- Patent drawings reveal new details
- Likely to be used for the 1290 Super Duke GT
- In the early stages of development
KTM is working on a new semi-automatic transmission for its Super Duke range. Its patent application files have been leaked online and reveal some notable information about the upcoming tech.
From the leaked drawings, it’s evident that the cog construction for the semi-automatic setup is similar to the one we see in a manual system. But it also comprises a gearbox lock to refrain the transmission from turning and operate as a parking brake. Even with its regular gearbox setup, the system will feature an electric motor to engage the movement.
MV Agusta has already used a similar setup but with the help of a quick-shifter setup and centrifugal clutch. Now, KTM could either opt for an electronic shifter with the command input from either a foot lever or a push button in the switch cube. This would be intended to perform smooth integration of the cogs and seamless gearshifts as the end result.
Since the centrifugal clutch disengages from the engine at low revs/stop, it would basically leave the bike in neutral. So, the gearbox lock/parking brake is significant and a go-to option. The parking brake is made of a pawl which clamps into one of the teeth of the gear once the park position is selected.
The fact that the part numbers on these drawings match that of the component numbers on the KTM 1290 Super Duke, 1290 Adventure, and the recently unveiled Brabus 1300 R models confirms that the new development is oriented towards the Austrian brand’s 1290 range. The drawing also shows the shift motor which engages the shift drum (used to engage the parking brake and works in tandem with the push button).
