DCT question

I get a lot of ribbing about having an “automatic” on the Wing, from my pirate cruiser buddies. Then I challenge them to a drag race with our left hand, tied behind our back. Then they ask what brand of rice I use and I reply which oil do they recommend for not dripping on the garage floor.

Then we all have a good laugh and raise a toast to all bikes.

John
 
I have no issue with someone saying they prefer to shift and prefer to use a clutch. If they derive great joy from that I am happy for them. That's a matter of personal preference. As is riding a DCT and not using a clutch and going either full auto or manually shifting with the paddles.

What about all the new bikes with quick shifters (like my son's MT-10, and my buddies BMW 1600GT.) Full power upshifts, and sometimes downshifts (depending on the bike) with no clutch. Once you leave the stop sign, no clutch needed. Mostly on the newest, latest and greatest high powered street bikes not made for beginners?

Technology marches forward.
 
Well, I saw an article in a motor racing magazine saying that the next generation of Nascar racing cars will have paddle shifters. Lets see.... Indy car, Imsa sports cars, Formula one racing, and most other major motor sports are using paddle shift controlled transmissions. I would not be surprised if Moto GP and other top motorcyle teams now use electronically paddle shift controlled computers to do the shifting. They are even installing electric shifting on 10 speed mountain bicycles go figure.
 
Last edited:
dduelin said:
The he-man and sissy references to DCT are worn out responses borne of ignorance. They were common and not unexpected in DCT threads 10-12 years ago when DCT was new technology but kind of surprise me today in this forum which usually has a greater knowledge and understanding of motorcycle technology.

DCT is banned at the highest level of motorcycle racing because it's so much faster and safer for the riders. It's not banned in F1 racing and those that tried to compete without DCT gearboxes were left in the dust. Among production cars in 2021 the fastest and highest performing supercars have DCT gearboxes.
Click to expand...

You're helping yourself to a lot of conclusions. Derision need not stem from ignorance. Deskilling motorcycle riding for performance enhancement is a controversial topic. That's primarily because of the types of claims people make about this stuff.

But let's not kid ourselves about what this technology does. When people say they became a better rider because of this technology and its ilk: they're lying to themselves. They didn't get better, they just made the task easier. While it's true one may enhance performance in some way with these things, it's not because the rider got better.
 
Last edited:
OkieRider said:
You're helping yourself to a lot of conclusions. Derision need not stem from ignorance. Deskilling motorcycle riding for performance enhancement is a controversial topic. That's primarily because of the types of claims people make about this stuff.

But let's not kid ourselves about what this technology does. When people say they became a better rider because of this technology and its ilk: they're lying to themselves. They didn't get better, they just made the task easier. While it's true one may be able to do things faster or better in since way with these things, it's not because they got better.
Click to expand...

So are you saying technology can't make you a better rider? Like disc brakes, and slipper clutches, and quick shifters, better tires, better frames,, superior suspension, lighter weight components?

Would you be an equally skilled rider on a 49 panhead belly shift Harley? Or does the updated tech of a hand clutch and foot shifter, suspension and disc brakes allow you to be a better rider?

Are you born with a certain amount of ability that can't be improved upon?
 
the Ferret said:
So are you saying technology can't make you a better rider? [...]

Are you born with a certain amount of ability that can't be improved upon?
Click to expand...

Admittedly, there is some line drawing, which means you can make an argument the line should be somewhere else. But there's a distinction between better brakes and automated brakes, and I think that distinction is meaningful. Maybe you don't, which is fine for you. I don't think much of the linked brakes on my ST, either.
 
So who gets to decide where the line gets drawn? You? Me? The line is arbitrary and moves from decade to decade, generation to generation, sometimes model year to model year.
 
ddemair said:
I also ride bicycles. My current ones have 20 gears or more and I'm very accustomed to shifting to choose my desired cadence.

I'm disinclined to go DCT and I'm wondering if I'm carrying over my sense of control on the bicycle over to the motorcycle. I can definitely see where DCT could be a very nice feature, but I still like the idea of a clutch and choosing the gear myself.
Click to expand...
This is the hardest thing to get across to someone about the DCT - You can have total control over the transmission at any time if you want to. It also can function in a fully automatic mode. You can be cruising along and if you so desire can bang down a couple of gears and pass a vehicle or blast down a twisty road and you can downshift heading into a corner just like a standard transmission. It does not have to act fully automatic unless you want it to. For those that like to shift with their foot - Honda also makes a foot shifter option for the DCT that acts the same way as the paddle shifters.
 
