Newb Question: Why don't they make automatic bikes?

Question

So I was asked that by a child and not knowing a damned thing about vehicles in general I decided to come to the "experts".

What obvious reason do they have to keep bikes standard? Gas, the way the engine works? Please enlighten me. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

They do.

Answer 2

Generrally there are some automatic motorcycles available, there are also a couple of semi-automatic as well that have handgrip gear changes as well as foot levers.

There are even some 2 wheel drive bikes as well for off road.

generally automatic transmissions are found on the scooters.

Motorcycle manufacturers are consistantly looking at new ideas and seem to have no end to R and D budgets, usually most ideas dont make it off the plans.

Ultimately the consumer leads the acceptance and that acceptance can sometimes be a bit of a mystery ( supermotard??).

Some manufacturers like Honda have a stable of "reliables" models that are well proven , good sellers and because of that cheap , generally a new release for the next year could be a simple as a new color scheme or a "touring" version of the standard bike.

Motorcycles world wide are growing in acceptance and more and more riders are joining the ranks due to fuel prices and the cheap entry fee into the lifestyle.

Brand new bikes over 650 cc can be bought with 3 year warranties for under $6,000 (Aus), thats not a bad first vehicle.

Answer 3

The most obvious reason is size and weight. An automatic transmission is significantly larger and heavier than a standard. To reduce the size further, bikes use a drum style gearbox which forces you to shift the gears in order...1, 2, 3, etc. You can't skip over a gear without shifting multiple times. For example, if you want to go from 5th to 2nd, you have to push down on the lever 3 times. The only gear you can skip is 1st because it's below neutral and you have to shift down to get to it. So, if you're in neutral, you can shift up to second without going to 1st.

A car's standard transmission will have "H" pattern shifters that allows you to shift from any gear to any gear.

Another reason is torque. An automatic transmission's torque converter absorbs a significant amount of torque so it can turn the drive shaft. A car engine can handle the load whereas a bike engine would strain a lot more and you'd lose a lot of power as the tranny absorbs it.

The weight of an automatic is a lot heaver because of the torque converter. They can way up to 80 lbs dry. When you fill it with fluid it easily weighs over 100 lbs. Also, since it has to be bigger from all the components necessary for it to shift, it becomes heavier by sheer size. Since bikes are always trying to go lighter, an auto tranny is not ideal.

And since the auto tranny's are so much bigger, there's not much room for one on a bike frame anyway.

There are a few bikes out there with auto transmissions, but they're usually only one gear or at max 3 gear transmissions. They seriously reduce the performance of the bike and are not very popular.

These days, most manufacturers are putting 6 gears in bikes which gives you a great shift range and increases performance substantially.

Usually people ride bikes for fun or to save gas. An automatic transmission would negate both of those advantages.
The only reason you should buy one is if you have a handicap and can't shift with your left leg.

Answer 4

There were some. My second bike was almost a 750cc Honda Hawk. At one point in time I had a Honda CM400A. A = Automatic. It only had 2 gears. They were not very popular, so they went away. There is a company called Ridley that makes one. The transmission on the one I saw looked pretty large. Much bigger than the 6-speed I've got. I guess it's like why are most sports cars standards? That's how most people want them. A motorcycle is a 2 wheel sports car in a way.

Answer 5

simply because of this
"A BIKE IS NOT A BIKE IF IT DOESNT HAVE GEARS"
Like people have listed above there are automatic transmissions in two wheelers.But if u take a close look most of the bikes listed above are scooterettes and not really bikes...scooterettes are made for women and a few sissy men who dont have the adrenaline for bikes...the main reason bikes still go with manual transmission is the acceleration and torque u get at riding at different gears as and when u want...for example u can cut to a lower gear and get more acceleration in an overtaking situation in a manual transmission whereas an automatic will not give that much acceleration..second u can shift from 2nd directly to top gear in traffic so that u dont waste fuel but a automatic will shift to the next gear only when it reaches the treshold speed...hope that answers ur question..cheers

Answer 6

Honda tried in the 70's with a 400 and a 750. Didn't sell enough to make it financially viable.
As far as the way the engine works, many changes have been made over the last century, but the basics of an internal combustion engine is the same, with it's limitations.

Answer 7

They do---Honda had a full automatic out years ago,and now they are coming next year with a brand new 600cc automatic.
You can also buy a 600 to 650 cc scooter from Honda or Suzuki ,which is really a motorcycle in disguise because they will go100 MPH. Yamaha makes a 400 cc (Majesty) that will do freeway speeds , has fuel injection and all the goodies. Hope this helps.

Answer 8

They do. Ridley makes an auto. Some of the custom V-8 bikes have what amounts to the torque converter from an automatic for a transmission.

Answer 9

They do. Most of the mopeds are automatic, with a CVT type transmission.
Suzuki used to make an automatic transmission bike, (traditional type of transmission) but was not a good seller. that's why no other manufacturer (that I know of) makes them.

Answer 10

They do. Several companies are now making electric clutch bikes that you still have to shift gears. Also Ridley makes a bike that is fully automatic.

Answer 11

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