2025 Best Automatic Motorcycles
Now, whether you’ve got an impairment with your left hand or foot, or if you just like the idea of the convenience of an automatic motorcycle, there’s good news on the horizon for 2025.
You see, multiple major motorcycle manufacturers have announced programs to introduce autobikes for the new model year.
we’ll run through all of the options, old and new, along with a couple of Curveball suggestions at the end.
Honda’s Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT)
Now, up until now, your only option if you wanted to ditch the clutch and shifter has realistically been Honda, who have offered their DCT system since 2010 when it was first unveiled on their VFR 1200 F.
Basically, DCT or dual clutch transmission uses two sets of gears, so one with first, third, and fifth, and the other with second, fourth, and sixth.
Then a pair of clutches, as you may have guessed from the name, seamlessly blends the two boxes so you get this super smooth sensation as the bike moves up and down the box on your behalf.
There’s no clutch lever to operate.
You just simply twist and go, and you can either run the bike in an automatic mode where it selects gears based upon your current speed, or there’s a manual mode where you can choose the gears yourself with some buttons on the switch gear.
Now, some models, like the Africa Twin, even offer a dummy foot shifter as an accessory, which, of course, might be handy off road, for example, when you’re standing up.
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It’s also worth adding that DCT ties into the riding modes on bikes that have them, and so it to hold onto the gears and shift later in a sports mode, for example, where you want to access that peak power.
Also, again, on models that have it, DCT can also use information from the bike’s inertial measurement unit to avoid shifting abrupt when the bike is banked over, for example, where you wouldn’t want to unsettle the chassis mid-corner.
Look, whilst DCT did have a reputation for being a little bit clunky when it was first launched,
I guess one of the major strengths now is that they’ve had over 10 years on the Market That means Honda have had plenty of time to refine it, and the more recent models, it really is pretty slick.
Don’t get me wrong, there is still a bit of a knack to slow maneuvers. You might need to choose a more chilled out riding mode.
Be fairly controlled with your throttle application, and also potentially drag a little bit of break.
But I think with just a smidge of practice, it really does start to become second nature.
The other advantage that Honda have in this market is that they’ve already fitted it to a fairly wide range of bikes.
The most affordable would be the NC 750X at just over eight and a half grand.
But you’ve also got the Rebel 1100 Cruiser, the NT 1100 mid-size Tora, both versions of the Africa Twin adventure bikes, and of course, the big daddy, the Gold Wing.
For me, the only clear downsides of DCT are the extra cost and weight. The DCT version of the Africa Twin, for example, adds 1,200 quid and 11 kilograms.
But then again, if an automatic motorcycle enables you to keep riding, or if it really does enhance your specific use case, then I think both penalties are probably fairly easy to swallow.
E-Clutch: A More Affordable Semi-Automatic Option
That said, a lighter, more affordable option also comes from Honda in the form of their eClutch bike.
Now, this one isn’t truly automatic because you still have to make the shift with your left foot.
It is still physically there if you want it, so you can slip it at low speeds for example. But also you can stop and start without it and shift clutchlessly, too.
And I’ve got to say I was pretty impressed with it when I tried it out on their CB 650R naked this year.
It’s also available on the more sporty equivalent, the CBR 650 R. And what I think is most impressive about eClutch is the fact that it costs on each bike just £130 more than the manual version.
On top of that, it adds just under three kilograms to the weight.
And so I reckon if you’re doing a lot of stop, start riding, especially considering you can switch it off when you don’t want it.
It just seems like a bit of a no-brainer if you were buying either of these bikes anyway.
Yamaha’s Automated Manual Transmission (YAMT)
The big development for 2025, though, is effectively a blend of the two ideas.
Take Yamaha’s new YAMT, for example, or automated manual transmission, which not only uses a similar electronic actuator on the clutch, but also gets a second on the Gearbox, too.
This means it can effectively offer the same functionality as DCT, with no clutch lever to operate and either an automatic mode or manual with the buttons on the switch gear, and yet it still has some of the simplicity and frugality of the eClutch system.
