Model Update | Auto-Manual Yamaha MT-09 Y-AMT

By Bike Review • 4 months ago

Jul
2024

Yamaha have again stepped up the innovation ideas to bring us something very new for road riders, an auto gearbox with a finger operated manual shift option. Read the details here...

Future new MT-09 owners can now experienced a new shift option with the MT-09 Y-AMT, the first model to feature the Yamaha Automated Manual Transmission. Riders can choose to change gears with a finger-operated shift, or go full auto. Press: Yamaha Motor Australia.

The Yamaha MT-09 Y-AMT has been developed around the high-performance MT-09 platform, showcasing both the base machine and Yamaha’s new transmission technology. Featuring the same 890cc CP3 three-cylinder engine as the newly launched MT-09, the MT-09 Y-AMT is the first motorcycle with the Yamaha Automated Manual Transmission.

Yamaha say the MT-09 Y-AMT combines the standard machine’s agile handling and performance with a transformational transmission system which allows the rider to choose between a finger-operated manual transmission, offering an even more engaged riding experience, and the pure convenience of a fully automatic mode.

The clutch and gear shift operation are each actuated by an electric motor, eliminating the need for both the traditional clutch lever and a foot operated gear shifter, allowing the rider to better focus on their riding flow, say Yamaha.

The MT-09 Y-AMT’s manual transmission (MT) offers a completely new way in which to experience the thrill of Yamaha’s CP3 motor. With a closer and more refined connection to the brain than the feet, the hands are one of the most tactile and powerful tools the human body has, Yamaha say. They state that 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… [Drag racers have been using button shifting for decades, so it clearly works – Ed].

Gear changes are activated through a tactile seesaw switch placed conveniently at the rider’s left hand fingertips. Riders can either use their thumb and index finger to upshift with the plus lever, and downshift with the minus lever, or opt for a single-finger operation for sportier riding, using only the index finger to shift by pulling the plus lever to shift up, and pushing it to shift down for the ultimate sporty ride.

At standstill and low speeds, the Y-AMT system controls the clutch and gearbox operation making the machine easier to control when moving off, performing manoeuvres and in heavy traffic. The system completely takes over gear shifting functions when in one of the two AT modes, but can be overridden using the see-saw lever, say Yamaha.

The D+ mode unleashes the CP3 motor’s famous character, maintaining higher revs for longer as it changes up and down through the six-speed transmission. Alternatively, D mode delivers a softer and more confidence-inspiring fully automated gear shift to aid low speed and urban riding, ideal for commuting and on journeys where the rider wants to enjoy a more relaxing ride.

Toggling between MT and AT modes is easy and can be done on the move by activating the button on the right hand switchgear, allowing the rider to transform the nature of the MT-09 Y-AMT in a heartbeat. While the 2024 MT-09 Y-AMT premieres the latest Y-AMT technology, the new model retains all that has made the MT-09 a benchmark in the sporting naked class.

The system also features a lock/unlock function for the fuel tank cap. The dynamic nature of Yamaha’s Y-AMT technology has been made possible by the ‘ride-by-wire’ Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T) system and a six-axis IMU, which controls a comprehensive electronics suite derived from the R1. This class-leading electronics package includes lean-sensitive, three-level traction control (TCS), Slide Control System (SCS), Front Wheel Lift Control System (LIF), Brake Control System (BC) and Back Slip Regulator (BSR).

Customisable ride modes allow the rider to further tailor the performance of their machine, with the full colour TFT dashboard presenting all the information in a clear format, alongside smartphone connectivity and navigation functionality.