I get a lot of questions about the DCT transmission on my Honda Goldwing. If you are not familiar with what DCT is, it stands for Dual Clutch Transmission and what that really means in layman's terms is an automatic transmission. Just like on a car with an automatic transmission on a Honda Goldwing with a DCT the motorcycle takes care of shifting up and down through the gears. You can put the motorcycle in drive, take off and never have to worry about shifting up or down through the gears unless you want to have more direct control over the transmission.
Since I get a lot of questions on the subject I thought I would share some of my thoughts on the Goldwing DCT, we will talk about the differences between it and a standard motorcycle, some other motorcycles available if you want an automatic transmission motorcycle and some riding tips and pros and cons that I have discovered in my time riding a motorcycle with an automatic transmission.
By far the biggest difference between the Goldwing DCT and most other motorcycles is the lack of a manual clutch. I say manual clutch because it still has a clutch that controls power to the rear wheel like any other motorcycle, it is just in the DCT it is all controlled for you by the motorcycle.
I will admit that even after 1 ½ years of ownership I still reach for the clutch handle on a rare occasion. Old habits are hard to break and I think it is even more the case for me since I still have other motorcycles I ride that have a normal clutch.
When initially riding an automatic motorcycle there is the feeling that you need to be doing something when you start out, come to a stop or when approaching a corner that you would normally downshift for. But, that feeling does go away after a while and when it does I think you are left with a more relaxing ride.
The human brain is only capable of doing so many things at once and freeing up brain cycles from shifting does help create a more relaxed ride down the road. For me this is what I was hoping for and one of the big reasons why I think an automatic transmission is perfect for a motorcycle like the Honda Goldwing.
In addition to the lack of a clutch the Honda Goldwing with DCT has neutral and drive switch, a parking brake which needs to be engaged when parking because the motorcycle will roll freely without it when the motorcycle is shut down to park, and a paddle shifter to manually move up or down through the gears. I also added a foot shifter and much prefer that to the paddle shifter when moving between gears.
Besides the Honda Goldwing DCT Honda offers a few other automatic motorcycles
Honda started offering the DCT transmission in their motorcycles several years ago. So, it is not a new technology and they continue to add it to more and more motorcycles in their lineup. In fact the DCT transmission has evolved over the years and has gotten better with each new release. Right now you can purchase a Honda Goldwing DCT, the Africa Twin and the NC750X with a DCT transmission. Honda recently announced the Rebel 1100 for 2021 with a DCT option as well.
The Goldwing with the DCT is selling very well. It is hard to find exact numbers but it looks like about 2/3rds of Goldwings sold since it was introduced in 2018 have the DCT transmission.
Outside of Honda there are not as many options for an automatic transmission on a motorcycle unless you want an electric motorcycle. Harley Davidson has the Livewire which is an electric motorcycle, Zero produces electric motorcycles but those transmissions are functionally different in that they don’t have gears like the DCT does. Riding an electric motorcycle the transmission would function more like riding a scooter in that it does not shift up and down the gear range. A DCT transmission still has gears and it still shifts through the gears, it is just the action of shifting is performed by the motorcycle.
Since Honda leads the way in this, let’s focus on the DCT transmission offered by Handa and some tips for riding it.
Like I said, a DCT transmission still shifts up and down through the gear range just like a standard bike does; it is just controlled by the motorcycle unless you choose to control gearing or override the selected gear.
The motorcycle has a neutral, drive, and manual. Neutral does what you would think, it removes power to the rear wheel.
Drive puts the motorcycle in gear and starts moving as soon as I roll on the throttle, it shifts up and down through the gear range in a very smooth manner, in fact after shifting to 2nd gear you have to really pay attention to feel the motorcycle shifting gears, it is really smooth.
It will continue to shift up and down through the gear range unless I override the gear selection with the paddle shifter or in my case the optional foot shifter. That override will last for a certain period of time and then it will switch back to automatic control. This can be used on the freeway for a quick pass, just click down a gear or two and the bike takes off. After sometime it returns to automatic control.
There is also a manual mode that acts a little more like a standard transmission motorcycle. Manual selection allows you to shift up and down through the gear range using the paddle shifter and it will not shift up unless you tell it to do so. When starting out the motorcycle will not shift to 2nd gear unless I shift it there but it will always shift back down though the gear range when coming to a stop. This makes the motorcycle impossible to stall as it will downshift on its own in either automatic or manual mode.
Cornering tips for automatic motorcycles
Riding with a DCT transmission does change a few things about the way I ride.
The MSF teaches slow look press and roll for it’s cornering technique. When slowing you should do all of your braking and downshifting prior to the corner while the motorcycle is still in a straight line.
However on an automatic motorcycle the bike may choose to downshift mid corner. While this is not a real threat to the rider because the shifts are pretty smooth, it can be a little unsettling for the rider. I choose to eliminate this problem and I often use the gear selection override and have the motorcycle in the gear I want it in prior to the corner. That way, just like the MSF teaches, I can do all of my slowing, have the motorcycle in the gear I want and have everything settled before leaning into the corner.
Slow speed control tips for the Honda DCT
When performing slow speed control, like u-turns or turns from a stop the friction zone is a must have skill for performing those techniques well. On a DCT you don’t have direct control over the clutch and in my opinion this is the biggest drawback to these motorcycles. It can be overcome by dragging the rear brake and with smooth throttle control. The motorcycle will then put the clutch in the friction zone but it is not the same as controlling it yourself.
When performing slow speed control on the Goldwing what works best for me is using rain mode so the throttle control is most forgiving, putting the transmission in manual mode so it won’t shift up to 2nd gear and dragging the rear brake. All other techniques are the same, turning your head, counter weighting, etc. With practice you can get proficient in doing slow speed control on a DCT motorcycle but in my experience it is not as easy as a motorcycle with a clutch.
But, to me these bikes are not made for riding in the cones. They are all about riding long distances, enjoying the ride, and still feeling decent when you get there. At that they excel.
Pros & Cons of owning an automatic motorcycle
With what I know about the DCT would I buy another bike with that option. Without a doubt. It is a great option and really makes the motorcycle enjoyable and relaxing to ride. Like all motorcycles the Goldwing is strong at some things and weaker at others. In my opinion a motorcycle with the DCT is not as good in the cones or with tight slow speed maneuvers but it is capable of doing any of those you would need in regular street riding, making a u-turn within a 2 lane street, or riding a slow walking pace in a straight line can all be accomplished on a motorcycle with a DCT. However, from my experience, it will never be as strong in a skills competition as a motorcycle with a clutch.
So for cons, slow speed really technical skills and that the motorcycle will sometimes downshift mid-corner but this can be overcome as discussed earlier.
On the Pro side an automatic motorcycle is an absolute blast to ride, it is very relaxing, and in my opinion it is a safer motorcycle when all things are considered. Not having to worry about being in the proper gear allows the rider to focus more on what is happening around them and focus on quick / safe braking or avoiding an obstacle when an emergency arises.
