Yamaha is aggressively staking its claim in the automatic motorcycle segment with the expansion of its innovative Yamaha Automated Manual Transmission (Y-AMT) system. This pivotal move is set to democratize the sport-touring class, making high-performance bikes like the popular Tracer 7 more accessible to a wider audience, from seasoned commuters to new riders.
Y-AMT on the Tracer 7: Bridging Performance and Accessibility
The integration of Y-AMT into the 2026 Yamaha Tracer 7 and Tracer 7 GT is a significant development for the middleweight sport-touring category.
- Maximum Accessibility: The Tracer 7’s core appeal—its agile chassis and torque-rich CP2 engine—will now be paired with a clutch-free riding experience. This eliminates the manual effort of stop-and-go traffic and tricky low-speed maneuvers, attracting riders who might otherwise opt for a scooter or quit riding altogether.
- How Y-AMT Works: This isn’t a traditional CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). Y-AMT retains the classic six-speed gearbox but uses sophisticated electronic actuators to handle clutch engagement and gear shifting. Riders have the ultimate choice:
- Manual Mode (MT): Lightning-fast shifts are executed using a fingertip switch on the left handlebar, allowing the rider to focus entirely on throttle control, braking, and lean angle.
- Automatic Mode (AT): The system takes over completely, offering both a comfortable standard “D” mode and a sporty “D+” mode that maximizes the engine’s exhilarating performance.
- The Competitive Edge: By offering both a manual and automatic option on a popular model like the Tracer 7, Yamaha directly competes with rivals’ dual-clutch systems and standard automatics, reinforcing its position as a technological leader in the two-wheel market.
“Wild Stuff”: Yamaha’s Vision at the Japan Mobility Show 2025
Beyond current production models, Yamaha is gearing up to unveil its most visionary and “wild stuff” at the Japan Mobility Show 2025 (October 29 – November 9). These concepts offer a glimpse into the company’s long-term strategy, prioritizing rider-machine unity (Jin-Ki Kanno philosophy) and sustainable mobility.
- AI and Rider Symbiosis (MOTOROiD:): The radical MOTOROiD: concept represents Yamaha’s pursuit of a self-learning machine. Utilizing AI and reinforcement learning, this prototype aims to develop an organic, evolving relationship with its user, potentially revolutionizing rider safety and engagement.
- Electric Performance Prototypes: Yamaha will showcase diverse electric concepts, acknowledging the industry shift toward electrification:
- PROTO BEV: An electric supersport that focuses on “fun,” complete with a sound generator and visualizer to retain the sensory excitement often missing in electric motorcycles.
- PROTO PHEV: A plug-in hybrid that blends the benefits of both worlds, offering improved fuel economy and two distinct “Serene” and “Spirited” performance characteristics.
- Novel Mobility Solutions: The brand is expanding beyond two wheels with concepts like the Tricera, a three-wheeled electric vehicle with dynamic all-wheel steering tuned for maximal cornering enjoyment, and the H2 Buddy Porter Concept, a hydrogen-powered vehicle developed in collaboration with Toyota.
Yamaha’s dual approach—refining current-generation technology like Y-AMT while pushing boundaries with concepts at the Japan Mobility Show 2025—firmly establishes the company as a key driver of the future of motorcycling.
Are you more excited about the immediate accessibility offered by the Y-AMT Tracer 7 or the long-term, AI-driven future represented by the MOTOROiD concept?
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