Honda VFR1200F DCT review 

Very simple and yet fantastic review from Phil. I tested the bike for 2 hours back in 2010 and it felt exactly what Phil just said here. Smooth, precise and fast (Total Control). The top gears (in Manual mode) you have to look at the instruments to confirm the change because you really don't feel it. Best bike back in 2010 and still a very good bike today (2020).

Years on gear bikes R1, blades, z1000, gsxr etc etc. test road a manual VFR then thought I'd have a go in th DCT...... Loved it. Doesn't take any fun away at all. Great for commuting when u can't be bother constantly changing gears, get it out on the open road and the triptonic is fantastic. Smooth fast changes faultless. Loved it so much I've just ordered a 64 plate and I pick it up next week.

I bought the Honda CTX700 DCT and i absolutely love it. The VFR was out of my budget so settled for CTX. All in all it's great in traffic and enough power when you need it.

Have a DCT 3 years now & love that gearchange. I dont use Drive or Sports mode only manual gearchange. It makes for great fun, quick shifting when riding as with a normal gearbox. Took me a while to get into it, but now that I have, I love it.

I'm a competent sportbike rider...... I have a stick shift car, and yes I still think the DCT is downright brilliant. In fact if Honda produced a sportbike with it for an affordable price, id buy one tomorrow.

The knockers amuse me. They love their up down quick shifters but knock this. Well guess what, this does everything they do, plus it runs in auto if you want. And you can get a foot change gear lever as an add on.

I need it cause my arthritis in my fingers is murder and I don't wish to give up biking!!!

11 years late here. Your comments on the dct are (were) spot on.

someday it'll be on superbikes, just like supercars

If you have a gimpy left leg or bad ankle with no range of movement this bike is perfect.

@bpmhawaii Many top end sports cars have had automatic/clutchless gearing for years now. I'm not at all surprised to see it making an appearance on a sport bike and I don't see how it makes it into a scooter. It's still a proper motorcycle with full size wheels, riding position, power, handling, and styling. All they did was change the method for changing gears.

Hello MCN It was a very good commentary from Phil West on the VFR!!! So many true things have been said during this video. And I know that because I had the chance to test the VFR-DCT in a similar environment. For me it the VFR became the best bike around. So easy, so very friendly, and so fast when you want it to be. I tested it in last October for a two hours and I never looked for the clutch or the gear lever, and that is true. Very true commentary and very good test from Phil. Best wishes.

Rode one today, for fun. I have to say very impressed its a manual box you can here it change. In D its super thru town, in sport its really good, hold gears changes right time every time. I tryed the tiptronoic but found sport mode spot on. Very quick carnt really make a mistake on it. Still got engine braking as its a DSG box. Worth a go. Would be super if it where on my Triumph Tiger 1050. Dont think micr/scooter automatic think formula and rally technology. Great engine, brakes and box.

I test rode a DCT version of the VFR1200 and did not like it...however, on the NC750 it makes so much more sense...indeed so much so I ended up buying one.....and don't regret it for a moment.

Honda offered the "hondamatic" 750 40 years ago !

True, but Soichiro Honda said the V4 was the best motorcycle engine ever, so even though it isn't raced by honda it's still significant. Aprilia and Ducati race a V4 don't they?

One of the best reviews I've seen in quite some time. Not my kind of bike at all (currently on GSX-R 1000 K7), but very informative and well argumented. Two thumbs up, as the fistf***er said.

Excellent post, which explains that weird transmission system. Was up in the Japanese mountians today, and spoke to a fella with a white VFR 1200. Looked a decent bike. Either that or a Triumph 1050 ST after my current VTEC.

As long as you have another bike with a slick manual shifting gearbox why the hell wouldn't you want DCT? I'm just waiting to see if its more useful on bigger sport touring bikes yet to arrive.

