• ktm amt

    AUTOMATED MANUAL TRANSMISSION

    • KTM AMT

    THIS ISN’T YOUR GRANDAD’S AUTO TRANSMISSION

    KTM’s AMT – or Automated Manual Transmission – blurs the line between sport and comfort, taking all the benefits of an automated transmission, and adding the exhilaration and control of a traditional manual. AMT is all about choice, allowing riders to choose between a clutchless manual mode (M) or a throttle-and-go automated transmission (A). Depending on the selected shift mode, the shift into the next gears happens automatically or must be done manually, with the gear lever or via paddle shift. 

    IT’S AN AUTO – BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

    Like any other automated transmission, AMT makes pulling away, coming to a stop, and general riding as easy as rolling on the throttle. Without the need for a traditional clutch lever, once the first gear is engaged, a centrifugal clutch will engage with throttle input, allowing for ultra-smooth rolling starts, without any fear of stalling the engine. When the ride turns from a relaxed cruise to an apex-chasing blast, the AMT does so instantly. The gear shifts are electronically controlled via the ECU and the Transmission Control Unit, with an electromechanical shift actuator making shifts in just 50 milliseconds – which is comparable to a traditional transmission using a Quickshifter+, making shifts ultra-precise and super smooth.

    Unlike traditional gear sequences 1 – N – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6, the AMT features a P – N – 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 sequences.

    P stands for PARKING, which prevents the motorcycle from rolling. Due to a normally open centrifugal clutch, it is not possible to lock the rear wheel of the motorcycle on slopes by inserting a gear. Therefore, a mechanical locking pawl is implemented in the gear box. The park and neutral positions can only be selected using the shifting paddle on the handlebar switch cube, no matter if the engine is running or not, with the front or rear brake applied to change between park, neutral, and 1st gear.

    MANUAL MODE 

    When you want full manual control, Manual Mode allows you to shift gears with a traditional foot gear lever or paddle shifter. When using the traditional foot gear lever on the left side of the engine, the lever activates a sensor that gives a signal to the electronics to shift gear – just like a Quickshifter+ – slotting in the next selected gear up or down the ratios. Riders can also shift up or down using shifting paddles on the left switch cube. The foot shift lever layout can be changed from normal to inverse, depending on the bike model. There is also an option to activate High Rev limiter shifting, which allows the motorcycle to shift gears when the rider is operating at high RPMs. This feature can be turned on or off in manual mode.

    AUTO MODE

    This mode provides fully automated shifting, making for an extremely easy riding experience. The automated shift execution is based on different vehicle parameters such as actual gear position, engine speed, engine torque, lean angle, acceleration, vehicle speed, pitch angle, and of course, rider inputs. In Automated Mode, the rider can toggle their shift preference via three different shift modes on the dashboard, namely COMFORT, STREET and SPORT.

    These shift modes work together with the motorcycle’s individual Ride Modes to ensure the best automated transmission settings are used. During the usage of the automated shift mode, manual shifting input or override is possible, with the easiest way to change a gear being via the up and down shift paddles on the left switch cube. In this case, the fully automated mode is suppressed for 4 seconds and switches back to active automated mode afterward. In an instance where the rider needs more acceleration, and opens the throttle very suddenly, the system activates a kick-down function and shifts to a lower gear. This is important for overtaking, or when the road calls for a little more “go!”

    A rider can also initiate a downshift by quickly closing the throttle. This makes overtaking easier by preemptively selecting the correct gear. When ACC is active on an AMT fitted motorcycle, the system decelerates to stand-still when the car in front stops. If the stop is shorter than 3 seconds, the system accelerates automatically.  When the stop duration is longer than 3 seconds the riders must accelerate or click the resume button.   

    AMT BENEFITS 

    • Highly innovative AMT technology adding minimal weight and no increasing of overall chassis dimensions. 
    • Reduced stress, more comfort for the rider, no engine stalling, no need to operate a clutch.
    • Maximum riding is enjoyable thanks to the quick and dynamic gear changes.
    • Many options to individually configure the system to the rider's preferences thanks to different shift modes and the choice of manual or automatic gear shifting.

    READY TO RACE focus, its not just for casual touring!

    go back to tech guide