You see, while it is still an impressive technical achievement, the actuators on the clutch and Gearbox are ultimately acting upon the same engine architecture as the manual equivalent.
Dct, on the other hand, requires substantially different hardware with the two sets of gears and two clutsches, and so I’m sure you can guess which one is going to be more efficient and more affordable to manufacture.
Now, Yamaha have already announced the first bike to receive this tech, and that’s going to be the MT-09.
And they’ve also announced the price in two, and it looks pretty good. It’s just £550 more than the regular manual MT-09.
That’s less than half of what DCT typically costs.
And yet the weight difference looks to be about the same as the three kilograms of the eClutch system.
the initial signs really do look quite promising if this is your thing.
Now, assuming that the YMT version of the MT-09 is a success, I’d fully expect the same tech to be rolled out to their Tracer 9 Tora, which, of course, uses the same CP3 triple-cylinder engine and so would require minimal adaptation of the system to make it available.
On top of that, it’s also worth pointing out that some of the technical registrations for YAMT, which surfaced earlier in the year, actually showed it on the more affordable MT07 Naked 2.
Now, the CP2 parallel twin from this bike powers a broad spectrum of models from Yamaha, from the R7 sports bike all the way through to multiple Tenerade 700 adventure bikes.
And so for me, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if they also made it available on that platform.
Interestingly, though, Yamaha aren’t the only manufacturer looking at this tech at the moment.
BMW’s ASA
Bmw announced their ASA or automated shift assistant recently, and it’s very much the same idea with a pair of electronic actuators on the clutch and box.
Now, the first bike to be announced with it was the new GS Adventure, although they also mentioned in that press release that ASA will be available on the base R1300 GS as well from the 2025 model year.
On top of that, we’ve also recently seen spy shots of an updated R1250 RT, which I guess will be the R1300 RT, and the specific bike spotted was missing a clutch lever, too.
So when this one’s properly unveiled, I assume later this year, you can almost be certain that ASA will be an option.
KTM’s Adventure Into Automatic Transmissions
But look, if you still want even more options, well, KTM have announced they’ll be offering AMT soon as well, with an updated super adventure model being put through its paces at a recent Enduro event.
In fact, we’ve seen spy shots of three or four new models for their large capacity lineup this year, and so there could well be a few more automatic options here as well for 2025.
MV Agusta’s SCS: Smart Clutch System for Stylish Performance
Another system worth adding into the mix here, though, especially if you want something a little more stylish and performance-biased, is the SCS or Smart Clutch System from MV Augusta.
At the moment, it’s available on their Dragsters and Turismo Velace, and it’s basically a recluse clutch which disengages when you come to a stop, then engages again when you apply the throttle.
The quick shifter, on the other hand, takes care of the clutchless up and down shifts, and so you basically got something like Honda’s e-clutch, but just achieved more so mechanically.
I do find it a little bit grabby, especially on a big, tall bike like the Turismo Velace, where you’ll want to be a bit careful at lower speeds.
But the benefit is it’s super light at just 36 grams more than a standard clutch.
But look, perhaps this all seems a bit unnecessarily complicated to you if you can get on board with an electric.
Fundamentally, electric vehicles have no clutch lever or shifter because they don’t need them.
The electronics can eke out the power gradually as you apply the throttle.
Electric Motorcycles: The Ultimate Clutchless Experience
And an electric motor has a broader range of usable RPMs than an internal combustion engine. So gear shifts, again, simply aren’t necessary.
Now, granted, you’ve got to consider range and charging, but if you want something very simple to ride without having to use your left appendages so much, then this could actually be a pretty good option.
I’d recommend checking out the Xero lineup first with some decent bikes in a broad range of categories.
But also there’s the BMW CE 04, which I thought was a brilliant city commuter, and perhaps the new Livewire S2 Del Mar, which looks really interesting to me.
Which Automatic Motorcycle Suits You?
I’m yet to try it out, but so far I’ve read pretty good things about it. As always, I’d love to know which would be your pick, though, so do let me know down in the comments.