Dual Clutch Technology for FJR, WHEN?

[wheatonFJR]

Now that I think about it a little more, I wouldn't use the the new wing as an example. Purchasers tend to be older and lets face it, you can't get much more disconnected from riding than a gold wing.

How many miles do you have on Wing? Disconnected? Actually the Wing takes more concentration in cornering and slow speed maneuvers because drinking coffee and licking ice cream cones in the twisties is something I pride myself in doing.

Back to DCT Honda now offers it on their Quad ATV's.

Fixed.

I heard stories in Hooterville and your coffee sipping skills from the VMax rider.

[Uncle Hud]

I've seen folks running a Gold Wing through the north Georgia mountains at speeds that made me wonder. A skilled Wing pilot can make that brick-six 1800cc engine hustle.

And they come with a Queen's Throne for a pillion seat. Kelly would be comfy, warm, listening to Pandora, and surfing Facebook while we blasted through .... wherever we were going.

[wheatonFJR]

I've seen folks <not your average "folks"> running a Gold Wing through the north Georgia mountains at speeds that made me wonder. A skilled Wing pilot (WITH AFTERMARKET SUSPENSION) who doesn't mind buying new hard parts due to grinding them off...can make that brick-six 1800cc engine hustle.

fixed.

[Bugnatr]

Now that I think about it a little more, I wouldn't use the the new wing as an example. Purchasers tend to be older and lets face it, you can't get much more disconnected from riding than a gold wing.

How many miles do you have on Wing? Disconnected? Actually the Wing takes more concentration in cornering and slow speed maneuvers because drinking coffee and licking ice cream cones in the twisties is something I pride myself in doing.

Back to DCT Honda now offers it on their Quad ATV's.

Fixed.

I heard stories in Hooterville and your coffee sipping skills from the VMax rider.

FYI The coffee mug holder farkle didn't survive hauling ass across Texas. I did see it in the mirror bouncing down the freeway

[wheatonFJR]

How many miles do you have on Wing? Disconnected? Actually the Wing takes more concentration in cornering and slow speed maneuvers because drinking coffee and licking ice cream cones in the twisties is something I pride myself in doing.

Back to DCT Honda now offers it on their Quad ATV's.

Fixed.

I heard stories in Hooterville and your coffee sipping skills from the VMax rider.

FYI The coffee mug holder farkle didn't survive hauling ass across Texas. I did see it in the mirror bouncing down the freeway

It obviously wasn't made by that thief Skyway, then.

[FJRPittsburgh]

The AE is simply awesome! I suppose some people don't like change and I understand that. If a bike had no clutch lever and I could still paddle shift when I choose, I'd definitely be in line to buy that bike over any one with a clutch lever.

I find myself riding my Tracer GT more than my FJR simply because it's 150 lbs lighter and just as powerful. It has a clutch lever, but also a quick shifter, so I don't need the clutch lever for any upshifting. The Tracer GT is so sweet.

Here's something interesting. When riding the Tracer for a few hours and then switching to the FJR, I find the seating position on the FJR to be less comfortable. I couldn't believe how much I had to bend my knees to get my feet up on the pegs. I never thought I would experience that since I've always found the FJR to be so comfortable.

If Yamaha ever releases another FJR AE, I'd buy one. The FJR has more wind protection than the Tracer, but I find the Tracer with the touring windscreen to be just fine. The Tracer is the bike I'd pick for solo touring every time. If you ride 2 up usually, I'd go with the FJR.

The suspension on the Tracer GT model is excellent. It's a taller bike, but my son Trevor at 5' 8" tall has no trouble riding it.

Now, give me a Tracer GT without a clutch lever and it would be the bee's knees!

[wheatonFJR]

I think there's some video somewhere of some girl giggling uncontrollably at the fun of the Tracer GT.

[Hppants]

I got a buddy from North Carolina that rides mid-2000s Goldwing with aftermarket suspension, and when he's feeling right, I can't keep up with him in the twisties. JSNS....

[lvideau]

Imagine what it would be if he had the new beefed up and lighter 2018 GW....

I got a buddy from North Carolina that rides mid-2000s Goldwing with aftermarket suspension, and when he's feeling right, I can't keep up with him in the twisties. JSNS....

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6000 using Tapatalk

[Bounce]

My question is why? What purpose would it serve on a bike like the FJR? The only reason they put a 6th gear in the new models was to keep the people coming from 600s quiet.

Because it's awesome. I was hesitant getting my AE but I got a good deal on it and thought I'd give the YCCS a try. Man, I don't even care about having a clutch lever anymore I love it so much. When I take the GSX-S1000 to work, and get stuck in traffic, I very much miss my clutch leverless FJR. If a DCS is better, then I'm all for that. Right now, I don't think I could go to a regular FJR for commuting, so if Yamaha want's to separate my $$$ from me, a DCS sure would be tempting.