Last edited:
the Ferret said:
I found the memes not humorous, but kind of insulting, as if someone who doesn't use a clutch is not a real motorcyclist.
Click to expand...
<SNIP>
the Ferret said:
I don't think I have to prove to anyone that I am a motorcyclist by having a clutch lever on my handlebar.
Click to expand...
If this were truly the case, then one might think you have no real reason to feel insulted. Why so defensive over your choices?
I am the same way when (for whatever reason, although exceedingly rarely) I drive my car to coach a Basic RiderCourse. I've done the miles, I've ridden in cold, rain, heat, whatever, for about 50 years, and I likewise don't feel the need to prove it to anyone.
Not trying to start (or continue) any kind of argument -- but I personally feel many these days are quite literally, and quite simply, allowing others to offend them. I choose not to give others that permission, or that power, to offend me.
For better or worse, I'm comfortable in my own skin.
(Which is a really GOOD thing, because we both would be very UN-comfortable if you were in my skin.) :rofl1:
In the end, I maintain it is good to have choices.
 
I had absolutely no issue/ no offense with your post and said so above by saying I have no issue with someone still wanting to shift or use the clutch. That if they got joy out of it I would be happy for them. Personal choice.

I was offended by the memes which postualized that someone had to be handicapped, or deficient in skill to ride a DCT, as if any whole person, or person with skill or experience wouldn't ride one, and the meme poster and I have both said our pieces on that.

I dont currently own a DCT but am considering one and started this thread to ask a question about them. I didnt start this conversation as a peeing up the wall contest by non DCT users. It was simply a matter of educating myself on a subject that interested me.
 
Says the guy who is OFFENDED when Pepe Le Pew didn’t get included in a new movie, or the Seuss Estate chose not to publish certain titles of THEIR books. I say you are not being honest with yourself.
 
That must be directed at someone other than me lol
 
Sadlsor. ... HA just figured out what your handle means (at least I think I did) Saddle Sore. Clever. Make a great mc licence plate.
 
the Ferret said:
Sadlsor. ... HA just figured out what your handle means (at least I think I did) Saddle Sore. Clever. Make a great mc licence plate.
Click to expand...
That IS my license plate. As well as my Gmail address.
Alabama didn't give me enough space to spell it correctly.
EDIT: Can I buy a consonant and 2 vowels, please?
Closeup SADLSOR tag ST1300.jpg
 
Last edited:
the Ferret said:
So who gets to decide where the line gets drawn? You? Me? The line is arbitrary and moves from decade to decade, generation to generation, sometimes model year to model year.
Click to expand...

We each get to decide for ourselves. I'm entitled to my opinion on the topic just like you are entitled to yours. I think there's a material difference between "improved" and "automated." Maybe you think automated is just an improvement. Maybe you think this distinction is real but immaterial. Clearly, you don't want to engage the discussion at that level.
 
bdalameda said:
You can have total control over the transmission at any time if you want to.
Click to expand...

Not sure about the Africa Twin, but a couple things that bug me about the DCT on the Wing.

1. I can't put mine in neutral without coming to a stop. Or put in gear if it's rolling. Sounds like nitpicking but it has been an inconvenience several times.

2. While in manual mode I would like it to stay in the gear I put it in without automatically down shifting. Never pushed it hard enough for it to force an upshift while in manual mode. It would be very helpful to be able to put bike in second gear and have it stay there while doing slow maneuvers. I use rain mode but it's not the same.

That being said I love mine.

My father told me that when automatic transmissions came out his father said "I'll never pay a machine to shift gears for me". He eventually did.
 
Seeing how this thread got off-topic I I will continue that direction.

Years back I owned a 1981 BMW R100. No fairings or wind protection to speak other than a small windshield I installed. As a Honda guy I bought it for something with more airflow to ride in summer months and to dip my toe into the marque. It ran good but needed some electrical and hydraulic work to become tour-reliable. After refreshing or rebuilding much of the bike I came to really enjoy riding it and even took some long tours to the mountains besides the local day rides. I embraced the simplicity of these 1970 - 1995 air cooled boxers called airheads so after a while I went to the Florida DMV to request a vanity plate and had AIR HEAD in mind. The young female clerk did the search and told me I would have to make a second choice as that one was already in use. I asked for AIR HED. The clerk did the search, looked over the counter at me and said she would be back in a minute. A few moments later she returned with the location manager, a dour looking woman with the corners of her lips turned down in a frown. No smile wrinkles these parts. She asked me what was the significance of the requested word combination. I replied the license tag was for a classic German motorcycle that had large parts of the engine sticking out in the passing air and hence the name "airhead" which was instantly recognized by the faithful. She chuckled and the frown turned upside down into a smile. "We thought it might be a derogatory name for your wife or significant other." We had a good laugh over it.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom