Issue #247 Automatic For The People
Written by John Molony   
Thursday, 29 January 2009
Automatic for the people
The Honda DN-01 wasn’t what REM had in mind when they penned the album, Automatic for the People and even Honda is not sure which “people” the machine is for now that they have built it. Honda has taken a wait-and see approach. In this issue Kevin Ash rides Honda’s unusual offering that resembles a smaller sibling of the now departed Rune. Long and low, the styling is kind of cool but as Kevin notes, you aren’t sure what you are looking at. Styling questions aside, the most interesting and possibly the feature with the most longevity is the automatic transmission. It is a new and innovative approach to ridding the machine of a clutch and gear lever. There is no doubt that automatic transmissions are here to stay in the two-wheeled world as they have been for years for snowmobiles and ATVs.
There are extents to which the transmission may be automatic: infinite ratios such as a CVT, no clutch, push button. The Aprilia Mana, which we will feature in our next issu,e has a seven-speed automatic transmission that can be shifted sequentially or not at all in a fully automatic mode. Yamaha offers a clutchless transmission in the FJR1200AE. And what about the few hundred thousand scooters from 50 to 650cc now roaming Canada’s urban landscape? Automatics almost every one. In North America, manual transmission equipped automobiles have become increasingly rare, typically most often available only on economy cars (easier to coax a bit more performance from a tiny engine) or performance cars (easier to coax a little more performance out of a powerful engine).
The truth of the matter is, there are fewer manual transmissions because fewer consumers are demanding a manual transmission. There are plenty of motorcyclists who prefer automatic transmissions in their cars and trucks because they are just more convenient while commuting in the city. Is the same thing going to happen in the motorcycle world?
On a motorcycle there are fewer distractions than driving a car, allowing you to concentrate on your riding—and that includes the shifting. Unfortunately in a car you might have to multi-task: keep an eye on the kids in the back seat, keep the dog off the dashboard, adjust the volume and the bass for “Thunderstruck” and last but not least talk to your passengers. On a motorcycle you can escape all these distractions.
Many will claim that an automatic on a motorcycle is unnecessary, but in this case necessity need not be the mother of invention. I know a few riders now who secretly covet the idea of not having to shift. For some classes of motorcycles the wider availability of an automatic transmission is inevitable. The offering of a fully automatic transmission with a big touring motorcycle has to be a foregone conclusion because after the urban oriented bikes and scooter it makes the most sense.
As with the automotive world money and research is going in to making the automatic transmission better than ever—seven- or even eight-speed automatics that will be lighter and less energy sapping. Companies are not pouring money into manual transmission R&D.
When a motorcycle transmission is improved upon it has invariably been to make shifting and clutch usage easier. But taking that proposal to its inevitable conclusion, the easiest way to shift and use your clutch is not having to do it at all.
For now some manufacturers have been saying that the automatic offerings are targeted at people who are not motorcyclists. It’s true that the requirement of having to shift gears with a clutch may deter some people who have never driven anything requiring shifting. However, if an automatic gets them on the road bring it on, I say.
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