Was I wrong about the DCT Goldwing? 

Big respect for Jerry here. He didn't have to post this video, but did.

Good for him. Glad he pointed out that he dropped the bike 10 times because you rarely hear that aspect of it, and that is what it takes.

Man, that DCT gent has done quite well in a short time.

Huge respect for this guys skill level in just a few months riding. Better bike handling than many iron butt, Sturgis 3 times, whatever, riders. I understand the time he spent practicing, the literal sweat he worked up, and the drops that happened. I've done it. Great job "Newb"! 👏🏆

That's me in the blue long sleeve shirt (background and not the focus of the video)! What a great day, fantastic class, and awesome teacher. Thank you, Jerry!

Wow, this gentleman really control his Motorcycle like a old pro!

I have the Goldwing 2023 dct airbag. I have been riding motorcycles since I was sixteen and was a motor officer for a number of years as well. It's just about practice. The Goldwing can do what ever the big Harley's can do. Not better, just different.

Jerry, not sure if another comment is necessary, but here goes. Like a lot of guys/gals, I grew up on bikes then paused to raise a family (20+years). So when going back to riding I already had some idea of do and don’t, friction zone , rear brake dragging. The best thing was getting YOUR video. Combined with my previous skills, and your slower speed drills, I admit I have improved. As an Indian Scout owner that traded up to a 2022 Honda Goldwing DCT I say that your advice and drills dramatically improved my overall skills. I’m nowhere near perfect or ready to compete in slow speed cone course, but already impressing my Goldwing peers. Considerable differences in clutch friction zone and drag rear brake technique. I have dailed in U turns, and leaving from parked perpendicular to the right of way. The point is people need master 2wheels before getting injured of killed! That’s the whole point of surviving the mean streets. At 140lbs., you can’t THROW around an 880# machine. You must become one with the balance of the geometry the bike has. You are maybe the best instructor on this. I recommend it for anyone I come across. I have already put 22,000 miles since June of 2022, and counting. One last thing, a guy told me in a driver’s meeting at The Amazing Challenge in West Virginia, “Ride in 80% of your skill level on these fantastic roads, leaving 20% for unsuspecting things that can pop up.” I think I enjoyed the challenge more listening to him rather than fall off the mountain! Peace to you and yours! JT on a DCT ✌️

Anyone who owns a wing, and ends up on an intercity freeway during rush hour, will not be worrying about the strain on the throttle. Been through LA a few times, but the last trip to Long Beach at peak rush hour and about 100 degrees, in crawling stop and start was enough to make my clutch hand almost seize up. No I'm not in favour of lane splitting especially on a bike that is wider than most. No wonder I have changed my mind on the DCT. It's too bad that I will never be able to afford to get one of these before I take the great dirt nap. Been riding wings for 49 years now and the thrill has never gone away.

And there's the owner and Jerry moving it around with the ease of a child's toy! Just practice 😊

A friend loaned me his DCT Gold Wing for a few months last year and slow speed riding took a lot more practice. It was awesome around town and on the highway. I never dropped it or got really good at the low speed, but I really liked the bike.

Great discussion. It does require more practice. I had to change my philosophy to master low speed maneuvering. The fundamental of the head direction alone is huge. Thanks for bringing that up Jerry and congratulations to your student. At the end of the day, the GW DCT is a great bike. But not for most new riders. Take care and happy riding

I took the Ride like a Pro course on a Harley Ultra Limited full dresser. It was fun and confidence inspiring. That bike was a top heavy beast. I now own a 2019 DCT Goldwing. Have owned a month now. Its much easier to ride with a passenger. Weight is much better distributed. The DCT is a whole new challenge and that is one reason I like it. It unfortunately has poor factory crash guards. Not great for low speed practice. I absolutely love the bike. Fast, quiet, comfortable, walk mode in forward and reverse for parking. Low speed is still a work in progress but no big deal after a few weeks of regular riding. Another great video. Thanks

Motorman, I have a 2021 DCT and the name of the game when doing slow speed maneuvering is not to give the bike any throttle. The computer is design for all situations but don’t fight the DCT computer and you will be ok.

Been riding for over fifty years, took me over a year to learn how to use the “automatic” DCT properly on my Africa Twin. Huge buyer’s remorse at first; loved the bike, hated the DCT. Now, I absolutely love it. All that said, I’m still not sure if I only had one bike, if it would be DCT.

I took your Arizona class riding my K1600 GTL and it was a challenge pushing an 800lb top heavy bike around those cones, especially later in the day when fatigue set in. Now I ride a DCT Tour and I have practiced slow speed drills on my own, but haven’t taken a police training class yet. I find the Goldwing’s handling effortless compared to the K, even though it’s heavier. The DCT rider showed a lot of skill, and that gives me hope.

