automatic transmissions
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
Speaking from first hand experience after losing the ability to move my left ankle to cancer, and not riding for nearly 2 years...ANYTHING that gets you back on 2 wheels is a huge mental boost.
In my case it was a Yamaha Majesty. Call it a scooter...it's fine with me. It's a scooter that my wife and I toured many thousands of miles on, highway speeds and no shifting. It's certainly not a Harley, and thank God I found a Harley with forwards that I can actually shift without movement in my ankle, but.........we still have the Majesty, it's still a hoot to ride, the weather protection and storage on it is amazing, and it'll give the sporty a run for its money up to 100kmh. The auto tranny of today is WAAAY different than the old centrifical clutch setups of 20 years ago
In my case it was a Yamaha Majesty. Call it a scooter...it's fine with me. It's a scooter that my wife and I toured many thousands of miles on, highway speeds and no shifting. It's certainly not a Harley, and thank God I found a Harley with forwards that I can actually shift without movement in my ankle, but.........we still have the Majesty, it's still a hoot to ride, the weather protection and storage on it is amazing, and it'll give the sporty a run for its money up to 100kmh. The auto tranny of today is WAAAY different than the old centrifical clutch setups of 20 years ago
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 967
Likes: 3
From: Eastern Massachusetts
I'd probably resist on emotional grounds, but can't think of a rational argument against them. It's like most other bike stuff -- if you don't want one, you don't have to have one. If you do want one, there's no reasion you shouldn't be able to have it. I have heard rumors that Harley is looking at an automatic in the (near) future, but I'd bet it's going to come out on baggers or police bikes long before it shows up on the Dynas or V-Rods.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,831
Likes: 15
From: Nomad
They have introduced two new trike models in as many years. An auto is the next, maybe first in the trikes, then in the touring bikes.
Having an automatic transmission does not make it a scooter. Motor scooters have that open, step-through frame, different control configurations, different geometry, etc.
I like my bike the way it is, but the technology continues to advance, I'd certainly take an auto for a ride.
There are also the "semi-auto" bikes like the FJR1300AE that is clutchless, but still manual shifting.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,641
Likes: 26
From: Ozark Country
Bad enough that you can no longer buy a new Harley with an easy to tune carb, and now people want to see Harley's with automatic tranny's.
Maybe Vespa will purchase the company and they can come out with a new line of "Vespa/Harley's"....
Maybe Vespa will purchase the company and they can come out with a new line of "Vespa/Harley's"....