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DCT Ride Report

6 posts Started 3 Jul 2010 Last recovered post 12 Jul 2010 Wayback Machine snapshot 21 Jul 2010

#1
DCT Ride Report



Hi all. Just took my new DCT for its first few runs. Overall I�m very pleased with my investment; can�t spend those kinda $�s on a bike and call it just a purchase!!! I�m just gonna touch on a couple of points, as most of what I�d say echos everyone else who�s ridden and commented on the new Viffer.



One echo I must share is the fit and finish is almost beyond reproach. I don�t particularly like the weld down the centre of the frame, but assume it�s a necessary �feature� on all bike chassis (?). When I first saw pics and videos late last year, I was a fence sitter on its asthetics, but this sexy Cylon (Caprica 6) grows on me day by day.



My DCT has the same slightly clunky shifting between 1st and 2nd that the manual demo did. The rest of the gear transitions are VERY �tidy� and often imperceptible. I LOVE this part of the DCT design. To be totally honest, I DO miss my clutch when maneuvering at very slow speed. The throttle is a bit twitchy and you don�t have the fine range of control that the clutch affords. Extra caution is warranted when at walking speed.



The only other negative is that in �D�rive mode, the computer shifts in the 2-3k range on the tach and Caprica chugs a bit under 4k. �S�port mode is the other extreme. She shifts very high. Sometimes this suits my riding mood, other times not so much. My favorite is manual shifting with the left forefinger and thumb triggers. I shift when my (and Caprica�s) mood dictates, and get the seamless shifts the DCT affords...best of both worlds.



Rearview is a fair bit better on the VFR than on my B-King, with my big shoulders not blocking so much of the view. Oh yeah, forgot the evil growl this new engine emits after 6k on the tach...awesome! Brakes are fantastic�authoritative without being �grabby�. The console is one of the nicest looking I�ve seen on any bike. LOVE the �mirrored� LCD�s bookending the tach. Stock windshield protects my chest, but allows airflow to the full of my helmet�good or bad depending on temp, precip, and insects. J



Strangely, I�ve adjusted to the transposed horn and signal switches quickly. Having the signals lower does seem more intuitive relative to the thumb position on the grip, but I�ve missed the horn several times when trying to test it �eyes-up�.



Another great feature that both versions of the new Viffer share is the integrated pannier rack�or lack thereof. It�s great to undress Caprica and drive her naked without a metal-frame girdle hanging off her hips. J



Gotta jet�she�s calling my name and it 20 C, blue skies and sunshine.



Chow for now,

Saint




#2
Good info, keep the reports coming. You have a B-KIng? I've only seen those in dealerships, never on the road or parked on the street.
#3

[image: View Post]choco, on 03 July 2010 - 03:16 PM, said:

Good info, keep the reports coming. You have a B-KIng? I've only seen those in dealerships, never on the road or parked on the street.


Traded her toward the Viffer. The King was an awesomely performing and handling bike. Just wasn't practicle, without no..."designed"...wind/weather protection or storage. Sure there was after market stuff, but it ruined the look of the King, which was designed from the get go as a street fighter. One the other hand, the new Viffer was designed as a SPORT/tourer which is the niche in which I've settled my middle-aged bones. :491:
#4
Dangit! Gotta stop reading these things... Really want one. To the point of calculating the worth of my small fleet towards down payment.
#5
I just got home from the Parts Canada Superbike race this weekend at Mosport Raceway outside of Toronto, and was lucky enough to get to ride the new VFR1200 DCT during the demo ride. All I can say is WOW!!!! I really liked the new VFR, it is everything I love about my 2006 but with more power especially on the bottom end. The bike was very smooth to drive and I felt almost as comfortable on it as on my own bike after only a few corners, as it seemed to handle almost the same. We got to ride the bikes for about 35 minutes on all sorts of different pavement and were able to really pour the coals to it on a couple of occasions and I could not detect any difference between the shaft drive and my chain drive. The auto transmission I will say lost its novelty pretty quick and I quickly made the switch to manual mode which worked pretty well although not as smooth as a clutch can be especially on the downshift. I also missed having the clutch pulling up to stops and such.

All in all I really liked the bike and can definately see one in my future, although probably a normal clutch model.

By the way the race weekend was fantastic with tons of great racing to watch and great people.
#6

[image: View Post]Jrod, on 11 July 2010 - 07:33 PM, said:

I just got home from the Parts Canada Superbike race this weekend at Mosport Raceway outside of Toronto, and was lucky enough to get to ride the new VFR1200 DCT during the demo ride. All I can say is WOW!!!! I really liked the new VFR, it is everything I love about my 2006 but with more power especially on the bottom end. The bike was very smooth to drive and I felt almost as comfortable on it as on my own bike after only a few corners, as it seemed to handle almost the same. We got to ride the bikes for about 35 minutes on all sorts of different pavement and were able to really pour the coals to it on a couple of occasions and I could not detect any difference between the shaft drive and my chain drive. The auto transmission I will say lost its novelty pretty quick and I quickly made the switch to manual mode which worked pretty well although not as smooth as a clutch can be especially on the downshift. I also missed having the clutch pulling up to stops and such.

All in all I really liked the bike and can definately see one in my future, although probably a normal clutch model.

By the way the race weekend was fantastic with tons of great racing to watch and great people.


Have to say I picked up a DCT 8 days ago and don't miss the clutch lever much at all. The more I ride the bike the more I appreciate this type of gearbox.
End of thread · 6 posts recovered Wayback Machine snapshot 21 Jul 2010