Life & Style | Motoring
The automatic choice
Jane Omorogbe tries out the ‘electronic manual transmission' of the 173bhp Honda VFR sports tourer
- By Jane Omorogbe
- Published: 00:00 September 24, 2010
- Image Credit: Supplied
Honda has been very specific about how it has marketed its new Dual Clutch Transmission. Apparently, it's an ‘electronic manual transmission', not an automatic system.
Except, essentially, it is exactly that. It can change through the gears without any intervention from the rider and in my book, that makes it automatic. But let's not split hairs — the VFR1200F's Dual Clutch Transmission works extremely well, but it does take some getting used to. There are two full auto options in the AT mode — Drive, which is touring biased, and Sport, which has a more aggressive response. The MT mode is operated from a toggle switch on the handlebar and it's easy to use. Whether you are in manual or one of the AT modes, the system works in the same way. One clutch operates all the even-numbered gears (second, fourth and sixth), while the other controls the three odd ones: first, third and fifth.
As you ride along, the redundant clutch pre-selects the gear that the ECU assumes you will need next.
When the on-board computer is satisfied that the bike is running within the parameters needed to shift up or down, it does so by disengaging the clutch you are currently using and switching to the other clutch which has already prepared the next gear for you.
So while one clutch is engaged, the other is prepared and effectively slipping. Some riders may find they need to adapt their riding style to get the best from the bike.
I had to do just that 20 minutes into my test ride. After exiting a corner in third, I cracked the throttle open in Sport for the short straight before the next right hander. With one eye on the fairly static limit point, I was fully expecting a tightening bend.
I didn't need to scrub too much speed to slice through it and would normally have blipped the throttle and down changed to second without applying the brakes. But, keen to see how the Honda would behave, I left it in AT and shut the throttle. At that precise moment, the bike swapped clutches, the revs dropped and the VRF coasted around the turn in fourth. Pull away in the drive mode from a standstill and the VFR races to top gear and holds on to it for as long as possible. It feels quite bizarre to slice through the 'box to sixth before you've even reached 60kph. For a blasting overtake, you have little choice but to dab the manual paddle to drop the gears, raise the revs and find the punch. Drive mode (touring) is the least responsive, while Sport mode has a much livelier ride experience and each gear is held for longer. The DCT works well and can actually be quite rewarding at times, but I like to change gears with a foot lever and hand-operated clutch: both are missing here. Perhaps Honda is ahead of its time. Perhaps the DCT is a solution to a problem that few of us have.
For others, including those using a bike in heavy traffic, the VFR1200F DCT may be just what you're looking for.
It's coming to the UAE in December as a 2011 model priced around five grand over the Dh55k manual.
Model Honda VFR1200F DCT
Engine Liquid-cooled 1,237cc V4
Transmission Six-speed
Max power 173bhp @ 10,000rpm
Max torque 129Nm @ 7,800rpm
Weight 267kg
Fuel capacity 18.5 litres
Price Dh75,600 (UK price)
Plus Lively ride in Sport mode
Minus No foot lever or hand operated clutch
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