed’s useful guide Shots (Ryland Peters & Small). It’s a better pickup strategy than asking if she’s kissed the Blarney Stone lately. And because we’re all about servicing your needs around here, steer clear of any horny leprechauns that come your way (in shot or humanoid form)—or you could find yourself with a very unlucky mess on your hands.

Car Bomb 1/2 oz Jameson 1/2 oz Bailey’s Irish Cream 1/2 pint Guinness Layer Jameson and Bailey’s Irish Cream into a shot glass, then drop it into the Guiness.

Horny Leprechaun 3/4 oz Bailey’s 3/4 oz Rumple Minze 2 dashes heavy cream Combine ingredients in shaker and mix with icel strain into shot glass. Add a few drops green food coloring and stir.

Irish Flag 2/3 oz creme de menthe 2/3 oz Bailey’s 2/3 oz Grand Marnier Layer ingredients in a shot glass (creme de menthe first;Grand Marnier last) using a barspoon.

As seen in Penthouse Magazine March 2008
By Abigail Aronofsky
Photos by Nicholas Eveleigh

Kawasaki doubles down with a new pair of twins–one for the real jungle and one for the paved variety.

Ah, diversity. Where would we be without it? Kawasaki embraces the concept with two 650-cc parallel twins that are as different as chalk and cheese, yet are awesome real-world mounts.

KLR650
The earthy backpacker of this duo is a dirt bike one minute and a flickable traffic jouster the next. It’s been fortified for 2008 with suspension and brake upgrades and a host of changes from stem to stern, so this made-for-adventure machine is a true SUV–an off-road berm-buster that handles commuter congestion (and potholes) with amazing aplomb. The 651-cc mill has a balancing system for smoothness, and fuel economy (and simplicity) is enhanced with a good ol’ carburetor instead of black-box electronic fueling. Throttle response is sharp and low-end torque abundant. A long-travel suspension and standard engine guard are ideally suited for trail work, but equally welcome on beat-to-crap city roads. An upright riding position and wide, dirt bike-style handlebars work well on or off-road. Another welcome feature is the standard handguards, which not only shield your hands from tree branches in the bush, but perform the same function with car mirrors on city streets. A sleek mini fairing offers decent protection from the elements, and a huge, solid luggage rack can haul beaver pelts and your Armani briefcase. Last but not least, a 6.1-gallon fuel tank combined with the KLR’s miserly attitude toward fuel consumption means excellent range.

VERSYS
You’ve got to love those Kawasaki engineers. They decided to take the trick chassis of the Ninja 650R sport bike and get all urban with it, in a quest to design a street warrior that excels in a crowded cityscape. What they created is not only a smart machine, but also an entertaining ride that uses dirt-bike attributes (like a long-travel suspension similar to the KLR, but mixed with sport-bike tuning) in a fresh, unique package. The Versys–649-cc twin is compact, armed with a balancer shaft to quell vibrations, and topped with Digital Fuel Injection for sharp throttle response. And once again, an upright riding position keeps the pressure off your lower back and allows you to see over the tops of cars when battling rush-hour traffic. Quick steering geometry and excellent suspension deliver trackworthy handling on any road. A cool minimalist windscreen does a surprisingly good job keeping the wind off your chest during blasts down the interstate, while the deeply dished seat offers acceptable comfort for allday rides. Since you eventually have to throw some whoa into the giddyup, the Versys has brilliant brakes with triple petal-shaped discs that resist warping. All of this makes the Versys a ride that’s as fine-tuned to the street as the KLR is versatile.

There’s something about drinking in the great outdoors that turns whiny sissies into genuine badasses’ at least for a while. When the temperature drops, there’s nothing like a little fire in your flask to help you man up.

MAKER’S MARK
($23)
Bourbon, a corn-based whisky that originated in Kentucky in the 1700s, is officially “America’s Native Spirit” according to a 1964 congressional act. That means it’s pretty much our patriotic duty to enjoy it. We like bourbons with old-school distillation and a vanilla finish, like Evan Williams and Maker’s.

JAMESON IRISH WHISKEY
($28)
The Irish know a thing or two about whiskey; the very word derives from the Gaelic term for “water of life” for Pete’s sake. Jameson has been around since 1780 “thats 227 winters, math whiz” long enough to prove it’ll get us through this one.

CROWN ROYAL CASK NO.16
($100)
When the occasion calls for fancy rather than firewater, this blended whisky aged in cognac casks is one of the best. Make fun of our nothern neighbors all you want, but you can add this premium whiskey to the list of fine Canadian exports(right between cheap prescription drugs and Rachel McAdams).

COURVOISIER EXCLUSIF
($50)
If you prefer to write your name in the snow with a more refined inebriant, take a cue from Busta Rhymes and pass the Courvoisier. This cognac is chocolatey and tastes more expensive than it is, so bring it out to the hot tub and pour some for your honey(s).