Good one Jerry - and to your dedicated student! Not many folks are willing to drop a brand new “Nagel Neu” bike 10x times lol. Great to hear your conversation and sharing notes! Good weekend all!

I have a 20022 Honda African Twin with the DCT. After a year on it I had the Honda foot shift kit installed. Now I have the best of both worlds. Great being able to go from one to the other depending on the circumstance

“ You have to drop the bike at least 10 times to get to that level.” I have a 2023 Goldwing, here in Canada it was over $30000 and as opposed to Harleys , there is not much out there for crash protection ( I dropped it once practicing and my Highway pegs saved the bike) . I still practice slow speed but I am not nearly as good as I could be but there aint no way I m dropping my $30000 bike 10 times…. I believe I will get better and improve even though I am being more careful and taking less risk. It will just take longer . If I had a free bike I wasn’t afraid to drop I would definitely take my practice to another level. What are your thoughts Motorman ? Love your videos, great advice . thanks for the entertainment🤓🏍

Thanks for the video Jerry. Your videos helped a lot. I would watch a few on Fridays before weekend practice to get some tips and inspiration. The class showed me some things I have to work on! (Jerry graciously left out the drop and the failures on the 20mph cone weave!) I'll see you again when it cools off!

Awesome that he got the DCR Goldwing around your course ok. He's an excellent rider. Yes agree you need heaps of practice. Go the Gold wings.

This guy is pretty damn good for only riding a few months. I've been riding an 1800 Goldwing since 2004 and I think I would be nervous riding this course. Good job.

I've done your class in New Port Richey Gerry, and others since, both in Ireland and the UK. FLHRSI was my go-to bike until I tried an Africa Twin DCT. Then I graduated to a GoldWing DCT and I can do everything on the Wing I could do on my FLHRSI. Yes, it's harder, yes you do have to work at it - but it's all doable. The Snowman took me a few goes, especially on the last circle, but I got there eventually and now it's 2nd nature. Its not the bike(s)you have to train so much, it's more your head to have to train...

J' I've had mine almost 4 years now and it's really just a learning curve coming from all my Dad's HD's - Great update to validate all us GL1800's DCT'ers

Jerry, yep! I had purchased my 2019 DCT before I saw your video and yeah, I was a little concerned at first. Yes, I had to practice quite a bit for a few months before it finally "clicked" and now I practice a couple of times a week. Once the bike and I got to an agreement on how it was going to respond, we're totally friends now. Love this thing. Thanks for posting this video.

Jerry, disagreement is not hate, it's all option that some still don't want to hear. I took a local PD Motor Division course (Chandler, AZ) a few months ago on my '19 DCT Tour. I maimed a few cones the first 20 minutes in the course but was good after that. I never dropped the bike despite some very sharp low speed maneuvers. I tried at the very first to run the course in Rain mode but that was not a good idea, so back to Tour mode. The lack of a clutch resulted in a lot of rear brake and focused throttle control. I have been riding this bike for almost 5 years after about 25 yrs of 3 previous Goldwings. I will not take another course as I took as the learning points are with me constantly and I do do some parking lot slow speed maneuvers about once a month. Point being, just like any bike, especially large bikes, practice and patience is required to be skilled at riding. Thanks for the video.

The DCT is definitely different, especially in slow speeds. However, different does not mean bad. If you get comfy with the difference, it is awesome. Good analogy is pineapple on pizza. 9 out of 10 people say it isn't good. Ask them if they have tried it and 8 of those 9 will say no. You have to give "new things" a fair try before rating them as bad...

Not a goldwing fan but it looks good and your a natural at riding this bike .

Awesome job on the gold wing very nice thanks for sharing

Really enjoyed this , I ride a 17 Goldwing not a DCT but whatever you ride you are out there on the streets with all the cars trucks people and weather conditions, road challenges , so anything we can do to improve our ods is worth doing . Thanks for what you do 👍😎

I'm amazed the he went from a couple hundred miles on a Honda Shadow to a Wing!! Practice makes perfect!!!

Traxxion Dynamics makes a tip over protection kit for the 2018+ Goldwing. Protects saddlebags and mirrors from a drop (it's not crash bars) if you've not checked them out. I have a set and it's a great product.

Thanks for posting this Jerry. I remember the vid where you panned the DCT and as a DCT owner it surprised me then. Its different but not bad once you practice with it.

Honda Rebel 1100 (Africa Twin engine) has DCT option and it's only 500lbs. With some simple comfort modifications it can be very comfortable cruiser/tourer... And best of all - you can get slightly used one for around $7-8K ... Go beat that.

lol, I only ride trike converted Goldwing these days. Too old to pick them heavy machines back up when the fall over. For me no feet on the ground and no need to concern myself with the twisty and cone riding for slow speed operation training. All heavy two wheel motorcycles require practice to learn to ride properly.

