KTM’s finally unveiled its automatic transmission for 2025 – and it’s pleasingly different from the three other set ups we’ve seen this year already from Honda, BMW and Yamaha. KTM’s AMT takes a different route from those systems, opting to use a mechanical centrifugal clutch rather than a computer-controlled electronic clutch actuator unit. That simple set up takes care of pulling away and stopping, while a ‘normal’ quickshifter set up takes care of cutting drive when changing gear.
The gearchange itself now has an electromechanical driver in the shift drum, so allowing both fully automatic operation, and a manual override mode. In the auto mode, the centrifugal clutch kicks in when you open the throttle, smoothly feeding in drive, and the transmission electronics then take over gear shifting, cutting the ride-by-wire throttle and fuelling when changing up, and auto-blipping when changing down, as on a normal up/down quickshifter. Select manual mode, and you can select your own cogs, either with the foot lever, which is still in place, or else with a paddle switch on the left-hand bar. The AMT has a six-speed sequential gearchange sequence, with neutral positioned below first rather than between first and second gear, and there’s also an additional P parking position which locks the gearbox like an automatic car. Expect to see it on the new 1390 Super Adventure first, then on other bikes in the KTM range.
