ShiftFX introduces electric shift transmission to transform OEM capability

Want a motorcycle with auto-shifting transmission, but it isn’t offered for your model motorcycle? ShiftFX might be able to help.

While DCT, CVT, and other automatic transmission technologies have been around for a while, they have never been offered for a wide range of motorcycles. The only two-wheeler category with widespread adoption of auto shifting is the scooter segment. Even recent efforts, by Honda in particular, to bring this capability into the mainstream have not met with much success. Despite its ease of use, people aren’t lining up to throw money at DCT technology.

But some riders are interested in the capability, for various reasons, and that’s where the Electric Shift Transmission from ShiftFX comes in. There are three parts to the system; the BDC Active Clutch, the gear control system, and the Transmission Control Unit (TCU).

The Active Clutch unit allows electrohydraulic control of the clutch in a unit weighing less than half a kilogram.  The auto-clutch unit helps with starts and stops the bike from stalling. Also, when installed, the motorcycle retains the standard clutch lever, which is a plus, especially when off-roading, or if you’re into wheelies or other hoonery.

As for the gear control system. according to their press release, “The ShiftFX EST system eliminates the shift lever and ratcheting mechanism in a standard gearbox and replaces it with a patented mechanism consisting of a high-speed DC motor and gear reducer that rotates the shift drum directly. This setup allows the transmission to be shifted from any gear to any gear or to neutral, and with advanced controls mitigates the gear-jam problem commonly associated with motorcycle gearboxes. Wear on the transmission components is reduced, and the standard ratcheting system is eliminated.”

The last part of the system, the Transmission Control Unit, allows the user to program their shift points into the EST, taking factors such as speed, load, gear position, or throttle position into account. It also protects against over-revving, limits clutch torque transfer during shifting, and  can communicate with the motorcycle’s ECU to control engine braking. The electronic trickery here also allows users to integrate the ShiftFX EST into the bike’s OEM riding modes, allowing users to program specific shift patterns for selected riding modes.

Once the ShiftFX system is installed, users can let the bike shift automatically, or use handlebar-mounted shift buttons, like a car with paddle shifters, for semi-auto transmission control.

The whole system adds less than two kg to a bike’s weight, ShiftFX claims. They also claim gear changes take less than 50 milliseconds, and the power cut on upshifts can take as little as 30 milliseconds.

So, which bikes will the system be available for? On one hand, ShiftFX seems to say it’s going to fit a wide variety of bikes, with the statement “every major motorcycle manufacturer produces engines with a common clutch and gearbox design,” and noting that they were able to install the system without having to make major modifications or machining the engine block. They say the system has been installed on “demonstrator models,” indicating it fits more than one bike, and that it’s “Applicable to almost any motorcycle, including electric bikes”

On the other hand, ShiftFX also says “we are ready to bring the technology to market in partnership with an OE manufacturer.” So are they hoping to get a deal with a manufacturer to include their system as an OEM option, similar to third-party ABS systems, for instance? It seems like both options — retro-fit, and OEM availability — are potentials.