Fully manual clutches and transmissions may be a thing of the past in the motorcycle world, just as they have virtually disappeared from automobiles. BMW Motorrad has joined in the movement to assisted gear changes, going all in with the new BMW Automated Shift Assistant, which features a fully automatic clutch and the rider’s choice of automatic or manual gear selection. It will debut in a boxer configuration.
BMW Automated Shift Assistant uses the motto “Simplify your ride” to promote the new system. According to BMW, the idea is to retain the “emotionally important dynamics of shifting” while also making the process easier.
The BMW Automated Shift Assistant employs two electromechanical actuators—one each for the clutch and transmission. The clutch actuator is directly hydraulically connected to the clutch’s slave and master cylinders. Taking direction from the Transmission Control Unit (TCU), which works in concert with the Engine Control Unit (ECU), the actually applies the needed disengagement for stopping, and the combination of disengagement, slipping, and re-engagement when changing gears or starting off from a stop.
The rider has a choice of two shifting modes—M (manual) and D (automatic). In the M mode, the rider uses a footshifter to select the wanted gear ratio. However, if the revs drop too low, the TCU steps in and downshifts automatically to prevent the engine from stalling. In D mode, all the shifts are performed automatically, with rpm, throttle position, and lean angle taken into account.
Expect a touring focus for the initial deployments of the Automated Shift Assistant.
“In difficult riding situations, using the clutch and throttle takes a lot of concentration,” according to a BMW insider. “If you are traveling with luggage and perhaps a passenger, using the clutch and gearshift takes up resources. When shifting up, for example, the possible jolt associated with a classic manual transmission with a manual clutch is largely eliminated, as is the risk of helmet-to-helmet contact between rider and passenger. Downshifts are also designed to be as smooth as possible, minimizing chassis disturbances.”
The BMW Automated Shift Assistant also works in concert with Active Cruise Control and the front collision warning system.
BMW isn’t offering a projected date for implementing the Automated Shift Assistant in production motorcycles. While there is no mention of the specific models that will use the BMW Automated Shift Assistant, the description hints at the BMW R 1250 RT and R 1300 GS.
