Yamaha has made the much-awaited announcement that the MT-09 will get its new automatic manual transmission. They will first launch it in their home country, Japan, by the end of this year. This comes after a long series of teasers from the company. You must be wondering, what is an automatic manual transmission and what is it doing in a Yamaha bike? Find answers to all of this ahead.
What is Y-AMT?
Yamaha's automatic manual transmission is, at its core, a conventional transmission, but instead of the user changing gears and operating the clutch, it is done by an automatic actuator. This means bikes with this tech do not have a clutch lever and gear shift pedal. It adds 2.8 kg to the weight of the bike.
How Y-AMT Works?
Yamaha's AMT (Automatic Manual Transmission) system, similar to the one found on the Honda Africa Twin, operates without clutch levers. It allows the rider to shift gears using a switch lever controlled by the fingers on both sides of the handlebar. Upshifts use a plus switch gear on the right side, while downshifts are handled with a minus switch gear on the left side. When riding aggressively, the "see-saw" switch on the right side can be pulled to shift up and pushed to shift down, helping maintain the rider's grip on the handlebars.
Yamaha claims this system allows for quicker gear changes with less cognitive effort, enabling the rider to focus more on throttle and brake application, lean angle, body position, and tyre grip. This setup eliminates the need to move the left foot from the footpeg, enhancing control and grip during cornering, which provides a greater sense of security and command over the motorcycle.
Y-AMT Modes
Motorcycles equipped with Yamaha's AMT (Automatic Manual Transmission) feature a dedicated switch on the right side to change the transmission mode. There are three riding modes available: M, D, and D+. The "M" mode stands for manual and allows the rider to control the gear shifts manually. The "D" mode, or drive mode, enables the motorcycle to upshift gears at the lowest possible RPM for a more relaxed ride. The "D+" mode is designed for sportier riding, holding the gears longer and shifting at higher RPMs for a more dynamic experience.
Y-AMT Rivals
In the global motorcycle industry, Honda has been a leading manufacturer of automatic transmission bikes for over a decade, offering advanced dual-clutch transmissions (DCT) in premium models like the Goldwing and Africa Twin. Recently, BMW and KTM have hinted at introducing automatic transmissions in their adventure bike models. It's anticipated that Yamaha's first motorcycle featuring an automatic transmission will also be an adventure bike.
For more such updates, click here.
