Patent ID: 8360930

Claim:
A clutch control device having a clutch provided between an engine and a transmission for connecting and disconnecting a drive force to the transmission, an electric motor for driving said clutch, and a shift operation sensor for detecting a shift operation by a rider, said clutch control device comprising: engine speed sensor for detecting an engine speed; a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed according to said engine speed after a primary speed reduction by said transmission has been detected; and a clutch control portion for disengaging said clutch when a downshift operation by said rider is detected by said shift operation sensor, and for performing feedback control of said electric motor so that a ratio (NeV) of said an engine speed and said vehicle speed becomes a predetermined target value in reengaging said clutch after completing the downshift operation of said transmission, wherein a time period from a time when the downshift operation is detected by said shift operation sensor to a time when said clutch is reengaged after completing the downshift operation of said transmission comprises: a first period from a time (t 10 ) when the disengagement operation of said clutch is started to a time (t 20 ) when said clutch is driven in an engaging direction at a predetermined speed corresponding to a gear position after completion of the disengagement operation of said clutch until a partially engaged condition of said clutch is reached; a second period during which said partially engaged condition is maintained by said feedback control; and a third period from a time (t 30 ) when said clutch in said partially engaged condition starts to be driven in the engaging direction at a predetermined speed corresponding to a new gear position to a time (t 40 ) when the reengagement of said clutch is completed; the ratio of said engine speed to said vehicle speed reaches a first predetermined ratio (NeV (E)) at the time (t 20 ) when said clutch is driven in the engaging direction at the predetermined speed corresponding to the gear position; the ratio of said engine speed to said vehicle speed reaches a second predetermined ratio (NeV (S)) higher than said first predetermined ratio (NeV (E)) at the time (t 30 ) when said clutch in said partially engaged condition starts to be driven in the engaging direction at the predetermined speed corresponding to the new gear position; said second period being started at the time (t 20 ) when the ratio of said engine speed to said vehicle speed has reached the first predetermined ratio (NeV (E)) and ended at the time (t 30 ) when the ratio of said engine speed to said vehicle speed has reached the second predetermined ratio (NeV (S)) higher than said first predetermined ratio (NeV (E)).