Are there any beginner and intermediate semi-automatic standard-style motorcycles (not cruisers or scooters)?

Question

I have an interest in purchasing a motorcycle(s) for street and light to (later on) moderate freeway driving. I say more than one motorcycle since, from what I have read, you start out easy and move on to more powerful bikes later.

Back to the matter at hand, though. I remember riding a semi-automatic ATV that I really enjoyed riding. Changing gears without a clutch was easy for me to grasp and learn and it was darn fun!. However, I am not very comfortable with clutch+gears, possibly due to me trying to learn on a Camero but thats another story. So I ask, have you seen standard motocycles (not sport, not cruisers, not scooters, but, for lack of a better word "regular" motorcycle styles; not forward leaning, but sitting fairly straight up) that have this semi-auto type of transmission that are beginner class (around 250-400cc) and, as a later upgrade, intermediate class (500-600cc)?

Thank you for your time.

Answer 1

Yamaha made a semi-automatic cruiser, but that was a big bike, unsuitable for a beginner.

Don't worry - I thought the same thing when I started, and intended getting a scooter. But when I did a learner's course, I decided to learn on a motorcycle ). After getting my learner's (a learner's course is compulsory in Australia) I was hooked, and bought a second hand Honda CB250 aka Honda Rebel (pure luck - the riding school bikes got caught out in a hailstorm and they were sold off cheaply). Learning to change gears on a bike is actually a lot easier than on a car, because of the progressive gears (no neutral between gears).

If you do learn, shop around for a good second hand 250 as a first bike, there's quite a few, and you'll not lose all that much in value..

Since then (two years ago) I've moved up through 4 bikes to a V-Twin sports bike, and only now bought a scooter, for commuting.

Answer 2

It is very difficult to answer your question,because i have no idea how much money you have to spend.
also try not to look at the amount of CC's but
for a beginning driver,what matters is the amount of horsepower.
For example you can buy a,2000cc bike that has les horsepower than a,600cc bike.
As a beginning driver you must try to find a bike
that has the most weight as low as possible
its a lot easy-er to handle.
Now the transmission.
I know that Baker makes what you are looking
for.
Also,Suzuki,BMW,but like i said it is the question
how much money you are willing to spend.
More money means,more possibility's.
So if you know how much you can spent,and
let me know.
I can answer your question better.
Good luck!!. skeleton80925.

Answer 3

Hey, any one willing to ride two wheels is OK. Check out ebay for Honda automatics. I would have to tell you, though, a clutch is not hard thing to master. A bike is easier to shift than a Cam.

Answer 4

Take a MSF course,they will teach you how to ride. Shifting is easy to learn and a part of motorcycling. If you don't want to learn , then you should stick to riding in your cage.

Answer 5

The only one I know of is the Honda CT200.