With today’s wide assortment of motorcycles, ranging from café racers to dual sports to touring bikes, potential owners can generally find the bike that suits their interests. However, there’s one thing most of these bikes share: a clutch. That’s something that can intimidate a lot of newer riders if you’re not familiar with manual transmissions. Even entry-level bikes like the Honda Grom and Yamaha MT-03 require the rider to use a clutch to shift. However, although manual bikes dominate the market, some automatic motorcycles are still available.

Isn’t an automatic motorcycle just a scooter?

One motorcycle arguably blurs the line between scooter and motorcycle: the Honda Super Cub. While it does have a foot shifter, it has a centrifugal clutch that requires no lever to shift. All you need to do is roll off the throttle, move your foot, and roll back on. However, there is a noticeable difference between the bikes on this list and a scooter like a Vespa.

For one, as the Motorcycle Legal Foundation explains, motorcycles don’t have step-through frames as scooters do. Even though the Honda Super Cub looks like it has a step-through frame, you still swing your leg over the seat.

Additionally, unlike a Vespa, which has a CVT, the Super Cub’s transmission still requires you to shift. That’s why, although Honda once sold automatic motorcycles, like the CM400A, these are still traditional. Ultimate Motorcycling explains that their transmissions still needed the rider to shift manually.

That’s something else the rest of the bikes on this list share. Although called ‘automatic motorcycles,’ the bikes here have either dual-clutch transmissions with automatic modes or one-gear transmissions. The former means the rider can manually shift if they desire. In the latter case, while it doesn’t have a clutch, it doesn’t have a CVT or torque converter.

1. Honda Gold Wing

The Honda Gold Wing is one of the best-reviewed touring motorcycles on the market. It’s also fairly quick, able to go 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds in Cycle World’s testing.

Following a complete redesign in 2018 for its sixth generation, the Gold Wing also won Cycle World’s Touring Bike of the Year Award. It’s powered by an 1833cc six-cylinder engine, which put out 98 hp and 108 lb-ft of torque on the Cycle World dyno testing. Although the bike weighs close to 840 pounds, riding it is made easier through the standard reverse gear and optional DCT. Said DCT also has seven speeds, one more than the manual.

2. Honda Africa Twin

Before American Ricky Brabec won the 2020 Paris-Dakar on a race-spec Honda dirt bike, the company had previously won in the 1980s with the first Africa Twin. Now, the Honda Africa Twin is back and offers a DCT.

The updated CRF1100L Africa Twin model comes with a 1084cc twin-cylinder engine, which puts out 102 hp and 77 lb-ft of torque. While the base bike is arguably more of a tourer, Adventure Sports offers some genuine off-road features. These include multiple off-road traction control modes, a larger fuel tank, a larger skid plate, more suspension travel and ground clearance, and standard crash bars.

3. Honda NC750X

If the Africa Twin is a little too pricey, and you tend to stay on the pavement, the Honda NC750X is a worthwhile alternative. While it’s branded as an adventure bike, the 505-lb NC750X is more of a sporty touring bike.

Furthermore, Ultimate Motorcycling reports it’s also an excellent commuting bike, with a compliant suspension and a smooth 745cc twin-cylinder engine. In addition to standard traction control, there’s also an ABS-equipped model with a DCT.

Plus, instead of the gas tank being in the front, that’s actually a lockable storage area big enough to house a backpack or helmet. This is because the gas tank is located under the seat.

4. Harley-Davidson LiveWire

Although Harley-Davidson’s electric bike hasn’t exactly taken off, the LiveWire is still a worthwhile first effort from the company.

The LiveWire can actually out-pace a Tesla Model 3 Performance on the drag strip. Based on each EV’s range and battery specs, the Harley is actually more efficient. Additionally, it has more range, better handling, and better-quality components than even Zero Motorcycles’ SR/F.

While a 544-lb motorcycle isn’t exactly light, having one gear and no need to shift makes it a bit more approachable. That’s why it’s on Motorcyclist’s list of the best automatic motorcycles on sale. Unfortunately, as a new brand of EV, it’s quite expensive.

5. Zero Motorcycles

Zero Motorcycles has been in the electric motorcycle business longer than practically any other bikemaker. Because all its bikes are electric, you don’t need to know how to work a clutch lever to enjoy them.

The Zero FX is one of the quickest dual sport bikes on the market. Although the SR/F lost to the LiveWire in Cycle World’s comparison, it’s still an impressive bike. There’s also the DSR/BF adventure bike, SR/S sportbike, FXS supermoto, and the SR naked bike.

6. Energica Eva EsseEsse 9

Energica isn’t a very well-known electric motorcycle company. However, Motorcyclist reports it has grown since its involvement with the MotoE World Championship, which can be thought of as the MotoGP for electric bikes. In addition to its Ego superbike, Energica also offers the more approachable Eva EsseEsse9.

For 2020, the EsseEsse9 and Energica’s other bikes were upgraded with fast-charging compatibility. In addition, the bike features ABS, selectable-mode traction control, and Brembo brakes. The standard cycle puts out 109 hp and 133 lb-ft of torque and can go up 124 miles in the city on a full charge.

Upgrading to the EsseEsse9+ bumps torque up to 148 lb-ft and the range up to 250 city miles. In mixed-riding, the ‘Plus’ model can go up to 143 miles on a charge. Plus, as an electric bike, there’s no clutch to master.

7. KTM Freeride E-XC

In addition to adventure bikes, Austrian bikemaker KTM also makes well-regarded dirt bikes. For those who’d like to take an automatic motorcycle through the dirt, KTM offers the Freeride E-XC.

Initially, the Freeride E-XC only had a limited US release in 2017. More recently, as RideApart reports, the bike has been updated and is more widely available. The E-XC is more expensive than before. However, the range has increased by over 50% on the trail.

Additionally, Cycle World reports the bike’s batteries are quick-changeable. If one goes flat, swap it out for a fully charged pack and return to tearing up the dirt.

8. Rokon Motorcycles

Rokon’s line of 2WD motorcycles for off-roading devotees includes the Trail-Breaker, which can haul up to 2,000 lbs. There’s a street-legal version, the Ranger, that Jay Leno sampled.

Although Rokon’s bikes have CVTs, they also technically have gears. Only they act more like a 4Hi/4Lo system than traditional gears. For instance, the first ‘gear’ is meant for steep grades, limiting the bikes to 10 mph. For full speed, the rider will have to select the high-range third gear.