Honda Patents a Fake Clutch for Electric Motorcycles (electrek.co)
- Reference: 0183176862
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/05/10/224222/honda-patents-a-fake-clutch-for-electric-motorcycles
- Source link: https://electrek.co/2026/05/07/honda-patents-fake-clutch-for-electric-motorcycles-and-it-might-actually-make-sense/
> A newly revealed Honda patent shows the company developing a simulated electronic clutch system for electric motorcycles, complete with torque-boost launches and even haptic feedback designed to mimic the feel of a combustion engine.... Instead of using a traditional mechanical clutch, the system uses electronics to alter how the motor responds based on clutch lever position. Pull the clutch halfway in, and the system proportionally reduces motor output. Pull it fully, and power is cut entirely, regardless of throttle position.
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> But the more interesting part is how Honda intends to recreate the behavior riders actually use clutches for. According to the patent as [2]reported by AMCN , riders could preload the throttle while holding in the clutch lever, then rapidly release the lever to trigger a burst of torque — essentially simulating the hard launches motocross riders rely on with gas bikes. Honda believes that could be useful in competitive riding situations where precise power modulation matters, especially on loose terrain or during aggressive starts.
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> Honda also appears to be working on recreating the feel of a gas bike, not just the control inputs. The patent describes multiple vibration motors placed in the handlebars and near the clutch lever to provide haptic feedback that simulates engine vibration and even the "bite point" sensation of a clutch engaging. In other words, Honda may be trying to make an electric dirt bike feel mechanically alive, or at least the old-school idea of what a breathing dirt bike used to feel like.
[1] https://electrek.co/2026/05/07/honda-patents-fake-clutch-for-electric-motorcycles-and-it-might-actually-make-sense/
[2] https://amcn.com.au/editorial/honda-develops-pseudo-clutch-and-flywheel-for-e-motos/
I'd buy an e-MX bike with a real clutch first (Score:4, Interesting)
Honestly, just add a flywheel and give us a real clutch. MX clutches are used to modulate power delivery, and by pre-spinning the flywheel with the clutch in, we have the ability to have instant stored kinetic energy to help maintain speed thru the whoops. We also use this for pitch control in the air - not sure this would work in a simulated clutch.
Re: (Score:2)
My initial reaction to you post is who wants the extra cost, weight and points of failure? But your point about pitch control is is valid for people getting air time. The simulated clutch won't get you gyro action of the motor flywheel separated from the rear wheel, but spinning up or down both the motor and the rear wheel would probably give you some pitch control, maybe...
I have to say I don't miss having a clutch on either of my OSET TXP 24 or OSET 24.0R, way more fun to ride than the petrol models
Re: (Score:2)
I think it's helpful to point out that bikes often use wet clutches, which work and feel different to the dry clutches used in cars. I'm not sure the average person would understand how important a good clutch is to the usability of a vehicle, and wet clutches on bikes are much nicer to use than those in cars.
Just what we need (Score:5, Insightful)
So we're taking a superior, simpler power source and drive chain and adding a fake clutch to make it simulate an older, inferior power source and drive chain.
Brilliant. In 25 years people will look at these and wonder "what the hell were they thinking?"
Re: (Score:2)
It will likely just be an option
UI and power source are two separate things (Score:1)
> So we're taking a superior, simpler power source and drive chain and adding a fake clutch to make it simulate an older, inferior power source and drive chain. Brilliant. In 25 years people will look at these and wonder "what the hell were they thinking?"
Probably not with respect to having a toe shift and a clutch. We still need a selector, At a given moment you want the throttle mapped to a certain range of the full potential power output. It's safer and allows better human control. We still need a safety to make sure a selector change is not accidental.
The user interface and the power source/drive train are two separate things. The ergonomics of the motorcycle UI map quite well to this need for a selector with a safety. This UI evolved over a century o
Re: (Score:2)
> So we're taking a superior, simpler power source and drive chain and adding a fake clutch to make it simulate an older, inferior power source and drive chain. Brilliant. In 25 years people will look at these and wonder "what the hell were they thinking?"
Frankly I'm thinking... whatever it takes to sell bikers on replacing their painfully noisy kill-me machines with silent kill-me machines is worth it.
