do you ever think manual motorcycles will become obsolete?
Why do you y'all like the clutch why do you like automatic bikes
Why do you y'all like the clutch why do you like automatic bikes
Mr. Smartypants
I don't really know why automatic transmissions on motorcycles were never that popular. There are never more than one or two models of bike that have automatics, then they stop making them, then they come out with one or two other models. They've never been more than 1 or 2% of sales. OTOH, all scooters these days are automatic, you can't even get a manual scooter!
I think this partly shows the difference between the purposes of motorcycles and scooters. Scooters are transportation devices, motorcycle are recreation devices (though of course their functions overlap somewhat). On a motorcycle you want to be connected with the mechanical bits, meaning you choose yourself where in the rev range you want to be, meaning you shift for yourself. But on a scooter you want to be separated from the mechanical stuff, you want to just point it in the right direction, twist the handle and go.
My feeling about manual transmissions on motorcycles is the same as my feeling about religion. If they were going to go obsolete, they would have long ago!
Dan H
No one is rushing to buy the few automatic transmission motorcycles that are out there now. Training classes are all taught on a traditional geared motorcycle with a clutch. There just isn't much demand for an automatic motorcycle transmission.
Nightworks
The first motorcycles over 125cc (as opposed to scooters) with automatic transmissions appeared more than 40 years ago. They have never been popular and all models sell very, very slowly.
The tiny handful of automatic motorcyles that are available today, make up less than 0.5% of the total market. This is because 99% of riders want manual transmission and always will do.
David
No. A clutch is a light, simple and effective means of separating then reconnecting the power source and the drivetrain, and loses little power.
Manual gearboxes also improve the driving/riding experience, giving the good driver/rider finer and better control. Admittedly, automatics are fine for the less able driver, and for driving in congestion.
Firecracker .
No, I don't think they'll ever be obsolete.
Even if/when they are, I'll still have one.
I have never liked machines that act like they know more about what's going on than I do.
I control, machine obeys - NOT the other way around.