Dual Clutch Transmission and Rolling Road
While it's going to be great for people to actually see and touch the bikes they're interested in at Motorcycle Live (MCL) at the NEC in Birmingham this year – instead of just reading about them and watching videos of them on the internet – it can still be a little frustrating. Let's face it, looking and touching is ok, but what people really want is to be able to get on them and experience what they feel like to actually ride.
Honda totally understands this, which is why there will be a rolling road on the Honda stand this year to showcase the new Africa Twin and Africa Twin DCT. Providing a rolling road on the stand will present attendees with the opportunity to get on one of the bikes a completely safe environment, so they can experience what riding the Africa Twin and Africa Twin DCT feels like and to familiarise themselves with the controls.
It's not every day you get the opportunity to ride one of the world's most versatile bikes indoors in total safety that can navigate anything from an off-road trail to a continent-crossing marathon, so Honda at MCL 2019 is something you really don’t want to miss.
DCT explained and the advantages
If you don't know what a Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) is on a motorcycle and what it does, you could always look up the official description from Honda of what a DCT does. It says a DCT is a "computerised electro-hydraulic control system to switch between the gears of a conventional six-speed transmission. It is equipped with two clutch packs… one for odd-numbered gears – 1, 3 and 5 – and one for even-numbered gears – 2, 4 and 6."
That's what a DCT is, but what it does is explained as: "Before actual gear shifting operation begins, the system automatically prepares itself for the transfer of drive power between gears by starting up the rotation of the gear to be changed to. Its two independently actuated clutches then smoothly transfer rotation speed from one gear to the next without zeroing out the drive force transmitted to the rear wheel."
If you're very technically minded and understand how mechanical systems work, the official explanation is clear and accurate. If, however, you're not especially au-fait with advanced mechanics, a simpler, less-technical explanation is probably required so you really can understand just how great a DCT is on a bike, what it really does, and who it might appeal to.
In many ways, a DCT works for the rider a lot like an automatic transmission that shifts gears for you, so you don’t necessarily have to do it manually. Manually changing gears and operating a clutch can be a bit of a pain if you're in stop-start traffic, so a DCT can take the strain for you. A DCT can make riding a motorcycle more appealing and more accessible to those who like the idea of getting into biking but are not entirely sold on a manual-only transmission. However, it needs to be stated that you still need a full manual licence for a DCT-equipped motorbike, so you can’t ride one legally on an automatic license.
There are plenty of experienced and competent riders who like the idea of a transmission that offers the option of automatic operation because it can make riding much easier in urban environments where they'd be constantly changing gear. They're also great for those embarking on particularly long rides because it means a more leisurely, comfortable and simple riding experience, especially as the Honda DCT offers a number of different rider-selectable driving modes. A DCT is smoother than an automatic because the second clutch allows the next gear to already be spinning at the correct revolutions before it is engaged. This eliminates some of the clunky, jerky shifting that can be a characteristic of some automatic transmissions. Of course, the Honda DCT also allows manual shifting through the paddle shifter, so you really do have the very best of both worlds.
Bikes with DCT
DCT isn't an entirely new technology by any means. In fact, Honda itself has been flirting with automatic transmissions for its bikes for something like 60 years now, dating back as far as the 1958 C100 Super Cub that had an automatic centrifugal clutch. There's no doubt that DCT is here to stay, and Honda currently offers an extensive range of bikes with DCT transmissions.
The Honda bikes currently available with DCT transmissions include the Africa Twin, Africa Twin Adventure Sport, NC750X, NC750S, VFR1200X, Integra, and of course, the legendary Gold Wing Tour.
Honda offering such a wide cross-section of bikes with DCT transmissions shows how much it believes in the technology, but it also shows a DCT can be useful and desirable in all sorts of different environments, and for many different types of riding. Perhaps the only area where a DCT isn't yet appropriate is with all-out sports bike like the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade.
It probably won't be too long until DCTs find their way into out-and-out sports bikes like the Fireblade too. After all, F1 cars have semi-automatic transmissions these days, and automatics are commonplace in Ferraris, Lamborghinis and other supercars, so it should only be a matter of time before the most high-end performance bikes get them too.
Today we're @motorcyclelive with @HondaUKBikes 🏍️
— carwitter (@car_witter) 19 November 2019
Loving the look of the new #AfricaTwin 😍 pic.twitter.com/wrE36TVMce
What is a rolling road and what does it do?
Although a rolling road is a great tool for motorcycle manufacturers like Honda to get customers to experience their bikes in a safe, controlled way at shows like Motorcycle Live, that's not what they were originally developed for.
Rolling roads were developed as a piece of machinery where the engine of a vehicle could be run at any speed or load, so technicians could test how well the vehicle works under road conditions in the controlled, artificial environment of the workshop. A rolling road allows engineers to monitor how an engine is performing without the vehicle moving. This lets them test fuel efficiency and emissions, discover the real power output of an engine, and to tune an engine effectively.
At Motorcycle Live this year, Honda is providing its own rolling road to let attendees experience the Africa Twin and Africa Twin DCT bikes indoors. The bikes are secured, so there are no worries about balance, which allows riders to concentrate on the controls of these sensational bikes. Of course, as well as allowing seasoned riders to get to grips with the Africa Twin, it's also a fantastic opportunity for those who've never ridden a motorcycle themselves to have a go and get the bug for riding.
It's not every day that you can climb onboard a 1100cc bike like the Africa Twin and run it from nothing right up to maximum speed indoors with no helmet or leathers, without any risk, without going anywhere, and without experience or a license. Even if the Africa Twin isn’t the type of bike you’re looking for at the moment, it's still a great chance to experience a performance motorcycle with a cutting-edge DCT transmission if you haven’t tried one before. Whether you’re a complete novice, a vastly experienced rider or anywhere in between, the Honda rolling road at Motorcycle Live 2019 is an opportunity not to be missed.
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