Honda CBR650R E Clutch - YOUR Questions answered

[@maxmorgan4453]

Spluttered into my coffee this morning. That is the car park of St Margaret's church Collier Street, about a mile from my house. Irrelevant comment really, but I suppose most people get a the odd lightbulb moment when they recognize an obscure location.

[@JK-jq1dg]

I've had mine about a week with the e clutch, and there have been a few times when changing from 1st to 2nd that it has slipped into neutral. If you change at higher revs it does go into gear better. All other gear changes there have been no problems. The bike is very comfortable to ride, no wrist, back ache. Brakes are excellent. Looks fantastic. The videos don't do it credit. The front does feel a little bit heavy into turns but that could be me as I was previously on a cb500f. Overall though I think it's a great bike. This is my opinion of the bike so far but I'm a fairly new rider so others may give a deeper review. Hope this helps if anyone is looking

[@spikodemiko5514]

Personally I enjoy changing gear with or without a quick shifter but for anyone with a disability or with limited use of their clutch hand I think these auto options are a godsend. Interesting q&a Bruce 👍

[@BC-xu8yq]

You can tell a lot of effort went into this vid. Nice one!

[@rlw85]

I enjoyed this kind of review of the bike it’s much better than being told loads of facts and figures and my question got read out whooooo

[@teapotone]

Thanks for the feedback, and cheers for leaving a question too 👍

[@cp4512]

The CBR650R is a really good looking bike.

[@boyle1990]

The drone footage for the piece to camera at the end of the video is awesome. Definitely do more of that when talking off the bike.

[@teapotone]

Thanks, that was the HoverAir X1. You use your phone as the mic and the software eliminates the sound of the drone - amazing stuff eh! 👍

[@boyle1990]

@@teapotone that's a cool bit of kit Bruce. Perhaps a Bluetooth mic would allow you to be hands free?

[@teapotone]

@boyle1990 yep you can connect the DJI mic1/2 receiver to your phone and then use the transmitter 👍

[@PDCRed]

The other day I rode 8 hours through the Welsh hills, on to the Peaks and through to the Yorkshire Dales. My clutch hand and wrist were so fatigued. Would have been useful then!

[@marcoluoma3770]

Thanks very much for taking the time to answer our questions.

[@teapotone]

No dramas at all 👍

[@donhills334]

I've tried the eClutch it's great for commuting in London. If I still worked at Charing Cross i'd deffo have one.

[@stevensmyth8359]

i did enjoy this type of vid, variety is the spice of life

[@teapotone]

Thanks Steven 👍

[@mikegrimshaw7946]

Great video! I came back to biking later in life and took my test on an auto to keep things simple. I therefore have an auto restriction on my licence.I wrote to the DVLA for clarification on what I could or couldn't ride. It seems I can ride an auto or semi auto ,where the rider selects prefered gear, so long as the vehicle has no actual clutch lever or pedal. E clutch bikes have a lever so I can't see them being considered auto.

[@Wats1984]

Great video Bruce, enjoyed that style of video to be honest. More please! 👍

[@scottyuk]

Great format Bruce 👍

[@teapotone]

Thanks bud, glad you liked it 👍

[@ScottishPaul45]

Great hearing your thoughts and insights on the bike Bruce.

[@teapotone]

Cheers Paul, much appreciated

[@SuperchargedLlama]

Thanks for answering my question so well Bruce!

[@teapotone]

My pleasure bud, appreciate you leaving one 👍

[@SuperchargedLlama]

@@teapotone if you want to do a future comparison between a DCT and an eclutch, give me a shout. My bike is insured for others to ride (NC750x DCT), although I know you can probably get both from Honda at the same time.

[@teapotone]

@SuperchargedLlama that’s very kind bud, thank you for the offer 👍

[@Dereksol]

Hi Bruce. Great video and at last a practical use for that drone with sound cancelling on the last segment 👍. I think the bike could also be adapted for people with lower limb problems with a hand gear changer. The whole video was pleasant to watch and ended with Gillianthepillion saying she quite fancied a go on the bike 😎😄👍

[@teapotone]

Ha Ha nice one 👍

[@Jim-nm1en]

Great video format Bruce. I think this type of clutch system is a good idea. I am 70 and tend to get cramp and pain in my left hand after a couple of hours on my 650 Suzuki, so this would be ideal for me.

[@jimporter]

Bruce the other reason for e-clutch is not just for those who already have a problem with their left hand it is that many develop problems in the left hand for using a clutch for many years. You could consider this as a way of never developing clutch hand issues in the first place.

[@davec3459]

Enjoyed it

[@jfro5867]

I’ve had a DCT and did like it but it is, like most things, a compromise. Shifting up in my experience was seamless, downshifts never clunky but you could feel them in the lower gears. I would have another but I think it’s deffo for certain types of bike and maybe rider too. Just like automatic cars (or more modern DCT cars), the experience is slightly remote.

