Advice on automatic bikes please

[Archangel]

Hi, Im new to the forum and to biking so first off I wana say howdy to you all... Howdy!

And secondly, Im looking for some advice please.

Basically im looking for a scooter that looks like a bike rather than a typical scooter shape.

I much prefer riding a scooter with an automatic transmission than a bike with the manual, Ive driven an automatic car for about 10 years and basically i prefer the riding experience more when I dont have to worry about gear selection.

I know I will probably get a bunch of people who think im 'not doing it right' and all that kind of stuff, but to be honest I want to enjoy the ride and I enjoy it more on an automatic so Im happy with that.

That being said however, I really dont like the shape of a sterotypical scooter. I much prefer the look of bikes, both race style and cruiser style.

I would love to know what kind of scooters are out there that look more bike like than scooter like.

So far all ive been able to find is the Gilera DNA and the Pulse Rage, both of which are racer bike styled.

Does anyone know of other race styled scooters, or even cruiser styled that are automatics?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[P.]

Thats about it really...

Automatics aren't that common on bikes, quite pants too.

Whats wrong with gears, You never have to think about them at all...

[GreenPan]

I'm inclined to agree that geared bikes aren't all that much of a problem once you're out there.

All the same, the only automatic bike that doesn't look like a scooter that I can think of is the DN-01 from Honda. Literally the only things on the gear selector are "D" and "N"

https://dayerses.com/data_images/posts/honda-dn-01/honda-dn-01-06.jpg

Although in saying that, are you on L's or a restricted licence at the mo?
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Current Bike: '92 ST1100 Pan European
First Bike: '00 CB500

[Archangel]

TBH, its not the changing of gears that is the problem, its the geared bike in general.

Ive driven an auto car for so long, I have serious trouble finding the bite point when starting off.

I dont mind stalling a few times leaving home, but pulling away from lights and junctions and stalling gets me stressed and the more Id stall the bike the more annoyed I get and it just made the ride really annoy me and Id find myself just wanting to go home and get the car.

Also, the first time I sat my CBT I overcompensated by reving too hard and letting the clutch out too fast, sped off, sh*t myself, slammed on the brakes, locked the front wheel, came off and dislocated my elbow.

I was always super carefull after that which lead to more stalling.

Ive not got much experience riding yet, so maybe once Im more used to how a bike handles different from a car and that kind of thing I may try my hand at a geared bike again but for the time being Im looking for a cheaper way to commute and have some fun while Im doing it, so a scooter works for me... well apart from the fact I dont like the look of them lol

[Archangel]

The DN01 is a bit adventurous for me at the moment but a tasty looking bike

Just noticed the line under the pic there, yea im still on L plates at the moment.

[Kwaks]

Then the DNA may be best for you, although gaining all your experiance on that will make the situation worse in the long run.

A couple of days using a geared bike would sort out.
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[P.]

I went from nothing to a geared bike, drove an auto car for a while and had a geared bike, you just need to get used it, same as going from manual to auto in a car.

Just...2000rpm, slowly let clutch out and increse revs a little, nothing like 7k drop the clutch visit bush.

[Archangel]

The bike i had was a honda something, cant remember what, it didnt have a rev counter though so i was trying to hear the revs through engine sound and i always felt i was reving way to hard only to discover i wasnt.

[Rogerborg]

The new Honda NC700S is (or should shortly be) available with some sort of magic techno frippery twist-and-snore gearbox. You'll need to get a license first and will have to buy brand new, but beggars can't be choosers.
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GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[bigguy]

For what its worth i think the peugeot satelis 125 is an excellent choice of scooter, i had one just over a year ago and it was great,some folk who were behind me said they thought it was a bike, you will reach 70 no probs with it as well an easily copes with two up,,google it and see what you think..good luck.

[blito]

I wonder if the Piaggio MP3 or Gilera Fuocco might be of interest? 400cc 3-wheeled scoots that tilt and ride exactly like a motorbike but can be ridden with a car license!
Curious machines that you either love or hate....
https://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-reviews/gilera/2007-gilera-fuoco-500ie-ar32650/picture161907.html
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[Teflon-Mike]

Honda did an auto version of the CB750 'Four' back in the 70's. They also did an Auto version of the CB400N.
Moto-Guzzi did an auto-version of the 850 California.
Then there is the modern crop of Hondas with electronic controlled shift.

