CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION

An efficient drive system, but it lacks rider interaction with the machine

BY COSTA MOUZOURIS

Unless you ride a scooter, your bike doesn’t have a CVT. A CVT, or continuously variable transmission, changes ratios automatically, seamlessly, and infinitely. But before diving into the CVT, we must first understand why an engine needs a transmission in the first place. There is a rev range between idle speed and redline, in which all engines produce an optimum amount of torque. Not enough revs and torque is too low; the engine will struggle to pick up revs and risks stalling. Rev too high and torque drops off again; the engine will spin needlessly while providing little in terms of acceleration. The different ratios in a transmission allow the engine to operate within this optimum range for any given road speed. Low gear — high crankshaft revs compared to rear-wheel rotation…

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Motorcycle Mojo (Digital) - 1 Issue, July/August 2024

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