Yamaha has developed a new fully automatic transmission intended for deployment on performance-oriented motorcycles. The new Yamaha Automated Manual Transmission (Y-AMT) also offers semi-automatic operation, which allows the rider to initiate gear changes.
Y-AMT does away with the clutch lever and the foot shifter. Instead, you can let the Y-AMT system do the shifting automatically, or use your left thumb and index finger to shift up and down.
Rather than the hydraulic gear shift system used on the Yamaha FJR1300 of the early ’00s, Y-AMT relies on two electronic actuators—one for the clutch and the other for the transmission. It is not a dual-clutch transmission, as is used by Honda on some models.
According to insiders, the entire Yamaha Automated Manual Transmission package weighs just over six pounds and does not make the engine wider. It is designed to work with the crossplane-concept motors used in Yamaha MT sport bikes
The AT (automatic transmission) mode gives complete control to the computer. There are two modes available—D and D+. You can switch between them using a dedicated thumb button.
D mode is for casual riding. The system changes gears less aggressively and keeps the motor operating at lower rpm. This increases fuel economy while delivering a more manageable, less stressful ride. According to Yamaha, it’s an urban mode.
Put the AT in the D+ mode, and the shifts will come later in the acceleration process. The engine revs higher before upshifts occur. The D+ mode focuses on open highway riding, where you may be working your way through traffic, rather than on sport riders in the twisties.
Also, when the Yamaha Automated Manual Transmission is in the AT mode, you can manually upshift or downshift using the index finger and thumb switches used in the MT mode. Switching between AT and MT modes happens via a right index-finger button.
The MT (manual transmission) mode is designed to exploit the performance of the MT motorcycles—this might get a bit confusing. A Yamaha spokesperson tells us, “Where previous similar transmissions for motorcycles have typically been aimed at touring applications, Y-AMT has been developed to enhance the purity of sports riding, allowing the rider to better focus on the more thrilling aspects of the ride.”
Regardless, Yamaha’s theory is that a right-thumb/left index-finger shifting system benefits a sport rider in several ways. The rider’s left foot can remain stationary, allowing for a higher focus on technique while disrupting the chassis less. Instead of the rider’s fingers exerting pressure on a lever, another disruption, a light touch on the shifting switches gets the gear changes done. Also, the MT mode changes gears faster than a quickshifter, so power is interrupted for a shorter period.
Another innovation is the index-finger gear-shifting switch, further enhancing the sporting experience. The index-finger switch can be used for upshifts and downshifts, allowing the rider to keep the thumb wrapped around the throttle. The index finger pulls on the switch to upshift and pushes it for downshifts. The amount of finger movement is minimal and optimized for use with gloves.
According to Yamaha, the entire Y-AMT system is part of Yamaha’s Jin-Ki Kanno philosophy, which we are told is about “providing a fun and new riding experience whatever the riding conditions, road or purpose of the journey.”
The word “kando” is also bandied about, and Yamaha says the word is about the “feeling of deep satisfaction and intense excitement experienced when encountering a product of exceptional value, quality, and performance.”
Undoubtedly, the idea of a clutchless and gear-shifter-free motorcycle will be a tough sell to experienced sport riders. However, the Yamaha Automated Manual Transmission should be quite appealing for newer riders looking to go fast and have fun. If Y-AMT is good enough, it might even win over the diehard all-manual traditionalists. There’s no model year set for its release, or a list of models that will be Y-AMT equipped.