Where are you starting from?

Trouble IS that you will have to have a full licence to ride anything over 125cc, and if you test on a twist & go, you will have Auto-Only endorsement, which will severely hamper bike choice, as I don't think ANY of them are 'fully' automatic, hence you need to have un-endorsed licence to ride them.

Means passing test on a geared bike.

HOWEVER....

I think you are looking for a problem to justify a solution.

Yes, I am going to say go-geared.

I am an auto-fan, and have been driving auto-cars, pretty much exclusively for last twelve years or more, but learned to drive in Canada, where I drove Auto's & apreciated them.

On a bike, I don't have trouble 're-aclimatising' to using the gear-box. Have more trouble getting into a manual ruddy car and wondering why bludy thing stalls at the first T-Junction!

AND on big-bikes.... you can have that 'auto' feel; riding on the throttle, doing it all on the torque.

And it doesn't have to be a very big, big bike. My 750 is no monster, yet you can pull away in 2nd and leave it there round town; out of town snick to third, and leave it THERE.... but using the box, you can obviousely knock the revs back for relaxed cruising or clocg down for a brisk over-take.

This is the sort of thing that bikes do well, and having the manual box does let you 'exploit' what control you have... they are ALL about control, so to me seems as natural as breathing to have a gear-box to play with.

I'd say try it, see how you get on. If you dont have licence, work towards unrestricted one. Then you have the choice.
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Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[Archangel]

The Peugeot, nice but still looks too scootery for me

The trikes, Ive seen before and I do like them, also like quads that you can drive on a car licence, but Id still prefer a two wheeled bike.

Like I said, Ive not got much riding experience under my belt yet, so as far as kicking down to overtake and stuff, I wana be able to walk before I start running, and Im still on L plates so limited to bikes about 70mph by the 125cc engines.

Im not sure about the test on automatic bikes... I know if you have an auto car licence you can drive a semi auto car aswell, so long as theres no clutch pedal in the vehicle... Id need to look further into that for bike restrictions on automatics and semi automatics.

At this point im happy with the 125cc bikes, and im sure I will get back on a manual at some point before test time, because I like a lot of big engine bikes that are manuals and id rather have the option.

Just right now im happier sticking with an auto.

Thanks for all the bikes and info guys, much appreciated and a great welcome to the forum

[hedgehugger]

If you take your test on an automatic, that is what you are stuck with.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Another option is the Aprilia Mana.

However I do think you will get used to gears pretty quickly.

All the best

Keith
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[Richy CB1000]

I'm currently waiting for an NC700s to come into my local dealer for a demo ride, the DCT version that is.

There's also the X version which is more crossover style which I've only sat on but it's a bit too tall for me as I'm a shorty.

Reason for this, I have some issues with my fingers on the left hand through nerve problems, these go up to my shoulder and on certain days the pain will stop me pulling the clutch in and therefore no riding!

So the DCT system (Dual Clutch Trans) seems the only viable option in a machine that actually looks like a bike.

Reviews are good but I'll make up my own mind as and when.

It can be run as a fully automatic in drive mode normal or sports, plus it has the +/- button for manual changes if you so wish.

Would be interesting to hear if anyone has already tried one? I believe there's a VFR version but that machine's a tad too expensive...

[Derivative]

Probably not helpful, but having had roughly the same amount of time using both bikes and cars, I find that a manual motorcycle is far far less tedious and awkward to use than a car.

The gear stick is just an awkward input method. A strange, puzzling piece of kit. Yes, you get used to it, but does it really make sense? Not really.

By contrast, the gear lever on a motorcycle is a clever piece of kit, with perhaps the exception of 'finding' neutral.

[Polarbear]

I have an auto car, my missus has a manual one and we both have geared bikes. We can both change between any no problem. It isn't cause we are super heroes, it's just what we are used to.

Go do a days training, 1 to 1 with a good instructor and you will wonder what the hell you were worried about
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