Having announced its Y-AMT (Yamaha Automated Manual Transmission) technology a month or two ago, Yamaha has now confirmed the first machine to receive the treatment with be the MT-09 roadster.
It’s a bold statement from the manufacturer to hook the feisty naked up with a system many would have considered the perfect option for its Tracer 9 sports tourer, but Yamaha are going in hard to convince us that an automatic gearbox can be more exciting than a manual, and not just a convenience option for commuting and touring.
Not that it should be too surprising. Automatic cars, once the preserve of heavy old saloons, are now as commonplace as manuals, with even the most sporting of vehicles sporting sophisticated gearboxes which can change gears faster than a human. Honda’s DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission) system generally outsells manual options where available and it will be interesting to see the public response to an auto MT-09.
Yamaha’s system technically automates the clutch function, and uses a solenoid based system hooked up to the regular six-speed gearbox, IMU and ECU to change gears. The rider has the choice of two auto modes, a more relaxed or a more sporting option, or the ability to change gear manually (using a finger operated lever on the left-hand side of the handlebars), but with the clutch automated. The system works in conjunction with the ride modes, meaning it’ll hold gears longer in the sporting modes while being less aggressive in other power maps.
Yamaha says the system will create a more engaging ride, perhaps the reason why they’ve first released it on the firecracker that is the 119bhp triple, but we can see other benefits too. You won’t be able to stall a Y-AMT equipped machine, making it easier to ride at low speeds. We imagine it’ll be a doddle to do hill starts on, while shorter and less experienced riders will likely enjoy being able to keep their left foot on the ground before pulling away.
There’s no price announced yet for the Yamaha MT-09 Y-AMT although it will undoubtedly come with a premium over the £10,106 standard bike when it lands in showrooms later this year. There’s no word on whether or not it will be an option on the recently released MT-09 SP or other Yamaha models, but we can see it being popular if the price is right.
Automatic motorcycles could well be the big technical story of 2025. BMW has announced a similar system for its new R 1300 GS Adventure, albeit with they retain the traditional foot operated shifter where Yamaha use a finger operated one, while KTM have also teased us with a system of its own. Honda has also released a simpler and less expensive auto clutch for its four-cylinder CB650 models this year. Their e-clutch system automates the clutch but requires the rider to shift gears manually.
