The absence of clutch and gear lever: for some an unimaginable thing, for others a welcome improvement that allows you to pay more attention to turns, the choice of track and the enjoyment of the landscape. Which automatic transmission motorcycles can you find on offer this year?
For most motorcyclists, automatic shifting on a single-track machine is the ultimate sacrilege. However, others are slowly becoming to his liking. Similar to cars, an automatic transmission – if it does its job well – can free up your hands for steering, so to speak, and a little focus on the driving experience or more precise cornering.
Why have automatic machines on motorcycles only begun to gain ground in the last decade? Fine-tuning the technology to meet the stringent requirements for weight, space and ease of use was not easy. This is demonstrated both by the dead ends using CVT transmissions (commonly fitted to scooters) and various semi-automatic solutions, and by the fact that the current offering is still relatively limited.
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With the Honda brand
Among traditional motorcycle manufacturers, only Japanese Honda offers automatic transmission (if we exclude scooters). Its DCT dual-clutch transmission, which uses a pair of electronically controlled clutches, one for evens and one for oddes, has already established itself in several models and is becoming increasingly popular with customers. According to Petr Hubáček, Honda’s PR manager, motorcycles with DCT represent around half of the total number of units sold. Which models can be purchased with automatic transmission this year?
HondaNC750X
Source: Honda
The NC series is currently the oldest representative of the automatic transmission in the Honda lineup. The bare NC700S and NC700X Adventure were introduced in 2012, the fourth generation is currently sold under the name NC750X, where the customer can choose between manual or automatic transmission.
The universal machine is a pleasant companion for both daily commutes and weekend trips. The twin-cylinder engine delivers a power of up to 43.1 kW and a torque of 69 Nm, the lowered structure is also suitable for short drivers, another advantage is the advantageous consumption and a practical storage compartment under the fairing.
Price: 234,900 Czech crowns
Honda CRF 1100L Africa Twin
Source: Honda
Of all Honda models with DCT transmission, the Africa Twin is the best-selling. His name is a legend in the world of the track, which has consolidated its fame for many years now with, for example, numerous participations in the Dakar. The current generation with a liquid-cooled inline twin-cylinder engine offers an output of 75 kW and a torque of 112 Nm.
You can choose between a more “civilian” normal version and a more adventurous Adventure Sports, which differs in a larger tank (over 24 liters of petrol), greater ground clearance and a fully adjustable Showa chassis. It is a motorcycle for true enthusiasts, determined to overcome long distances and challenging terrain, even on a trip around the world. But it doesn’t get lost on the road either, where its first-class suspension filters out every bump.
Price from 399,900 Czech crowns
Honda CMX 1100 rebel
Source: Honda
For fans of decent cruisers and retro style, there is a “cross” between a helicopter and a naked boat called Rebel. It is possible to purchase it in two displacements – 500 and 1100 – but only the most powerful version, which shares the engine with the Africa Twin adventure model, is equipped with a DCT automatic transmission. Here it is tuned to 64 kW of power and 98 Nm of torque.
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Unlike many classic choppers, the Rebel offers a more natural posture and lower weight, to which is added modern technology, such as an LED headlight or a digital instrument cluster with lots of information displayed. You can choose between four riding modes and the cruise control will make long journeys more pleasant. Thanks to the low seat, the Rebel is a favorite of smaller riders and even women.
Price from 289,900 Czech crowns
HondaNT1100
Source: Honda
The novelty of the penultimate year is a classic road bike, which offers great ergonomics and comfort on long routes. The NT also shares an engine with the “Africa” and for the same power has a slightly lower torque of 104 Nm.
The softer suspension makes the NT a comfortable vehicle that will tirelessly swallow kilometers of asphalt, no matter how rough its surface. Travel comfort is further increased by the side cases supplied as standard, the heated handles, the plexiglass plate or the cruise control. Also pleasing is the wide range of custom settings, be it traction, power or perhaps engine braking.
Price from CZK 374,900
Honda GL1800 Goldwing
Source: Honda
A monumental road bike aimed at cyclists with uncompromising comfort needs. The Goldwing is the only motorcycle in the Honda range in which the manual gearbox has definitively ended up in oblivion and in the Czech Republic, for example, it can only be purchased with DCT. Considering the nature of the car, which is more of a car on two wheels, this is not surprising.
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Under the massive fairing works a six-cylinder engine with a volume of 1833 cubic centimeters, providing power of 93 kW and torque of 170 Nm. The comfort equipment is once again more reminiscent of a car interior: a multimedia system with speakers and phone mirroring, storage compartments, a 121-liter trunk, heated handles, driving modes including a slow “walk mode” and reverse gear or a plexi shield with electric control.
Price: Not yet determined for 2024
Electric motorcycles
Electric motorcycles have started hitting the roads in recent years, and while there hasn’t been a huge boom yet, it’s clear that they are slowly taking their place in the limelight. Just like electric cars (with a few exceptions), electric motorcycles are by definition automatic machines, as they require only one gear and the rider can control the speed only by turning the “throttle”. Electric motorcycles are decidedly more expensive than traditional internal combustion engines, on the other hand there are also approved models with a power of up to 11 kW, which can represent an interesting attraction for drivers who only have a group B license. The offer is expanding rapidly and the market is flooded especially with products from China, but below we present, by way of example, two models from the American brand Zero, which has already built a solid reputation in the field of electric motors.
Zero DS ZF14.4
Source: Zero Motorcycles
It is precisely this motorbike that offers a variant suitable for group B license holders. Fast driving without noise, vibrations, emissions and the need to change gear is an excellent alternative to classic motorbikes, furthermore you will also find ample storage space in place of the tank.
The construction of the DS belongs to the enduro group and, thanks to the adjustable suspension, you can also venture on dirt roads as well as on asphalt. The battery with a capacity of 14.4 kWh promises a range of up to 262 kilometers in the city, about half the range outside the city at a fast pace. It recharges from a home socket in 8-10 hours, with additional fast charging in around 3 hours.
Price: 468,900 CZK
Zero DSR/X
Source: Zero Motorcycles
At the opposite end of the Zero Motorcycles range is the massive DSR/X with touring enduro proportions. The electric motor can deliver an output of up to 75 kW and, above all, an impressive torque of 225 Nm. The battery with a capacity of 17.3 kWh can be recharged with a charge of 14.4 kW in around two hours. The paper autonomy is 290 km, in reality it will depend above all on the driving style.
In addition to impressive power, the bike offers comfortable suspension, ample storage space and, of course, quiet, vibration-free operation.
Price: 549,900 Czech crowns
2024-01-20 11:41:46
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