Almost a year ago, Honda showed off a new tech they called the “E-Clutch,” which is supposed to make it easier to ride a motorcycle. Now, we expect to see this available in Canada in coming months, starting with their four-cylinder 650 models.
What’s an E-Clutch anyway? As we told you last time: The E-Clutch is a new electronically-managed clutch that allows you to shift gears without using the clutch lever. Think “quickshifter,” but the E-Clutch also works when you slow the bike down. You don’t need to haul in the clutch when you’re stopped, just like Honda’s old ATVs and motorcycles with centrifugal clutches. And yet, when you’re rolling, you can choose to use the clutch lever if so inclined, keeping your bike’s control under your own old-school skillset.
In other words: It’s the ultimate compromise. For decades, Honda has tried to sell auto-shifting solutions to motorcyclists, and for decades, veteran riders have resisted the idea. Remember the Hondamatic 450 and 750? They had their buyers, but they certainly weren’t sales floor success stories. More recently, Honda has seen more success with the Rebel, Africa Twin and Gold Wing models with optional DCT gearboxes. However, the DN-01 was certainly not well-received, despite Honda trying to make it an easy-to-ride bike that was accessible to newbs.
Well, you must give Big Red credit for sticking to this idea, and improving it. The new E-Clutch is going to work for either traditionally-minded riders, who want a standard-style clutch, or riders who want the benefits of an auto clutch (remember, they must still shift the gears).
Honda has confirmed it’s bringing this tech to the U.S. market this coming year, in both the CB650 naked bike and the CBR650 sportbike. Those machines are not confirmed for Canada in 2025, but if you can sort through Honda’s incredibly clunky Canadian website (seriously, are they trying to drive buyers away?), you can see both models came here for 2024. We would certainly expect them next year as well, with prices around the $12k mark, give or take a few hundred dollars.
You’re not kidding about the Honda Canada Web site. Their UX designer should be fired.
I’d rather they bring in the NT1100 touring model.
I’m on the fence regarding this technology. Dumbing down bike operation isn’t something I agree with but in today’s society with electric bicycles and everyone gets a participation ribbon philosophy I guess that’s what some people want.
I believe the only autos should be kids bikes like the CRF50.