The considerable swing from a stick shift to automatic transition happened for a reason: automatic transmission automobiles were simply easier and sometimes safer to drive. For similar reasons, some motorcyclists prefer automatic motorcycles as opposed to traditional bikes.
An automatic motorcycle can be just as efficient, just as cool, and just as fast as a “regular” motorcycle. It simply doesn’t require you to shift gears manually or engage a clutch. For these reasons, automatic motorcycles are popular choices for folks who don’t know how to drive a stick shift or riders who just want to sit back and enjoy their cruise with a minimum of input or effort. Either way, automatic motorcycles are available in a wide variety of models across manufacturers.
If you are interested in an automatic motorcycle, you are in luck; top manufacturers like Zero Motorcycles, Honda, and more are producing them. Automatic motorcycles come in both gas-powered and electric models. The latter type of bike is a perfect pairing for automatic motorcycles since both prioritize ease of use and renewability. Automatic motorcycles don’t have as much wear and tear from user error when managing a clutch or gearshift.
In addition, a lot of newer automatic motorcycle models feature enhanced maneuverability, especially compared to some older counterparts. With their ease of use and growth in popularity, you can find automatic motorcycles for touring, cruising, sport, and other specializations, depending on your needs and hobbies.
Buying a new automatic motorcycle is straightforward. Simply check out your favorite manufacturer’s catalog and find a bike built for your needs, like racing or cruising. Buying a used automatic motorcycle requires more effort, and we recommend keeping the following things in mind to make sure your purchase goes smoothly:
Because automatic motorcycles are growing in popularity, you can usually find new models at any local motorcycle dealership. Remember, major manufacturers like Yamaha and other brands produce automatic motorcycles more frequently than they did just a few years ago. The city dealers ought to have dozens of different models for you to choose from.
Alternatively, you can purchase a used automatic motorcycle from Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or dedicated motorcycle listing sites like CycleTrader. Either way, you should be careful when buying a used motorcycle and be aware that listings found on the above sites include offerings from all across the nation.
It may be in your best interest to find an automatic motorcycle relatively close to where you live to circumvent shipping fees or avoid having to drive out to the seller before riding your used motorcycle back home.
With all this in mind, let’s look at the prices you can expect for both new and used automatic motorcycles.
Honda has already produced several high-quality automatic motorcycle lines, with one retro line introduced in the 1970s called the Honda CM400A. This motorcycle doesn't offer the best horsepower on the market, but that might make it less intimidating for new motorcycle riders.
These automatic motorcycles have a primary display that indicates your gear position, plus kick-starters, parking brakes, and a vane pump system that transmits pressurized oil into a miniature torque converter.
Since the CM400A is so old, you might have better odds of finding it in used-quality models than new ones, in which case you can pick up a great bike for $2,000 or so.
Honda’s NC750X automatic motorcycles are also popular and a newer model. These bikes feature 745cc SOHC dual twin engines with liquid cooling elements and a dual-clutch transmission (DCT). The DCT’s design eliminates the need for a traditional torque converter. Thus, riders will be able to choose between six different speeds.
The NC750X can be found in new condition for around $9,000, while used motorcycles can be purchased for around $6,000.
KTM’s Freeride E-XC is a new automatic motorcycle, and you can pick one up in excellent condition for about $8,300. Keep in mind, while this is an off-roading bike, it is also an electric model, so you are limited to about one hour of riding time.
Still, you can charge this motorcycle up using a standard 220-volt outlet, where it offers 31 foot-pounds of torque and 11 kW with 450 RPMs. It is an agile and powerful automatic motorcycle with a liquid cooling system and a relatively fast charging time of just 80 minutes. You can find used versions of this motorcycle for around $4,000.
The Aprilia Mana 850 is a 2007 model year bike, and while this model doesn’t have a DCT, it does include a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This automatic motorcycle also consists of a manual setting if you decide to take gear shifting into your own hands.
Regardless, the motorcycle benefits from an 839cc engine with three different operating modes: touring, sport, and rain performance. New Aprilia Mana 850s can be hard to find. The units that do exist are typically priced around $12,000, and used bikes can be purchased for about $5,000, which is quite the discount!