Automatic fireblade

[XP@]

Does anyone else have an automatic transmission fireblade?

if so does it do good wheelies?

http://www.autobase.co.nz/vehicledetails.asp?vehicle_id=104320

[Skunk]

Morons.
Yes, I am having a bad day...

[TonyB]

LOL Imagine riding it in the rain-
"bit more throttle....bit more... bi" kickdown, highside
Guzzi did a Breva with a CVT. Imagine the acceleration you'd get out of a bike with a CVT..yeeeeehhaaaaa!

[Ixion]

Honda did make an automatic CB750 once. There was one for sale on TradeMe a while ago. Somehow can't imagine what an auto bike would be like. Pretty horrible I suspect. Even the BMW klunkenkrunchenklankenboxen is better than that .Don't Harley make automatics ?

[James Deuce]

LOL Imagine riding it in the rain-
"bit more throttle....bit more... bi" kickdown, highside
Guzzi did a Breva with a CVT. Imagine the acceleration you'd get out of a bike with a CVT..yeeeeehhaaaaa!
Having test driven 3 CVT cars over the weekend I have to say that it is a horrible method of transmitting power to the wheels. There is lots of noise, what feels like horrible clutch slip, and not much go forward action. Definitely slower than the comparable manual version.

Mitsubishi's 5 speed adaptive auto box is an absolute gem, and in tiptronic mode it would do the job on a sport tourer, if there was a bike version.

[bugjuice]

harley have some autos, yeah, but they're different types of bike compared to this..
what's the fun if your mates are leaving you and you're waiting for the kick-down? And also agree Tony, about the wet!! oh joy..
Putting tiptronic on a bike tho, now that'd be a different story.. Not sure how much work that'd need, but could be interesting. Make those wheelies easier to change with the front up. But then you're only really doing away with the clutch for a 'button' or something you could flick with your foot, and you can get a 'button' clutch already, and a clutchless system already, so then what'd be the point?

[TonyB]

Jim, one of my mates has a Honda Civic somethingorother with a CVT. He RAVES about how rapidly it accelerates when overtaking and how quick it goes up hills (he gets to try a lot of cars, so does know what a quick car is like). Assumed a bike would be the same. Did you try a Civic?

[James Deuce]

One of my mates has a Honda Civic somthingorother with a CVT. He RAVES about how rapidly it accelerates when overtaking and how quick it goes up hills (he gets to try a lot of cars, so does know what a quick car is like). Assumed a bike would be the same. Did you try a Civic?

Civic, Nissan Tino, Nissan Primera. They were all slow and yucky to be in because of the never ending roar from the engine bay.

[TonyB]

Civic, Nissan Tino, Nissan Primera. They were all slow and yucky to be in because of the never ending roar from the engine bay.
Well that stuffs that idea then. Wonder if he's falling for the ol' "it's making lots of noise, must be going FAST" trick?

[GROOMER]

Mitsubishi's 5 speed adaptive auto box is an absolute gem

You take that back! :killingme

Any idea how often they pack up? ..Ask a Mitsubishi dealer parts guy...oh yeah thats me :)

[Hitcher]

I once owned a 1972 VW Beetle 1302S Automatic. A standard three-speed gearbox (Low, 1 and 2), a standard clutch and a torque-converter all coupled together. Only two pedals (go and stop) with the clutch worked by a microswitch on the gearlever. Releasing the gearlever (once in gear) and stomping on the gas would see the engine rev immediately to 2,500rpm and hold there until the rest of the system caught up. Once you got used to this it was great fun to drive. Tended to die a bit on hills (well, down to about 70kmh or 2,500rpm). But was quick off the mark and incapable of getting bogged. I once pulled an HQ Holden wagon out of the sand at Himatangi Beach without spinning a wheel! After fitting a Rayjay turbocharger, this vehicle was the ultimate GT Cortina-beater!

[James Deuce]

You take that back! :killingme

Any idea how often they pack up? ..Ask a Mitsubishi dealer parts guy...oh yeah thats me :)
Yes that's true, but many, many people neglect to service their auto transmissions on a regular basis, or at anything like the manufacturer interval.

