Talkback: DCT: Clutchless Pants?

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For me, on bikes like this that are designed to be ridden a long way, all day and every day, the DCT version offers one obvious and distinct advantage."

Just my opinion, but on long distance riding, what causes most fatigue is the lack of a cruise control, not automatic shifting. On the daily commute yes, automatic shifting can save a lot of left hand sore. But a great article nonetheless.

On a Suzuki SV site, one rider stated that for tens of thousands of miles he has shifted without the clutch and experienced no problems resulting from it. Actually, it's quite easy to do and can be very smooth. So, why should the left hand become sore from shifting during commutes?

With the DCT, I'd be concerned with low speed control. Generally, at car park speeds, it is necessary to ride the clutch to achieve smooth control, but that would be impossible with the DCT. However, if the throttle is not excessively sensitive at low speeds, perhaps lack of a manual clutch is not a problem.

But yes, a cruise control would be nice. Lack of one hasn't really tired my right hand, but on rolling terrain combined with variable winds, maintaining a constant speed without cruise control is exceedingly difficult and requires constant glancing at the speedometer.

Shifting is the only thing that keeps me awake on any bike on along trip - that and avoiding dual carriageways like the plague.

I have a lot more to say on this subject - like a book's worth - and I hear your concerns. More to come in the next few weeks/months.

My point isn't about clutchless shifting. Anyone worth their salt can perform a slick, smooth, clutch free upshift. It's not about the physical exertion (?) of using a clutch lever. You misunderstand FRE.

Clutchless downshifts? No. Not good for the dogs on the back of the gears. That stuff is best left for motocross riders. My thoughts on that are probably best left unprinted.

It's not just about the correct timing of a shift, it's the correct execution and the perfect marriage of throttle and clutch too. That's a lot of brain function when you've also got a passenger's comfort and serenity to think about and also a never seen corner, a never seen surface and any number of horrors possibly lurking around that never seen corner.

With DCT you just twisty and blast. Point and squirt. You have the time to look even further ahead than normal, think about stuff you wouldn't normally have time to think about and that's my point - time to think about things that really matter - line, approach speed, peel in points, exit points, drive out.

Has anyone ridden a Yamaha TMAX (the World's best scooter)? It's kind of close, just a lot, lot faster and more bike-like. With a better soundtrack because it actually has six stepped gears and a familiar-ish soundtrack.

In car-land, VW and Audi make the best twin clutch autos around. Flappy paddle shifts are so good that a manual box is just an antique, clunky, labour intensive hindrance by comparison. Like cars, these bike DCT systems will only get better and better.

Pedrosa and Stoner are using a rule-compliant variation on the DCT theme.

Is that food-for-thought-enough?

Just done a year and 16k miles on my VFR1200 DCT. It's a great system and I can't find any fault with it. Even low-speed manouvering and filtering are a doddle.

I agree, it let's you concentrate on more important things, which is useful when 'making progress' with the assistance of the eager V4.

These systems will just continue to improve and I hope they find a wider audience amongst the traditional types. Anyway, there's always the excellent paddle shift, if you don't like auto mode.

My advice is give it a go...don't knock anything until you've tried it!

My point exactly, Quickbrew. Knock nowt 'til you've tried it...