Honda makes the most motorcycles in the world. America has long been Honda's largest customer. In the United States, driving a manual transmission car is something for perverted sports drivers with a lot of technical insight. Americans drive automatic. So there had to be a great market for motorcycles with an automatic transmission. Hondas with automatic transmission. The Honda CB400A (Automatic). However? NOT!
Honda is the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world
Honda has tried to conquer the non-existent market with the Honda CB750A and the Honda CB400A. Serious work has gone into those models. The 750 and 400 were very easy bikes to ride. The performances were correct and devoid of any emotional outburst. They had completely focused on the American lifestyle. And the Americans were having none of it. The impressive CB750A has only been sold 8000 times. Moto Guzzi has also tried to do the same with the 1000 cc Hydroconvert. It's funny that the automatics are not as sought after classics as other 'failures' in the motorcycle field have become. But the number of people interested in those machines has increased. Money is even given for projects, despite the fact that the restoration of a Japanese machine is usually so expensive that it still cannot be economically viable. But for the real enthusiast, the investment is of course of secondary importance.
The Honda CB400A came out after the CB750A
Honda had decided to learn some lessons from the miss with the large automatic. They thought the lack of success was due to the size and weight of the CB750A. A lighter, more beginner-friendly machine was needed to succeed in the market to be tapped. After that sharp analysis, the Honda CB1978A was released in 400, which later grew to 450 cc. The block had vague family resemblance to that of the CB360, but had three valves per cylinder and a balance shaft. And it was actually a 10 hp less powerful Honda CB400 with a hydraulic torque converter and a two-speed gearbox.
Honda marketed the whole as Hondamatic
Like the CB750A, the Honda CB400A was fitted with a high and a low ratio. Say highway and city and or mountain transmission. At least: that's how it worked with the CB750A. On the 400 cc machine, the set-up was rather that you drove in 'first' gear until about 70 kilometers and then 'upshifted' to second. And then you could swim along with the (American) highway traffic. In fact, the CB400 A had a two-speed automatic clutch. And of course with a (cable operated) parking brake. By the way, the two-hand operation made it impossible to operate the parking brake unintentionally while driving. A warning lamp was supposed to prevent the owner from driving away with the parking brake still on. The smart thing was that the hydraulics were filled with regular engine oil, not with ATF.
An automatic transmission on a motorcycle is fun, as long as it's a CVT. Motor scooters often have this and it brings out the best in the (often) tight blocks. Slowly accelerate at the green light and once rolling fully open, you are the first across the street, even for anyone with inferiority complexes in cars that are much too large.
But an automatic transmission is a disaster. Ever driven a VFR1200F with DCT that could also be driven as an automatic transmission, shifting up and down 1 or more times in every roundabout, which resulted in extremely nervous driving, every time I had the feeling that I was losing grip. Rest of the test drive size as halfaautomatically finished.
A motorcycle with a CVT seems absolutely amazing to me. After 43 years of switching on the engine, it would be best for me to be automatic. And that is not due to the gearbox of my 1979 BMW R80 / 7, which shifts like the proverbial knife through butter. Even without using the link 😀
I think something like this is already a reality in the form of an electric bicycle. Technically a superior concept, something that the railways have been using for a long time, but at least for me not 'nice' at all. In addition, I have my doubts about its suitability on slippery roads. And only riding a motorcycle in good weather is not an option for me.
Electric motorcycles are packed with electronics, an anti-slip regulation is undoubtedly one of them.
Honda, with CB750A (in 3 versions, in 3 years time), the CB400A and the soft chopper CM450A and Moto Guzzi with the Convert and even Suzuki with the GS450GA used a torque converter for the variable transmission. Although this drives wonderfully relaxed, it has not caught on. Not intended to be derogatory: they drive like a Dafje.
Nowadays, mainly by Honda, the DCT system is used. Which version provides more relaxation is very personal. My large sidecar has DCT
In addition to a few other Hondas, I own a CB750A (a total of 15 in the Netherlands) which I need another year or 2 to get it back on the road.
In addition, I also converted ONE CB400A into a sidecar combination with a CM450A engine. Which I'm driving on holiday to the Czech Republic this year. The engines were too early for their time.
I think that's a very special combination; very nicely done! I am curious about the 4-cylinder if a container is also attached to it.
Nice combination Jose!
Had access to a 450 A in Montréal for a short time. From a standstill until 50 km, I squeezed a clutch lever twice that was not there, and missed the possibility to downshift when I wanted to overtake a slow Québeccer before such an unrelenting Arrêt sign at every intersection. Because the little action in the block came out slowly. On the slopes it was completely an unpleasant experience, both up and down. With polite thanks, I quickly returned the thing.
Yet years later I found one somewhere in Zandvoort. Because of the turd price. But also quickly sold again with 2 quarters of profit to a trader - for the simply very scarce parts as an in-depth investment. The only mi 'fun' Honda automatic on two wheels was the P-50, but that's a different story and different 'experience'….
I didn't know sie bikes. Learned something again. And then that they were not filled with ATF, but that they contained normal motor oil. Again great thinking from the Japanese!!
great story with nice dates and differences