RUSSELL’S RESERVE RYE
($25)
Want to weed out the pussies? A favorite of Humphrey Bogart’s, ryw whiskey tends to be more peppery and bitter then other blends, so it’s not for lightweights. This one comes from the master distiller behind Wild Turkey, so you get the Dirty Bird’s smoothness plus a a 90-proof kick.

By Abigail Aronofsky

From chic choppers to cruise missiles with saddlebags, these new street bikes will make 2008 a very hot year.
-By Bill Heald

With the price of gas ap proaching Evian territory and polar bears watching their yards melt away, it’s nice to finally have a “selfless,� even “noble,� reason to visit a motorcycle dealership. By God, you’re a responsible citizen who wants to reduce our use of foreign crude, fight global warming, ease parking congestion, and shorten commuting time to enhance productivity! And if in order to do these things you need to score an awesomely powerful autobahn burner or stylish chrome stallion, so be it. The truth is, buying a 2008 bike doesn’t make sense only if you want to save gas; the top manufacturers have cobbled together some of the baddest machines ever to grace the boulevard in every category. Motorcycles are faster, lighter, and more Velcro-like in how they cling to the tarmac, and scooters are even growing extra wheels. Want to cool down the planet with some hot hardware? Now’s your chance. Your ride has arrived.

Suzuki B-King $12,899

The Suzuki Hayabusa sport bike is named after a wicked Japanese falcon and flirts with a 200-mph top speed. The B-King takes the same 1,340-cc engine and loses the burkalike bodywork, as if all that plastic blew off during a blast down a deserted interstate. A slick system called Suzuki Drive Mode Selector allows you to pick an engine response curve to tune down the beast when you need to chill around town. Acceleration is brisk, to say the least, and the six-speed transmission has a torquelimiting clutch to smooth downshifts when you finally slow back down. All the latest chassis goodies are here, including an aluminum twinspar frame, awesome brakes, and an inverted front fork with a fully adjustable single rear shock. Also stan dard is a certain menacing gothic appearance that implies you’re the baddest dude in town, so act accordingly.

Kawasaki Concours 14 $13,799

In 2006, Kawasaki gave us the ZX-14 sport bike, which is armed with a massive 1,352-cc inline four that’s capable of yanking your arms from their sockets when you give the throttle a hard twist. Also in the stable was the Concours, Kawasaki’s legendary sport tourer that needed a fresh start after two decades of service. The Concours 14 is a ground up new motorcycle that not only has the ZX-14’s stunning engine, but also a Monocoque chassis that is as modern as the bike it replaced was dated. Fully adjustable suspension components let you fine-tune the ride and handling to your tastes, while shaft drive eases maintenance. Comfort and performance blend together seamlessly in this all-day milemuncher, and standard hard luggage, available ABS, and a 5.8-gallon gas tank close the deal. Kawasaki calls it a Transcontinental Supersport Tourer; we call it brilliant.

Ducati Hypermotard $11,995

One of the coolest things about motorcycles is how the racing world influences the styling and engineering found in street bikes. The Ducati Hypermotard is the product of a new style of racing that began several years ago, when a bunch of racers took some dirt bikes, put street tires on them, and started com peting on tight, curvy tracks with both paved and dirt sections. They discovered that not only was this Supermotard racing a blast, but the bikes proved competent at just about everything. Ducati’s Hypermotard embraces this new genre in both form and function, resulting in a thrilling, aggressive street ride. Powered by a torque-rich 1,078-cc air-cooled L-twin with plenty of low-down muscle and a throaty exhaust note, the Hypermotard’s light weight, short wheelbase, and wide handlebars make it the ultimate street-carver. In typical Ducati fashion, the designers have taken what could be a stylistically ugly duckling (thanks to its dirt-bike origins) and made it hot, sexy, and brilliantly well-proportioned. A more expensive high-performance S version with suspension, brake, tire, and other upgrades makes this stout stallion even more desirable.

The iPhone isn’t the only multimedia mobile on the market. With keyboards, mapping programs, and music players, other smartphones are set to take a bite out of Apple’s dominance.
By Chuck Tannert

NOKIA N81
NO CARRIER; UNLOCKED
$500; $600

The N81 is built for music and gaming (it comes with a 3.5-mm headphone jack and dedicated game keys), which makes it a great travel companion. And with its quadband world roaming and WiFi capa bility, you can save airtime minutes by making calls via the Internet. It includes stereo Bluetooth, an FM tuner, side-mounted stereo speakers, and supports most music and video formats. It also has RealPlayer for full-screen video playback and a two-megapixel camera with video-recording capabilities. The 2.4-inch, 16-million-color QVGA screen is beautifully sharp, and the alphanumeric keypad is easy to use. There are two versions: an eightgigabyte model and one with a microSD expansion slot that accepts cards up to four gigabytes. They’re pricey, but may be worth cracking open your piggy bank.

