Engineering special: Honda Riding Modes, DCT & electronics explained

Are there hidden flaws in DCT? Is it reliable? Expected to fail prematurely if used mostly in city traffic?
Honda`s DCT Africa Twin`s MT/AT modes, D/S/N button & G button functions. DCT electronic control including normal shifting, inching in traffic, hill holding in 1st gear, pros & cons, do`s and don`ts and maintenance features of DCT ownership.

[@davidjermy2524]

Very good presentation. Explained well.

[@TheMegamsp]

Thumbs Up for your time doing this very informative video. I'm still saving money to get the Dct version.

[@ericfrazier88]

Great explanation! Thanks for a very informative video!

[@Shaiy007]

Very well explained. Thank you!

[@capecrusader6932]

The problem occurs when you are ascending a difficult off road hill and you stop for unknown reason (hit a rock, sand, etc.) With the manual clutch, you stall the bike and the bike stays in gear, which stops the bike from rolling backwards. The DCT however immediately goes into neutral so if you can't get your foot on the rear brake for what ever reason, off balance or the bike kicks you to the left, the bike begins to roll backwards immediately and can cause a nasty fall. A left rear hand brake would have been a nice addition towards safety from the factory. This would also help if an inexperienced person gets thrown out of position and starts to whiskey throttle the DCT bike. The person would be able to grab a handful of brake to slow the bike down. Now that the DCT has been out there for a few years there are many instances of this happening and the rider getting seriously hurt.

[@robinmascarenhas5789]

Great ..... very well explained.... I just bought one and it's fantastic..... I love it ...👍👍👍👍👍

[@MrJuandiego1961]

Thanks, really well explained.

[@lukask4498]

Great explanation of this fairly new tech. I do own DCT AT and was worried about durability. No more.

[@robertkollath8929]

Excellent, thank you, when I get mine I know what video to go back to, great job.

[@theoverengineer]

Glad it helped

[@rajbanwait325]

You mentioned in a past video that you would show adjusting values. Please do. Thanks for the videos. Ride Safe.

[@theoverengineer]

Values of adjusting what exactly? (need a quick memory jogger)

[@victorsturdivant4731]

Good vid btw.

[@jfro5867]

Enjoyed that, excellent.

[@theoverengineer]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jfro5867]

@@theoverengineer in fact so impressed yesterday I have actually bought one! Your vlog was just enough to nudge me onto my new Crosstourer. Thank you 👍

[@denleemel]

Love my DCT.

[@telecamfilms]

Nice job! I was a big fan of DCT until it crapped out my 2014 Honda NC700X with only 6,300 miles. It took two months and 2 failed repair attempts to fix. My bills ran up to $3,000, dealer adjusted it to $1,700... I have an open case with Honda PowerSports US and hope they’ll do the right thing and take the all repair under warranty. Being two months without my bike in the middle of the riding season has been traumatic enough.

[@theoverengineer]

Sorry to hear your troubles. At the same time, people need this reliability (or lack of) data, so shoot a video if able, include a link here.

[@telecamfilms]

My issue has been discussed at length on the Honda NC700 Forum here. www.nc700-forum.com/forum/nc700-technical/14521-dct-issue.html And here are a couple short videos of the bike's current state. Honda US Customer Care has pretty much dropped the ball on helping this getting fixed and dealer doesn't want it back in their shop... kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2KaXqKNaNJknZo kzbin.info/www/bejne/moeuZ5KMbZiXZqs

[@irakan506]

Great video, thank you. Anyone knows where can I get a service manual like this one for 2019 dct model?

[@RetoRayBkk]

thank you for this excellent video, helps really to understand what is going on. Where can one find the wiring diagram you showed?

[@theoverengineer]

... found it as a pdf on a forum somewhere

[@tomnolan9651]

Since there is no clutch cable, I wish you would have explained what applies force to ingauge and disinguage the clutch.

[@exportgtrade3256]

Hi friends, Would anyone have an e version of the operation guide for a 2016 Africa twin DCT adventure sports?? Thanks

[@karlukmax]

Surely the MAP sensor and speed sensor have a big influence on the gear selection.

[@victorsturdivant4731]

Yes, but what if your 2017 Africa is stuck in neutral. New problem (and first) . Bought her because I'm a disabled vet that loves to ride. Tried resetting but still in "N".

