[Ozarkwinguy]

I have had 5 Wings and my 2022 DCT non-tour is first DCT. If you want to shift, then do it. The dct you can go auto or manual. I was ready to move to a sport-tourer til I rode the DCT non-tour in sport mode. If I were designing a bike just for me this is pretty much what I’d do. I liked to shift my bikes also but now if I’m in traffic no holding the clutch waiting for light to change and if I’m getting on it I’m pulling away from you guys that are shifting. My C8 Corvette is DCT, Porsche 911 is DCT. The speed guys know….

 

[PoorUB]

The main drawback lies in the slow speed maneuvering on all the bikes. I have never really gotten used to the idea of using the rear brake as a modulator.

That is one you, not the bike.

I trained to do low speed maneuvers with juggling the rear brake, the clutch and throttle. With the DCT it is easy to find the sweet spot where the throttle is just off idle and the clutch engaged, then work the rear brake to control the speed. Don't even move the throttle, other than to get the engine RPM up off of idle.

 

[Vegas]

I'm not sure the DCT would be a good fit for you if you do that sort of maneuvering. With slow maneuvering you constantly feather the clutch along with riding the brakes to keep torque to the drive line. The DCT under these conditions may cause premature failure of the DCT clutch pack. These has been some discussion on some forums of such extensive slow riding has cause this premature failure. Before you jump into a DCT, I would use caution in this case.

The only case I’ve heard was a guy that practiced extensively doing slow speed maneuvers. His clutch pack went out and was able to get it repaired/ replaced under warranty. When it happened a second time, his claim was denied for abusing the bike, by performing excessive long term slow speed maneuvers. Clutches are a consumable item in the transmission, just like brake pads are in your brake system. Therefore the clutch pack in that situation, the warranty will not be honored due to abuse. Be careful of what you tell the service writer. I believe to change the clutch pack on this bike, the whole engine and transmission must be pulled from the bike before the transmission can be separated to perform the repair. Quite an expensive and time consuming process.

 

[PoorUB]

I am a former Drill Team rider and am very comfortable and good with slow speed riding. I can see how the DCT would be a huge adjustment, but that option is very intriguing. Got a month or two to make the decision as to what I do. Anyone on here do slow speed manuvers or drill team work on their DCT Goldwing?

It is easy to do slow speed maneuvers with the DCT, just a touch of throttle to keep the engine just off of idle and the clutch engaged, and work the rear brake.

The bad thing with the DCT is if you do a lot of low speed maneuvering you will probably smoke the clutches. I would not buy a DCT to run the cones.

 

[PoorUB]

I bought a 2023 GW and traveled across 2 states to buy it because I couldn't get a manual shift locally. I drove the DCT and could probably get accustomed to not shifting but I think I would miss it! I have spoken to several DCT people and they all love it. I reckon I'm just "Old School"??

I have been riding for 55 years and don't miss shifting one bit. Remember, you can shift manually with the left hand switches. Also drop it in manual and manual shift with your fingers. I run mine in manual on twisty roads, or mountains.

 

[JKWinger]

Hello folks,
Picked you a 2024 DTC last year and will never go back to manual. It is much more relaxing and you can focus more on actual riding and risk avoidance. These new DCT transmissions get acclimated to your riding style and shift appropriately. I don't regret it one bit. The walking function is mind-blowing, it makes maneuvering inside tight spaces ridiculously easy.

Test ride one, you'll ride it home..

That's what I'm afraid of! My gorgeous wife loves me but she'd have my ass if another wing came home with me lol.

 

[Fireball1800]

I am struggling with the same decision. I currently am riding a Harley Ultra Limited and have been for the past 12 years. I want to upgrade to a newer bike and am giving the Goldwing a very serious look. However, I'm trying to decide DCT or Auto. I am a former Drill Team rider and am very comfortable and good with slow speed riding. I can see how the DCT would be a huge adjustment, but that option is very intriguing. Got a month or two to make the decision as to what I do. Anyone on here do slow speed manuvers or drill team work on their DCT Goldwing?

. If your doing drill team riding and slow speed practice I’d stick with the manual. IMO. You can do drill on both. However, You can control the slipping clutches easier with the manual. DCT electronically will slip the clutches as well but constantly doing this at slower speed can burn the clutches out quicker. The manuals clutch is different than the DCT as the manual only has one clutch pack. The DCT has two. Another rider has experienced this twice. The DCT is best burning up the ass-fault not prancing around in a parking lot…🔥🙈🤪 Turn -n- Burn.