MOTOROLA Q MUSIC 9M
VERIZON
$250

This is a true multimedia device. At 4.8 ounces, the 9M is heavier than the original Q (4.3 ounces), but it’s a solid unit that offers great Windows Mobile 6 features—easily searchable e-mail, an enhanced calendar, and contacts with smart dial. Plus, it’s equipped with Documents to Go, so you can view, edit, and create Microsoft Office files on your phone. But the surprise is the quick-access entertainment features: The user interface offers one-touch launch keys for V Cast Music, the camera, and pictures, so it feels like a dedicated gadget, not a phone with accessories.

SAMSUNG BLAST
T-MOBILE
$100

This is one of the least expensive and bestlooking phones available. The interface is easy to use, and the Blast includes all the standard smartphone features—e-mail, organizational tools, and a 1.3-megapixel camera. It’s equipped with stereo Bluetooth technology, a QWERTY-like keypad that keeps it compact but still text-friendly, and a builtin media player that provides easier access to videos and music than most phones in its class—especially at this price.

BLACKBERRY CURVE 8320
T-MOBILE
$250

This may be the best BlackBerry on the market. It looks sharp, fits comfortably in the palm of your hand, and offers integrated WiFi that works with T-Mobile’s HotSpot@Home service, which means you can make calls without burning your airtime minutes. It also boasts a spacious QWERTY keyboard, a two-megapixel camera, supports popular IM clients, and has all the basic BlackBerry organizer tools, including the calendar and the maps application. You’ll never need to ask for directions again.

Feeling overloaded by MP3s, JPEGs, and DVDs? Overwhelmed by wires, interfaces, and stacks of CDs? Relax. The right home server can simplify your life; store your movies, music, and photos in one place; and finally introduce your computer to the rest of your living room.

Slim Devices Squeeze Box $299 (Audio-Only) This slick-looking box is serious about tunes. It wirelessly streams audio from the Internet, supports Rhapsody and Pandora premium-audio services, and has analog and digital outputs. Setup doesn’t take long, but it isn’t easy (Mac users may struggle). Once it’s up and running, the Squeezebox is a gem; sound quality is good and the interface is simple. Its biggest drawback, though, is that it can’t stream music from copyright-protected online stores, so you can kiss iTunes’s 99-cent song downloads good-bye.

Sonos Zoneplayer 80 Bundle $1000(Audio-only) This thing kicks ass! If you want an elegant streaming solution, the ZP80 is your ticket to digital-audio nirvana. Its PDA-style controller is so cool, you’ll be tempted to wear shades while operating it. The ZP80 comes with two modules so you can set it up in two rooms (though the system is expandable up to 32 rooms) and includes all of the cables you’ll need to get it up and running—which takes less than five minutes. The first module must be hardwired into your network, but the rest communicate wirelessly with it for seamless integration.

Sony VGF-WA1 Wireless Digital Media Streamer $350 (Audio-only) Think of the WA1 as a boom box that plays your PC’s digitalmusic library or compatible Web radio stations via Wi-Fi. It supports all popular musicfile formats except those that are copyright-protected, like most iTunes downloads; and because the WA1 is battery powered, you can carry this tabletop unit from room to room. Audiophiles beware: The system sacrifices sound quality for portability.

Netgear EVA8000 DIGITAL ENTERTAINER HD $400 (Multimedia) Propellerheads, rejoice! This bad boy doesn’t look as cool as the Apple TV and it doesn’t offer all the latest tech, but it does a lot for the price. It can stream YouTube videos, Flickr photos, live and recorded TV, Internet radio, and even protected iTunes downloads. Sadly, setting it up will make you sweat, the interface is clumsy, and the somewhat dusty wireless technology holds back the Netgear’s streaming capability. If you can get past that, this baby delivers.

Turn your Xbox 360 Elite into a home-theater hub XBOX 360 ELITE GAME CONSOLE ($480) has plenty of hidden talents; one of them is acting as an affordable entertainment-system hub. Just add the HD-DVD drive ($200) and a powered speaker system, such as Pioneer’s HTS-GS1 ($300), then connect the console to your HDTV and home network. You can stream audio or video from your PC, or download directly from the Xbox Live Marketplace to the Elite’s 120-gigabyte hard drive. Then take the cash you saved and blow it on BioShock.

BMW launches a hot pair of asphalt-carving twins. By Bill Heald

Few manufacturers have worked as hard as BMW when it comes to producing new machinery. This latest effort adds a whole new class of bikes to its line, courtesy of a brace of sporting 800s. The F 800 S and its touring partner, the F 800 ST, feature an engine format that BMW has never used before—the vertical twin. This compact, plucky 85-horsepower mill, built by Austrian engine manufacturer Rotax exclusively for BMW, sports four-valve heads and electronic engine management, and features an interesting first in a production motorcycle. To quell vibration, a swing-action balancing rod knocks out annoying shakes and smooths the twin’s power pulses, even at higher revolutions.

