automatic motorcycles?

[alerbaugh]

Hey guys my girlfriend wants to get into motorcycles but doesn't want to use a manual.  I did a search on automatic motorcycles and came up with a bunch of cruisers.  Have any of you guys heard of automatic sportbikes or kits that can convert a manual into an auto.   :dunno:

[TheGoodGuy]

get her a Honda Reflex or a Honda Silverwing..

She will do fine..

There was a honda motorcycle made back in the 70's with an auto.. today there are cruisers made that are an auto tranny but that one is 1/2 the size of a regular cruiser.. it looks funny (from what i remember).

[GRU]

try to find a peugeot or some european scooter...my friends in europe have them and i was suprised when i took one for a test ride....i hate bikes that don't have gears but those scooters are very fun  

http://www.stanleyfearns.co.uk/speedfight2001.jpg

[ScottWV]

Seems like it would take all the fun out of it  

I could barely drive manual when I bought my GS, did most of my learning on it  

[scratch]

I'll second The_good_guy's suggestion on the Reflex.

Or, the '70's Honda CB400T.

[sblandin68]

Ridley makes 3/4 sized bikes that are automatic. Pretty pricey though. They're out of Oklahoma.

[Briggs]

Make her learn to use the clutch. :thumb:

[Diderich]

air shifters maybe?

[scar_ace]

http://www.bikez.com/bike/picture.php?id=4453
Gilera DNA
This is an automatic, it uses a centrifugal clutch. The build quality of these is very good, and it's 4T too. 125cc it will top out at about 75mph. Very popular in the UK with those who want to retain the traditional 'throw your leg over' feel, but don't want to take the harder test or learn gears.
Simon

[JohNLA]

That Gilera looks cool

[Adam Fraser]

Suzuki made an automatic in the 80's for a year or two.  I think it was a GS400 Suzukimatic or something of that nature.

[Jared]

Honda offered the Hondamatic til 78 I think in the 400 and 750 ...

I know someone who has a 750 for sale.....

Here is a pic ( i don't know who this guy is...just found a pic)

[mwdbruno]

Just a simple internet search revealed hondamatics from 1978-1982.  
Also, I found:

http://www.powersportsnetwork.com/enthusiasts/pre_owned_detail.asp?PreOwnedVehicleCode=63438

and,

http://www.classicmarketing.com/_discweb/000002a6.htm

Hope it helps, if not thanks for the opportunity to fill the void of the daily grind!  

[alerbaugh]

Dude I never even thought about those scooters.  I do feel that shifting is most of the fun but I don't have a bike that she can fit on.  She is 5'1" and won't fit on the GS or any of our offroad bikes.  The lowest seatheight possible would help.  But thanks for those other possibilities.  I never knew they weighed so much!

[Cal Price]

Gilera Runners come in several displacements and are pretty sporty, very popular with the BYT's here. If you want something thats going to do 100+
Yamaha 500 T-Max, Honda Silverwing or Suzi Burgman 650. Burgman is also available in 400cc and 250. The 650 is amazingly heavy for a scooter but very quick, my local dealer tells me its heavier than Suzi's 1400cc bike.

[gs2sv]

gilera is actually working on a new MOTORCYCLE called the Ferro 850. It's a 850 cc vtwin engine mated to the auto tranny from the suzuki burgman scooter line. also uses a slipper clutch for improved high speed shifting(track use etc...) it looks killer. it's got the look of nice naked sport bike including dual underseat exhaust. you can find it by doing a internet search for "gilera ferro 850"

[Lex143ms]

I have a Suzuki 1982 GSA(A = automatic) 450 aka The Suzukimatic.  let me know if you are interested.

[alerbaugh]

sorry Lex143ms but I think we're going the new rout but thinks for the offer.  The gilera does look nice.

[Rema1000]

There's a whole market of automatics, called "maxi-scooters".  However, the only thing scooter-ish about most of them is that you don't need to shift.  

For example, the Aprilia Scarabeo is good to highway speeds with 16" wheels (see http://www.beginnerbikes.com/guide/scarabeo150.html ).  Aprilia also makes a 500cc, but I think it's overpriced and hard to find.  Honda makes the "Silverwing", which is basically a Goldwing motorcycle without the shifting: built for the highway, not the city.  But I think the Scarabeo 150 might be better for around-town.  If you want bigger, Aprilia Atlantic 500 had the reputation as the zippiest maxi-scooter...

But now Suzuki has come-out with the Burgman in 400cc and 650cc automatics, which have more modern styling.  And I hear they have Oomph.

I'm not a big fan of the Reflex, mostly because the seating is tilted back like a Lay-Z-Boy.  But that's just me.

It depends on what you can afford, and whether you're looking for around town, to ride along-side the GS, or for highway.  With something like the Atlantic 500, you might decide to just leave the GS behind and ride 2-up.  One thing to be prepared for: none of these "maxi-scooters" are as cheap as a used GS.  

Some rough prices:
Scarabeo 150: $3k
Reflex 250: $3.5k
Reflex 500: $5k
Atlantic 500: $5k
Burgman 400: $5k
Burgman 600, Honda Silverwing: don't ask (near $7k)

The odd thing is that these prices are about the same for new or used... you can find a 2002 or 2003 model from a dealer for about the same price as used.  It's crazy the way they hold their value.