Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hello, I recently bought a new motorcycle about 2 days ago. It's a Suzuki M50 with about 650cc. It's a good bike but it is a bit heavy. Im not comfortable with the manual transmission aspects of any motorcycle. Simply because I havent been trained or practiced much. Id like to get out on the road soon but I know to train myself properly and safely it would take a couple of months. So I was thinking about taking the easy route of getting an automatic transmission installed on my Suzuki. I know there are automatic drives and clutches like:

Centrifugal with clutch plates.
Centrifugal with clutch shoes
Centrifugal drive and driven clutches with a belt connecting them. (Snowmobile Type)
Fluid Torque converter

Id just like to know a price range on installing an automatic transmission on the type of bike I have. The good side to an auto trans is there would be one less thing id have to worry about while on the road. The bad side to it, I would be taking the power and control away like if I needed to accelerate quickly to avoid a collision or complete a pass. So any input on automatic transmissions would be appreciated from price range to efficiency.

sell the bike and get this one instead.

Burgman 650...





it's not hard to get used to manual transmission, although i can't really guarantee that since i started on manual trans and my last car before it got wrecked was also manual.

just practice it. automatic transmission is boring.

If you are anywhere near an MSF type basic rider course, go take it. They'll teach you how to manage the transmission and clutch no worries.

As far as I know automatic clutches are used on race bikes and not much else.

Reticent wrote:Hello, I recently bought a new motorcycle about 2 days ago. It's a Suzuki M50 with about 650cc. It's a good bike but it is a bit heavy. Im not comfortable with the manual transmission aspects of any motorcycle. Simply because I havent been trained or practiced much. Id like to get out on the road soon but I know to train myself properly and safely it would take a couple of months.

Wow. Okay, it sounds like you just went out and bought a motorcycle and really didn't do ANY research at all. For one thing, a Suzuki M50 is NOT a 650cc bike. It is 805cc and 56HP. That is approaching the highest-limits of what a beginner should be starting out on, in my opinion.

I'm not trying to offend you and I'm not talking down to you. But your issues are things I've never once hear anyone complain about. Most people know how big their engine is. Most people know how to shift. Because they research their motorcycle and they get good training.

Here, read this page:
www.CaliforniaBikeNights.com/learn

I made that page to help beginners learn to ride.

It will NOT take you months to learn to ride if you take an MSF course. They are designed to teach you how to ride even when you have zero experience.

If you really have a hard time learning to shift, then get a scooter like a Bergman or get a Ridley like this:
http://www.ridleymotorcycle.com

Good luck. And get some professional training before you hurt yourself.

Dragonhawk Wrote:
I'm not trying to offend you and I'm not talking down to you. But your issues are things I've never once hear anyone complain about. Most people know how big their engine is. Most people know how to shift. Because they research their motorcycle and they get good training.


Keep on track, I did recently buy the bike, ive always wanted the Honda CBR 600cc, so im just used to saying 600 or 650 as the specs when I was looking for a bike because I was always told 600 or below is good for beginners. The M50 is 800, I do know how to do the basics of shifting so on and so forth. Im also not a moron and know how to research cycle training centers such as the MSF rider courses or more specifically ABATE out in CO since that is where I live and I have taken it once before. With the little practice ive had, im not all that comfortable with the manual system, so I asked about automatic transmissions and if they are practicle and if they arent I will learn the manual system. Keep your focus on the topic which is automatic transmissions on motorcycles.

take the MSF course they will teach you how to shift and use the clutch.

I found the clutch/shifting to be easy, but I have driven cars with a manual gearbox pretty much since I learned to drive.

I think you are going to have to deal with the manual tranny. I haven't heard of any automatic conversions. Good luck. Ride safe and have fun.

Manual transmisison is really not a big deal. I took the MSF class and I haden't ever driven stick. Just take the the MSF class and practice.

In reference to the automatic transmission, Ridley makes automatic transmission bike, they are a 750 engine and a basic bike goes for about 18K. You could own a Gold Wing for that price!