This technology is mated to a six-speed transmission and a clean, quiet belt that powers the rear wheel instead of a chain. The F 800 S and the F 800 ST possess a rigid aluminum frame and an under-seat fuel tank for better mass centralization. In addition to the high-performance triple-disc brakes, BMW’s excellent antilock system—which the marque’s engineers have been perfecting for decades—is available as a factory option. Stout 43-mm front forks and a fully adjustable rear shock handle suspension duties, and a single-sided rear swingarm not only looks cool but also makes wheel changes a snap.

A standard steering damper keeps things on track should you blast out of a corner and hit a serious bump while hard on the gas—a situation that can induce a nasty, potentially disastrous wobble in motorcycles with lesser road discipline.

The F 800 S is the sportier of the duo, with a lower, shorter handlebar that promotes a more aggressive riding position, a lower windshield, a smaller fairing to reduce drag, and “speed� wheel design. The ST gets higher handlebars for a more upright riding position, a larger fairing with side panels for more weather protection, a standard luggage rack, and a “dynamic� wheel design. Great options like expandable saddlebags, heated handgrips, and a trip computer add long-haul comfort and versatility to either machine.

BMW held the U.S. press introduction for these bikes in Kona, Hawaii, and the Big Island was the perfect venue for contrasting the S and ST’s personalities. Both bikes are light, flickable rides that deliver crisp, smooth power from the new vertical twin and excellent stability
when pushed hard. Tropical rain showers demonstrated the value of the ST’s better weather protection, while the S’s sportier riding position made railing through tight corners a breeze. Amazingly, as fresh as these lightweight twins are, they still have the versatility, comfort, and even the exhaust cadence of a traditional BMW.

Want to create a signature drink? All you need is vodka and a trip down the produce aisle.
By Abigail Aronofsky

Vodka doesn’t have a volatile reputation for nothing. It’s colorless, odorless, and can be made with practically anything from wheat to potatoes to soy and it packs a hefty alcohol content of about 45 percent by volume. The spirit’s purity makes it an ideal blank slate to infuse your own flavors. But we’re not talking about mixing it with cranberry juice. We’re talking about dumping some real cranberries into a vodka bottle and letting it sit for a couple of weeks. Kenny Addington, executive chef at Bette restaurant in Manhattan, helped craft a lemon-cucumberthyme infusion that’ll complement your next cookout—and looks a lot cooler on your deck than a beer-can pyramid . He also gave us some tips on how to select ingredients and mixers for your own infused vodka.

Pick Your Poison
“Choose ingredients with a little bit of natural oil. Citrus fruits are great; chilies work well because of the capsaicin.
Spices that lend themselves well to vodka include cardamom and thyme, which adds a floral note.�

Make it a Conversation Piece
“You can use a mason jar or, for visual effect, mix right in the bottle.�

Time it Right
“You don’t want vodka to sit for more than a couple of weeks be cause it’ll make the mixture bitter. Most infusions should sit one or two weeks; any longer and it starts getting rancid.� This infusion will turn light yellow after a week and a half at room temperature. When the beverage starts smelling like a lemon drop and tastes sweet almost melon-like-strain it into another container and you’re ready to drink.

Pair with Care
“You don’t want to challenge the flavors you’re working with. Soda and light juices work great.�

Bette’s Thyme Out
2 1/2 oz. thyme, lemon, and cucumber-infused Stoli
1/2 oz. dry vermouth
Shake with ice and strain into chilled martini glass.
Garnish with thyme sprig and cucumber slice.

Stop harshing your sonic buzz with cheap hearing aids. Here are the latest and greatest headphones for your inner music fan.

Tune in, turn on, and drop out was once an invitation to expand your consciousness through mind-altering drugs. Today it means download tunes, hit the pavement with a portable audio device, and joyfully tune out the din of everyday life. Unfortunately, the crappy headphones supplied with most players, like your iPod, can ruin your sonic euphoria faster than a bad hit of acid. That’s why discerning listeners are investing in better buds that meet their particular needs. Here are some of the best offerings.

By Chuck Tannert

The always cuttingedge Honda is going retro. The Shadow Spirit 750 is a stylish V-twin cruiser with a refined, liquid-cooled mill. But instead of state-of-the-art fuel injection, it has a carburetor! While everybody’s doing full disc brakes, the Spirit’s rear brake is a polished drum that looks pirated from a 1970s beater. Instrumentation consists of a speedometer and not much else. But this bike has classic character, a laidback riding position, and a deep, throaty exhaust note; the engine is small but satisfying. And at $6,799, the Spirit is a steal.

By Bill Heald