Is Honda's E-Clutch A Gearbox Game-Changer? 

Exactly

Boomer take

Oh .... that YCC-S system .......

Try it! I took the new CB650R for a test ride today, it was awesome, you are going to love it!

The DCT is heavy. OK on a car, not what I want on a bike.

Exactly this, many are not getting how much of game changer this new tech can become. Gone is the need to be riding the clutch lever and rear brake in heavy slow moving traffic. A proper motorcycle as easy and relaxing to ride in heavy traffic as a scooter is a big thing for many people.

@@neilhaughey6869Exactly. Even better is the fact you can use the clutch and rear brake manually if you absolutely have to. This is the best damned thing to come out on motorcycles, I’ve seen in years.

Indeed. People are not understanding how this works.

These guys are rookies, full of americanisms.

you could always just squeeze the clutch lever

Imagine this scenario: You're on RU-vid. You see all these people writing interesting comments. You start tapping on the keyboard, but some pointless shit comes out instead. You press post anyway.

be awesome, you can pick your nose with your left hand now :D

Except you can also use the clutch lever. Why does everyone keep making this tired point? Did you, or anyone else, even watch the video? Or even read about the tech? You still have a clutch lever. You just don’t have to use it, unless you really want to

Relax it's japanese not UK or US made ... it will be Bullet proof

Is the slipper part of the clutch not on the drive side of the clutch? From the diagram, looks like this works on the input side of the clutch.

@@fremen321 you would be correct, but that's not what I'm trying to say. Eliminate the slipper clutch all together. Before slipper clutches were even invented. Riders actually knew how to slip the clutch during down shifting.

WTF? First off, I’ve been driving manual semi trucks for well over 3,000,000 miles, and manual motorcycles for decades, and there’s a reason I take my scooter to the store, instead of my Busa……. Screw pulling in the clutch all the time. It gets old fast. And what about people that are disabled? This is the best of both worlds. The manual lover like you can disable the system, and still use the lever, while everyone else (myself included) can enjoy the benefits of not using the damned clutch. I protest automatics in semi trucks, because of the lack of fine control during slow speed maneuvering, but I’ve never once protested the same on motorcycles.

It’s for sale now in America.

It’s not. It’s an electronic mechanism that controls the clutch, with a manual clutch lever and cable still attached. It’s also a true manual transmission, where your foot is actually moving gears through the lever, instead of electronically like the “manual” buttons of a DCT

You still use the gear lever, as far as I understand it there is a sensor on the gear shift link (like on a quickshifter) on changing up, the ignition is cut and the e clutch operates, the gear goes in then the e clutch drops out. Down changes are a bit lumpy as there is no autoblipper as it's still a cable operated throttle, when it's Ride by Wire it will be unbeatable.

You use your feet for up and down and you do not touch the clutch when in e clutch mode It can be driven with the clutch by overriding it on the instrument panel or by pressing the clutch in when driving as it over rides the e clutch

The explanation of e-clutch is a genius solution for the city with heavy congested traffic Boston, for example. I gave up driving stick shift back in 2014 due to traffic nightmare @ times, but I do miss stick shift. Great job by Honda. It's good that major companies use innovation to keep up with new ideas instead of keeping with old ideas/normal. It's perfectly OK to break from the "taboo" mentality.

I have the bike in thailand its a dream to drive

It’s still a full manual transmission, but you do not have to operate the clutch.

Yes, its auto clutch, you still need to shift gears with your foot. think of it as a Quick shifter but you don't have to worry about clutching even on stops :D

@@mannyechaluce3814 Don't you still have to release the throttle when shifting with the e-clutch, unlike a quickshifter which automatically kills power to the engine?

Yes, it’s a true manual.

@@GaijinMono, it also cuts power

It works as a quickshifter+autoblip when you changing gears. But you can’t stall with this e-clutch, even if you stops with 6 gear and then trying to ride again 😮

You better go back to using a flip phone too than. Or maybe a big old rotary dial will suit you.

Just ride your moped sissy

Buying a 100hp sportbike instead of a scooter for elderly? A recipe for disaster.

Why do they need to be older?

@aluisious I didn't say need to be older, just suggesting one demographic of riders. But the point is that older riders in general tend to be less responsive as younger ones. This general apply to all sorts of physical activities.

The engineers are probably worried about cable slop and it’s effects on the algorithm of the MCU, better in most cases to have the computer control where the system has the least amount of mechanical slop

It could be fitted to nearly any bike anyway.

The exact same debate has been going on in the car world since Porsche made the 991.1GT3 PDK-only…. 2014

I remember I wanted one too lol​@@timessix8434

@@timessix8434 That's true, lazy knobs ruin everything...

There are hundreds of new manual motorcycles and those models have a manual only version why are you even on this video?

It's two worlds in one, why be annoyed by that?..

Hahaha _shifted_ 🤣

break it and its an expensive mess... worked at a shop and have a few overheated examples because wrong oil is used...

Well using the wrong maintenance items and having damage because of it, is very much NOT a fault of DCT. Using wrong engine oil in any modern engine can cause many issues Search for the ytuber Varahannes. He has a Honda Varadero and a Afrika Twin 1000 DCT The AT has over 500.000 ans absolutely no issues with engine or transmission

​@someguy9520 I think he means the price to fix is twice when it's a dct vs a conventional one

A) a lot of people still love shifting gears, and I don’t mean with a button, but actually properly shifting them manually B) show me a sport bike with a DCT. Not everybody wants an Africa twin, NC750X, or a damned big ass barge. C) it’s not just a centrifugal clutch, like your monkey. It’s a proper clutch, that you can still use manually for slow speed maneuvering, while still enjoying the benefits of clutchless shifting, that’s even smoother and faster than quick shifters.