As for the "it's loud so car drivers know I'm there", sorry but the only times I've ever not known a bike was near me is when they were doing something illegal, unsafe, and unpredictable. People who refuse to wear high-vis reflective clothing don't get to pick how loud their vehicles are.
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> "Frankly I'm thinking... whatever it takes to sell bikers on replacing their painfully noisy kill-me machines with silent kill-me machines is worth it."
They are only loud if illegally modified. Mine is no louder than most cars.
The problem with electric motorcycles is that there is not enough room for batteries. Until you can produce something with 160+hp per 600lbs *AND* 250 mile range, not interested.
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No idea why ignorance was modded as insightful.
They are taking an electric motor and re-implementing a control scheme that allows control over the torque delivery that isn't available with just a throttle.
But if you didn't ride motorcycles, you wouldn't know that, and post some drivel about older inferior power source and mention the drive chain twice for unknown reasons..
25 years later they will be saying "what took them so long?".
Re: (Score:2)
In 25 years people will still be collecting and riding their old ICE bikes -- the old electric versions will probably be inoperable due to software lockouts that prevent repair and various other proprietary tomfoolery. Even as a tech enthusiast, I'm loathe to accept that new stuff is superior in usability, let alone utility.
I've driven manual car transmissions my whole life, and I can't stand automatics. I hate the "hill-holder" behavior and the fact the car just lunges forward on its own when I don't push
Re: (Score:2)
Ever heard about QWERTY keyboards?
No, I also think in this era of electronic computers, they will soon disappear into oblivion.
Interesting idea (Score:2)
As a motorcycle rider feathering the clutch is a normal action.
Industrial variable frequency drives usually have high torque at low speed setting often used with conveyor belts or positive displacement pumps. This sounds like the same sort of idea.
Is it just me? (Score:1)
Or does this sound like an ICE motorcycle with extra steps?
Non-bikers, please don't comment (Score:1)
You have no idea why we enjoy riding these machines.
Re: (Score:2)
> You have no idea why we enjoy riding these machines.
Same for people who've never driven cars with manual transmissions.
(Both my 2001 Honda Civic and 2002 CR-V are manuals, as were both [1]my motorcycles [slashdot.org], btw.)
[1] https://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=23988334&cid=66137270
The clutch sounds like a good idea for people who (Score:2)
For me? nah
As for the other "motors"
Sounds like they're trying to make a ladies bike or
maybe a woman's bike for people who ride for reasons other than to go places.
nudge nudge wink wink is she a goer ay?
Re: (Score:2)
"Sounds like they're trying to make a ladies bike"
Wow, that's some 1pth century anti women on bike BS right there.
Reminds me of a similar product (Score:1)
When I was a kid, my friend had a plastic engine that was fastened to the frame of his bike. It had D batteries and made engine revving sounds. It did not actually affect the movement of his bike. But, boy, was really cool.
Re: (Score:2)
Ys, for a kid. an adult wants a pretend part because they can't get with the times is pathetic.
Sad. (Score:2)
Imagine being so insecure you have to pretend to be using an older version of an engine? sad.
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The new Harleys have a feature that randomly dumps oil on the ground to mimic the classic HD experience.
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> "The new Harleys have a feature that randomly dumps oil on the ground to mimic the classic HD experience."
You forgot the horrible out-of-balance vibrations, strange noise, and mediocre performance. Then you would get closer.
There is a reason I ride a 16 valve inline 4 with variable valve timing (and stock muffler).
Re: (Score:2)
> Imagine being so insecure you have to pretend to be using an older version of an engine? sad.
I think it's more about wanting to have the option for control you can't get with an automatic, cvt or fixed transmission, but can and are used to with a manual transmission. I have never owned a vehicle (car or motorcycle) without a manual transmission. If you haven't or can't drive a stick, you don't know.
Stalling an option too? (Score:2)
For beginners will it also simulate stalling the engine if you dump the clutch at low 'revs'?
Recreating traditional controls can be useful (Score:2)
At first I thought this was really dumb. Besides, how can you patent something that's non-existent. But then I figured it can be useful to recreate familiar controls and how they feel. Makes it easier, especially in competition, to back and forth between different types with no loss of skill and reflex. I mean these are recreational machines. Let them have fun regardless.
