Africa Twin DCT
Posted: 05 Sep 2018, 20:09
Hey up peeps... Long long time no see. Probably no one apart from Kwaky knows me on here anymore lol.....
Anyway was passing a Honda dealer and thought I would have a look at the Africa Twin to replace my 800XC (which is the first and only non sport bike I have ever owned). And thought I would give the DCT model ago.
I mean I really went there in the mind set of slating it. Having ridden sports bikes most my life and enjoyed track days, and doing off road on the 800XC (and I don't mean fire trails or gavel paths). I ENJOY CLUTCH... No way would I like an automatic. I mean moving from a big bang R1 to a tiger I was already feeling I am aging before my time (but loving it).. And now maybe an automatic bike,, what next...a mobility scooter??????
Anyway.. for those low speed manoeuvres and times when you have to ride the clutch slightly and feather the brakes to get that critical level of drive to keep you balances. How the hell can you do that on an automatic. Surely there would be a jolt or judder at some point to throw you a little... WELL..
After only 5 minutes I got used to not having a clutch. And could not stop grinning from ear to ear. The bike is Sooooooooooooo smooth. In standard drive. pulling away from zero to hero speeds is like one continuous gear.. insane. Sport mode is not bad either. could have held the gears a little longer but its nice. Worst case you can use the paddle shifters for manual change. Even then its butter smooth and lightening fast changes.
Seriously. doing u turn in a street parked up and just pulling away you cannot feel the gear engaging and pulling away. I do 20k miles a year and use my one bike for everything. This is a serious contender on first impression.
I recommend having play on one for an hour before you knock it... I was genuinely gutted when I left and wanted to buy one there and then.
Be interested to hear from long term Africa Twin DCT owners and what they think.. Tales of Woe or Wow...
Anyway was passing a Honda dealer and thought I would have a look at the Africa Twin to replace my 800XC (which is the first and only non sport bike I have ever owned). And thought I would give the DCT model ago.
I mean I really went there in the mind set of slating it. Having ridden sports bikes most my life and enjoyed track days, and doing off road on the 800XC (and I don't mean fire trails or gavel paths). I ENJOY CLUTCH... No way would I like an automatic. I mean moving from a big bang R1 to a tiger I was already feeling I am aging before my time (but loving it).. And now maybe an automatic bike,, what next...a mobility scooter??????
Anyway.. for those low speed manoeuvres and times when you have to ride the clutch slightly and feather the brakes to get that critical level of drive to keep you balances. How the hell can you do that on an automatic. Surely there would be a jolt or judder at some point to throw you a little... WELL..
After only 5 minutes I got used to not having a clutch. And could not stop grinning from ear to ear. The bike is Sooooooooooooo smooth. In standard drive. pulling away from zero to hero speeds is like one continuous gear.. insane. Sport mode is not bad either. could have held the gears a little longer but its nice. Worst case you can use the paddle shifters for manual change. Even then its butter smooth and lightening fast changes.
Seriously. doing u turn in a street parked up and just pulling away you cannot feel the gear engaging and pulling away. I do 20k miles a year and use my one bike for everything. This is a serious contender on first impression.
I recommend having play on one for an hour before you knock it... I was genuinely gutted when I left and wanted to buy one there and then.
Be interested to hear from long term Africa Twin DCT owners and what they think.. Tales of Woe or Wow...