[carnutfrombanga]

Hello Everyone.

I am in my mid 30's and have never learnt to ride a Manual Transmission Motorbike.

But i want to own a full fledged motorbike.

Are there any reliable Automatic Transmission Motorcycles costing less than 4L from a mainstream and reliable Brand? EV or Petrol.

[Sebring]

I suggest Yamaha AEROX. It has all the makings of a motorcycle with the convenience of AT

[Mr.Boss]

Originally Posted by carnutfrombanga

Are there any reliable Automatic Transmission Motorcycles costing less than 4L from a mainstream and reliable Brand? EV or Petrol.

Unfortunately no such offering from mainstream brands today. Options are there like Revolt, etc which are yet to be proven.

Originally Posted by carnutfrombanga

I am in my mid 30's and have never learnt to ride a Manual Transmission Motorbike.

That's not a big deal, unless you are inclined to avoid it.

Originally Posted by Sebring

I suggest Yamaha AEROX.

+1 to that

[condor]

Thirties is not an age to think too much on this .

Start riding a geared motocrycle, and you will enjoy another 20 years of riding these beautiful machines. In due course, we will see gearless -a.k.a electric bikes from mainstream brands. Hire a bike if you can, and get the hang of riding a geared bike. Else get a used commuter bike for a few months and once you get the hang of it, get a better bike.

Aerox is fine, but I suggest the above as first option since you want to ride a motorbike

[carnutfrombanga]

Thank you all, I'll check out the Yamaha Aerox and also look to learn riding a bike on a used one or an friend's older one.

[GTO]

Guys, if AT Scooters are so popular (just look at the Activa's sales), surely there is a market for AT motorcycles? Why no choice in this? Untapped opportunity? Even the car market is moving to ATs in a big way.

[mvadg]

Motorcycles in other countries are typically of much higher power, and that's probably why manufacturers don't use the variator type transmissions on motorcycles. Honda came out with the Hondamatic years ago, but it didn't really sell too well (mostly because it was aimed at women riders in the US).

DCT transmissions can destabilize the motorcycle by shifting on a turn, so there are technical issues. But modern DCT control units seem to have fixed these problems.

Why no 100cc motorcycles in India with the same variator type transmissions that are on every scooter these days? Risky for any Indian manufacturer to test the waters. We will have to wait for demand in other markets before a successful model is launched in India. I'm sure it would not be too hard to retrofit an old 100cc m/c with an Activa transmission.

Just wait for the likes of Zero Motorcycles (electric) to set up shop in India:
https://www.zeromotorcycles.com/en-gb



Some automatics:
https://powersports.honda.com/dct

https://www.webbikeworld.com/every-a...on-motorcycle/

[Red Liner]

Originally Posted by GTO

Guys, if AT Scooters are so popular (just look at the Activa's sales), surely there is a market for AT motorcycles? Why no choice in this? Untapped opportunity? Even the car market is moving to ATs in a big way.

1. I think motorcyclists are a much more hardcore breed of enthusiasts as opposed to car drivers

2. Expensive motorcycles are not used as commuters which is where the AT shines - in traffic in the city

3. If you want a commuter AT bike, get yourself a 150cc scooter with bigger wheels and more storage capacity

4. True motorcyclists still prefer manual control of their motorcycles especially offroad. I still prefer manual cars (loved my 3 speed jeep) over automatics. I will never spend my money on an automatic car ever.

5. I know folks in this very forum who have CHOSEN a manual Africa Twin over an automatic Africa Twin for very little price difference. Maybe they should also offer their opinion.

[proton]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.new...ike-143648.amp

Quote
KOCHI: TVS Motor Company has launched TVS Jive, India’s first auto-clutch motorcycle, in Kochi.

The bike will provide a sporty riding experience with a combination of comfort, performance, ease of operation and fuel efficiency in its category.

TVS Jive is propelled by a 110 cc engine which features innovative T-Matic technology with rotary gear technology coupled with an automatic clutch. The bike’s four speed engine delivers a solid four stroke performance with 8.1Bhp @ 7500 rpm and a torque of 8.1 Nm @ 5500 rpm.

...

I own a Hero Honda Street with a perfectly functional auto clutch. It is a joy to ride: Dilip Bam called it a mini-Bullet.

Hero never marketed the vehicle properly, it failed to sell, and the entire tools and fixtures for its manufacturing was sold to a Vietnamese company, where it is a huge success. It is used by farmers to carry their produce to the market, over rudimentary roads, the big wheels enabling the latter.

[adi.mariner]

I am also in my late mid 30s and have just started riding a Hero Honda Karizma ZMR. Till date I have only ridden a TVS Jupiter. You will start enjoying once you get the hang of the clutch, accelerator and gear coordination. The other options are maxi scooters like the Aerox but trust me, motorcycles are way better.

