Yamaha’s the newest agency to substantiate it’s bringing a semi-automatic transmission to its subsequent technology rides
Semi-automatic transmissions are nothing new. Honda’s had one on the go for years; BMW’s simply introduced its personal as an aftermarket choice on its new GS Journey; and KTM’s simply trialled one on the gruelling Pink Bull Erzberg Rodeo.
And that’s with out mentioning that Yamaha itself truly had a go at one thing type of related almost 20 years in the past. The Japanese agency developed the YCC-S system for its FJR1300 sports activities tourer. It wasn’t fairly a semi-auto transmission like we all know it right this moment, however it did an analogous job, using hydraulics to permit riders to manually change gear utilizing a finger-operated gear lever. Intelligent stuff.
Just like the others in the marketplace right this moment, the brand new Y-AMT system is all digital, however the largest distinction between Yamaha’s newest know-how and that of the competitors is that the Japanese agency’s fascinated by efficiency somewhat than merely practicality. It reckons that it’ll truly permit for quicker shifting than a standard guide gearbox, even when it’s kitted out with a quickshifter.
It utilises two digital actuators, eliminating the necessity for each the clutch and kit lever in its fully-automatic guise – although there will likely be a guide mode which permits riders to toggle up and down utilizing the 2 switchgear-mounted paddles. Yamaha’s been sensible with that, too, designing the switchgear to be operated utilizing an index finger somewhat than thumb, which means riders can at all times preserve a strong grip on the bars.
Whereas there’s been no official phrase on what it’s going to be fitted to, and once we’re truly going to see it within the flesh, Yamaha has launched an announcement saying that it’ll ‘start introducing Y-AMT to a variety of fashions within the close to future, bringing this innovation to sport using, touring and commuting’.
Likelihood is we received’t have to attend all that lengthy, then. Yamaha’s obtained fairly a bit of labor to do to convey a number of its fashions in step with the upcoming Euro5+ emissions rules by subsequent 12 months, and it wouldn’t be a shock if a couple of of this 12 months’s releases come kitted out with the brand new performance-focused know-how.