 

[SCovelli]

That's what I'm afraid of! My gorgeous wife loves me but she'd have my ass if another wing came home with me lol.

Just trade the other one in.

She'll never know.

 

[DonF]

Have a had 2 Goldwings, love them. Trying to get feedback on to DCT or not to DCT. I am a big fan of shifting and seems like a foreign concept to me to consider an automatic

Any feedback with experience is welcome

My GW is a manual (2021 ) but I also have a 2025 Hayabusa that has a "The Hayabusa has the latest version of the Suzuki Clutch Assist System (SCAS) clutch that delivers a lighter clutch lever pull than ever before. SCAS serves as a back-torque-limiting system for smooth downshifts while increasing plate tension during acceleration to ensure engine power is effectively transmitted to the rear wheel.
The Hayabusa’s six-speed, close-ratio, and constant-mesh transmission can be shifted conventionally or with the bi-directional quick shift system allowing the rider to select racing-style, conventional, or casual riding clutchless shifts."
I will always want to be able to manually shift. Would not buy a auto shift only bike, but as I often ride several hundred miles in a day (max in 20 hours 657) the Suzuki's clutch less shifting sometimes gets used.

 

[CaptSprocket]

I'm not sure the DCT would be a good fit for you if you do that sort of maneuvering. With slow maneuvering you constantly feather the clutch along with riding the brakes to keep torque to the drive line. The DCT under these conditions may cause premature failure of the DCT clutch pack. These has been some discussion on some forums of such extensive slow riding has cause this premature failure. Before you jump into a DCT, I would use caution in this case.

SCovelli, thank you for sharing this! Very interesting! I don't do drill team work anymore, but I do teach a skills class for my club a few times a year and it does involve slow speed drills. I will definitely keep this in mind. Maybe I could put it in the forward walking mode and do my slow speed riding. LOL!

 

[NJMike]

Shifting is fun…until you’re in stop and go traffic on the interstate in August!

 

[docsbw]

Have a had 2 Goldwings, love them. Trying to get feedback on to DCT or not to DCT. I am a big fan of shifting and seems like a foreign concept to me to consider an automatic

Any feedback with experience is welcome

I grew up on dirt bikes , then added street bikes, Honda, Suzuki, Harley and Goldwing. Ya I thought shifting was cool, the real man’s bike would always have a clutch. Bull butter. I have a 22 DCT I would not trade it in for a clutch if they gave me the new bike for free. I can not (after 27k on the bike) come up with 1 single reason or advantage of a manual, not one. If you like to shift, if that’s your thing then put in it manual mode and shift to your hearts content. When “ touring “ I can not imagine a clutch anymore. If you ride hard and want to do the tail of the dragon with your GoPro then put it in sport mode, it will literally learn to up shift or down shift when you want it to, or shift it yourself. The DCT is the best of both worlds. There are times when going up hill in tour mode the tranny will not downshift when I want more juice so I just hit the downshift button to get the rpms I want. When passing DCT will kick it down and if you are pushing hard it will hold the gear longer if it senses that you are riding harder. Never had an issue as I have seen DCT detractors post about at slow speed maneuvering, sport mode solves that. What’s fun about counting gears, down shifting to get back to first at a light or busy intersection. There are more important issues to worry about than if you got it into first. When I want to go I goose it and it goes every time. Again if you want to play the shift game you can but if you want one less thing to manipulate and one less distraction to worry about then GO DCT.

 

[Mbadi123]

Rider for 45 years. Just purchased 2025 DCT tour. Absolutely love it. Auto when you want and shift up and down when you want. Best of both.

 

[Nelsress]

Shifting is fun…until you’re in stop and go traffic on the interstate in August!

...or until your clutch hand's arthritis gets really bad.

 

[Bob Mugge]

Like you, I love to shift. I would not consider a DCT on a bike this big and heavy. I'm too small of a guy to trust the transmission to do what I want it to do when I can control things myself with the clutch.

Wow. I felt the same. TRY IT YOULL LIKE IT. IT takes about 2 or 3 rides. Sport mode is insanely fun. Put it manual and you are good to go. Don’t prejudge it.

