Does anyone make an automatic motorcycle

In some dual-clutch cars, this delay is especially pronounced. The latest-generation automotive DCTs are much better, but in the early days, it could feel like an eternity between when you nudged the throttle and when the computer realized you needed the clutch engaged so the car would move.

On the Africa Twin, I had the opposite problem. The bike starts moving the nanosecond you twist the grip. There is no discernible delay; the bike's computer engages the clutch seamlessly with the smallest breath of throttle, without the flurry of revs or acrid-smelling clutch slippage of some less refined DCTs.

The first few times I pulled away from a stop, I startled myself, the bike motoring forward just a half a beat sooner than I expected. It takes a minute to get used to rolling away without having to play the clutch-throttle balance game. It's a lot like driving an electric car, where there's no delay for clutches to engage or a torque converter to spool up.

After three stop signs, I got comfortable with the Africa Twin's immediacy; from there on, it became a delight, making the bike feel ultra responsive and sharp. Left in Drive, the bike upshifts obsessively, holding the revs well below in calm surface-road cruising.

The big cc parallel twin has no trouble motivating the bike at those low engine speeds, but it's certainly not the most vivacious way to ride. I found Sport 2 to be the sweet spot, with higher shift points that pretty closely mimicked the way I'd choose gears. The engine sounds great, throaty and muscular, and kept around rpm it's nice and snappy. Of course, you can manually shift the DCT.

Honda's automatic bikes don't have a clutch lever or a foot shifter; instead, you get toggles on the left hand grip, upshifting with your index finger and downshifting with your thumb. At first, I played with the toggles pretty much incessantly, just like I did the first few times I drove a dual-clutch sports car back when that technology was new. Only Honda build bikes as downright bonkers as the 'adventure scooter' as if there was ever a need for such a machine X-ADV.

And only Honda could actually make it work and be so tempting. It works, too — up to a point small wheels and limited ground clearance ultimately limit its dirt prowess while electronics and engine tweaks in ironed out some of the wrinkles of the original. Otherwise quality and reliability is good but watch out for evidence of overly-enthusiastic off-road shenanigans and potential cosmetic damage. Spec : What sets it apart are its new ZR motor which gives performance and range closer than ever to that of an equivalent petrol-powered machine, plus, perhaps even more significantly, a trellis frame and cycle parts radial brakes, adjustable inverted forks etc the match of the latest oil-burners, too.

Think slightly heavier Ducati Monster but with immediate, twist-and-go zap, and you'll be about there. Instead, the main problem was that, priced at nearly 10 grand, it was too expensive. Even so, although rare, it still has appeal for its sci-fi looks.

In fact it even featured in the sci-fi flick Ghost in the Shell. A short production life and limited appeal means used Vultuses Vulti? If tempted, and not put off by the price, you should have nothing to fear: quality is excellent, the NC powertrain is proven and high mileages are very unlikely. First we had the Philippe Starck-designed Moto 6.

Said DCT also has 7-speeds, one more than the manual. Before American Ricky Brabec won the Paris-Dakar on a race-spec Honda dirt bike, the company had previously won in the 80s with the first Africa Twin. Updated for , the Africa Twin comes with a cc twin-cylinder engine, which puts out hp and 77 lb-ft.

While the base bike is arguably more of a tourer, the Adventure Sports offers some genuine off-road features. These include multiple off-road traction control modes, a larger fuel tank, larger skid plate, more suspension travel and ground clearance, and standard crash bars, Cycle World reports.

If the Africa Twin is a little too pricey, and you tend to stay on the pavement, the Honda NCX is a worthwhile alternative. And said trim also comes with a DCT. Full review at cycleworld. What this little bike brings to the table is an affordable step up from a scooter, with a familiar twist-and-go throttle, but adding in the foot brake for the rear wheel. This allows the beginner rider to learn all about variable braking across both wheels, while also not going at speeds that would be fast enough to cause a brain lockup leading to a crash.

The Honda NCX is a great beginner bike for the taller or heavier or both rider that wants to get into adventure style motorcycles. And the thumb-operated toggle beside the throttle to switch it between neutral and the two drive modes comes directly into touch, without having to look down at the handlebars, keeping your eyes where they should be, on the road. Zero designed the S to be one of their friendliest and most accessible models.

On top of that, the battery holds 7. A friendly standard seating position, a twist-and-go style of throttle as electric motors do not have gears , and a charge time from a standard V wall outlet of only 5. And then we get to the best part. Share Tweet.