There are drivers who like stick and those that don't. I could see the same happening with bikes. Personally I feel like I would really enjoy riding this bike. It's more of a sport tourer so being able to cruise around without worrying about gears would be really nice. Sure it's not for everyone but there will be people who love it.

The DCT is an option and was probably more of a 'hey look what we can do' from Honda because technically its very advanced. This bike is available with standard manual six speed gear box.

would LOVE an on board camera! it would really show the shifting well, let alone providing almost the same view i would see if i bought the bike

Only since 2007 when the switch to 800cc was made to the RC212V. From 01-06 the RC211V was actually a V5.

Well put. This is the solution to a problem that doesn't exist. Personally, if I was to put a tipronic leaver, I'd put it to the left foot, where it traditionally would be, not on the handlebar.

I like it. I have problems with my left wrist (arthritis??) so after 8 hours of riding, my left wrist is killing me. Because of that, I would like (need?) something like this. It's not cool, I know...but for me, it would be functional.

I bit like modern automatic cars I'm guessing. Sounds great in the the 'real' world where you can't ride at 10/10ths and makes everything just more relaxing when you're out on the road doing touring, commutes etc. Whilst I am getting a geared bike, I can see the market for these and to be honest I'm surprised they didn't try this years ago. If I could afford 2 bikes, 1 being more of a daily commuter etc, then I'd be inclined personally to look and try out this DCT stuff to serve the purpose of commuting into London - sadly I can only afford 1 bike.

phil west awesome as usual although even old school bikes might appreciate what technology has to offer eventhough it wont be choice. if i had the money id buy for being brilliant

As a generally lazy person I love this idea

Thank you for your excellent review

this Honda VFR1200F DCT spoils the whole point of having fun on a motorbike

Great review, thanks for sharing. Like your changes.

@steinert you can get the m3 with a manual.. most lambo mucielagos are sold with manual... but of couse in america it's a hit. The cars are not lame.. the gearbox is

looks cool, sounds neat. i would love to test drive one to experience the sport mode vs the automatic one.

that´s great! now my mom can ride bikes as well :D

so.. not to be rude and i love Honda and their products but i drove a 2004 Honda Rancher a while back and it had the same "tiptronic" setup as this new VFR so my question is why has it taken so long for motorcycles to adopt this new technology? is it a size issue?

They did, it's the NC700x or s. Coming to the states this summer!

To people hating the DCT: Then don't buy it!! It's optional!! You can get the standard 6-speed VFR instead.

Only thing I don't understand is why they didn't allow you to use your left foot to chance gear like a normal bike? I think that would be easier I feel.

@Vikck if you mean so... the Murcielago with automatic takes 3,2 s 0-100kmh - this is faster than with usual gearbox.... but i guess you would change the gears faster

Just as was mentioned in the review: ''it's a solution to a problem that we don't really need''. I am part of the 'old school' bike rider - but a wee bit more advanced, using a hydraulic clutch rather than a cable (nothing wrong with cables). I like to 'work' the bike, that is to use levers and pedals - it tells me that I'M in control of the bike, not the other way around. Yes, the DCT could have its uses (British SEG police in city traffic), and other Emergency responders, where they now have a free left hand to work other control switches, instead of juggling back and forth) For me, I work on the principle of ''the more technology something has, the more something can go wrong with it'. If my clutch packs up or needs bled, I can do it in 10 mins. I can swap a clutch cable over in 5 minutes. On this VFR1200DCT, one clutch handles 1st/3rd/5th, while the other handles 2nd/4th/6th.....but what happens if one of the clutches fails? Are you stuck in 1st/3rd and fifth? Or will the gearbox lock up completely and not allow passing through of the other gears if one fails? It has a ''manual change mode'', but again, if a problem develops, is it possible to over-ride it to get you home? On a standard motorbike, if something breaks or jams at the back end and locks the rear wheel, we can pull in a clutch lever to try lessen the inevitable. If something goes ''bang'' in the engine itself (CCTs / valves etc), again, we can pull in a clutch to minimise damage. But, with this DCT, and no clutch lever.....what can you do? And as it's new technology (new ish), the average bike guy can't work on it at home (whereas the rest of us can whip oiff a side casing, change clutch plates and re-bleed the system) Another question: Can you bump start the thing if you have a flat battery? With no clutch lever to pull in and let out at the right time, what are you meant to do with this DCT system? I'm sorry Mr Honda, but I won't ever be buying one of these (even if I won the Lottery, because that's the only way the average bike guy could afford one). A Pan European is on my wish list, as is an older 1200 Aspencade Goldwing, but I'll stick to my VTR1000 for now, thanks all the same.

