Wondering

[prospector86]

Always grew up with the grandfather taking about how he had an automatic bike (a honda?). From all the rider's I've talked to there's only one that remember's them. He said it was in the late 70's early 80's and nicknamed the hondamatic. was wondering if anyone made an automatic today, and the guys that have have been around a while, what were they like.

[hillbill]

yea i remember the hondamatic. still see a few for sale around here once in awhile.i rember them in 400cc and 750cc, there mite of been one around 500cc also.they were a 2 spd tranny, yu started out in 1st then just shifted into second without a clutch .they were not quite as quick as the manual trans bikes but some guys liked them.as far as one being made today ive not seen any.but ill bet someone offers it as a option. yu might look at bmw or guzzi they might have something like that or maybe the honda gold wing. happy rideing!

[GRIMJIM]

yeah, the hondamatic never really took off. I think they pushed the technology out before it was really ready. I've never heard of anyone else trying it though.

[buck460XVR]

was wondering if anyone made an automatic today

Yep.... up until this year....Ridley. Check 'em out.   http://www.ridleymotorcycle.com/


My wife test drove one at the Branson Rally a coupla years ago. Nice bikes and well made. Guess the economy took them down the same road as Indian, but they talk about makin' a comeback.

[prospector86]

cool, might have to keep my eye on ridley for a while, see if they make them a bit larger.

[GRIMJIM]

Just curious.

I know you said your grandfather had one. Is it nostalgia that makes you interested in an automatic? Just think it's cool or just not like the standard transmissions?

I've never had an interest at all in an automatic, in fact I think bikes, trucks and sports cars should all be stick shift but that's just me and my opinion. So my interest is kind of peaked as to why.

[prospector86]

It's a mix of nostalgia and just wanting to know kind of thing. Never been on an automatic bike, so kinda want to know what it was like. Plus the grandfather was the last one in the family that rode, riding skiped a generation with the family.

[Bigeasy]

Those 2 wheel drive bikes with the balloon tires you see advertised in the back of magazines like outdoor life (I don't remember the name) are automatics.

Larry

[hillbill]

i could be wrong but i think the ridley and the 2 whl drive rokon bikes worked of a centrifugal shiv pully type system. where the more rpms yu had the biggger the pully became(or smaller maybe) thus increasing gear ratio. the hondas i think were possibly a fluid system more like a car, or more like a 2 sp manual with some type of cushion that eliminated the need for a clutch. id bne interested to know exactly if anybody out there knows for sure. happy rideing!!!!

[hunt4570]

i could be wrong but i think the ridley and the 2 whl drive rokon bikes worked of a centrifugal shiv pully type system. where the more rpms yu had the biggger the pully became(or smaller maybe) thus increasing gear ratio. the hondas i think were possibly a fluid system more like a car, or more like a 2 sp manual with some type of cushion that eliminated the need for a clutch. id bne interested to know exactly if anybody out there knows for sure. happy rideing!!!!

   I don't know about the Rocon, but yes, the Ridly is/was a CV drive..(belt with a changing pully system) like in lots of go carts and such..I didn't realise they went under..

[guzzijohn]

Moto Guzzi made two different automatic models, one in the 70s and one in the 80s. Was pretty much like the old GM Powerglide.
It was a two speed. Most owner just left it in high and only used low if riding in town a lot and that was to keep some rpm up for the alternator. Although no speed demon acceleration wise, many swore by them.
GuzziJohn

[hillbill]

ahhh yes, the guzzi autos, id forgot about them.yu dont see a lot of guzzis around here. my uncle had one years ago in wisconsin.dont think it was a auto tho.i never did get the auto bikes tho. im pretty lazy but sqeezeing the clutch with a couple fingers and moveing my toe never seemed that hard.but if i had one id ride the tar out it!

[guzzijohn]

Quote from Hilbill:

im pretty lazy but sqeezeing the clutch with a couple fingers and moveing my toe never seemed that hard.

If you had any time with the older Guzzis you could see where an auto might be welcome. Shifting was a bit if a workout as the clutch pull was quite stiff (and most throttles too) and you needed to be very positive on your shifts. The good news was that it was very difficult to break a transmission, very overbuilt for the power.
GuzziJohn

[prospector86]

Been getting some good info. still looking into them. Looking like I might have to test drive. Seems like the 70's and 80's were the time for them though.