Hey SLO, good to hear you're OK. It could easily have turned out worse. Great that the gear did what it was supposed to as well. Your story should be used as a marketing campaign to get riders to wear their gear.
Eish, that almost hurts ! Fortunately I saw the "just joking " part ...........there is no way in life that I will trade my manual for an automatic !
...........And then you get people who think it's a automatic. It's so far from a automatic it's funny. Automatic and DCT are light years away from each other.
DCT is a gearbox with 6 sets of gears and 2 clutches. 1 clutch controls odd number gears and the other even number. At any given moment there is 2 gears engaged. The one you using and either the next up shift or down shift depending on the situation. Gearshifts happens faster than what any human can do so acceleration is way bette
Thanks for the explanation Hondafan. I must admit - I am part of the "old school" generation and I liked changing gears on bikes all my life. At the time I bought my X I was not interested in any bike without "normal" gears - and I wasn't even interested in finding how these DCTs actually work. And since I bought my X, I've been so happy with the bike, I don't think there is any chance that I will ever own a bike without "normal" gears.
The main reason why I thought DCT's are "automatic" - I am in possession of a PM of a member (DCT owner), and the owner mentioned (to my understanding) that his DCT changed gears "too soon". That comment made me think the DCT gearboxes are indeed "automatic" - otherwise it would never be able to chance gears "too soon". That comment also made me think those "automatic gearboxes" might also not be all that suitable for off road purposes. Therefore I completely lost interest in getting more info regarding DCT models.
Looks like I am completely in the dark regarding DCT models. Could you please explain - how is it possible that a DCT gearbox can change gears "too soon" - if the gearbox is not "automatic" at all ? Any possibility that the owner experienced a gearbox problem ?
Thanks.
Kappa Touring Screen, SW Motech Crash Bars, Raptor Desert Fox Spotlights, SW Motech spotlight Mounting Brackets, SW Motech Center Stand, Givi E370 Top Box with Light Kit, Givi Back Rest for Top Box, Dzell Radiator Guard (aluminium), Dzell Side Stand Expansion Plate. Modified BMC Air Filter, Dimple magnetic oil Drain Plug, Seat Saint, Givi V35 Panniers, DIY chain Oiler, “Sit & Fly” type seat cover, Hand Guards, Highway foot Pegs, Adjustable wind deflector.
DCT has 3 modes "automatic" city fuel saver mode yes it shifts very early in the Rev range depending on your throttle. If you have it pinned in city mode it wil Rev to the red line and change the gear. Second mode is Sport it's more aggressive and keep the gear for a tad longer to ensure optimum shift and wont change gears in low rpm like city mode. Down shifts in S mode is also more aggressive. Then there is the full manual mode with you controlling the gear shifts with the buttons on the left hand side. It will downshift automatically if you don't shift down and it picks up the bike will start shuddering due to it being to low in the revs.
As for driving it off road it will be just fine. The VFR crosstourer and the new Africa Twin also has a DCT version.
I agree vohannes, every body should gear-up....anything can happen. Don't want to say 'if only....'
When I saw the Honda, I knew that this was the bike I wanted. Researched a bit and found out there was a DCT. That was when I was sold to get one. Traffic on its best day is heavy on clutch movements, and on a bad day....my shoulder would be lying next to the road somewhere.
And now with my shoulder stuffed again and picking up my lady tomorrow, I don't have to worry about the clutch to enjoy the ride.
Agree hondafan. Not the same as a scooter with CVT (auto) box. Proper 6 speed box, like a sequential gearbox on race cars or paddle shift on some cars. Same concept. In manual mode the bike also does not shift up automatically. Only downshifts are auto, if you don't shift down via the paddle. You have to shift up manually throu the box in manual mode....my understanding. Please confirm hondafan.
I also opted for a manual when I bough my NC. At one of the track training days I attended one of the guys had the same year and model DCT. In the first 2 sessions I was able to get away from him quite easy. Later he pulled away from me though. He slotted it into S and could focus on his braking and lines on the track more. I still had the occasional miss-timed shift to deal with and getting braking, shifting, line and body position right on every turn was tough. Personally I still like the old-school gear shift. HOWEVER, reviews of the Africa Twin DCT has everybody amazed at how good the DCT performs off-road. Not just on-road. ALSO one needs to consider the new quick shifter options on a lot of sport bikes.... Clutches are becoming redundant...much like us 'older' toppies!
all i can say if you on 2 wheels and enjoy your ride, is all that matters. the nc manual or dct is not the best selling bike in europe for nothing even sales in SA a very good. the bike is a solid bike designed to be practical, fun and efficient.
i wanted the manual as well did not trust the dct thing at first. but i really wanted abs with my bike nothing like braking hard in the rain and the front end lets go or your tail goes. and as we all know only the euro versions came out with abs on the manual and that really sucks. still i wonder why they screwd us over.
anyway yes riding kit is very important i drive with my xculcha easy overs, full leather jacket and winter/summer gloves come rain, shine or winter. flesh and a tar road arent friends i have learned that in my life.
a tip to everyone who has smelly winter gloves. my winter gloves became smelly due to the fact that they are waterproof and dont breathe at all and they keep the sweat in plus it being dark the bacteria just loves it. and within 3 days i found my gloves being stinky beyond belief. i use those silica anti moisture packs, collected a bunch of them fortunatlly my work entails working with hard drives and they come with nice big packs. sticky taped 2 together and as soon as my gloves come off i put in the packs. dry gloves and no more smelly gloves.
That's what's it is about. The smile you get riding your bike. I tend to forget about my worries when I'm riding even driving through the morning traffic. It's my prozac. Then you get off and it's back to normal again.