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Yamaha moves the shifter to the handlebar

Broadcast United News Desk
Yamaha moves the shifter to the handlebar

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Yamaha’s recently introduced new automated manual transmission (Y-AMT) marks the beginning of a new era for the company, introducing advanced shifting technology and taking sport riding into a new dimension.
The new system physically eliminates the gear pedals, allowing the rider to focus entirely on the performance the bike offers, with always linear gear changes, creating a more engaging riding experience via manual or automatic dual modes.
The hands are better connected to the brain than the feet and are therefore one of the most powerful tools of the human body on a tactile level. Shifting gears with one hand rather than a hand-pedal combination is not only faster, but also requires less thinking time, allowing the rider to focus on other elements such as acceleration and braking, steering angle lean, body position and tire grip.

Manual and automatic at the same time

The new Yamaha transmission allows you to adjust its characteristics to the rider’s preferences and different road conditions, thanks to the choice of manual “MT” or fully automatic “AT” modes. The manual transmission’s gear changes are fast and precise. With just a simple touch, there is no need to use the clutch lever manually. The gearshift is adjusted with the index finger and thumb, using two levers: one with the “+” symbol for higher gears and one with the “-” symbol for lower gears. For even greater control in sport riding, you can pull the lever with the “+” symbol and raise or press it down with your index finger alone, which provides greater freedom as there is no need to remove your thumb from the handlebar. The size, position and travel of the levers have been carefully designed to make them easy to operate even when wearing gloves. The clutch operation is very advanced, providing the rider with completely natural operation.

MT mode has been developed to offer greater enjoyment for sporty driving by maximising the power and torque characteristics of the crossplane technology and a more dynamic riding mode. With the fully automatic transmission, the rider can choose between two programs to suit different driving scenarios, easily selectable at any time by simply pressing the mode button. Drivers who seek dynamism and fun on out-of-town roads can choose the “D+” mode, which offers sporty gear changes, while those who are looking for long-distance driving on the motorway or for commuting use can choose the “D” mode, which offers a smoother gearshift experience by keeping the revs lower. This solution offers greater safety and better additional handling for the rider at low revs in urban driving conditions. In fully automatic mode, the rider can still choose to change gear manually at any time, simply using the visible gear lever.

Technology from afar

Yamaha was already at the forefront of automatic motorcycle transmissions almost two decades ago with the development of the YCC-S (Yamaha Chip Controlled Shift) system, which was first used on the FJR1300 sports tourer. The YCC-S features an automatic hydraulic clutch actuation system that allows the rider to manually change gears using the gear lever. Unlike the YCC-S hydraulic system, the new Y-AMT uses two electric actuators that take over functions traditionally performed by the rider’s left hand and foot. Weighing just 2.8 kg, the system has been designed to preserve the compact design of the Yamaha frame without increasing the width, retaining the lightness of a traditional motorcycle while preserving handling and performance. Combined with a ride-by-wire throttle control system, interchangeable riding modes and cruise control functionality, a motorcycle equipped with the new transmission can be configured for any type of riding. Where previous solutions were usually targeted at touring applications, the Y-AMT was developed to enhance the purity of sport riding, giving the rider the opportunity to better focus on the more technical and exciting aspects. This will be the first from the Japanese manufacturer to feature the new handlebar shifting. This solution has the advantage of keeping unchanged the aesthetics of the motorcycle, characterized by a die-cast aluminum frame and a thrilling 890 cc three-cylinder CP3 engine capable of delivering 119 hp. Even the instrumentation remains unchanged, retaining the 5-inch color display.

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