[James Deuce]

I once owned a 1972 VW Beetle 1302S Automatic. A standard three-speed gearbox (Low, 1 and 2), a standard clutch and a torque-converter all coupled together. Only two pedals (go and stop) with the clutch worked by a microswitch on the gearlever.
That was a Porsche box. There was a 911 with that gearbox.

[Zapf]

I have seen an electric shift kit available :)

[GROOMER]

Yes that's true, but many, many people neglect to service their auto transmissions on a regular basis, or at anything like the manufacturer interval.

True. Bugger an import auto & especially CVT.
Its amazing how many people when asked if they want their trans service thats overdue done, reply.."oh no its working fine, I'll leave it"

I love watching them piss and moan when it f**ks out on them and come running to us :)

[XP@]

Urrrr... how often you supposed to get those auto thingies serviced ...
my wifes car has one, I don't drive it and it has too many wheels for me to consider doing any maintinence on it, 6 wheels is far too many... confusing

[Skunk]

Having had a tip-tronic car, all I can say is they had better improve the responsiveness of it.
Flick up - wait - change. Flick down - wait - change down.
How the ferk do match the throttle with that?! :shake:

[XP@]

well well well....

Looks interesting...
from what I gather the more you open the throttle the faster it goes

Google: Hondamatic (http://www.google.com/search?q=Hondamatic&sourceid=mozilla-search&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8)

[James Deuce]

well well well....

Looks interesting...
from what I gather the more you open the throttle the faster it goes

Google: Hondamatic (http://www.google.com/search?q=Hondamatic&sourceid=mozilla-search&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8)

There's theory, and then there's practice. In practice it just gets much, much louder.

[Motu]

I once owned a 1972 VW Beetle 1302S Automatic. A standard three-speed gearbox (Low, 1 and 2), a standard clutch and a torque-converter all coupled together. Only two pedals (go and stop) with the clutch worked by a microswitch on the gearlever. Releasing the gearlever (once in gear) and stomping on the gas would see the engine rev immediately to 2,500rpm and hold there until the rest of the system caught up. Once you got used to this it was great fun to drive. Tended to die a bit on hills (well, down to about 70kmh or 2,500rpm). But was quick off the mark and incapable of getting bogged. I once pulled an HQ Holden wagon out of the sand at Himatangi Beach without spinning a wheel! After fitting a Rayjay turbocharger, this vehicle was the ultimate GT Cortina-beater!

That was first done in the 50s with the ''Standrive'' fitted to the Standard 10,a button on the floor shift.They were also fitted to the Series II Oxford,but can't remember what name they dreamed up,the Oxford was column change.Apprentices could give extreme abuse to these vehicles by reving the shit out of them with the button down,then releasing it...

CVTs are crap,horrible things to drive,very snatchy on stop start traffic,although I was told by Honda they are adaptive to drivers,dunno how that works.Triptronics are shit,they are starting to give trouble,and are so delayed in manual shift I don't even bother trying.BMC had the best auto box - a stick on the floor with 1,2,3,4 & D,you could just pull the lever through to shift to any gear instantly - now why can't they do that 30 yrs later? That's technology eh?

[James Deuce]

Urrrr... how often you supposed to get those auto thingies serviced ...
my wifes car has one, I don't drive it and it has too many wheels for me to consider doing any maintinence on it, 6 wheels is far too many... confusing

You can get your normal garage to do it, use a specialist garage like Hutt Automatics, or find out how to do it from a service manual. The transmissions need the fluid (hydraulic fluid essentially) changed about as regularly as your engine oil is. Some trannies need to be pressurised to bleed all the old fluid out.

[Ixion]

That was first done in the 50s with the ''Standrive'' fitted to the Standard 10,a button on the floor shift.They were also fitted to the Series II Oxford,but can't remember what name they dreamed up,the Oxford was column change.Apprentices could give extreme abuse to these vehicles by reving the shit out of them with the button down,then releasing it...

Apprentices do something like that ? Naah never, I never knew an apprentice that would abuse a vehicle. :msn-wink:

Actually Austin had a similar thing on a few of their vehicles in the '30's. And then of course there was the Daimler fluid flywheel and Wilson preselector box. Which was actually rather nice.