[@gerardovm207]

Hello, maybe you can help me with my question. I am used to manual motorcycles, halreys. And, while lane splitting (in california is legal) in traffic, i would pull the clutch lever and rev the engine so that the cars could hear me and i could safely ride in between cars. The DCT from Honda has a "N" button (neutral), if i ride the DCT on "manual" mode and i press the "N" button to rev the engine, and then go back to "D" will the bike know which gear to come back to? Will i damage either the transmission or clutch? I don't think this might ne good for the bike. I still don't have the bike but i have this question. I hope you can help. Cheers!

[@theoverengineer]

Bike will know which gear based on input from wheel speed sensors. Will not harm transmission either. Bike is VERY quiet though, not going to work much as proximity warning.

[@gerardovm207]

theoverengineer thanks for the reply! Cheers!

[@jaywhoisit4863]

Excellent video. How reliable are the electronics and ECM on the bike? My nearest dealer for service is 3500km away. I would need to order parts and do all maintenance myself. I'm frightened that a failed sensor could leave me stranded in the middle of East Africa.

[@theoverengineer]

Good one. Somewhat resistant to shock, vibration, heat. They mount them with rubber isolator grommets. How much is too much? Nobody knows. Get a carburetted KLR 650. Problem solved, can be easily bush-fixed.

[@jaywhoisit4863]

theoverengineer funny you mention that. My current ride is a 2015 KLR650. I bought it specifically so I could fix it in the bush. Bikes are not very reliable in the conditions where I ride.

[@abubakarhussein5197]

Any issue so far? Am getting the DCT to kenya by Nov

[@jaywhoisit4863]

@@abubakarhussein5197 I ended up buying a Vstrom. Just thought reliability is key in Kenya. I can pretty much fix anything on a Suzuki without juokali fuckups.

[@abubakarhussein5197]

@@jaywhoisit4863 great, i did research and have seen a german with a DCT Africa Twin at 400,000 kms and a canadian at 200,000 kms and so far its very reliable.

[@radzillov]

Let's say we are stopped on an incline and holding the foot brake (or the front brake or both) so the bike doesn't move downhill. Isn't that enough for the ECM to disengage the clutch? Why do you also need to put it in neutral in that case?

[@theoverengineer]

Don`t put it in N on a hill. ECM will do it.

[@radzillov]

That is what I hoped but in the video you mentioned something about putting it manually in N. So basically as long as the motorcycle is stopped (brakes applied on flat surface or incline), the engine will be in N even though the display still shows 1. Cheers!

[@theoverengineer]

Correct, thanks for watching.

[@michaelchu3091]

The gear display shows 1 because it is in 1st gear not neutral- why would it lie? The ECM will never put engine into neutral on its own. With DCT, when stopped (in city or uphill), the clutch is completely disengaged; there is no slipping of the clutch. The video information on DCT was good until 29:40 mark where the hill stop discussion starts with mention that the ECM will slip the clutch for you- confusing at best. Maybe he was thinking about describing "hill start" scenario which would be accurate; not "hill stop".

[@michaelchu3091]

ECM will never put gear into neutral on its own. It will disengage the clutch, that's all.

[@AddyAdderson]

I understand that you endorse Honda's DCT engineering, but isn't the sheer complexity of the system a reason to still prefer regular manual transmission? You went to great lengths to explain how DCT reduces clutch plate wear, but the system is more vulnerable to sensor failures and sensor maladjustments. We also see mechanical failures and maladjustments associated with the added complexity and Honda customers left high and dry by dealers and fending for themselves with Honda USA. With the standard manual transmission, all I have to worry about is the single clutch and the cable. So what if I have to change a clutch every 50k?

[@theoverengineer]

1 There is no endorsing, recommending or advice on this channel. Video DESCRIBES the product and explains its operation. Video does not predict product`s life span, does not assess its practicality, 2 Valid point, I ride manual motorcycle with a cable clutch (ZX-6R) and bicycle, too, all sprockets, cables and muscle. I stay away from high-complexity or high-difficulty-to-repair solutions, like Honda`s turbo engines or DCT or Triumph`s trellis frame with a weld-on passenger footrest. In engineering: minimize, reduce, eliminate, avoid. 3 Brilliant questions & thanks for watching!

[@davidjermy2524]

what a load of tosh. Do you honestly think that Honda are that stupid. I have a DCT and it works completely fine and SAFELY. The system has to work in cold weather and countries.