all they need to do now is add the lawn mower/ hedge strimmer noise with some..little chav in a vest and a crosser helm and your sorted...!!! *thumbs up*

What happens if you're in D or S mode and you want to do some engine braking? Do the flippers still go up and down a gear if you're not in manual mode?

@steinert no this dtc and dsg and whatever they call them IS faster than a manual.. but you don't always drive what is the fastest do you? I want to drive what feels right to me. You apparently prefers automatic and dobbleclutch and all that, and that's fine. I just think its lame on a sports car/motorcycle

True, I agree with your verdict!

I havent ride a bike without cluch leaver,but it seems to me a bit spooky for now,how would you drive it from stop and then up a hill?

@shotokanbiker Not really, it has a chain and gears.

Good honest review

Great review! That auto paddle shifting is a great idea and very cool, but i bet most people woild preferthe good old clutch and shifter :-)

it is a bit frustrating that very few testers test the bike, just the test the gear box that nobody buys due to the price.

@Vikck Only for Diesel??? I think you have to update your information.. most powerful sportscars use this technology

@89powerup So much for biker's live and let live attitude. How is this "dumb"? The only reason we have gears in the first place is because crappy ICEs have such a poor rev range. If you don't like it don't buy it, (they make a manual version of the VFR) but calling someone an idiot for buying one is absurd. It's called progress.

As a cyclist and moto enthusiast, it's like a Shimano rapid fire shift pod the car equivalent to race car paddle shifters which of course are found on high end sports cars.It's not a 'automatic transmission' it's a clutch controlled by a comp and electric motor.

@Ttran778 ... stop being ignorant ... there is gear change mechanism so it doesnt make it a scooter. where u can switch gear ... this is future and while be very very soon applied in future race as you dont lose time during gear change dropping throttle ... its the future ... its the similar system used in bmw M3, M5, ferrari's

I'm actually looking at one now, a 2010

this review was very helpfull

I have no problem with the DCT concept. The only thing that puts me off the VFR1200F is the ridiculous pricing...

its great for touring and city traffic, that used to kill you clutch hand

You do realize that Honda still races with V-four motors right? Their MotoGP bike is/has been a V4 for quite awhile.

Will the technology be filtering down to 125cc?

the only thing i can think is that system is good for is someone that just wants to get used to the weight of a bigger bike, appart from that kinda bad idea. would be too boring riding

I want to be a Billionaire soo freaking bad, buy all the thing I never had, like that motorcycle.

2:40 "Its an idiot proof" XD Am one of those idiots sometimes XD

I didn't know they reviewed scooters now.

can it wheelie?

cool bike I love it

I can think of a problem that can be solved by the DCT gearbox, holes on the index & middle fingers of left hand gloves 😁😁😁

Sounds cool... I'll keep it in mind if I ever lose the use of my legs.

@bfmv580 thought mopeds had gears?

Wow, next time round? What do you think? Next step from a 22 year old CBR1000F?

I really can't see the idea in this. In a diesel car yes, but not on a motorbike

They should put ABS and traction control on it then they can market it to pensioners.

perfect for me. Cannot wait to get one in white color with boxes on the side...perfect for just riding around, and perfect for a bit speeding as well...Dear Santa, I hope U r reading this XD XD XD

@select899 This isn't exactly the kind of bike you do wheelies on to begin with. Not sure why that would matter even if it wasn't possible.

this guy is an old man in a new world...