[Motu]

Apprentices do something like that ? Naah never, I never knew an apprentice that would abuse a vehicle. :msn-wink:

Actually Austin had a similar thing on a few of their vehicles in the '30's. And then of course there was the Daimler fluid flywheel and Wilson preselector box. Which was actually rather nice.
There's nothing new under the sun eh? One consolation in being an old fart - when the young fullas are showing off their lastest gizzmo,we can say...''yeah,I had one just like that,30 yrs ago!''

[Ixion]

There's nothing new under the sun eh? One consolation in being an old fart - when the young fullas are showing off their lastest gizzmo,we can say...''yeah,I had one just like that,30 yrs ago!''

Yep. Like belt drives. Latest thing eh ? Sure was, 100 years ago!.

4 valve heads are another one. Ever hear of the Rudge Ulster chaps.

[inlinefour]

Whats the point in that?
I do want a blade but if an auto was all that was on offer then I would not bother...

[Morepower]

I dont like Autos except behind turbos where they can help keep the engine on boost.
Now imagine an Auto Turbo Hyabusa.... woohoo

[XP@]

I was just asking!


--- Autozam Wholesale <autozam@ihug.co.nz> wrote:
> From: "Autozam Wholesale" <autozam@ihug.co.nz>
> To: "James" <jamesjriley@yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: AUTOBASE: 1992 Honda CBR Registration AUT1017-MC17
> Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2005 08:40:10 +1200
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> ----- Original Message -----
> From: James
> To: autozam@ihug.co.nz
> Cc: info@autobase.co.nz
> Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 4:56 PM
> Subject: AUTOBASE: 1992 Honda CBR Registration AUT1017-MC17
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> Subject: AUTOBASE: 1992 Honda CBR Registration
> AUT1017-MC17
> Message: Hi, Could you please tell me if the automatic
> transmission was factory fitted? Would I be correct in assuming that
> the "Hondamatic" drive has been fitted? I would also like to see a
> photo of the final drive.
>
>
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> If you have any questions about this message, please do not
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[AndyH]

I owned an "automatic" Guzzi for a while - a Convert. Wasn't an auto. Had a torque convertor in place of the dry clutch you normally find on the back of a Guzzi motor. Two-speed manual gearbox, with a wet multi-plate clutch you were supposed to use when changing between high and low (but with the convertor slip the plates tended to stick so it didn't usually do much).

I'm pretty sure the various sizes (750, 400, 250?) "AT" Hondas of the mid seventies were a similar setup.

I enjoyed owning and riding the thing, but not because the transmission setup was in any way a good idea. More to savour the perversity that it existed at all. It would set off from rest in "high" and eventually reach 99mph. But the same could be said of a VFR750 in 3rd gear without the eventually...

Hey, the parking brake operated by the sidestand was pretty cool (couldn't leave the thing in gear when you parked it on a hill).

[Ixion]

..

I'm pretty sure the various sizes (750, 400, 250?) "AT" Hondas of the mid seventies were a similar setup.

..


I think the 750 was not an AT . I've heard that it had a proper two speed auto, courtesy of GM (? which seems odd I admit). AFAIK it was only sold in the US market, any in NZ are imports from US.

[Ixion]

..

I'm pretty sure the various sizes (750, 400, 250?) "AT" Hondas of the mid seventies were a similar setup.

..


I think the 750 was not an AT . I've heard that it had a proper two speed auto, courtesy of GM (? which seems odd I admit). AFAIK it was only sold in the US market, any in NZ are imports from US.

[googles like mad]

Seems it was the Hondamatic


However, not all of Honda's innovations gained widespread acceptance. Hondamatic(TM)--a torque-converter-based automatic transmission for motorcycles--was a successful technology that didn't catch the public's fancy. Electric starting had brought a lot of people to motorcycling, and Honda wondered: Would an automatic do the same? The 1976 CB750 Automatic and 1977 CB400A were remarkable machines, but riders chose high-performance over this convenience. Honda also launched two other wildly diverse products in 1977--the NC50 no-ped, an ultralight, minimalist motorbike, and the FL250 Odyssey(R) four-wheeler, a natural evolution of the ATC90.


from Here (http://www.hondanews.com/CatID7624?mid=2003090256359&mime=asc)

And a photo of one is Here (http://www.hemmings.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/dealers.detail/hmn_vehicle_id/179821)

[scroter]

some of the newer trucks have autos, but still maintain a clutch although some without a clutch pedal, all done by electronics and has an overide so you can stop it changing if you want, wish i had one. but in reality if one was on a bike i think once moving the thing would probably just stay in top. mind you could just take some time to get use to.

