KTM Working On Semi-Auto Gearbox
K
TM could be the latest
manufacturer to bring semi-
automatic gearbox technology to
motorcycles.
In news first broke by UK jour-
nalist Ben Purvis on the website
Bikesocial, KTM filed a patent
application with the United
States Patent and Trademark
Office on August 2, 2022 for a
"gearbox lock" that's specifically
to be used on a semi-automatic
motorcycle.
The document states the lock
is to work in conjunction with a
centrifugal clutch, similar to that
of a scooter, which automatically
decouples the motor from the
gearbox as the revs get low. The
patent also states that the gears
are intended to engage via an
electric shift motor.
"Control commands from a
motorcyclist can be received
by the electronic control unit so
that the motorcyclist can shift
between different rotational
positions of the gearshift cyl
-
inder, in particular between at
least one rotational position in
the freewheeling range, and a
rotational position in the locking
range, and/or between rotational
positions in the freewheeling
range," the patent reads. "This
allows a motorcyclist to oper
-
ate the automatic gearbox and
the gearshift lock. The gearshift
lock can therefore be operated
via existing components if there
is an automatic gearbox on the
motorcycle, and no additional
components are required."
It is believed the gearbox is
designed to work with KTM's
1290 range in the Super Duke,
Super Duke GT and Super Ad
-
venture. It is believed shifting on
the KTM unit can be done either
by push-button or the traditional
foot lever.
Should KTM bring the semi-
automatic gearbox to produc-
tion, it will join Honda, who
created the first semi-auto unit
on the VFR1200F over a decade
ago. MV Agusta also differ in
shifting technology by using a
Rekluse centrifugal clutch on
select models, which, when us
-
ing their quickshifter for up and
down shifts, means you don't
have to use the clutch lever.
CN
VOLUME ISSUE FEBRUARY , P45
Semi-auto
technology looks
like it's coming
to the KTM 1290
range.