Great job

Wow...he seems to have a lot of riding talent for a guy who hasn't been riding that long.

He looked very good.. nice

Well Done. Thank you

Dct is great. Tight turn is OK but you don't want to scrape the sides like this harley people do😊

I had a 2018 DCT Goldwing and I loved it! But despite a lot of practice, I was never able to get that good with DCT turning

Great video for those of us with large bikes ( K1600 here)

Anything with a Goldwing in it is Gooood

Kevin - great riding. You say you dropped it about ten times. I don’t see any crash protection except the standard two black pucks on each side. Did you sustain any damage at all to the bike? I’m wondering as I have a new Wing. Thanks. And thanks Jerry - love your videos.

I've heard a lot of bad things about DCT during slow-speed riding overextended periods of time, it wears out the clutches fast.

Great video, Jerry! Out of curiosity, since part of the DCT Goldwing's difficulty is having no clutch (automatic transmission), do any scooter riders do your class? If so, do they have a similar experience in the class or are they OK since they're not riding something as big as a Goldwing?

Hoping the protection for the rear of the latest generation comes into production soon. I know the front protection is officered (national cycle?) but my generation "14 and previous has good rear protection.

This is spot on, 100% accurate. It is harder, but not impossible. Many DCT owners wish Honda would add a clutch override lever, like a clutch lever you never need but it'll make the clutch disengage when *you* the rider want.

Hey Motorman, thanks for the information you share all the time. I enjoy very much and I would love to come down for your class. My big concern or issue is slow speeds maneuvering. I have a Victory Cross Country and I feel My bike moves too fast for these slow speed exercises. I am too afraid of dropping my bike and I get way too tense.

Like a maxi scooter with a CVT. Centrifugal clutch is modulated by engine RPM's and using rear brake. 2007 Honda Helix with 64 in. wheelbase.

I personally will never buy a DCT. Part of the fun of riding is shifting gears. Some like them; I do not. It's a personal preference thing, I think. Jerry was right in his assessment. Riding them has it's own set of challenges. At the end of the day, I'll still ride with anyone! Ride safe, ride well, and ride often! Thanks, Jerry!

Just be aware that the DCT isn't very robust when used excessively for slow speed training, and Honda isn't picking up the warranty claims when it breaks (and it does). Ride safe.

Hey motorman , i dont think you were wrong about being a hard bike to master this type of riding it would be as your not using the principle of the friction zone which i believe would make it extreamly difficult to maintain control , Now i have watched a lot of your videos cant remember if i watched the one people got upset about or not but for this guy to come from riding a 600 to a wing well thats a leap . But what he said was true if you do not practice how will you get better ? if you dont drop your bike how will you learn ? I watch a lot of videos from wing owners in the states and most of there riding is straight roads like on your freeways i would love to see some of these guys attend your classes anyone can ride in a straight line or turn a corner at the lights . I have heard that running the dct wing at low speeds is not recommended as the trans is not designed for it maybe its true i dont know . I am not a fan of the dct wing i believe it takes part of the essence of riding a bike away , i am a fan of the gold wing i believe it is a pinical of engineering excellence but i also watch a lot of harley davidson videos as well there a tough machine you may have seen M.D.B "s videos he takes that bike where no bike has gone before and i dont think a wing would survive ,my hat is off to those two guys as the old saying goes practice makes perfect take care .

I have a DCT and it does not allow for the same amount of control for low speed moving as a standard set-up: there is a computer between you and the clutch and its programming cannot know all, that said, it does remove the greatest perceived barrier to a new rider. Aside from the low speed disadvantage, it always selects the correct gear and it can spoil you from its ease of use.

last year i was looking for a newer bike. I had a 17 Ultra limited. I considered a wing. I couldn't find a dealer in 300 miles that had a standard transmission bike in stock, and i couldn't find a dealer who would actually let you test drive a DCT. in the end i stuck with Harley and upgraded to a 22 Road Glide limited. Honda missed out, i was ready and willing to give then a shot

I heard that doing too much low speed riding on a GL dct will burn out the clutch prematurely.

I had a good friend that had a gold wing. I told me the most boring motorcycle he ever had. My experience with a Honda was a Shadow. It most of it's time in the shop it leaked everything. It was the most uncomfortable motorcycle aI ever owned Couldn't ride it a hundred miles without aching in the back legs and shoulders Went back to Harley and was happy again.

Not the focus of this video or channel, but I think the Goldwing DCT would make a great trike. Currently own a Road King and a Road Glide 3 trike.

I have a FJR1300. It also has no clutch. It's the best and the worst feature of the bike. The shifting is instant. But, low speed maneuvers take more faith than a bike with a clutch. I miss the friction zone that the clutch offers. But, on the road, the bike is amazing.

