My Nearly New Honda Africa Twin
Discussion
Lancerevo said:
Don’t hate the dct straight away. Give it a fair chance. Far 2 many settings I found. When you get used to it, it’s great fun. Fell off mine though and nearly died. My fault not the bikes in any way. I had 2018 dct in black. Was lovely bike. I would probably not go for a dct again though.
I’m actually really looking forward to it!I do enjoy a challenge with new tech, and love dual clutch transmissions, with my Porsche Targa 4s with its PDK, and my M3 E93 with DCT, both excellent, but a bit bewildering to start with!
Once you get used to them though you wondered why you ever bothered with a manual with a clutch.
So I’m hoping this Will be the same, and will be fun to go on a learning journey for me!
jjones said:
Excellent!
Looks like our Drone survey job in Oxford for Tuesday is postponed now due to strong wind gusts, so hope to be home to receive it tomorrow!I would say I will be so excited i might not sleep tonight but I’ve been crawling a 1 Million square foot roof today with my fall arrest harness on all day, so I’m actually knackered!
Will probably be asleep by 9 tonight!
Rosscow said:
That looks lovely! Really like the anodised gold engine casing. Enjoy!
Yes I must admit I hadn’t seen that colour before now, it really pops in the daylight.It reminds me of Land Rover Nara Bronze and that’s not a bad thing I love that colour.
The vibrancy of the blues and red is ace too, and I’m actually surprised to find out the white is pearlescent, like the white I had on my White Caterham R500, again a special colour that I adore!
So first ride of my Africa Twin Adventure Sport today.
Just a quick ride to a local job in Warwick for a site inspection for our drone work.
The wind was the biggest issue as it turned out, as I went through the back lanes from home through some of my favourite and well known roads around Lapworth areas, at Times on exposed field areas my bike was pushed way off the vertical even on straight roads by the really strong gusting crosswinds.
But what a first ride, I was blown away!
As an experienced rider of a wide range of all sorts of bikes I was a little apprehensive of the DCT system I must admit.
My concern was the lack of clutch lever, and the fact should I ever need to , I could always reach for the clutch lever.
Which of course you can’t do on a DCT bike, it’s simply not there.
My next concern was low speed manoeuvring and handling, again no clutch to feather.
And my final worry was the frankly bewildering range of selectable options on the modes for riding.
So I’m pleased to report I was worried without a need to be.
The DCT is simply fantastic , it’s almost telepathic in the way it works.
On advice on the owners forum, I first pulled away in D so full auto mode.
As described it’s commonly called Dull or Desperate mode, it changes up so fast you are in 6th ( top gear) before you get to 30mph.
So next up was sport mode, and my god what a difference!
It changes gear so intelligently, it’s almost beyond belief.
Fast twisted road section, roll into the corner with a bit of trail braking and it slots down one gear, brake a bit more, and it’ does the same with a nice blip of the throttle.
It’s that good I started laughing to myself in my helmet, as you think to yourself, right 60 zone to 40, set of bends, we are in 4th, I was about to say, brake then 3rd, more brake then 2nd , but the bike had already worked it out and done it!
I’m literally mind blown.
My god me and this bike are going to have some fun together I can tell you!
Just a quick ride to a local job in Warwick for a site inspection for our drone work.
The wind was the biggest issue as it turned out, as I went through the back lanes from home through some of my favourite and well known roads around Lapworth areas, at Times on exposed field areas my bike was pushed way off the vertical even on straight roads by the really strong gusting crosswinds.
But what a first ride, I was blown away!
As an experienced rider of a wide range of all sorts of bikes I was a little apprehensive of the DCT system I must admit.
My concern was the lack of clutch lever, and the fact should I ever need to , I could always reach for the clutch lever.
Which of course you can’t do on a DCT bike, it’s simply not there.
My next concern was low speed manoeuvring and handling, again no clutch to feather.
And my final worry was the frankly bewildering range of selectable options on the modes for riding.
So I’m pleased to report I was worried without a need to be.
