AMT In Bikes? Yamaha Also Has A Solution

Published June 26, 2024
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2 min read

The automated manual transmission system will be used in bikes to help with different riding scenarios. Theoretically it would make gear shifting a whole lot smoother and easier. Yamaha is the third manufacturer after BMW and KTM to showcase an AMT system

No more shifting gears manually in bikes

Quick Highlights

Yamaha’s AMT system is aimed at improving sporty riding
It will have a provision to shift manually if the rider prefers
It’s a more cost-effective tech as compared to Honda’s DCT

Yamaha has unveiled an automated manual transmission system for motorcycles. With this new system, riders will be able to switch gears manually if they want to. The system weighs just 2.8kg, which shouldn’t add a lot to the overall kerb weight of the bikes, and is compact enough to keep the powertrain unit as wide as it would be without it.

The new AMT system intends to improve the riding experience be it sporty riding, touring, or commuting. It can be operated via specific buttons in the handlebar switch cubes. On the right side is a switch to select between the D and D+ shifting modes. The D mode will make gentle, better optimised shifts, while the D+ is intended for more aggressive riding, by switching gears higher up in the rev range. Yamaha claims this system can shift gears faster than even quickshifter-equipped gearboxes.

On the left hand side, however, is where the fun lies. There’s a see-saw switch operable with the left index finger and thumb, that will allow the rider to shift the gears manually and without the use of a conventional clutch and shifter lever. Yamaha wants to implement this system for sport riding, touring, and commuting applications.

Shift gears manually

This isn’t the first time Yamaha has implemented something like this. Years ago, they had YCC-S (Yamaha Chip Controlled Shift) that had an automatic hydraulically actuated clutch. This was in the FJR1300 touring bike.

Honda has been using the dual-clutch transmission (DCT) tech in the Africa Twin and the GoldWing for quite a while now but it's a very expensive system. Even BMW and KTM have showcased their AMT systems recently, marking a shift in the industry’s focus to automatic transmission systems, especially for high-end bikes.