Wednesday, January 9

EFM Auto Clutch: EFM makes auto clutches for street bikes and dirt bikes. Their website advertises a complete assembly for Harley-Davidson bikes for $895. (A bit less expensive than the Walters Mfg. solution, no?)

Rekluse Auto Clutch: Rekluse makes auto clutches for dirt bikes, but you could probably install their product in a similar supermoto (motard) or dual-purpose bike for street use.

Pingle Easy-Shift Kits

Disabled Motorcycle Riders, Inc.

Hope this info helps some more people enjoy motorcycling. Cheers! – CJ

Dear CJ,
We're always looking for information like this; you're a peach for sharing! – Mama

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Wednesday, April 16

Dear VTwin Mama,
You should check out Beaufort Motorsports. They build very affordable, fully automatic trikes turnkey. – Jamie

Dear Jamie,
I have taken a look and see that the company has both the  CFMoto V5 (cruiser style auto tranny 244cc) and the V3 (sport style auto tranny 244cc) triked out ... nice! They are located in coastal South Carolina. – Mama

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Wednesday, May 21

Dear VTwin Mama,
I am in my late 50s and in my early 20s rode a chopped Indian that I had bought as a basket case. After selling it, a friend let me try his brand new Triumph which I totaled when a car made a turn in front of me.  I never rode again.

Then a few years ago my wife, who had never ridden, bought a Burgman 400 which I taught her to ride in the driveway. Long story short, I road the Burg for the last 15,000 miles in all terrain and weather and must say it is a great bike.

I now have a Boulevard C50T and a friend recently told me of the Ridley, which I went and looked at. I think my wife is going to like this one. If it is anything like the Burgman it will be a great bike. – Tom M.

Dear Tom,
It's an interesting tale you've told and congrats on your C50 ... that's one heck of a great bike!

I've heard from a number of people who started on a Burgman before moving up in engine power. And I am unabashedly a fan of the Ridley series of automatic transmission motorcycles ever since I met both Clay and his son Jay on several occasions. I had a chance to ride an AutoGlide and it's power and handling lacked nothing I'd be looking for in a street bike. The low seat height makes it super attractive to shorter riders and Clay continues to work on design in both looks and functionality as any true inventor would!

Take a look at the Ridley Events schedule for 2008 ... I'm hoping you might be reasonably nearby one of these so you have a chance to meet the team in person. They love talking to women because as Jay once said, women really take the time to ask lots of useful questions and they are more than happy to chat as much as needed!

There are some new auto tranny models coming to the U.S. sometime this year or next and those can be found on my Auto Tranny Models page should you want to check other options. – Mama

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Monday, June 2

Dear VTwin Mama,
I am interested in purchasing a motorcycle to drive to and from work, about 30 miles each way, daily.  It has been many years since I rode or drove a motorcycle. I am 55 years old and 5'5" tall. I am a business professional, so I need a bike that is not only comfortable, easy to handle, but also has the space to carry a computer, large purse, and other items such as a small lunch cooler.  I don't want a "Hog" or anything fancy.  

I ride horses and have a Ford F450 Super Duty dually, 4 Wheel drive Pick-up to pull my horse trailer with living quarters.  Diesel has gone too high for me to drive it to and from work each day.  I was thinking about a scooter, but then thought I would probably get run over on a scooter since I drive on the busiest highway in Alabama going to and from work. I live in Chelsea, Alabama and commute to and from Birmingham on highway 280. 

Do you have any motorcycle recommendations that would fit my needs? Thank you, – Elizabeth

Dear Elizabeth,
Of course the auto tranny motorcycles don't require any shifting and may in fact fit the bill for what you're looking to do. While one thinks of scooters as these little moped-type deals, there are what's called mega-scooters. Examples would be the Honda Silverwing (or Silverwing with ABS) and the Suzuki Burgman 650 (or Burgman 650 Exec). I have seen riders on I-10 and I-65 down by Mobile, AL and I never mistake them for something too small for recognition on the road  (i.e. they are 500 pound machines). Take a look at these by clicking on each link ... they include information about onboard storage compartments.

And, if you didn't know, some MSF schools offer scooter-specific riding courses so that you get used to handling them before getting on the road!