[MD]

Does anyone else have an automatic transmission fireblade?

if so does it do good wheelies?

Oh sorry automatic 'transmission'.
When I start my Fireblade it automatically;
- gets me in trouble with the neighbours (micron pipe)
- gets me Road Revenue donation vouchers
- takes my money away by ripping up tyres and emptying the tank

On the plus side it automatically makes me happy once on the move

[Morepower]

I was just asking!
makes you want to rush down and buy one of thier vehicles with such a good attitude :crazy:

[Monsterbishi]

You take that back!
Any idea how often they pack up? ..Ask a Mitsubishi dealer parts guy...oh yeah thats me :-)


Yes that's true, but many, many people neglect to service their auto transmissions on a regular basis, or at anything like the manufacturer interval.

Since I spend all my spare time building high performance Mitsi's - gotta side with Groomer on this one, Only tip/auto box that Mitsu has managed to build for a car so far that has any creedence is what they used in the Legnum VR4...

Just for fun once, we destroyed 3 E39A Galant VR4 auto boxes in just over a year, first one lasted 9 months at 12psi, 2nd one(completely rebuild) we got it down to 3 months on 14psi, last one managed 3 weeks on 18psi before it sprat the dummy :-)

[James Deuce]

Only tip/auto box that Mitsu has managed to build for a car so far that has any creedence is what they used in the Legnum VR4...


That's the one I mean. Test drove one last weekend, and was higly impressed. Sorry if they are horrible to look after, but just going on non-mechanically aware driving feel. It blew away any transmission I've touched in the last decade.

[Monsterbishi]

If you install a bigger trans cooler and use really good fluid, they get even better, not my cup of tea personally, I'm a manual man through and through, but certainly on par with some of the euro offerings out there.

Another neat trick with them too, if you want to be different, you can buy some momentary microswitches from Jatcar/Dicksmith, and either make yourself a flappy paddle style shifters behind the wheel, or in the case of the one I work on, two extra foot pedals to shift gear.

[XP@]

makes you want to rush down and buy one of thier vehicles with such a good attitude :crazy:
Well I was thinking the same...
It is STILL advertised as an automatic though!

And with honda actually making automatic bikes, it could even have had an air shifter or similar. I thought it was a reasonable enough question... especially in these days where modifications are the thing...

[inlinefour]

Oh sorry automatic 'transmission'.
When I start my Fireblade it automatically;
- gets me in trouble with the neighbours (micron pipe)
- gets me Road Revenue donation vouchers
- takes my money away by ripping up tyres and emptying the tank

On the plus side it automatically makes me happy once on the move

Hopefully by then I will had enough of a pay rise to off set those costs...

[pete376403]

Apprentices do something like that ? Naah never, I never knew an apprentice that would abuse a vehicle. :msn-wink:

Actually Austin had a similar thing on a few of their vehicles in the '30's. And then of course there was the Daimler fluid flywheel and Wilson preselector box. Which was actually rather nice.

Smiths Easidrive as used in Standard Vanguard cars - iron powder and a magnetic coupling instead of a hydraulic converter. Solenoids shifting a modified manual transmission. And all operated by early sixties British automotive electrics. Joe Lucas wasn't the only Prince of Darkness.

[Dodgyiti]

Ok
The most famous mass produced automatic bike was the 1000 Convert Moto-Guzzi, used a lot by parking wardens and some traffic police in Italy and quite a lot in the US. When you think about US big city traffic jams, or Auckland from 3.45-7.30 it kinda makes sense.

[speedpro]

When you think about US big city traffic jams, or Auckland from 3.45-7.30 it kinda makes sense.

That'd be 3:45am-7:30pm??

Some drag cars use an auto box but with a clutch.