The DCT is simply fantastic , it’s almost telepathic in the way it works.
On advice on the owners forum, I first pulled away in D so full auto mode.
As described it’s commonly called Dull or Desperate mode, it changes up so fast you are in 6th ( top gear) before you get to 30mph.
So next up was sport mode, and my god what a difference!
It changes gear so intelligently, it’s almost beyond belief.
Fast twisted road section, roll into the corner with a bit of trail braking and it slots down one gear, brake a bit more, and it’ does the same with a nice blip of the throttle.
It’s that good I started laughing to myself in my helmet, as you think to yourself, right 60 zone to 40, set of bends, we are in 4th, I was about to say, brake then 3rd, more brake then 2nd , but the bike had already worked it out and done it!
I’m literally mind blown.
My god me and this bike are going to have some fun together I can tell you!
Nice bike!
I had a NC750 with the DCT box. I found it excellent, in sport mode 90% of the time and as I used it mostly for commuting was much better than clutch in/out all the time in traffic.
It really is a great system and has been around for a while now so all the problems have been ironed out. Surprised more manufacturers haven't developed their own systems.
I had a NC750 with the DCT box. I found it excellent, in sport mode 90% of the time and as I used it mostly for commuting was much better than clutch in/out all the time in traffic.
It really is a great system and has been around for a while now so all the problems have been ironed out. Surprised more manufacturers haven't developed their own systems.
Richtea1970 said:
Nice bike!
I had a NC750 with the DCT box. I found it excellent, in sport mode 90% of the time and as I used it mostly for commuting was much better than clutch in/out all the time in traffic.
It really is a great system and has been around for a while now so all the problems have been ironed out. Surprised more manufacturers haven't developed their own systems.
I’ve been speaking to lots of new owners of all the Honda DCT systems all the way up to the big old girl Gold Wing owners, they all love it and would never go back to a manual bike now.I had a NC750 with the DCT box. I found it excellent, in sport mode 90% of the time and as I used it mostly for commuting was much better than clutch in/out all the time in traffic.
It really is a great system and has been around for a while now so all the problems have been ironed out. Surprised more manufacturers haven't developed their own systems.
I think what surprised me was the way you can ride it at slow speed almost stalling speed.
A couple of times on my trip home today I had to slow right down to a stop due to traffic, one was a young lady in a BMW with L plates on, she was obviously unsure what to do, so I was patient and decided to bumble along until she was happy to proceed.
She was trying to pass a cyclist but didn’t have the confidence to pull out oats them, as there was cars coming in the opposite direction.
Must have taken several minutes, I was at perhaps 1-3mph behind her all the way, my ATAS had come down the box to first, I was gently dabbing the rear brake, no clutch remember, but Carried on, feet up on the pegs, bike under perfect control and not once did I put my feet down, but felt under control, I was amazed!
Great buy OP, wish I'd got one TBH.
I was a bit bothered about the wheel and spoke corrosion on these gold rims, which was putting me off the tricolour scheme - which I reckon is the clincher that makes this bike look so much better than its competitors.
Sounds like the DCT is just the job for you. I need to have a go on one, just not buy one in a rush of blood to the head straight afterwards
I was a bit bothered about the wheel and spoke corrosion on these gold rims, which was putting me off the tricolour scheme - which I reckon is the clincher that makes this bike look so much better than its competitors.
Sounds like the DCT is just the job for you. I need to have a go on one, just not buy one in a rush of blood to the head straight afterwards
FNG said:
Great buy OP, wish I'd got one TBH.
I was a bit bothered about the wheel and spoke corrosion on these gold rims, which was putting me off the tricolour scheme - which I reckon is the clincher that makes this bike look so much better than its competitors.
Sounds like the DCT is just the job for you. I need to have a go on one, just not buy one in a rush of blood to the head straight afterwards
I used to be like that, and worry about all the issues owners seem to find, but then said , nope stuff it , I love the look of it, and it’s a heart over head purchase, so I want it, I said I’m having it! I was a bit bothered about the wheel and spoke corrosion on these gold rims, which was putting me off the tricolour scheme - which I reckon is the clincher that makes this bike look so much better than its competitors.
