![]() ![]() The automatic Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) also comes as an option on the base-model Africa Twin as well as the up-spec Africa Twin Adventure Sports, which has a larger gas tank and the upgraded electronic suspension. Your auto-shifts will still act on the Twin’s powerful 1,084cc parallel-twin engine, and you can swap between three modes Manual for when you want to shift (with the handlebar triggers), Automatic Drive mode for longer hauls, or Automatic Sport when you want to wick it up in the canyons. Opt for the DCT and you’ll benefit from unobtrusive gear changes with minimal disruption to rear-wheel drive, resulting in smoother shifts in unsteady off-road terrain. Want to focus your attention on line selection and throttle control instead of manipulating the clutch? Might be good to consider the DCT transmission option on Honda’s Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES model, which already comes dressed to the nines with all manner of premium electronic rider aids like traction and wheelie control thanks to a Bosch six-axis IMU. Now you can focus on your line instead of worrying about feathering the clutch.Īdventure: Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES DCT Is it any wonder that more than half of Gold Wing buyers pick the automatic option (according to an American Honda spokesperson)? The DCT has preset Sport, Econ, Rain, and Tour modes to ease your journey, and when we last tested the beast, we raved about how exceptionally thorough the DCT was in its mapping and shift point selection. Otherwise it’s the buttery-smooth 1,833c horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine that’s the star attraction, doling out 98 hp (as tested on our dyno) at the rear wheel while housed in an aluminum twin-spar frame with double-wishbone front suspension. ![]() Big Red touts “consistent seamless gear changes’' from the now-familiar system (Honda’s now had it on its bikes for more than 10 years), which deploys two clutches-one for start-up and first, third, and fifth gears, the other for second, fourth, and sixth. It’s fully outfitted with creature comforts for the long haul and retains the seven-speed DCT that came as an option on the 2019 models, and that’s available on all three of the Gold Wing models for 2021, from the base Wing to the dressed-up Gold Wing Tour Airbag DCT. In addition to getting a larger trunk and new audio, the 2021 Gold Wing received a host of other updates to further cement its rep as a top-line touring rig (there’s a reason it makes our Ten Best list almost every year). ![]() Week-long journeys can be even easier without a clutch. Our list of clutch-free bikes is arranged by category to underscore just how wide a variety of bike styles there is to choose from. Although called “automatic motorcycles,” the bikes below have either dual-clutch transmissions with automatic modes or one-gear transmissions. But they do use clutchless arrangements-you just twist the throttle and go-so we include several here simply because they do away with the shifting process. We’ll also mention that nearly all electric motorcycles employ a single-speed arrangement or gearset so they can’t technically be called automatic if there’s only one gear. We diehards can scoff all we want, but the net result is a smoother shift, more stable launches, and better fuel economy. Most prevalent on Honda’s offerings, the DCT (dual-clutch transmission) system is a quick-shifting variant of automatic transmissions-it still uses clutches, but ditches the clutch lever-as the bike’s onboard computer does the shifting for you (though you can usually manually override the computer shift). We’ve seen semi-auto clutches with electronic shifting and CVT transmissions with full-auto shifts before, but today, it’s all (or mostly) DCT. Fortunately for new riders-or those with physical limitations-the last few years have seen a growing segment of bikes that don’t require any shifting or clutch operation by the rider. It’s often said that one of the biggest barriers to motorcycling is learning the complexity of shifting gears. Honda rules the clutchless segment with DCT-equipped bikes in nearly every category, including the iconic Gold Wing tourer. ![]()
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