Automatic scoots now have competition

[Tokkyu40]

But the drop in performance is actually minimal. The specs for the CFMoto aren't too much under the Ridley.
As for quality, the Moto is the same as a Q-Link without as much quality control. For a quick review, scroll down to Sc00ter's thread on his Q-Link Commuter.
If you want a Ridley or a Q-link/CFMoto, I would recommend a Honda Reflex. The quality is better and the performance is top notch. It handles better than a Ridley, too.

Claude

[Dennis49]

I started working on the Ridley last night. It was having loud popping noises coming from the variator or clutch sounded like something was going to break. The irony of the whole job is two of the hex head fastener attaching the CVT cover were rounded and required the heads to be drilled off to remove the cover. These fasteners were rounded during original assembly. Ridley uses a Comet GP-730 clutch system. We found nothing to be out of order but he was late doing his clean and lube of the CVT system, hopefully this is all that is wrong. The carb is so far out of tune that it requires the carburetor to be re-jetted. There was so much soot on the plugs that just shaking them left a small pile of debris, this explains his hard starting problem. The head casting or should I say spark plug hole threads are of such bad quality it feels like the threads are stripped when you run the plug in with your fingers, it’s almost scary tightening up the plugs. His replacement mufflers are bad again the baffles are rattling badly and it sounds like a lawnmower. These are the second set of mufflers since the bike was purchased new in June 2008. His comment last night was I’m trading it in for a Harley. My comment was good luck on the deal. He has less than 4,000 miles and I’m sure it’s not worth much on a trade-in. The moral of the story is I don’t think Suzuki has anything to fear from Ridley Motorcycles.

[Dennis49]

I finished servicing the Ridley last night; I had never seen so much gas in a crank case before. I have recommended not riding the bike until he receives the new jets; but to no avail he went on a 50+ mile ride. The 80 + ambient temp was just more than he could resist. The new plugs made a huge difference it is for now starting with no problems; but it still sounds like a riding lawnmower complete with all the related noises.

[Aquilez]

This past weekend we went to a tour to the hwy 9 from Saratoga CA to Scot valley, for some reason that day I ride my comfortable 87 yamaha riva 200cc my friend on his harley road king.
Inexplicably had to stop every 45 minutes and wait for my friend. My first stop have to wait nearly 15 minutes before he show up. I asked him! you okay? something happened to the bike? After stretching the legs for another 10 minutes we continue with the tour, Soon noticed that it had lost him in my mirrors again, but this time I continue a little farther, I started to notice that I find several riders on the road and began to wonder myself if I was riding too fast, but how fast a old 87 yamaha riva 200cc can go?
Finally stopped again and started to look at a number of riders on the road, after a while the total were a 25 before my friend show up again, and like this all the way back.
Before that was much worse, complaints of fatigue especially the clutch. and looked in his face frustration of not being able to do anything. worth to mentioning that my friend is a very experienced rider compared to me.

[HwnScooterBill]

As I said in the DN-01 topic none of these automatic motorcycles are practical but the Aprilia Mana has somewhat more character, I feel than the others definitely the Ridley (I feel at least).
http://www.motorcycledaily.com/25novemb ... 850_p1.htm
http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycles ... na-850.htm

[GratefulGrrl]

I test-rode one a few years back and really liked it. For what it was. Would money be no object, I could see owning one. In addition to the scoot, not necessarily instead of it.

I have come to love the storage (including the hidden storage) on the scooter and the megascooters' ability to lean like a cross between a sports bike and a traditional cruiser. With the 24" seat height, the Ridley was plenty comfy but I doubt it could lean without serious scrapping.

[Butch]

The Ridley is primarly a one person bike. It has a very low GVW, & the engine is awful small for what it's intended for.

Butch

[QuantumRift]

As us "Baby Boomers" age, we (as a group) will probably be the ones to demand "NO MORE SHIFTING" for our bikes and if these are the 'tip of the iceberg' (Honda, Ridley, etc) then so be it! NO SHIFTING!

[JustPassinThru]

Remember, Honda had a bike with a Hondamatic in it, thirty years ago.

It didn't cut it.

The automatic complements the scooter format...the step-in frame, the upright seating. It's for us old folks who don't really enjoy running through a six-speed box at every light.

If Ridley can make a few bucks, good on him. But I don't think he'll have many repeat customers.