KTM is the latest motorcycle manufacturer to introduce an automated manual transmission (AMT). The system was officially unveiled this Tuesday, but it has already been used in competition.
This new gearbox was tested by Johnny Aubert in a prototype version during the Iron Road Prologue and the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo. Initially, it will equip selected models in the KTM lineup, with plans for gradual expansion over the coming years.
Riders can choose between M Mode (Manual), which doesn’t require a clutch, or the fully automatic A Mode. The gear sequence is P-N-1-2-3-4-5-6, with P being the parking mode, which prevents the bike from rolling thanks to a locking pawl inside the gearbox. Like N (Neutral), P can only be selected via the shifting paddle on the handlebar switch cube, whether the engine is running or not.
The gearbox is electronically controlled by the ECU and the Transmission Control Unit, with gear shifts initiated by an electromechanical shift actuator. Shifting between gears takes just 50 milliseconds, comparable to a conventional transmission with Quickshifter+.
In M Mode, the rider retains manual control, able to shift gears deliberately using the traditional lever on the left side of the engine or via the left switch cube – without sacrificing agility, speed, or the sporty feel.