Otherwise, in the manual tranny bikes, good candidates would those in the 650-800 cc engine size. They'll keep up with the faster running highways very nicely and can be modified with any number of options. Here I'd concentrate on the Yamaha VStar 650s and the Honda Shadow series. Good looks, decent pricing in the $6-7k range, and seat heights that make sense for your height. Add a luggage rack and lockable hard case and you should be set for carrying your business tools. – Mama

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Thursday, June 5

Dear VTwin Mama,
I own a CF Moto V5 that I bought in 2007.  I love this bike very much.  It has a low seat height, it is well balanced with a low center of gravity, which makes for very easy handling.  People have commented on it looking like a fun bike to ride and it is.  I have gotten it to 72 MPH, it has a good acceleration for being an auto 250.  The dealer I bought from also offers servicing and oil changes (first one free).  For anyone in the Memphis, TN area, the name of the place is Scooters Plus, located on Summer Avenue.  I have not had any bad experiences with this bike, did not have any trouble with the registration process, and if I had it to do all over again, I would buy this bike again.  Its a fun ride, gets about 75 MPG, and I would recommend this bike to others. – Nicholas H.

Dear Nicholas,
There is no doubt that the V5 (the  QLink Legacy 250 is the same bike) is gaining a decent reputation in the marketplace. The important note is that one buy from an established dealer as I've heard that some "sidewalk" sellers tell you registration and insurance is no problem, but the proper paperwork is super important for these import bikes. I'm so glad to hear that you're thrilled with your ride and took the time to tell us about your experience. – Mama

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Monday, June 16

Dear VTwin Mama,
I had a 250cc scooter years ago and even took to it. I always wanted another one and when gas prices went sky high I started looking.

I have a Suzuki Burgman 400. I love it, and weather permitting ride it all over. I had it up to 105 MPH a few times, but wind is bad at those speeds and can be scary. Let’s say this scooter is more classified as a motorcycle in scooter clothes. I have no problem passing cars and enjoy the states from cars that a scooter is passing them. I get a lot of nods and waves. I love the trunk carrying capacity. I have packed a lot under the seat. 

I have to say guys use the "cute" word a lot when describing my scooter!  The 400 seems heavy to me. I have dropped it and not been able to get it back up. I have also hit an oil slick and gone down. Thank God I finally got a guy to stop and help me get it back up. The fiberglass scratches well. The Burgman is made in a 250 (too light for my taste due to wind on the highway), a 400, and a 650. The 650 felt to heavy for me and awkward even though it had a reverse gear and you could switch it to manual if you wanted to shift. But really, who buys a scooter for shifting ability? The seat is set a bit high for a woman. I am 5’2". I am on tip toes seated on the seat at stops. Also the windshield is flimsy and flexes and shifts when you ride at higher speeds.

I am pricing the Ridley’s now and may have found a good deal on a used Ridley with low miles. I took the motorcycle safety class and absolutely HATE shifting. All the guys in class said I would break down and buy a “real” motorcycle that shifts. I have broken down and will buy a “real” automatic motorcycle. I am glad Ridley makes Automatics and will never ride a shift motorcycle again. – Melissa

Dear Melissa,
Thank you for sharing your specific thoughts on the Burgman 400, which suits the needs for many riders! As I've noted before, I'm a big fan of the Ridley auto tranny motorcycles, having test ridden the Auto-Glide, and had a chance to talk to Clay and Jay Ridley on numerous occasions. I feel they are committed to continued development of their line and while I've heard a few negatives (but then, that's possible on all makes/models), overall the opinions are very positive. I hope the used one you've found is what you're looking for! – Mama

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Tuesday, June 24

Dear VTwin Mama,
I'm a beginner, very beginner in riding. I know very little if anything about shifting gears and a little afraid of it too. Started lessons and also studying to take test. I feel I'm a little too old for 2 wheels so I'm looking for an automatic HD trike in the Georgia area for sale. – GJC

Dear GJC,
I've heard that many people who aren't use to shifting gain more confidence by learning in a car or a 4-wheel ATV. That way you can concentrate on the sequence (clutch in, shift, clutch out with throttle/gas) without having to balance on two wheels as well.

I hesitate to point out age as a factor in learning two wheels as it really depends on so many other variables. If you give it a go on two wheels, but it's not clicking, then yes, there are a number of options, such as a trike and/or auto tranny motorcycle.

Harley-Davidson does not make an auto tranny motorcycle ... that has to be modified with an aftermarket product like what Walters Manufacturing has designed. The odds of finding such a conversion, which is relatively new, is not going to be in your favor. You'll have a better chance of finding a trike converted H-D, but then you still have to work on your shifting.

You may want to look at Ridley's Auto-Glide Trike, which is an auto tranny they introduced this year.