There is precedence for simulating the action and feel of controls. Happens in aircraft all the time to help ease the burdens of type
They already have an electric trials bike (Score:2)
[1]https://global.honda/en/topics... [global.honda]
I saw this bike being ridden at one of the FIM world rounds last year. It was fun..sounded like a sewing machine about to spin itself apart at full throttle. Then the rider 'dumped the clutch' and it did what a trials bike was supposed to do. Pretty impressive, really.
[1] https://global.honda/en/topics/2024/2_2024-10-11eng.html
The definition of the word (Score:4, Insightful)
The American Heritage Dictionary defines "ersatz" as follows:
adjective Being a usually inferior imitation or substitute; artificial.
adjective Not genuine; fake
Honda's faux clutch strikes me as slightly less ersatz than the vroom-vroom noises pasted on to some electric cars to make them mimic IC vehicles. Still, the idea seems a bit silly. It's like the video game version of a traditional motorcycle.
I'd rather see drivers / riders of these new vehicles lean into their unique characteristics. I think they should develop a new mythos, rather than pasting pictures of yesterday's glories on these whole new beasts. Clinging to the trappings of an IC engine when you have stoopid amounts of torque available throughout most of your RPM range just strikes me as kind of lame.
Good idea (Score:1)
The point here that I see is they are mimicking the torque modulation techniques used by riders today. This isn't just trying to fake a gas motor's feel--they are catering to the expected user interface to the engine's torque, negative and positive. At least at the start of adoption, this sort of thing could be important for safety and transferring/using as much previous bike handling experience as possible into the new platforms. Now to see if this gets implemented and if it actually is helpful and peopl
So dumb (Score:2)
Speaking as someone who loves driving a stick shift car, the idea of a fake clutch just seems dumb to me.
I drive a stick because I like operating equipment. The clutch has an actual purpose. I don't *have* to have a clutch because clutches are so cool. It's because they do something that is needed by a manual transmission.
If I'm driving an electric car (or motorcycle) there is no appeal to having a clutch, because it's...fake. I'll pass, thank you.
Does it have a kick starter too? (Score:2)
I mean, if we're going to try to mimic the old days, go all in! And how about a fake gas tank and exhaust pipes! And while we're at it, we've got to have that earth-shattering ROAR!
Certainly more useful (Score:2)
than the fake shift points in their car CVTs.
Re: (Score:2)
I wonder how many people on this site can ride a motorcycle. They have lots of opinions about the clutch, though.
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> I wonder how many people on this site can ride a motorcycle. They have lots of opinions about the clutch, though.
I haven't ridden in years, but still have the endorsement on my license and my helmet. I've had two (used) bikes: a Kawasaki Kz1000 and a Suzuki GT380. No opinion on this clutch though until I've tried it.
"Shifter" becomes a selector, "Clutch" a safety (Score:1)
>> I wonder how many people on this site can ride a motorcycle. They have lots of opinions about the clutch, though.
> I haven't ridden in years, but still have the endorsement on my license and my helmet. I've had two (used) bikes: a Kawasaki Kz1000 and a Suzuki GT380. No opinion on this clutch though until I've tried it.
I have not ridden in decades, off-road. But as an engineer there is a clear advantage here. The throttle only has a certain amount of range, so having some sort of selector to change the interpretation of the throttle range makes a lot of sense. So some sort of "shifter" is necessary for that selection. Now a safety mechanism to avoid accidental selector changes would be a good idea. The "clutch" becomes such a safety in this digital EV world.
Do so now vs Have done in the past (Score:1)
> I wonder how many people on this site can ride a motorcycle.
"Can" as in street legal riding today? Or "can" as in have ridden one at some point in their life, either street legal or off-road.
Also ATV have been know to have clutches and shift pedals too.
Re: (Score:2)
I'm not going to look up or anything. All from memory. In the very early 80s I rode a few friends' dirt bikes. I believe it's left foot half up neutral and full up 1st gear. Then down clicks 2-5 gears then up-up back sequential shifting. I did ride a Harley Sportster too late 80s and I think it was the same pattern.