Honda is examining the use of a fake clutch on future electric motorcycles to give riders more control, especially off-road. Patent drawings for the system have surfaced recently. The company is testing the idea on its CR Electric Proto dirt bike.
Honda has long worked to simplify motorcycle shifting, starting with centrifugal clutches on models like the 1958 Super Cub C100. The firm later introduced Dual Clutch Transmission bikes and an E-clutch system that lets riders choose manual or automatic operation. Now the manufacturer is considering a return to clutch-like feedback for battery models, where traditional mechanical clutches are absent.