Tag Archives: Automatic transmission

MV Agusta roll out smart clutch system

Two years ago MV Agusta made sport touring more practical in their stylish Turismo Veloce 800 Lusso SCS with a Smart Clutch System or semi-automatic transmission.

The system was developed with America’s Rekluse and allows the rider to use a conventional clutch to change gears or ride in semi-automatic mode.

Now MV is adding their SCS 2.0 version to the Dragster 800 RR, Dragster 800 RC and Brutale 800 RR (pictured above) for clutch-free starts and stopping.

Smart Clutch System

MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 Lusso practical
MV tech Lorenzo explains the SCS system to MBW

Several other motorcycle companies including Honda are moving toward semi-automatic transmission systems.

I tried the SCS technical innovation in the Turismo Lusso while in Italy in 2018 and found it did not take away from the excitement of riding and selecting gears.

It just added to the convenience, especially around town as it allows you to stop and restart without touching the clutch lever.

Great for lane filtering or crawling in heavy traffic as the “standard” models have a moderately heavy clutch which can become tiring.

MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 Lusso practical
No need for a clutch takeoff

In auto mode, it also makes the most out of the in-line three-cylinder engine mated to a counter-rotating crankshaft.

It’s your choice. You can ride it like a twist-and-go scooter, changing gears without the clutch, or shift cogs as normal, using the clutch.

The SCS operates in parallel so there is no need for the ride to hit any switches to go from manual to automatic operation.

All of this with only 36g weight increase compared to a traditional clutch.

MV Agusta Dragster 800 RR smart clutch
Dragster 800 RR SCS

There is no word yet on when they will arrive in Australia or how much the SCS will add to the prices of the bikes.

However, it won’t be cheap as the Turismo Veloce Lusso SCS costs an extra $4200 to the price at $31,790 ride away, while the Turismo Veloce Lusso RC SCS is $35,880.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Is Honda returning to Hondamatic transmission?

A new patent filing from Honda seems to suggest a return to the 1970s twist-and-go Hondamatic transmission like on Prince’s Rebel (pictured).

The Hondamatic transmission was popular in America, but not here. 

However, Honda now seems keen to extend its auto and semi-auto transmissions throughout its range.

New Hondamatic

This new patent application is a little different from the old two-speed Hondamatic.

For a start, it has six gears available.

It features a gearshift but no clutch lever. Instead, it uses a computer-controlled, electro-hydraulic actuator, mounted just above the engine, instead of on the bars.

A sensor monitors gear lever pressure by monitoring speed, revs, gears and throttle.

As the transmission shifts gears, it cuts the ignition on upshifts, blips the throttle on downshifts and modulateas the clutch when starting and stopping.

When the bike is stopped the clutch disengages.

The patent drawing shows a CB100, but Honda has used the CB1100 in previous patent drawings including GoldWing-style double-wishbone forks.

So that does not mean it would be included on the CB1100, which we no longer get in Australia anyway. 

Honda patents

As we know, Honda has been busy with a lot of patents for various bikes, engines, transmissions and innovations in recent years.

Obviously not all will go into production. It seems more likely Honda is intent on protecting its intellectual property.

Other recent Honda patents include:

Forks Goldwing patentGoldwing forks patent

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com