11/21/2023 0 Comments Small automatic motorcycle![]() The engines were changed from dry sump to wet sump, the same oil going from the torque convertor through the engine to be cooled. The engine gained different rocker covers and crankcases to suit the different engine/transmission combo. Much work went into this model to make them stand apart from their CB750 stable mates. In an engineering sense, the CB750A wasn’t just a CB750 with an automatic transmission fitted. Performance issues and a change in the demographic of bike buyers meant Hondamatics only got a 3-year run before being dropped from the lineup. The CB750A didn’t allow enough acceleration on the downshift to pass cars, and the CB400A transmission allowed too much chance of over run when heading into corners at speed. Quarter-mile times and top speeds were slower, the added weight of the transmissions not helping. The automatic motorcycles lacked the performance of their manual brothers. This would stop the bike from starting in gear, something someone new to riding might overlook after getting back on the back. Also built into the automatic models was a linkage from the kickstand to the gear lever, so when the kickstand was operated, the bike would put itself into neutral. The ability to manually shift between high and low made sure the bike wouldn’t shift gears through a corner, throwing a rider off balance. A shift lever in the same position as a gear changer on a manual Honda allowed the rider to shift between neutral, low and drive. I say changing gears constantly because the automatic transmissions offered on Hondamatic motorcycles were not automatic in the true sense of the word. This allowed for the novice to practice staying upright, braking and riding in traffic, all without having to focus on changing gears constantly as well. These bikes were initially conceived as a way for learner riders to get comfortable riding motorcycles without fear of stalling. as the Hawk, and the CB750A, a reworking of the CB750F. Even though Honda Australia decided against selling the model here, the bike stayed, and has found its way into safe hands.Īt the start of 1977, Honda was producing two automatic motorcycle models: The CB400A, known in the U.S. The feature bike in this article is a relic from this era, a California-spec CB750A brought to Australia for testing in the local conditions. It seems a little known fact in Australia that Hondamatic is also the term given to Honda motorcycles equipped with automatic transmissions, and that Honda attempted offering these automatic motorcycles to the Australian bike riding fraternity with no luck. To most Australians it is associated with the Honda automatic cars that were sold in the country in the late 1970’s and early 80’s.
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