Key highlights
- Ducati motorcycles to get the automatic transmission
- Design patent of the automatic transmission leaked online
- AT gearbox allows fully automatic as well as manual control
Getting along with the global two-wheeler manufacturers, Ducati has also joined the automatic transmission bandwagon. The recently leaked design patent shows what the Italian manufacturer is up to. Read the in-depth details below.
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Ducati motorcycles with an automatic gearbox arriving soon?
The recently leaked design patent of the under-development automatic transmission shows that Ducati is developing two iterations of it. While one iteration is likely to be fully automatic, the other type will feature manual control as well as the fully automatic mode.
The design patent shows that the gearbox is similar to Honda’s upcoming E-Clutch, where the rider gets the option to ride the motorcycle in a full-auto mode or select gears manually, depending on their choice. The difference between Honda’s and Ducati’s E-Clutch working is that of a hydraulically controlled system.
The two transmission types, which have leaked through the design patent image, use the same cycle parts. The computer-control unit, actuator, and other critical parts are the same. As of now, the complete details about its working are scarce, but we can safely assume that the rider will get paddle-shifters to manually override the gearbox whenever required.
Moreover, another interesting feature is the “Launch Control” function, which the upcoming automatic gearbox will offer. Hence, there is a possibility that the WSBK and WSS racing motorcycles to get upgraded with an automatic gearbox in the near future.
Our verdict
The idea of an automatic gearbox on a motorcycle is out of context for now. Especially when we speak of the powerful and high-performance bikes like the Ducati models, the feel of gear shifting is tremendous. However, an automatic gearbox can seriously improve the performance and efficiency of an engine, which Ducati seems to have accepted.