This baby from Yamaha is clearly a motorcycle, BUT you can’t say it’s not tryin’! The 2006 FJR 1300 is an automatic sport touring bike. This is just a taste of what’s to come from a few of the big players in ’06 and ’07. Thanks to Fred for the info. He also provided this little quote:
“Well it looks like Yamaha is going to blur the line between scooterand motorcycles again. Yamaha is selling the second half of this yearthe FJR Automatic version of it’s bike. It also has heated grips anda Yamaha exclusive automatic transmission that eliminates the clutchlever entirely. This puppy has145 horsepower, a light and rigidaluminum frame, sport bike running gear and standard hard side bagsgo beautifully together. Pushbutton adjustable windscreen and a thickcomfy seat for two are perfect for comfortable, long-distanceriding.The world’s first automatic supersport scooter touring bikegets a host of nice stuff like standard ABS and adjustable ergonomics.Advanced air management system and new bodywork, keep the FJRlooking and feeling cool. So now there will be another class ofautomatic bikes above the Burgman 650. So do you think this can beclassified as a scooter/motorcycle hybrid?”
You can find some more info here.
7. January 2006 at 11:03 pm
It’s clutchless shifting [not full-auto]. Auto-tranny motorcycles are not “scooters” anymore than auto-tranny cars cease to be cars. I would love to buy an auto-tranny motorcycle… but not a monster like the FJR1300.
NOTE: A scooter has a step-through design.
9. January 2006 at 1:26 am
This beast is an super riding, smooth machine…with the automatic clutch shifting it makes it even more worthwhile between a full motorcycle and a Maxi-scooter. It is not cheap though at 14K. This is the last touring bike you will ever want!
11. January 2006 at 1:52 pm
Hey Dudel….
The MadAss scooter is not a step-through design yet is considered a scooter.
11. January 2006 at 2:55 pm
There are quite a few definitions for a scooter. Some more strict than others. I think a scooter should be step through, with leg shields. I, as many non-moped-elitists, call anything with a bicycle configuration and less than 100cc’s a moped. The moped guys would say if it has pedals it’s a moped and if it doesn’t it’s a noped. I call electric bikes electripeds… but I just made that up ’cause I didn’t wanna say “battery powered bicycles”.
With this post I was just kinda poking fun at motorcycles (although I mistakenly thought it was full auto). I was saying how motorcycles are evolving more into modern day scooters… legshields… automatic… etc.