[@ashrafc7794]

What model gloves are you wearing? They look comfy

[@BaldurM]

Out of all the automatic systems i like Honda's E-Clutch the most because it still retains both: The Physical Clutch and Shifter. Especially the physical clutch is very important in low speed maneuvering so i wouldn't want to give that up.

[@teapotone]

I’m 100% with you there bud 👍

[@jimporter]

It is an automated clutch but not an automatic. I have a DCT bike and wish it had a clutch for low speed manoeuvring. Shame the manufacturers realising automatics all want to save a pound by not including a clutch, BMW can’t even be bothered to include flappy paddles.

[@EzekielOsawe-h3f]

Nice bike

[@mrr6663]

@teapotone looking at the or the NC 750 dct for mainly commuting (not every day) including in the rain but want to have fun at the weekend! What’s your opinion.

[@simonbowen6653]

It seems to be a good compromise between manual and full auto. Having owned both I much prefer having a clutch lever for slow speed manoeuvring which this provides. BMW and Yamaha are going clutch less which won't be for me.

[@AManAstray]

Interesting point about automatic being the natural progression for emissions or even fuel economy. Like you, I'm struggling to be a fan of an automatic motorbike. Although, said the same about cars, and my last 3 were all automatic. On another note Bruce. 20 stone...are you sure? Looking good...must be the camera angle or the riding gear 😊

[@teapotone]

That’s very kind bud… I’m actually pushing more like 21 stone these days 😬 Need to get back on the rower 👍

[@AManAstray]

@@teapotone I lost a half stone just by cutting back on bread. All the best. G

[@76roo76]

Is there any news from honda when they might deliver some? Had mine on order since june :(

[@teapotone]

No idea I’m afraid bud

[@sawanshrestha9078]

Does this have cruise control?

[@teapotone]

The one I had didn’t - as far as I could see

[@BonChan02]

So basically the e-clutch system will never stall?

[@Ravan_Caw]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@jamesziebarth8811]

So its like the old school honda 3 wheelers no clutch use just the foot shifter

[@ThreeB78]

I'm confused about your comments about automatic bikes... Does this count as an automatic? You still have to changers manually

[@MotoGoato]

No it doesn't as this only has an automatic clutch and the gearbox remains 100% manual ... thats a big difference from a fully automatic gearbox like DCT

[@ThreeB78]

@@MotoGoato yeah..... I t was when he was talking about automatic bikes that confused me. Certainly would not have thought it would be classed as an automatic

[@TheGorillaBiker]

That drone is so cool! I do think the e clutch is a far far superior concept to DCT. Kind of like all the nice bits of DCT while still keeping the stuff we like about gears and such pretty much echoing you eh. For me though it's still a bit of a concept, I'd like to see how it integrates to many more of their bikes, and the size is definitely a thing too eh. Really appreciate how well you covered this in this vid and the test ride. Very interesting piece of tech!

[@teapotone]

Thanks bud, aye I think it’s early days but very promising for the elcutch. Completely agree about it being better than dct - I still want the option of using the clutch personally 👍

[@TheGorillaBiker]

@@teapotone might turn out to be the thing that turns the grumpy "I love old bikes" knob heads such as myself 😂😂

[@jimporter]

@@TheGorillaBiker wish people would stop comparing this to DCT. DCT is just a gearbox with two clutches operating two sets of gears the only reason that Honda added their automatic technology to it was because they wanted to use it for racing and had to homolgamate it (it was banned instead). Any gearbox can be automated with the addition of a couple of actuators and an ECU, especially with fly by wire throttles, as we are now seeing from other manufacturers. DCT should always be faster when comparing like for like as the computer can preselect the next gear. What would be nice is if e-clutch would work with DCT but alas I feel that having a cable clutch operate two clutches might be a bit much (note Honda have also patented an electronic clutch). I do think DCTs days may be numbered as the e-clutch operating on an automated version of a standard gearbox will be much cheaper and weigh less. Adding to that the fact you would only need to make one model, with e-clutch, an semi-automated gear box (allowing manual and auto), foot gear shift and flappy paddles and they could satisfy everyone. Can’t use a foot gear shift (like me, nerve damage) use auto or flappy paddles, can’t use a clutch fine no problem, just want to run fully auto fill your boots, want good slow speed control no problem. The issue is the accountants always want to save a buck and will leave something out.

[@jimporter]

People keep mixing the e-clutch with automatic bikes. What we need is manual/automatic bikes with e-clutch, a gear shift and flappy paddles. We can have the best of all worlds with everyone happy and disabilities catered for, the problem is every manufacturer wants to save some money and won’t do the job properly. Why don’t journos and influencers start calling out manufacturers. Automatic bikes are the future as EU legislation regarding speed limiters and other tech will start to be applied to bikes.

[@uroforkboros]

so it’s like a honda wave

[@ashrafc7794]

If you’re gonna have a quick shifter on Fireblade, then why can’t you fathom an E Clutch on it?