Y-AMT stands for ‘Yamaha Automated Manual Transmission’. Let’s leave the contradiction inherent in ‘automated manual’ to one side and focus on the new MT-09 Y-AMT and whether the new technology is any good and if we want it on our motorcycles… I for one am pretty keen to ride bikes equipped with the new systems.
But I’m not convinced I would be happy to pay extra for an automatic bike: I definitely will for motor cars, for driving in heavy traffic the lack of needing to manage a manual gearbox is a boon.
Yamaha claim Y-AMT is “Set to revolutionise the sport riding experience, Y-AMT allows riders to fully focus on the MT-09’s thrilling performance by redefining the process of changing gear to either a finger-operated shift or fully automatic, to deliver consistently linear shifts, creating the most engaged and immersive riding experience.”
I’ve used finger-operated transmissions on Honda’s DCT models, and while it takes a bit of getting used to, it’s a good system – shifting is fast and consistent.
“Shifting by hand alone, as opposed to a foot and-hand combination, is not only quicker, but requires less thinking time, allowing the rider to hyper-focus on throttle and brake application, lean angle, body position and tyre grip levels to intensify the ride, especially in cornering.”
Road racers have consistently used a ‘race pattern’ gearshift, upside-down compared to a conventional 1-down, 6-up gear lever arrangement – an often simple modification means you pull the lever up for first gear and push it down to go toward top gear. This means when you’re cranked over in a turn you don’t have to get your foot under the gear lever to change up – I’ve trapped my foot under a gear lever numerous times, and had trouble getting my foot under a lever for an upshift while testing bikes on racetracks, so the problem is very real, even if you’re only old-journo slow.
Y-AMT and changing with your left hand, especially given you no longer have to use a clutch (and haven’t had to for some time on most track-suitable bikes thanks to quickshifters), means you will be able to leave your foot on the footpeg, weighting it as you please.
On the road I reckon most riders will use ‘D’ mode most of the time… D for drive, just like in an automatic car. No gear changes, no need to slip a clutch on launch, no struggling to find neutral, no pulling up on the side of the road in third… and if you want to go quicker there’s D+, a more performance-oriented computer map to make the bike go quicker.
The MT-09 Y-AMT will be on showroom floors alongside the standard MT-09, and nearly all aspects of the bike are the same as the standard model except for the Y-AMT system and a Smart Key system which is also included. Availability is ‘Q3’, (which is actually now), and pricing is TBA.
– Nigel Paterson
