Does anybody know what the best way would be to make a gs500f automatic?  Any ideas? I have never ridden before, and I think I would really like it but I am not sure how hard it will actually be, and I was not the best at driving a manual truck that was lifted.

Blasphemy!!!!  Leave!!!!! Now!!!!!!!!

trade it in for a cage   

get that old honda that was made in auto......only lasted like year so they aren't real common

hondamatic

Get one of them newfangled CVT automatic scooters.

Automatic GS500F?  How about a 82-83 GS450A Suzukimatic engine and transmission put into a GS500F?  Might work, would be a lot of work.  Be easier to learn how to shift.

Honda made 400 and 750 cc Hondamatics, Suzuki made 450 cc Suzukimatics and Guzzi made some 1000 cc automatics.  All were same basically, really 2 speed semi-automatics with torque converter.  Could be left in high gear and ridden without shifting or could be manually shifted between low and high gears.

I put 96,000 rather enjoyable miles on a 81 CM400A Hondamatic.

I remember them, over here they were known as the CB400A. Honda had big plans for them but only managed to sell about 1000 of them in the early eighties. A guy in my bike club had one, I tried it and just couldnt take to it.

Quote from: superhero20 on August 08, 2007, 08:59:26 PM
Does anybody know what the best way would be to make a gs500f automatic?  Any ideas? I have never ridden before, and I think I would really like it but I am not sure how hard it will actually be, and I was not the best at driving a manual truck that was lifted.

I think it would be easier just to learn how to ride...

The vast majority of bikes (gs500 included) are not automatic. In fact, I'm not even sure if anyone has ever done that 'conversion' before. I'd say that learning to shift shouldn't be too hard. You'll get the hang of it after a few days, tops.

If you want a practical way of getting around on two wheels with an automatic transmission and great gas milage, then a scooter might be right for you. It's twist and go; no shifting required.

how oh how did no one mention the Yamaha FJR 1300AE as an automatic?... or semi-automatic?


http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelhome/501/0/home.aspx

Quotehttp://www.yamaha-motor.com/assets/content/images/600/06fjr1300ae_silver_3_4a9b89e3.jpg

oh, long story short... you ain't gonna make the GS an automatic.... learn to ride or please don't ride.

   I was going to say the FJR.  Don't recommend it as a first bike tho.

I suggest you take the MSF course, they teach you about the friction point and how to engage / release the clutch. 

Shifting a bike is about 1000 times easier than shifting in a car.  The wet clutch encourages slipping, and you don't have the "two controls for one foot" syndrome.  I learned it in about a week after sucking really bad at driving a manual car.  (It has also taught me how to drive a manual car, since once I had the bike mastered, moving up to the car was no problem.)

if you go to Honda, they can install an automatic "shifter" on most cruisers bike they sell, of course at a tally price of + 3000$... is it worth the price... (well stuck in traffic... yeah I think so)..

if you dont want to shift, there are plenty of really nice looking scooter 400, 600, 650cc that are available, look under burgman and silverwing.

motorcycles in general require shifting, aint that hard... get MSF and you will get right to it.

I could operate my FZR600 entirely in 2nd gear and never shift if I wanted to.  You have to be smooth with the clutch to get started, but the top speed is about 85MPH at redline.  Excellent torque above 20MPH.  Rather loud.  Bad MPG.

I don't understand the malice for this guy's question.

Sure, you can modify the gs with enough enginuity, time and money to be an 'automatic' or self shifting machine. I don't remember reading of anyone who did it themselves. It would be very very difficult, and I wouldn't personally trust it in traffic.

Do a google for "CVT transmission, there are alot of cool videos and sites about it. Keeping the torque UP and moving varying the gear ratio to match needed acceleration just makes perfect sense.

If you think about it, fixed gear ranges are ancient history. You end up wasting a good deal of energy during 'almost' perfect gear ranges. The clutch should only be used during initial movement of the wheels, and no other time.

Yes, motorcycles are 'fun' because of the shifting. They can also be a blast (hellllo burgman 650 !!!) without the shifting and just cruising along on that magical cvt band.

Check it out. It's really cool stuff. Lots of engineering, simplicity and CONSTANT torque on tap !

don't forget the reverse

OK, end of f%$king story, buy a burgman or a convertible cage

Alot of auto bikes require you to shift,they just have an auto clutch.

Quote from: spcterry on August 09, 2007, 08:34:12 PM
OK, end of f%$king story, buy a burgman or a convertible cage

+5
not convertible but you wont be disappointed: Blue Devil Corvette- +600hp  :droool