Honda wants to free us from the clutch!

With its E-Clutch system, Honda offers a technology that allows starting, shifting gears, and stopping… without ever touching the clutch lever.

Should we still use a clutch lever on a manual motorcycle? For Honda, the answer is increasingly no. With its Honda E-Clutch system, the Japanese manufacturer aims to simplify riding while retaining the sensations of a true mechanical gearbox.

Unlike an automatic transmission or a dual-clutch transmission (DCT), the E-Clutch retains a traditional gear shift. The rider still shifts up or down using their foot, but no longer needs to engage the clutch lever during starts, stops, or gear changes. The entire process is managed automatically by electronic actuators that control the clutch with precision.

One less worry

The benefits are twofold. In urban traffic, the ride becomes significantly smoother and less tiring, especially in stop-and-go situations where the repeated use of the lever can quickly become tedious. On the road, gear shifts also gain in speed and smoothness, without altering the character of the motorcycle.

Honda has also thought of the purists. At any moment, the rider can take control by using the clutch lever just like on a traditional motorcycle. The system automatically detects this intervention and gives control back to the rider before reverting to assisted mode when necessary.

Compact and relatively lightweight, the E-Clutch easily integrates into a conventional gearbox without imposing the constraints of a fully automatic transmission. This solution allows Honda to offer this technology on an increasing number of models, without disrupting their architecture.

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Innovation

• 30/06/2026 11:18

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With the E-Clutch, Honda does not seek to eliminate the pleasure of riding a motorcycle with a manual gearbox. Instead, the brand aims to remove one of the most technical constraints of riding. A subtle evolution, but one that could appeal to both new riders and the more experienced… and old-fashioned clutch levers might soon seem outdated.

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