Your other option would be to look at an auto tranny model that can be easily converted with a Voyager or Tow-Pac kit. This conversion doesn't remove the rear wheel ... it adds a wheel to each back side.

So, as you can see, there are any number of pathways to explore depending on how your lessons conclude. Let us know and we'll keep noodling it out with you! – Mama

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Tuesday, July 15

Dear VTwin Mama,
I have a 1981 Hondamatic 400 that has been collecting dust in my garage for a few years. I would like to sell it to someone who likes automatics like I do. How can I find out a price for it and a good place to sell it? – Char

Dear Char,
Hondamatics are loved by many and they are always on the lookout for another one coming on the market ... if salvageable, then to get it running; otherwise, for parts (which are always in demand).

NADA is not showing information due to the rarity of these bikes. Looking at this eBay Motors/Honda/1981 page, one can see a few for sale and the pricing/mileage, etc.

In order to see if there were any places more likely for a Hondamatic lover to search for availability, I typed in "CM400 for sale" in Google and found a couple of free listing sites of interest. Any Hondamatic-specific sites I knew about seem to have disappeared. – Mama

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Wednesday, August 20

Dear VTwin Mama,
I stumbled upon a new automatic "Crotch Rocket" ...  it is from a company called Wildfire. Unlike the CF Moto V3 you actually lean forward for that rocket feel. It is actually a 195cc engine. The model is WF195-SB. I didn't test drive it but I may go back to do so. I am currently looking into the CF Moto V5. – Anonymous

Dear Anon,
Interesting! $1995 auto tranny sport-style 195cc motorcycle. This page on the BeginnerBikers site about the WF195-SB suggests its a Chinese knock-off of another design. – Mama

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Tuesday, October 21

Dear VTwin Mama,
Greetings from Maine! The Pacific Coast Sunglasses "Chix Dazzle" I won in the contest arrived safely on Saturday. Attached are some pictures for the PCS Review. The fit is fabulous and I love the way they look. They will probably see daily use and not be put up for the winter!

I also attached a picture of my new ride, a 2006 Burgman 400. At 5'3" I can easily handle the weight and stand flat-footed. My scoot is in for the winter. In the picture I had a polar fleece top, two thermal undershirts, the quilted lining in the leather jacket, a polar fleece neck warmer, polar fleece wristies for my palms, wrists, and forearms, thermal pants under the leather pants, socks and winter ski socks under my leather boots and leather gloves. It takes 15 minutes just to get all those layers on! The sad part is, I was STILL COLD riding! Best wishes, – Mary, aka Pixie

Dear Mary,
Thank you for all the pictures. I had to chuckle on your layer "accounting" as sometimes cold is just that ... cold! I wonder if the Burgman has those plug in ports for accessories ... that's were heated gear can be plugged in ... just a thought. I know I have also seen modification kits where that type of plug can be added should you wish to pursue looking into heated gear to stave off the nippy Maine season and extend the start day next year!  – Mama

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Tuesday, October 21

Dear VTwin Mama,
I am so excited you have a site for women riders.  I have a H-D Electra Glide Motor Trike and first had my bike triked when triking wasn't as popular.  

I also have a Ridley Auto Glide with a Tow Pac Insta Trike package with the l2 inch wheel kit  and I love it.  For any one that is physically challenged or anyone that doesn't like shifting gears the Ridley is great.  I can ride with two wheels or with my trike kit on. Clay [owner of Ridley] does not recommend triking the Ridley, but I have to tell you it is a smooth ride and I have no problem keeping up with my husband on his HD.  

My husband did replace the bolts with Grade 8 because we read about the Voyager bolt problems.  It is low maintenance and rides smooth. Would recommend the Ridley to anyone wanting an automatic.  I am so glad to have your site to read about the other riders.  Thanks a lot, – Cindy in GA

Dear Cindy,
I am soooo excited that you're excited on having found this site! January 29th, 2009 will be the 8th anniversary of everything VTwin Mama and as you have seen, it's chock full of information in so many topic categories.

I'm especially glad you told us more about your Ridley that you converted with Tow Pac. Yes, Ridley was not in favor of adding kits and I appreciate your note on the bolt change. I'll simply add that Ridley did respond to the call for an auto tranny trike this year with the introduction of the Auto-Glide Trike.    – Mama

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Wednesday, October 29      CF Moto US

Dear Readers,
Yesterday I received an email from the Southeast Sales Rep for CF Moto US ... that's the automatic transmission bikes from China at 250cc in both a cruiser and sporty style. Now we've got a CF Moto US site, including model info and even more important ... national and regional phone numbers! – Mama