As automatic transmissions move more aggressively into the world of motorcycling over the next few years, we may eventually see the same sort of thought process associated with automobiles. Sports car drivers have traditionally preferred manual transmissions, while touring or luxury car drivers preferred automatics.
Indeed, there may initially be some macho resistance to automatics on motorcycles across the board. We predict automatics will take over a significant part of the market, eventually, but manufacturers will be concerned about customer resistance to this change. Manual transmission motorcycles (like cars) will always be available, of course, but the comfort and convenience of an automatic (together with moving all manual controls to the hands and away from the feet) will draw its share of customers . . . particularly commuters and tourers.
So while you may hear more than once that “real men prefer manual transmissions”, the arrival of motorcycles with automatic transmissions in significant numbers is inevitable.
