Automatic trans motorcycles
 

This got me thinking, if a trike isn't a motorcycle then can you say that "motorcycles" with an automatic transmission aren't really motorcycles?

They are based upon being a two-wheeled vehicle, BUT if it does not have a clutch I'm not interested in it.

I used to ride my dad's 750 Hondamatic back in highschool, a guy gave it to him in exchange for some car repairs. It's still at my dad's house rotting to hell to this day.

Aprilia Mana.

Auto trans motorcycle.... I wouldn't even call it a scooter.

If it's got an engine and you can drop it in your driveway, it's a motorcycle.

http://www.bikemotor.com/images/edit...%20%20bike.JPG

Well I guess this IS Honda powered :p

Real shame about that.
The roomie used to have a 400A that was quite fun to ride.

I have taken an Aprilia Mana out for test mileage. Its a GREAT MOTORCYCLE. If I was looking for a 'commuter' bike - especially for stop and go traffic, it would be my choice. You can put it in 'manual' mode, and it acts just like a normal bike, but no clutch actuation to change gears. The standard auto mode is just fine. The sound from the V-Twin is great! :) If it came with a shaft drive setup and ABS brakes, I'd likely already own one. ;)

I've only seen a couple threads on Honda's shark auto and have only read good things.

I plan to "spiffen" it up one of these days

Maybe I should have bought you that "round tuit" that I found in Chimney Rock. :wink:

Don't wait too long. Dad is restoring his 67 sportster and is having some trouble finding parts because he waited too long... too much has to be replaced and too hard to find.

shit I'm a fabricator!

I want a bike with a clutch... I feather the clutch at slow speeds to keep revs up and the bike balanced...

This was my take on it too. That demo was a fantastic opportunity. I will say, it was most strange to just sit on it without somewhere to rest the fingers on my left hand... something was missing :lol:

It is certainly a bike to TRY regardless of your thoughts on the matter...

you used to room with prince?

:lol

CW reviewed it (and a dozen other mags- but I remember their quote) and called it "a very reasonable, perfectly fine motorcycle that just happens to have an automatic option." They weren't so forgiving of the DN-01- calling it an excuse to shove new technology down our throats, basically.

I wouldn't own the Mana- might be fun to ride, but from what I've heard, it's just way to much like a scooter. Storage under the "tank", and very soft power delivery. The "no lever" thing would drive me nuts too. That was my biggest issue with the Spyder ;-p

Yeah.
We shared Carmen Electra and Mayte. :nee:

I only say 'the roomie' because most of you guys (previous CF people aside) wouldn't know who the hell "AdamTLS" was. :lol:

Good question.

Trip what was that honda that we saw at the GAP gas station. Remember the two old ladies... It was an auto trans.

the spyder I rode was a manual, and it was still the biggest piece of shit I have ever sat on.

There is no brake lever on the right bar. ;)

That's like saying a car isn't a car if it's got an auto transmission. :shrug: Not everyone likes a clutch/manual, and some people (admittedly, a lot of women) just can't get the hang of it.

The Mana is incredible, that bike alone changed my mind about auto trans motorcycles. It's in a breed of it's on. If you haven't test ridden one, I recommend it.

I thought he was talking about the auto trans version(it has no hand levers)

True. I'm not saying it isn't a mc. I'm just asking the question since there was so much debate about a trike being a motorcycle.