Yamaha has confirmed that the first motorcycle to feature the new Y-AMT system will be the MT-09. The new Y-AMT automatic gearbox was first announced last month and now, the first motorcycle is ready for the market.
The Yamaha Automated Manual Transmission (Y-AMT) eliminates the need for the rider to shift gears manually using a foot shifter. Instead, the gearbox features thumb shifters that can manually take over the gearbox if a rider wishes to.
Yamaha also says that its Y-AMT is focused more on performance than practicality, and hence the reason the company chose the MT-09. The MT-09’s engine is also shared with the Tracer, XSR, and the Niken, while there are rumours about a new R9 in the works. So if the gearbox makes it to these models will be known in due course of time.
The Y-AMT gearbox uses two actuators for the system to work and hence no clutch lever or a shifter lever. Instead, the rider will have to use thumb controls to go up and down the gearbox in manual mode. That said, the entire gearbox weighs 2.8kg.
Apart from a manual mode, the gearbox has D and D+ automatic modes, with the latter being more focused towards performance riding, meaning the gearbox will hold the revs longer.
