Honda Crf1000l Africa Twin Dct
HONDA CRF1000L AFRICA TWIN DCT
CW TEST
Automatically better?
There is perhaps nothing more polarizing in “motorcycling” than an automatic transmission. Well, perhaps trikes, but that’s another conversation. Since Honda introduced its Dual-Clutch Transmission (which really isn’t an aotomatic—it just defaults to an auto function), motorcyclists have been squawking their opinions about it.
One of the rites of passage into the motorcycling club has always been mastering the controls and becoming proficient with the machine, which is obviously a lot more of an acquired skill than an automobile. Soto many, DCT has poseur written all over it. Also, the question is often raised if DCT is a solution to a problem that didn’t exist.
No matter your opinion, the fact is that DCT is a marvel of technical engineering and functions incredibly well. Is it for everyone? Not even close. But for those who perhaps want to take the “complication” out of riding a motorcycle, DCT can do just that. And the system has been refined a lot since its introduction on the VFR1200F.
What those critics have to remember is that like their car brethren, Honda’s motorcycle DCT can be whatever you want it to be, whenever you want it to be that. Want to cruise down to
the coffee shop in urban traffic? Leave it in Auto mode and let it function like a scooter’s CVT. Want total control on road or off? Switch to Manual mode and Sport mapping and take the bull by the horns. Can’t get over the fact that there isn’t a foot shifter? Purchase the accessory from Honda and toe away.
When riding fire roads, the DCT isn’t that much unlike a manual trans when in manual mode. And the fact that you really can’t stall it makes it act like a Rekluse auto clutch. Our only complaint off road is the fact that you lose the clutch control dirt riders are so used to when unweighting the front for a root or rock. In an effort to offer a feeling of more direct drive off road, Honda has outfitted the Africa Twin with the C button on the dash. Just press this and in every mode it offers more direct clutch take-up with less “slop.” On sweepingfire roads and open dirt riding, it is actually very enjoyable to use. On road, there are far fewer drawbacks, the only real difference being the mode of shifting. If DCT appeals to you, Honda has offered the option for a fairly-easy-toswallow $700 upgrade from the manual model, retailing for $13,999.
Blake Conner
