08-12-2022, 05:49 AM
I did not like the DCT on the two bikes I test rode years ago. They didn't shift when I would have normally shifted so they seemed weird. But I kept reading on forums that owners of them loved them and couldn't see going back to a manual shift bike. And so I wondered what I was missing.
When it came time to downsize after my wife quit riding, and Honda repurposed the NC 750 towards more street bias with shorter suspension, I thought I'd try one and see what I was missing that other experienced riders seemed to appreciate in a DCT equipped bike.
Honestly after the first week, I thought I had made a mistake. But a buddy from the ST forum who also rode a DCT 700 encouraged me to hang in there. Once I resigned to letting the NC shift when Honda designed it too, and just rode it without worrying about shift points, I came to really appreciate the design.
The DCT in my NC 750 has been nothing short of brilliant. I appreciate it more with every mile I ride. I have ridden it 17, 325 miles so far ( in a little less than 14 months). It can be " not as smooth" as a manual in certain circumstances, yet it can be as smooth or smoother than a manual as well. Its definitly faster shifting than a manual. Instantaneous gear changes up or down. The paddle shifters make it incredibly versatile. The fact that you can use different modes to control shift points, or use the manual mode with paddle shifters to make it shift EXACTLY when you want up or down .. well it's just brilliant.
When it came time to downsize after my wife quit riding, and Honda repurposed the NC 750 towards more street bias with shorter suspension, I thought I'd try one and see what I was missing that other experienced riders seemed to appreciate in a DCT equipped bike.
Honestly after the first week, I thought I had made a mistake. But a buddy from the ST forum who also rode a DCT 700 encouraged me to hang in there. Once I resigned to letting the NC shift when Honda designed it too, and just rode it without worrying about shift points, I came to really appreciate the design.
The DCT in my NC 750 has been nothing short of brilliant. I appreciate it more with every mile I ride. I have ridden it 17, 325 miles so far ( in a little less than 14 months). It can be " not as smooth" as a manual in certain circumstances, yet it can be as smooth or smoother than a manual as well. Its definitly faster shifting than a manual. Instantaneous gear changes up or down. The paddle shifters make it incredibly versatile. The fact that you can use different modes to control shift points, or use the manual mode with paddle shifters to make it shift EXACTLY when you want up or down .. well it's just brilliant.