I've got an 1800 Legnum (woohoo) and the box in that is amazing. Must admit though that I think it's due for a fluid change. Does anyone know officially what the change interval is? Must admit it's nice having the filter where you can get at it.

Had a Holden traumatic behind a 173 in a Hi Ace. Spent a bit of time adjusting that and experimenting with different fluids and ended up with a sweet auto.

[Motu]

We had one of those in today - what a crap box,as bad as the other Triptronics,a total waste of time doing manual shifts,may as well be an Eaton 2 speed diff.Change your trans oil at 40,000,more often if you like,use a Hyundai filter,they are cheaper than Mitsy ones and Ryco haven't got them going yet.Dextron III and ''green'' Lubeguard...then you'll end up with a box that changes 2 sec after you move the lever.

[speedpro]

Currently it shifts when I move the lever. No log book but evidently the car was regularly serviced, the fuel cap is thick with stickers and the cambelt was done at under70K. Maybe servicing is the key. A flush and fresh oil certainly helped my old turbo Cefiro auto.

Thanks for the info.

[DEATH_INC.]

Just outta interest,one of the guys on the kawasaki turbo site runs an air shifter on his 200+hp beast hooked up to an rpm switch,combined with a lockup clutch,which gives him as near to a proper working auto as you'll get without actually having one,and also the advantage of a programmable shift point.
Sit on the start line rev'er up,dump the clutch which slips 'till the lockup takes over,then hang on and it shifts at preset shift points(11000rpm in this case).
no downshift though.....

[Motu]

Currently it shifts when I move the lever. No log book but evidently the car was regularly serviced, the fuel cap is thick with stickers and the cambelt was done at under70K. Maybe servicing is the key. A flush and fresh oil certainly helped my old turbo Cefiro auto.

Thanks for the info.
Doubt it - I've driven heaps of these new manual shift type autos,not one has made me go ''wow! what a shit hot box'' Go and drive a 1968 Mini auto if you want to see how manual shift should work in an auto.

[GROOMER]

We had one of those in today - what a crap box,as bad as the other Triptronics,a total waste of time doing manual shifts,may as well be an Eaton 2 speed diff.Change your trans oil at 40,000,more often if you like,use a Hyundai filter,they are cheaper than Mitsy ones and Ryco haven't got them going yet.Dextron III and ''green'' Lubeguard...then you'll end up with a box that changes 2 sec after you move the lever.

Wouldnt be using dex3 on a mitsi box...Mitsi MMSP3 is the only way to go, it improves shifting and smoothness something chronic and according to the trans specialist we use, it actually prevents quite a few probs in those import slopboxes.

And speedpro...i bet your legnum says 3 dreaded letters on the side of it, GDI.
Poor guy. :)

[Motu]

Dex III and Lubeguard,that's all I use in any auto - the only genuine oil I buy is Honda and Nissan for their CVTs.

[Paul in NZ]

Ok
The most famous mass produced automatic bike was the 1000 Convert Moto-Guzzi, used a lot by parking wardens and some traffic police in Italy and quite a lot in the US. When you think about US big city traffic jams, or Auckland from 3.45-7.30 it kinda makes sense.

Well to be perfectly honest the Convert (which was made right up until the mid 80's and they actually sold a LOT) was not really a true auto. It was a big Sachs torque converter hooked up to a 2 speed box with a manual clutch etc. You select low range for town driving or high for highway etc.

These are generally, very robust vehicles and capable of high miles. They use the 950cc smallvalve engine tuned for max torque and are often on ebay festooned with 45,000kg of fibreglass munt and another 6 tonnes of crap like 8 track players etc...

Look at (say) my swingarm on the mk2 and you will see lugs for a second disk caliper. With the sidestand down the park brake would come on allowing PC Plod to write out a ticket while the Convert burbled away in gear. If any miscreat thought to do a runner, PC Plod to leap on the 'vert and just wind on the gas and away we go....

The Honda version is kinda similar but (shock) a little more sophisticated yet less succesful commercially. (Write up in Classic Bike recently) There was a 400 twin version as well (shudder)

WATCH THIS SPACE kiddies....

Rumour is..... We will see a big Honda tourer with an auto box real soon... Why not, makes perfect sense....

Cheers