2010 VFR Dual Clutch Info

as traditional as I am, I gotta admit, flappy paddle cars are pretty impressive. They shift instantly, and it is still a real manual gearbox, so you don't have that slushy disconnected feeling like you would through a torque converter.

I just hope its the same with this, otherwise it's going to be epic failure.

 

All things for all people? I picked the VFR cuz it was the best at twisties and touring in a mid-sized machine. Like the Eagles looking "for a woman who's a little of both". Angel in white and daughter of the devil all in one. One day a run along the river (manual). The next a commute in traffic (paddles). The next a two up tour in the rain with a steady frame geometry (auto). hmmm... If I get a vote, I'd like her to lean a bit more to the devil side than the antiseptic white....:angel: :xxx:

 

Supposedly the VFR (oops, I guess it's called Interceptor again) is their technological leader, so it gets the new stuff first. I guess if you want a 140 hp sportbike with no gadgets you're supposed to buy an RR.

The paddle shifters are the latest thing in performance cars because they can shift in one bazilliointh of a nano-second. I'm not sure I need to shift that fast, but technology marches on.......

 

same video? don't know.

LiveLeak.com - honda invents dual clutch manual transmission for bikes

 

The only thing 'new' in that video was that he said it would be release first in "Europe AND North America", then later in Japan. Up until that bit of info, we actually hadn't heard that it would be released in the US in 2010. Hope he's right.

 

Honda had a different idea!

If it's any consolation, Aprilia already makes a V-4 like you want (Ducati, too, if you have the $$$).

 

Ahhhh, RSV4, now that's a V4 racebike with lights, and I'm truly in love... :redface:

 

Dual clutch

I think it will be a cluster fuck . Only time will tell but I am thinking it will be a dealer service item only, due to software calibrations.That how we do it at Caterpillar.Real world use will torture the first to buy as it will be a field test at customer expense and no well trained techs to unfuck the mess.

 

I don't have any problems with a duel clutch transmission PROVIDED that:

1) It's optional &
2) That it have an equivalent of a manual clutch that can be used for better control at low speeds UNLESS the throttle action is so smooth and controllable that a manual clutch is not needed.

And, the duel clutch transmission should have a park position.

 

just adds more weight

It turns out that 588lbs weight is for European-spec bikes and that the US market version, we're guessing due to those stupid California evaporative emissions canisters, weighs in at 591lbs. More importantly, Honda US is also quoting a weight for the dual clutch-equipped model -- 278kg/613lbs. Assuming that option will carry a price premium and no performance benefit over the existing sequential six-speed, we predict poor sales for models

 

I went in and put down a deposit on the new bike the day it was launched. I was NOT the first person to have done it. The salesperson has even said that stock is going to be tight. Now whether that is to keep the price up we will have to wait and see.
The bike is a bike and will suit some riders for certain reasons which is why I am buying one. I have had two VFR800 G6, 2005 and 2007. I ride 2 up and do long trips ie Calgary to Salt Lake for the WSBK, so the bike has panniers, Givi E55 top box and a tank bag. The VFR 800 just does not do it anymore. At sea level it might be a different thing, but at this altitude the 800 is gutless.
Only time will tell how good or bad the 1200 will be.
Funny as well how so many people in the past have said that the VFR800 needs to be changed and now that a new bike is here it gets slated and they haven't even been on it yet.

 

sometimes at a different altitude the bike needs to be shut off and turned back on so that the EFI can recalibrate itself for the lack of air.

 

When is delivery? Did you get the automatic? What options did you choose - or are there any options.

BTW, this 1200 is not the bike for me - I always ride solo and I never carry more than a tank bag, so I don't need a bigger/heavier/longer bike - but I'm liking the looks more and more.

 

There have been so many pics posted I bet you won't be surprised when you see the bike itself.

Keep us posted!

 

the dual clutch transmission is simply the greatest advancement to motorized vehicles since the tire.

everyone "poo-poos" them until they try em. they soon realize that everything is improved. this goes for cars AND will go for bikes. they shift faster, smoother, better. they dont fry clutches. they dont violently abuse shift forks. they dont have to.

honestly, whats changed? you can easily choose the gear you want if you choose... who cares if you dont have a handle and instead have a button?
and on the days you get lazy, its like any automatic, shifting based on load/speed. comes in handy when you're sitting in traffic for 45 minutes and arent moving.

its even more fabulous in cars. you simply cannot shift as fast or as reliably. For the "purists" that bemoan the loss of a clutch pedal on a car or a lever on a bike, you had probably get used to it. technology marches on.
i heard the same silly arguments when ABS came out, when fuel injection came out, stability control, drive-by-wire, etc.

manual trannies in cars are all but dead within 10 years, and a "normal" automatic will likely be, too..
although that probably wont happen with bikes, you can bet that transmissions will change, as will engines, chassis, and every part...like they have for decades.
As long as i have the ability to floor it (it being a car, bike, boat, or whatever) and roar out of a corner, it matters little to me if i am missing a lever as long as i can control the gear. and frankly, that doesnt really matter that much to me if they could program perfect shift logic into the bike (i.e a mitsubishi evo.).

 

For dual-clutch transmissions to be acceptable on motorcycles, the throttle response at low speeds will have to be much smoother than it is on most bikes. Riding smoothly at parking lot speeds is just about impossible without riding the clutch and with a dual clutch transmission, there is no clutch lever. Also, unintended acceleration could occur if while stopped, the bike tips a bit and in attempting to keep it from falling, the rider inadvertently twists the throttle a bit. Under those conditions, with a manual transmission, he'd have the clutch lever pulled in so all that would happen is that the engine would speed up a bit.

On cars, automatic transmissions increase the risk of unintended acceleration. While creeping at 3 mph, the driver's foot is generally on the clutch so if he were to hit the accelerator instead of the brake, not much would happen. With an automatic transmission, the car would leap ahead (or backwards) and possibly plow into buildings, other vehicles, or pedestrians. We've all read about cases where that has happened, and generally it would not happen with a manual transmission.

 

DCT transmission

Well, I've got a DCT and I can assure you all it is simply brilliant. Throttle control at low speed is superb, and I can trickle along in traffic very easily. In D mode, the change up point is a function of throttle position. If you are gentle, it works its way up the box into top by 40 mph. If you twist it more, it revs a bit harder. It will also kick down 1 or 2gears if need be.