A Serious Injury Prevented Me from Riding Motorcycles. Honda’s E-Clutch Helped Me Return to Riding.

A Serious Injury Prevented Me from Riding Motorcycles. Honda’s E-Clutch Helped Me Return to Riding.

      Andrew P. Collins

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      The Honda CB650R E-Clutch is an impressive motorcycle with a remarkable blend of characteristics. It’s both accessible and contemporary while maintaining a sense of soul. It’s spirited without being overwhelming. You can set the clutch to automatic, but shifting gears is still your responsibility. This bike is perfect for novice riders or seasoned enthusiasts seeking innovative technology that enhances the riding experience rather than merely simplifying it. Personally, riding a Honda E-Clutch bike has been nothing short of transformative.

      We don’t frequently publish motorcycle reviews here, but this article is for anyone with a passing interest in vehicles. If you’ve never ridden a motorcycle, here’s the essential technical information you need:

      - Most motorcycles feature a sequential manual transmission that operates similarly.

      - The clutch lever is located on the left handlebar.

      - The gear shifter is a rod that you move up (to upshift) or down (to downshift) with your left foot.

      - Braking occurs on the right side.

      - The front brake is operated by the right handlebar lever.

      - The rear brake is activated by the right foot pedal.

      Here’s a visual representation:

      Motorcycling With a Hand Disability

      I have a unique perspective on an auto-clutch motorcycle due to my left hand being disabled. It’s a long and unfortunate tale, but to summarize: I rolled a UTV in a remote area, and as I fell, my hand became trapped between the ground and the vehicle’s roll cage. Believe it or not, I was supposed to get married just a few hours later that very day. In fact, I did get married—my wife and I officially tied the knot in a hospital hallway just minutes before my surgery.

      In the year that followed the accident, my only “ride” was a series of endless medical appointments. I held onto my bike at that time, a Yamaha WR250R with fully customized suspension, hoping it would motivate me to regain function in my hand. But as months passed and medical bills accumulated, I realized that pulling a clutch wasn’t becoming any easier. The Yamaha was sold, and motorcycles were reluctantly removed from my list of passions.

      That accident occurred eight years ago. Today, few people notice that my left hand is deformed and missing a pinky. Unfortunately, I still experience significant limitations in dexterity and strength. I also endure a persistent background pain that I can never fully quiet.

      But I promised this would be the “short version,” so let’s return to motorcycles. I hadn’t ridden a proper motorcycle since 2018—my last loaner was a Honda Rebel 500. Thus, swinging a leg over the CB650R and cruising down my driveway was an emotional moment. Amazingly, by the time I rode from my garage to the mailbox, I felt at home on a motorcycle again. I was immediately convinced of the brilliance of Honda’s E-Clutch.

      I forgot how challenging it is to take a selfie while riding a motorcycle. You’ll have to settle for a screenshot from a tripod iPhone video! Andrew P. Collins

      What is Honda’s E-Clutch?

      Essentially, the Honda E-Clutch allows you to experience a full manual-transmission motorcycle without needing to use the clutch. You still shift gears and manage the throttle entirely, but engaging the clutch is optional. Yes, optional—it’s not eliminated. If you prefer using the clutch, it remains fully functional, and you can deactivate the E-Clutch via the CB650R’s settings menu. Finding this setting can be a bit annoying, but as we’ll discuss later, I doubt most owners will frequently want to turn it off. The E-Clutch is set to “auto” by default.

      The concept of a no-touch-clutch motorcycle isn’t novel. There are aftermarket auto-clutches (like Rekluse), and some dual-clutch automatic motorcycles are available now (Honda is a significant player in this, too). Honda introduced the E-Clutch in 2024 with the CB650R and the sportier CBR650R—this means it has been around for a few years, but it’s still new enough that many people may not be familiar with it.

      I love the design of this motorcycle. Andrew P. Collins

      How Does E-Clutch Work?

      While the technology behind the E-Clutch is intricate, the concept is straightforward: the clutch can be controlled via a hand lever or a computerized lever. When the E-Clutch is turned off, the rider directly manages clutch engagement with the lever as with any other motorcycle. When E-Clutch is active, the rider indirectly controls when the clutch engages through regular riding behavior—the bike’s ECU determines the appropriate time to engage the clutch based on data it gathers from multiple sensors.

      In practice, having E-Clutch means you never need to

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A Serious Injury Prevented Me from Riding Motorcycles. Honda’s E-Clutch Helped Me Return to Riding.

Honda's E-Clutch is a distinctive semi-automated shifting system that simplifies riding while maintaining its essence.