There’s a quiet shift happening in the motorcycle world. No, not another EV rollout—this one’s about how we ride. More and more manufacturers are exploring ways to make shifting easier or even optional. That’s right: automatic transmissions are slowly finding their place in motorcycling, and it’s not just scooters anymore.
Take Yamaha’s Y-AMT system, for example. It automates both clutch and gear shifts, letting riders either go fully auto or manually shift using buttons on the bar. Honda, meanwhile, has been perfecting this game for over a decade with its DCT models—and more recently, the E-Clutch, which automates just the clutch, but still uses a traditional shift lever. Then there’s KTM, which showcased its own AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) system with no clutch lever at all. Speaking of which, it'll be interesting where this tech is headed, given all the recent KTM drama.
Now, for the record, I’m still team manual. There’s something about managing your own shifts that just feels right. But I get why this tech is gaining traction. Not everyone wants that level of control. For new riders, commuters, or those with physical limitations, automatics make riding far more accessible.