Wrong. This Honda creates fun for those who are new to biking but did not want to mess with shifting.

Don't know why they bother calling it a VFR... Doesn't even sound nice anymore. Though to be fair, I have not yet tried the 1200.

In my mind I'd prefer if they left the gear lever to shift the gears. maybe it would be more intuitive? but a gorgeous bike

how many cc does it have?

@select899 you can still wheelie just pull back hard lol

Good thing for the handicaped people who want to ride a motorcycle.

Sold it after 1000 miles. Now on a geared bike again. Would never ever by dct again. Unless my health required it.

@Vikck yes, of course. M3, Lambo gallardo and bugatti veyron are very lame. not very logical

Did someone tell this guy to try and speak as quickly as he can?

Cancel my last. After 1000 miles I'm not a fan of the dct. The drive mode is terrible and only good for motorway. Around town it's always in the wrong gear and the engine labours. The computer wants 6th at 35 mph! Sports mode is better but it revs the engine too much and will sit in the wrong gear even though you not increasing your speed. The triptronic is a pain. I have small hands and it's not comfortable to use. Maybe the foot shifter would make it better. But that's 500quid. All in all I wouldn't buy a dct again. I going to be changing the bike very soon.

i would have to learn to ride all over again

@89powerup You can't do 150mph on a scooter! The VFR has fuel injection too, by the way, robbing us of the fun of fiddling with the carbs. And the shaft drive is for girls who can't adjust a simple chain. How lame. My first bike was a C90. I had a BLAST on that crappy little thing. AND I went to the biker's pub on a CB125 and was not given any grief whatsoever. It's easy to mock on RU-vid my Ukrainian friend, but two wheels is still two wheels.

Great review - bike is not for me (and neither is the DCT) but very well presented! :)

yay!!!! so whats the point in the bike test then........they should just say..here is your test that button says ..gooo ..that says stop ..........grats you have passed........bang some L plates on it and your sorted.

the new cbr 250 should have been called the VFR250 -_- how the fuck did honda call it a cbr

we want to hear the engine as it changes gear.. so -

Oh my god they changed it into a BMW!!

I test rode a VFR1200 DCT. Biggest let-down in my 45 years of biking. Pile of crap.

@AshtonPhoto ????? What do adjusting a chain has to do with anything?? By the way dude, there's a scooter that can do 150. So you dont really know what you'r talking about at all. So you just talking some bs right now. My mistake, there's a scooter that can do 140 but, thats still pretty good for a scooter. Just add a little something to it and it'll reach 150. Shut the hell with up your bs talk man. Actually this bike a scooter to. Since its an auto. Just has way more power.

@steinert yeah and that's so lame

the world really is comin to an end....just IMO having a gearbox and a user controlled clutch is part of what makes you melt with your machine....if youre not in line with what shes doing, its no longer fun...the ability to feel the friction zone grab ever so slightly as you launch off the line, or winding it up to 10K on the tach and dumping it and feeling the front wheel take flight is pretty amazing, get a scooter or a moped if you want automatic!!!

Really do not like the idea! I like to have control of my machine, the same with ABS/ traction control. I have my own brain wrist, finger's and feet. However it's a great showcase of Honda's engineering. But certainly not for me.

You switch to sport mode just for it feel like a sportbike. That was a waste of damn time. Just keep it manual honda. I bet the repair bill is high on this thing. When you start to have transmission problems with this, you might as well get a new bike for sure. Its high with just one trans but now, you have 2. Dumb. Then you have idoits buying it. He said idoit proof. You'd be one if you buy this so thats a lie right there lol. If you cant change gears, to bad. stick to lame auto cars,etc.

thats a big moped

So a ya stop at the lights in auto ya see a bird on a push bike and ya blip the throttle and low and behold ya into the bus in front.mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

It's IDIOTPROOF!