Posted on 10/21/2025 7:07:11 AM PDT by eyeamok
The E-Clutch does away with that and thereby arguably does away with the essential thing that makes a motorcycle something different than a Moped or a Scooter (or a car – with an automatic transmission – for that matter).
(Excerpt) Read more at ericpetersautos.com ...
Yes, not for everyone. My brother tried to teach me how to ride his cycle. I kept mixing up which hand does what. It did not end well.
I tend to agree withyou. It just opens the market up to those who do not wish to shift gears. I’m sure that there will still be the old fasnioned motorcycles being produced, at least ultil demand for them dries up to a number that will make them not worth producing.
I’m not sure if you’re a rider or not but you have said something that at least suggests you’re not.
When on a bike, especially with a passenger, power delivery is key. A rider must know that power is available in the amounts necessary to right a bike in a corner.
With an auto transmission this can be sketchy. Concerns of whether it will be at the proper rpm (and capable of planned per delivery at that RPM) is enough to dump it.
That said , and this is for the rest of the forum, the Honda e clutch that I rode has a clutch lever.. but you don’t need to use it. It’s similar to the slipper clutch now being sold for many ADV bikes - such as my bmw. It’s there, but I don’t have to use it. If I’m on a hill at a light though it’s very helpful especially when carrying precious cargo - a passenger.
Keep in mind that Honda sells motorcycles all over the world. There are literally billions of people that use motorcycles/scooters as a means of travel and will never be able to afford an automobile.
So, it may be to be able to sell more 250 CC motorcycles in Vietnam, Philippeans, Mayalsia, Europe, South America and the Carribean.
In Italy every commuter drives/owns a scooter. Yes, many are Vespas because they are made there. I did see some fancy Honda scooters too. Although they were much rarer.
In Sorrento there is a parking lot where the main ferry terminal is located. From there you can catch a ferry to Naples, Amalfi, Positono, Capri and other destinations. Everyday the parking lot was full of scooters and motorbikes. Several hundred. Most of them worked on Capri. Parking is tough in Europe in general. Gasoline was 1.75EU/liter.
So, to summerize I would guess it is to sell more motorbikes to people like them(VOLUME) and less concern to someone interested in buying a Gold Wing.
I was 14 back then brother....WAY before my time! 😁
only the early ones, ISTR they switched in the late 70s
Bean counters destroy everything.
They tried this 50 years ago, the Honda CB750A.
In a BIG way.
I’ve got a bigger problem with E bikes than this......some of those people are a freakin’ menace to society....not to mention themselves.
This will make the e bike to motorcycle transition easier. Watch out.
Having taken professional riding lessons, I can assure you it makes all the difference in the world.
At $300 for a 3 day course, that training was worth at least twice as much.
I wouldn’t recommend anyone considering riding a motorcycle to do so without it.
Everyone used top handle manually shifting a car, truck or motorcycle then came complete laziness.
Today’s youth prefer Uber or self driving vehicles so they can keep their brain dead eyes emerged in their phones.
I admit I know nothing about transmissions but have read something about electric motors being able to deliver torque from zero MPH and up. I’m driving my late brother’s hybrid Prius and was told it doesn’t have a transmission (so if an oil/lube joint tries to upsell me a transmission fluid change, I’ll know to turn it down).
Having always ridden cruiser bikes, a buddy asked me to replace the battery in a Vespa size Korean scooter he owned, after, I took it for a test ride......that thing made me really uncomfortable for some reason.
I much more prefer to ride a 800 pound bike over that thing....it was a really weird sensation. Lol!
I am sure the immediate uptick in motorcycle deaths will be folded in with other mortality rates.......
“I am sure the immediate uptick in motorcycle deaths will be folded in with other mortality rates”
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They’ll just chock it up to Covid
I never wanted a motorcycle, because I had a friend that was sideswiped on urpose & lost his right leg. Cars are dangeorous too, but at least one is not exposed to the nuts out there who are more than willing to do something to someone else, just for the fun of it in some cases.
Scooters, the future of transportation belongs to the scooter.. Better get on board now..
The reason for that is because those bikes were used for flat track racing. You could kick the bike into a turn, hanging your left leg out for stability. Could then shift with the right foot if needed.
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