 

[Lynn Jackson]

I grew up on dirt bikes , then added street bikes, Honda, Suzuki, Harley and Goldwing. Ya I thought shifting was cool, the real man’s bike would always have a clutch. Bull butter. I have a 22 DCT I would not trade it in for a clutch if they gave me the new bike for free. I can not (after 27k on the bike) come up with 1 single reason or advantage of a manual, not one. If you like to shift, if that’s your thing then put in it manual mode and shift to your hearts content. When “ touring “ I can not imagine a clutch anymore. If you ride hard and want to do the tail of the dragon with your GoPro then put it in sport mode, it will literally learn to up shift or down shift when you want it to, or shift it yourself. The DCT is the best of both worlds. There are times when going up hill in tour mode the tranny will not downshift when I want more juice so I just hit the downshift button to get the rpms I want. When passing DCT will kick it down and if you are pushing hard it will hold the gear longer if it senses that you are riding harder. Never had an issue as I have seen DCT detractors post about at slow speed maneuvering, sport mode solves that. What’s fun about counting gears, down shifting to get back to first at a light or busy intersection. There are more important issues to worry about than if you got it into first. When I want to go I goose it and it goes every time. Again if you want to play the shift game you can but if you want one less thing to manipulate and one less distraction to worry about then GO DCT.

Great comment from docsbw!

Nevertheless, I am on the opposite side of the pendulum swing from docsbw, i.e., DCT versus manual. I would not have a DCT if they gave it to me! I bought a new 2024 manual in June, 2024. I love it, 20,000 miles in five months! Put it away for the winter! As I said earlier, for me part of the romance of riding a motorcycle is clutch/shift.

So, enjoy your DCT while I enjoy my manual! Cheers!

 

[ddtm1942]

The only case I’ve heard was a guy that practiced extensively doing slow speed maneuvers. His clutch pack went out and was able to get it repaired/ replaced under warranty. When it happened a second time, his claim was denied for abusing the bike, by performing excessive long term slow speed maneuvers. Clutches are a consumable item in the transmission, just like brake pads are in your brake system. Therefore the clutch pack in that situation, the warranty will not be honored due to abuse. Be careful of what you tell the service writer. I believe to change the clutch pack on this bike, the whole engine and transmission must be pulled from the bike before the transmission can be separated to perform the repair. Quite an expensive and time consuming process.

wow, that is the first time I've ever heard of a Goldwing clutch actually going out. I wonder if this rider wasn't using too high a gear, causing him to have to slip the clutch more than necessary.
I have a friend at a local dealership who does all their Wing Work. One day I asked him if it was difficult to change a clutch pack. His reply was classic. He said, "I don't know. In twenty years I've never had to change one."
I spend a lot of time doing slow speed maneuvers, too, and through the two GL1200s and two GL1500s, I've never caused the clutch to ever even hesitate engaging.

 

[SCovelli]

This reply was redundant.. Sorry.

 

[Fla_Rider]

I grew up on dirt bikes , then added street bikes, Honda, Suzuki, Harley and Goldwing. Ya I thought shifting was cool, the real man’s bike would always have a clutch. Bull butter. I have a 22 DCT I would not trade it in for a clutch if they gave me the new bike for free. I can not (after 27k on the bike) come up with 1 single reason or advantage of a manual, not one. If you like to shift, if that’s your thing then put in it manual mode and shift to your hearts content. When “ touring “ I can not imagine a clutch anymore. If you ride hard and want to do the tail of the dragon with your GoPro then put it in sport mode, it will literally learn to up shift or down shift when you want it to, or shift it yourself. The DCT is the best of both worlds. There are times when going up hill in tour mode the tranny will not downshift when I want more juice so I just hit the downshift button to get the rpms I want. When passing DCT will kick it down and if you are pushing hard it will hold the gear longer if it senses that you are riding harder. Never had an issue as I have seen DCT detractors post about at slow speed maneuvering, sport mode solves that. What’s fun about counting gears, down shifting to get back to first at a light or busy intersection. There are more important issues to worry about than if you got it into first. When I want to go I goose it and it goes every time. Again if you want to play the shift game you can but if you want one less thing to manipulate and one less distraction to worry about then GO DCT.

Yeah everything he said!

 

[Mercurydog]

My advice is ride them both. After long rides on friends dct's I bought one and wonder why it took me so long to make that decision. The only thing, and I do mean the only thing, I don't care for about the dct is the parking brake quality. It is really important to park so that the bike won't roll at all. The parking brake should make Honda ashamed. This is my 5th Wing and by far the best in every way.

Get the bike up on a centerstand so the rear wheel is free to turn and adjust the parking brake down at the rear wheel. . Simple to do and
need to do it about halfway between oil changes.