I don't understand when Kevin mentions cruise control. On local roads, I can ride for hours without any wrist fatigue because I don't stay at one speed (one throttle position) for very long. It's only when I am on an interstate freeway that I use the cruise control, otherwise my wrist gets sore from being in one position for a long time.

Try it riding double !!

I’m conflicted about something the rider said in this video. He said he dropped the bike at least ten times. Then he said you have to drop it to learn. I’ve ridden the street for 42 years and never dropped one of my 30 or so bikes, including 4 Goldwings. The conflicting part is that this guy is probably better at slow speed riding on his wing than I am. Am I taking the wrong approach in having the goal of never dropping a bike? Great video, by the way

I wonder what year wing he has. The new front suspension has a panalever type fork. It looks like the angle is steeper than the older traditional front suspension

I cannot understand the negative reactions to the DCT based on a minor deficiency in parking lot cone maneuvering. I propose that the DCT is vastly superior in emergency braking, completely removing the clutch/shifting aspect of an emergency stop. This is far more important to me than parking lot maneuvers.

I have a 2024 DCT and have noticed that I can't turn it as tightly as my BMW 1250RS; however, the difference really doesn't make much of a difference to me.

Did a test ride on a DCT about 5 years ago. Couldn't wait to get back on my 97 SE. There's a learning curve for sure but it can be done. IF you don't mind dropping a $30K bike several times. Honda sure screwed up the drop/tip over protection. Only real question is how long will the clutches in the DCT hold up in slow speed practice? They wear quickly because the trans is always shifting at those low speeds and I heard Honda doesn't care for replacing them under warranty. Even if I could afford a new one I would stick with the 1500 or 02-17 1800's.

So.... I will have to agree more with the first opinion of the DCT. It is a great bike for touring and cruising on the open highway however this will not consistently make it in tight maneuvers or a rodeo type environment. The person in this video has obviously put in the time and work to get at the level he is at.

Love the Goldwing big Kay muncher i own super tenere not stock love thebig Yamaha wouldn't part with it

Its not reamended to do slow speed monoverse for extended periods, for the short time he's had the bike he's done good.

I would never by a dct, I have riden them, not for me

For those who can't handle the truth, you can't play the game, if you don't know the rules. Learn the rules and exploit them. Living in denial is only your personal detriment.

So, did he change your opinion or not?😂 for my, my gl1800tour dct is a best of the best so far😎

"Well, there's a rose in a fisted glove And the eagle flies with the dove And if you can't be with the one you love, honey Love the one you're with Love the one you're with Love the one you're with Love the one you're with"

Bad thing about the DCT Gold Wing is you can burn up the clutches doing the constant slow speed maneuvers...and Honda won't warranty that..its already happened ...Honda calls that rider abuse.

Was he wearing a Harley shirt at the end? 😂

Guess you forgot you said no to buy a DCT because the clutch burns up🤔

Oh sure, I traded in my DCT Goldwing for a Road King, and NOW I’m gonna have to trade the RK in for a Goldwing!!! 😅 Kidding of course, I love my RK. I’m going to trade soon for a new Street Glide, which seems like the perfect combo of GW-like tech with Harley Touring maneuverability.

Humans can learn to overcome almost anything with enough practice, but why buy a technology that requires so much finesse to do normal maneuvers? Also, you have to ride faster on a DCT to do these maneuvers than on other more suitable bikes. Notice he keeps pretty good speed through all the maneuvers. Ask him to ride at half his current speed and see what happens.

Probably because people equate your statement as the hardest as being impossible. It is definitely not impossible, and very learnable. Maybe instead of describing something as being hard, instead say these bikes will take more work to finesse.

I would not buy a DCT anything, too much risk of "problems", besides I enjoy shifting a traditional motorcycle's manual trans.

It’s all about practice given all your Harley time , maybe some more time on other bikes before you make the “don’t “ videos?

have you ever been rearended by an inexperienced newbie gold wing rider ? i have . like getting hit with a 1000lb sledgehammer. i thought a truck had run over me

after you get an automatic transmission on a two wheeler, remember to add the third wheel . you are no longer riding a motorcycle

Cruise control 😢

Why not just buy the Accord and ditch the rain suit?

I’m a GoldWing rider, and I’m more impressed that you to this level in 5 months on anything with two wheels. That was impressive. Do you wonder why you waited so long to get on a bike? @kevinlong4133

Put it in Tour manual mode and put it in first gear. You’ll have plenty of control between the throttle and rear brake. Unless you think you’re going to compete in a Motor Office Rodeo, you’ll have more control than you’re capable of using. Throttle still too twitchy? Put in Rain manual mode.