To each his own. I have an Audi RS3 with a dual clutch manual transmission/computer shifter. Meh. I'd have more fun with a stick and the manual activation of the computer isn't a substitute. It's highly rated in the world of computer controlled clutches but it still does odd things on some occasions while the computer tries to figure out the situation. A hard start with a quickly-following pause (traffic) then tromping on it right away after the slight pause will cause it to be "less than smooth" as will putting the whole tq down (outside of launch control) only to be kicked in the head by traction control. A truly manual transmission wouldn't have these issues. I would NEVER accept it on a bike. In the car, I learn and adapt so that I don't do things that would have been okay with a manual clutch.

I agree with Bungie that it's more a market/sales function in cars where people never bothered to learn a clutch and no longer get joy from driving (both of my kids and their husbands are like this... it's just transportation). In models with enough power to cause a slush-box to be problematic, they threw tech at it instead of holding the bar higher for potential buyers to actually learn to drive.

What I imagine when I hear of people not wanting to use their clutch.

[Bounce]

FYI The coffee mug holder farkle didn't survive hauling ass across Texas. I did see it in the mirror bouncing down the freeway

get one that's more than a swiveling pocket. There are several designs that lock that mug in place so top-heavy cans don't fall out like the type made for boating.

http://wingstuff.com/shop/drink_holders

[gixxerjasen]

I hear ya Bounce. I loved driving my MINI Cooper S around the fun stuff, but for every day driving it suuuucked. Especially sitting in traffic. I'm back in automatics for DD and it'll likely stay that way, especially here in Dallas where the fun stuff is few and far between.

I don't think I'd like a DCT on a bike that's fully automatic. If it could be with like my AE but with the faster DCT I'd be super happy as long as it shifts when I want it to shift. For the most part the FJR AE shifts faster than I can, unless I'm moving rapidly between more than one gear, like a quick double downshift to max accelerate to Mach 3 for a passing maneuver on a back road. I'd like to think the DCT would do that better than the YCCS system does. I really need to get a ride on a bike with DCT on it, but I'm afraid that after I ride one I'd have to buy it and I can't afford it right now.

[Bounce]

Friends don't let friends drive in Dullest.

C'mon over to the Ft. Worth side!

[gixxerjasen]

Friends don't let friends drive in Dullest.

C'mon over to the Ft. Worth side!

Irony quote made often by people who live in Ft. Worth

I can't stand people who live in Dallas, they are all so pretentious. Ft. Worth is MUCH better than Dallas!

[gixxerjasen]

Got off of work today and hopped on the little blue screamer and went for a spin. As I approached home the four way stop sign that will one day in the next year or so become a fully functioning traffic signal controlled intersection had about 30 cars in line. My hand was wishing for push button shifting with automatic clutch by the time I got through. I thought about this thread the entire time.

[Bounce]

I can't stand people who live in Dallas, they are all so pretentious. Ft. Worth is MUCH better than Dallas!

I wouldn't go that far. Mine was a caution to friends; not a judgement call about those friends.

[gixxerjasen]

I can't stand people who live in Dallas, they are all so pretentious. Ft. Worth is MUCH better than Dallas!

I wouldn't go that far. Mine was a caution to friends; not a judgement call about those friends.

FWIW, I wasn't pointing at you, but I've had people actually say this to my face and completely miss the irony in their statement.

[NTXFJR]

There are unfortunately many people in Dallas (DFW for that matter) who represent that trait well.

[Harald]

With arthritis causing problems in my left thumb, I can see the need for a DCT trani in the future.
I actually have a DCT motorcycle in my garage: a 2013 Honda NC700XD. It's a adventure bike styled street bike that comes in either standard trani or DCT. My wife has a bum ankle, so this was the perfect bike for her.

I've ridden it numerous times and the DCT system works great. It defaults to full auto mode on startup and you can easily switch to Sport mode (my first step after starting) or manual mode. In manual mode, it won't shift for you except for taking it back to 1st after stopping. I love the ease of maintenance, including valve adjustments that will make any FJR owner envious. There have been zero maintenance issues on this bike.

The main downfalls to the DCT are the grab for the air clutch for those of us used to traditional transmissions and the annoying automatic upshifting when going downhill in corners that ruins your engine braking. You can paddle downshift and it will hold the gear but as soon as you throttle it will upshift again if it deems it necessary. Riding in manual is an option, but be warned that the red line is super low on the bike so I end up slamming into the rev limiter all the time because I'm expecting the FJR rush as the rpm's build. I do love not having a clutch lever on those rare days I'm riding it to work in traffic. I suspect the FJR DCT version would be setup better for us enthusiasts.

[Uncle Hud]

Engine braking. Another benefit of manual transmissions, motorbike or automobile.