[Sheel]

Originally Posted by Red Liner

1. I think motorcyclists are a much more hardcore breed of enthusiasts as opposed to car drivers

2. Expensive motorcycles are not used as commuters which is where the AT shines - in traffic in the city

3. If you want a commuter AT bike, get yourself a 150cc scooter with bigger wheels and more storage capacity

4. True motorcyclists still prefer manual control of their motorcycles especially offroad. I still prefer manual cars (loved my 3 speed jeep) over automatics. I will never spend my money on an automatic car ever.

I know a couple if not more people who ride Motorcycles and don't have a choice to drive a car because of traffic / cost and can not ride an AT scooter because of bad roads, durability (it's all plastics & breaks easily) plus a bit poor economy compared to similar cubic capacity Motorcycle. These commuters, ride the clutch use rear brakes & are generally not riders and they are in majority.

There should be a market for an AT commuter Motorcycle starting at 100cc till ~150cc. It just won't take off from the day of launch, but it sure should sell well in the long run.

[Red Liner]

Originally Posted by Sheel

I know a couple if not more people who ride Motorcycles and don't have a choice to drive a car because of traffic / cost and can not ride an AT scooter because of bad roads, durability (it's all plastics & breaks easily) plus a bit poor economy compared to similar cubic capacity Motorcycle. These commuters, ride the clutch use rear brakes & are generally not riders and they are in majority.

There should be a market for an AT commuter Motorcycle starting at 100cc till ~150cc. It just won't take off from the day of launch, but it sure should sell well in the long run.

TVS launched one a long time back. Do see why that bike failed in the market.

Future AT commuter motorcycles will be electric not ICE.

[shancz]

Originally Posted by carnutfrombanga

- a Manual Transmission Motorbike.

- Are there any reliable Automatic Transmission Motorcycles costing less than 4L from a mainstream and reliable Brand? EV or Petrol.

- Honestly that statement was so unexpected that I was confused and amused at the same time

- No. The only reliable brand with an automatic is the Honda Africa twin DCT.

IMHO getting the sync between clutch and accelerator isn't difficult and same as a car. I was taught this on a Bajaj Super and I extrapolated that to motorcycles and cars. Apart from the location of the levers/pedals and the way to slot the gears, the core concept remains the same. Same can be applied from cars to motorcycles.

I would suggest to give a motorcycle a try and then revisit the question. Also keep the revs higher than cars, 5000rpm is nothing for any street nakeds like the Pulsars, RTRs etc.

If you aren't comfortable after trying, try out the Aerox as already suggested.

Also, glad to see you learning a new type of vehicle after your thinking about quitting driving thread
Kudos and have fun.
Keep us posted.

Originally Posted by GTO

1. if AT Scooters are so popular (just look at the Activa's sales), surely there is a market for AT motorcycles?
2. Why no choice in this?
3. Even the car market is moving to ATs in a big way.
4. Untapped opportunity?

1. Activa and the likes solve the problems of city riding with their lack of clutch and gears, storage spaces including the secure underseat storage and the preference of some riders who aren't very comfortable with motorcycles.
AT on motorcycles will only solve one of the problems so the market demand might not be there like it is with scooters.

2. Commuter motorcycles like the Splendor, CB Shine, Star City etc. are the ones which can be compared with the likes of Destiny, Activa, Jupiter etc. Their USP is their frugal nature in FE and maintenance while handling a lot of abuse.
Scooters don't cut it in all those areas and with an AT probably the motorcycles won't too.

3. IMHO, Activas and their likes are like beater cars on the lines of wagonR, Tiago etc. but with a proper AT.
I would guess that the percentage of AMTs in such cars is still very low and I guess for similar reasons as mentioned in 2.

4. It could be an opportunity in the 150-200cc segment where people are spending upto 2 lakhs on a motorcycle.
But my doubt is, why would they want to just get the gearless part of convenience and forego the secure storage and the convenience of not having to carry the helmet(a big plus) ?
That's where scooters like the Aerox come into the picture.

Rest all has been perfectly put by RedLiner.

[Sheel]

Originally Posted by Sheel

There should be a market for an AT commuter Motorcycle starting at 100cc till ~150cc. It just won't take off from the day of launch, but it sure should sell well in the long run.

Okay, I looked up at TVS Jive, it was launched more than a decade back, I am speaking of today, now. Things do change in 10 years. As I said, it may not take off in terms of sales, but it just may not be a flop either.

Originally Posted by Red Liner

TVS launched one a long time back. Do see why that bike failed in the market.

Future AT commuter motorcycles will be electric not ICE.

[Red Liner]

Originally Posted by Sheel

Okay, I looked up at TVS Jive, it was launched more than a decade back, I am speaking of today, now. Things do change in 10 years. As I said, it may not take off in terms of sales, but it just may not be a flop either.

No manufacturer will launch a new ICE motorcycle with a brand new never used before AT gearbox that needs to be developed internally, spending millions of dollars, for this market.

And go ride the Ather. My mechanic who services all my motorcycles, super bikes included, sold his motorcycle and bought an Ather to use FULL TIME. I rode his Ather and the suspension and brake set up will put every other scooter or motorcycle upto under 200CC to shame.

If a motorcycle mechanic with decades of experience with Honda on the Raid de Himalaya puts his personal money on something, I listen.