The smaller 750 v-twin supermotos were spectacular hooligan bikes ruined by stupidly small fuel tanks, and the 850 Mana Automatic was light years ahead of its time.

Tried a Shiver 750 for size in a showroom and was suprised by how heavy it was - and how high the weight was as it was a real heave to get it off the side stand. Dind't go any further after that.

Mark Dicker was loaned a Mana 850 when his Moto Guzzi V7 Classic was in for a service - IIRC he wasn't too taken with it, though he did say it was deceptively quick and felt his licence was at risk using it !

Main problem I had with the Rotax engine in the Capo was that it was a detuned sportsbike engine - minimal flywheel to spin up faster meant it wan't happy below 2500 revs but the top end was missing due to the detune. Not the right engine character for a "travel" bike. Rotax really seem to have a downer on decent mass flywheels - I understand the air cooled 500 singles are similarly afflicted.

Nigel B.