Sounds like the DCT is just the job for you. I need to have a go on one, just not buy one in a rush of blood to the head straight afterwards
That’s where I am now!
And happy as a pig in Pooh!
nigelpugh7 said:
I’ve been speaking to lots of new owners of all the Honda DCT systems all the way up to the big old girl Gold Wing owners, they all love it and would never go back to a manual bike now.
I think what surprised me was the way you can ride it at slow speed almost stalling speed.
A couple of times on my trip home today I had to slow right down to a stop due to traffic, one was a young lady in a BMW with L plates on, she was obviously unsure what to do, so I was patient and decided to bumble along until she was happy to proceed.
She was trying to pass a cyclist but didn’t have the confidence to pull out oats them, as there was cars coming in the opposite direction.
Must have taken several minutes, I was at perhaps 1-3mph behind her all the way, my ATAS had come down the box to first, I was gently dabbing the rear brake, no clutch remember, but Carried on, feet up on the pegs, bike under perfect control and not once did I put my feet down, but felt under control, I was amazed!
Yes definitely, I think the lack of a clutch puts people off as they think it will lurch at low speeds but my experience is the same as yours, very controllable at walking pace I think what surprised me was the way you can ride it at slow speed almost stalling speed.
A couple of times on my trip home today I had to slow right down to a stop due to traffic, one was a young lady in a BMW with L plates on, she was obviously unsure what to do, so I was patient and decided to bumble along until she was happy to proceed.
She was trying to pass a cyclist but didn’t have the confidence to pull out oats them, as there was cars coming in the opposite direction.
Must have taken several minutes, I was at perhaps 1-3mph behind her all the way, my ATAS had come down the box to first, I was gently dabbing the rear brake, no clutch remember, but Carried on, feet up on the pegs, bike under perfect control and not once did I put my feet down, but felt under control, I was amazed!
nigelpugh7 said:
FNG said:
Great buy OP, wish I'd got one TBH.
I was a bit bothered about the wheel and spoke corrosion on these gold rims, which was putting me off the tricolour scheme - which I reckon is the clincher that makes this bike look so much better than its competitors.
Sounds like the DCT is just the job for you. I need to have a go on one, just not buy one in a rush of blood to the head straight afterwards
I used to be like that, and worry about all the issues owners seem to find, but then said , nope stuff it , I love the look of it, and it’s a heart over head purchase, so I want it, I said I’m having it! I was a bit bothered about the wheel and spoke corrosion on these gold rims, which was putting me off the tricolour scheme - which I reckon is the clincher that makes this bike look so much better than its competitors.
Sounds like the DCT is just the job for you. I need to have a go on one, just not buy one in a rush of blood to the head straight afterwards
That’s where I am now!
And happy as a pig in Pooh!
FNG said:
Only reason I’m not on the same page as you is that I can’t afford to be
I was the same to be fair, I’m usually always guilty of project scope creep with my toy purchases , but this time i was sensible and stuck to my limit!And as far as the triple colour scheme, to me it’s just perfect, there is beauty in the detail, and I love that.
But watch out for some personalised bits added to it soon, so I can make it more like my bike!
jjones said:
Did you manage to get the battery box lid back on? 
My charging cables had to routed around the battery to enable the lid to go back on!
Ahah ! ( Alan partridge style!) My charging cables had to routed around the battery to enable the lid to go back on!Yes exactly, that was the issue, but all solved with some special strategic placement of the cables and ring terminals.
nigelpugh7 said:
Ahah ! ( Alan partridge style!)
Yes exactly, that was the issue, but all solved with some special strategic placement of the cables and ring terminals.
I thought "5 minute job to get this charger lead installed", was nearly an hour by the time I had finished rerouting cables for the tenth time!Yes exactly, that was the issue, but all solved with some special strategic placement of the cables and ring terminals.
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