Automatic bikes?

[ryanstev]

I suggest an auto quad bike for you.

Thanks, but I want to lane split and that'll be a bit wide.

[Ender EnZed]

Thanks, I'm not 100% against a manually shifted bike.
As you can probably tell, I've never had a bike before, I figured with how steep my drive is, I'd need to lean way forward to keep it from tipping back, but then I was a bit worried about balance and removing weight from the back wheels (although, being on a hill I know weight transfer would take care of that)

My car's parked at the bottom of the drive, so I'd have to start the bike almost touching the side of the car, because that's the only flat part.

If a car can drive up it then you're not going to flip over backwards.

It's obviously not the easiest spot to learn how to ride a bike from though. I'd suggest learning the basics at a course where the bike is provided and you get your basic handling skills certificate at the end of the day. The trainer will know you're starting from scratch and you'll be fine fucking around in a flat car park, just like everyone else who learnt to ride.

There's still a big jump from there to a super steep hill you're not confident about though. Do you have somewhere else you could store a bike for a while after buying it? Just start with what you're comfortable with for a few weekends rather than trying to ride to work in rush hour the first day. When you've got more confidence, try your driveway, then ride to work and gain yourself 10 hours free time each week.

[nzspokes]

Oh, I should probably clarify, the reason why I don't want a manually shifted bike is, my drive is stupidly steep.
A FWD car can't drive up when it's wet and a RWD can't back up when it's dry (or wet) even my AWD Legacy will spin the wheels and get stuck if I slow down too much.

If i got a bike, even a learner friendly one, I'd fall over trying to get up and would probably need help leaving in the mornings.

If it is really that steep how did it get a consent? Maybe you should look at re-paving the drive with something more aggressive. My drive is steep at the bottom but the surface is rough and traction is never a problem.

And if your going to ride any bike up it, count on a long warm up.

[nzspokes]

Thanks, but I want to lane split and that'll be a bit wide.

I would work on getting up your drive first.

[Rhys]

Apart from scooters the only auto bike I know of is Honda CTX700 I don't know how may would be in NZ though

[ryanstev]

If it is really that steep how did it get a consent? Maybe you should look at re-paving the drive with something more aggressive. My drive is steep at the bottom but the surface is rough and traction is never a problem.

And if your going to ride any bike up it, count on a long warm up.

I just measured it, it's around a 30% incline.
Kind of understandable that someone who's never ridden a motorbike might be a bit concerned about buying a bike, then realising he can't ride up it.

[nerrrd]

The thing is and this probably won't be popular, I don't want a normal shifted bike, I want an auto clutch, or fully auto/CVT.
I'd just get a Maxi Scooter, except I don't like how they look, but faced with getting a normally shifted bike, I would.

Can anyone tell me what kind of bike would suit me? I want to ride on the motorway, so would probably need atleast 125cc, I'm 97kg, 5 foot 10.
I would have just bought a Honda NC700, except it's 10cc over the limit for learners.

I want either an auto bike, or a scooter that looks like a motorbike, thanks for any suggestions.

'fraid we never got the DCT (auto) versions of the NC range here in NZ (in the days of the 250cc learner limit you could apply for an exemption to ride a bigger bike if you could make a decent argument that you needed one, can you still do that? Don't think 'my drive is too steep' would have worked anyway, but who knows). Haven't heard of any other autos out there that would be small enough to be LAMS compliant, so scooter it is.

This one kind of looks like a ninja if you squint a bit: http://www.kawasaki.co.nz/catalog/st...0BEFA/overview, well it's got some green bits

[nzspokes]

I just measured it, it's around a 30% incline.
Kind of understandable that someone who's never ridden a motorbike might be a bit concerned about buying a bike, then realising he can't ride up it.

I think the bottom of mine is more than that. My bike pretty much idles up it.

[Reckless]

Have you thought about loading 97kg plus gear and work shit 110kg on a 125 on a cold morning than making that auto clutch climb the drive every morning??
That's hard on the auto my friend. Even on a manual bike its gonna give the clutch more shit than normal till you get good at it.
Not that I'm aware of an auto bike in the first place? Scooter maybe?

I gather your legacy is an Auto as well so you have no manual experience whatsoeva??

To be honest its not that hard unless your a knob and the way you have responded to the KB shit slung your way you have some fight LMAO.

Do it!! fight the fear of the hill, you'll master the clutch, it aint such a specialised skill as some would make out. Dirt bikers do it 100 times every ride

[blackdog]

It ain't pretty.

http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/...-ar150877.html

[ryanstev]

Have you thought about loading 97kg plus gear and work shit 110kg on a 125 on a cold morning than making that auto clutch climb the drive every morning??
That's hard on the auto my friend. Even on a manual bike its gonna give the clutch more shit than normal till you get good at it.
Not that I'm aware of an auto bike in the first place? Scooter maybe?

I gather your legacy is an Auto as well so you have no manual experience whatsoeva??

To be honest its not that hard unless your a knob and the way you have responded to the KB shit slung your way you have some fight LMAO.

Do it!! fight the fear of the hill, you'll master the clutch, it aint such a specialised skill as some would make out. Dirt bikers do it 100 times every ride

Well, I'm letting myself in for even more shit, but yes, my turbo Legacy is an auto.
I have a 5 litre muscle car, which is an auto too.

I can drive manual, I learnt on an old 72 Hiace column shift.

OK, well, I'll need to take some classes anyway, which will be on a normal bike, so I'll give a manual bike a try.
I know bikes are light, but with such small motors, compared to cars, I thought I'd have to ride the clutch too much to get up a steep drive like mine, it's OK for experienced riders, but for a learner I just figured it wasn't a good idea.

[chasio]

The Aprilia Mana is an over-ridable auto, but is not LAMS, either. Never seen one, but I believe they were (are?) sold here.

If you ignore the unhelpful stuff, the advice to master a manual is what I would also suggest in your scenario. Get a cheapish dual purpose bike that is already a bit scuffed up but sound and good at falling over (handguards, etc.), get some training, practise elsewhere and then give it a crack (perhaps having removed the car if there is a danger of stalling and going back into it).

[nzspokes]

It ain't pretty.

http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/...-ar150877.html

This made me LOL

The engine’s power is kept in leash by a CVT automatic transmission

Its got 15hp......

[ryanstev]

Yeah, I'd need a bit more power than that.
My electric mountain has 6 1/2 HP and does 78kph.

I had a list of motorbikes I was going to look at last year, when I wanted fuel efficiency.
FXR150
GN250
SR250
ZZR or GSX 250

Apparently all learner friendly.

[local]

Pics of the driveway, pics of the muscle car, or none of this ever happened.

Edit: Bonus points for pics of your missus.