@@thetowndrunk988 I suppose you're right in a way - some people still like riding horses for that 'natural feel' and they'd never think of a motorbike. I'm just saying that why do things by halves? It doesn't sound like you've ridden an Africa Twin - I can commend it to you, just make sure it is the '24 model as the DCT is so close to perfect in this latest incarnation it is supernatural - like the DCTs in Porsche and Merc it truly has a supernatural read on things. I've only ridden an AT DCT for about 40 mins - I don't own one yet - but I'm completely sold. Incidentally, in the twisties DCT can make you a BETTER rider, as many reviewers have admitted, as in not having to do the shift/leg/foot/clutch dance a thousand times per ride you are freed up to concentrate more intensely on the actual road, animals running out, corner approach and other technicalities. Oh, and they still make a completely manual model for those like you who still need a workout! 🙂

@@brianhoward9217 I rode the NC750X with a DCT. It is awesome, no doubt. But, it’s not a sport bike, and there’s a reason I own a Busa. That said, the Busa stays in the garage when I’m running errands, and if weather is good, I have a scooter. The reason?- I hate using the clutch in traffic, and of course with the Busa, you’ll hardly ever change gears in town. It’d be awesome to have a proper motorcycle, that can still get up and go, while being easier to ride around town. The NC750X is the absolute perfect commuter bike, but I find it boring. If someone came out with a true sport bike with DCT, I’d be interested for sure. Until then, this is the next best thing. And I still enjoy shifting gears most of the time. I just hate constantly clutching in traffic.

@@thetowndrunk988 Against that backdrop I'd strongly suggest you'd love owning an Africa twin. Again, I don't own one YET, however based on what you say it could very well be your ideal bike. It has appreciably more mumbo (read low-down torque) than the 750, handles as fast and as confidently as you'd reasonably like to take a bike through canyons or twisties (sure, no scalpal sportsbike) and is as easy to live with and practical for urban stuff as the 750. Take a test ride, this AT DCT truly is a do it all bike. I've had a Ducati Multistrada since new in 2014 and that 150HP is, I thought, a hard thing to give up for the lowly 100 in the AT. I was mistaken in that worry as max torque in the AT arrives at 5,500 rpm and the Multi many thousands higher. An AT DCT can run 0-100kph on a shande over 3 secs, The Multi is 2.9 secs. AT not bad for only 2/3 the power - it is the luscious torque wave that does it and no time taken changing gears. It just GOES! So, it has performance, ease of use, better handling that the good handling of your 750 and is a real off road bike to boot. Give one a test ride, I'd be very interested to see what you think 🙂

When I read about it I also thought "what a stupid idea". Tried the new CB650R with e-clutch today, it was awesome. I totally understand and love the idea after trying it.

Yep, pretty much this ^^

Knowing Honda it may be surprisingly easy, just another module to remove with maybe another 4 bolts.

A friend of mine has one... Easy to replace, but expensive either way to get worked on.

I think the system only adds a complete module in top of the case, so the clutch system inside would be just the same.

You really want to swap out the amazing inline-4 in favor of that lame twin? 🤮people are weird…

Oh ffs. It’s still a full clutch. You can still manually operate it. It allows you to not have to pull in the clutch lever, unless you want to, and because it can control the clutch, it allows for even faster and smoother quick shifting in both directions. There’s no conspiracy here. There are tons of people that don’t wanna have to use a clutch anymore to ride, especially in traffic (myself included, which is why the Busa sits in the garage, and I take a scooter when I’m running errands around town).

@@thetowndrunk988 , slow clap :)

Well it worked. You engaged! 😉

@@Naldo_S1K I'd rather engage them gears, amirite?

@@fatcole1152 lol. You got me!

it reduces shift shock and you can use it at low rpms and low load unlike a quick shifter. especially auto blippers are rare from manufacturer. i have a mild disability and can't blip the throttle while squeezing the brake so I'm really hoping this comes to the united states.

@@gibble75310It is. 24’ CBR650R has it.

The point is it’s even faster and smoother than a quick shifter, it allows shifting at any rpm and load, and it allows you to still have a full manual transmission, while not having to constantly worth the clutch in traffic. The best part- you can still use the clutch.

Because it still allows full manual control of the clutch, like for very slow speed maneuvering, plus the fact that the computer disengages the clutch during a shift makes it smoother, especially at lower rpm’s.

You must be old

@@Sanisani9 no. Lazy, modern, efficient like all the automatic car drivers out there.

Don't see the appeal of making bikes as boring and automated as cars. You might see it as other manufacturers needing to "catch up", I see it as Honda making soulless bikes I wouldn't ride for free.

@@nordstar2698 Understood. Depends why you ride. I ride to get easily from A to B. I love riding but only ride to commute to work Others ride for the thrill, the feeling, the raw mechanical feel. I understand why those enjoy a more manual gearbox. Horses for courses.

​@@t288msdfor commuter bikes yes other manufacturers need to catch up. I have a honda xadv and i also love the dct. But for sports bikes i really hope this doesn't become a thing.

Since when?? Not recently

@@LeeTillbury They don't even fit Cruise Control as standard, the new Africa Twin needs it.