There seem to be quite a few potential owners wondering about whether ordering a DCT would be a good idea. I think it's fair to say that the majority of owners on the NC700/750 forum are in favour of the DCT box and there are endless discussions about how to use it. One member posted this today and I asked him if I could reproduce it on here as I think it's a good summary of how many of us use the DCT on the NC bikes.
I should make one qualification to what he says below. We have discovered today that the adaptive learning mode on the second generation DCT bikes (ie not the Africa Twin or the 2016 NC) applies to D-mode and not S-mode. I think it's fair to assume that the 3rd generation DCT will also have this adaptive learning mode, but it's likely it can't take the D-mode very much into the range covered by even the softest S-mode.
Mike
'As said by others, there are pros and cons and some folk really like the DCT, some don't, some are indifferent.
I like the DCT as a piece of technology, plus some of the great advantages it can offer, ease of use in traffic, heavy town use etc, plus ease of doing long days on the road in the mountains etc.
The key is to learn how you can use the DCT to suit you. For example as well as using the downshift button in D for overtakes etc, also using the upshift button in S mode if you find it being a bit late upshifting for your taste. The pre-2016DCT is adaptive in S mode, it will gradually learn your riding habits if you use the buttons and it will gradually adapt towards that. I found this quite effective when using S mode in mountains (Alps). I'm not sure what the new generation 2016 DCT does exactly with the 3 S modes on offer.
For engine braking, if you use the downshift button it will stay in that lower gear as long as you keep the throttle closed, so you can make full use of engine braking. It won't let you go down too many gears, and will downshift when it slows enough for the next gear. Just open the throttle again and it reverts to whatever mode you were in. You can switch modes on the go, D, S, and manual, as much as you wish, no need to stop etc.
With just a few exceptions the DCT technology has proven to be pretty reliable so far, and at least some of the issues have been electrical rather than with the DCT itself. There have been as many issues with the manual clutches as there have DCT's.
As said, the only way to find out is to try it, and try all the modes and ways you can override it etc.
I should make one qualification to what he says below. We have discovered today that the adaptive learning mode on the second generation DCT bikes (ie not the Africa Twin or the 2016 NC) applies to D-mode and not S-mode. I think it's fair to assume that the 3rd generation DCT will also have this adaptive learning mode, but it's likely it can't take the D-mode very much into the range covered by even the softest S-mode.
Mike
'As said by others, there are pros and cons and some folk really like the DCT, some don't, some are indifferent.
I like the DCT as a piece of technology, plus some of the great advantages it can offer, ease of use in traffic, heavy town use etc, plus ease of doing long days on the road in the mountains etc.
The key is to learn how you can use the DCT to suit you. For example as well as using the downshift button in D for overtakes etc, also using the upshift button in S mode if you find it being a bit late upshifting for your taste. The pre-2016DCT is adaptive in S mode, it will gradually learn your riding habits if you use the buttons and it will gradually adapt towards that. I found this quite effective when using S mode in mountains (Alps). I'm not sure what the new generation 2016 DCT does exactly with the 3 S modes on offer.
For engine braking, if you use the downshift button it will stay in that lower gear as long as you keep the throttle closed, so you can make full use of engine braking. It won't let you go down too many gears, and will downshift when it slows enough for the next gear. Just open the throttle again and it reverts to whatever mode you were in. You can switch modes on the go, D, S, and manual, as much as you wish, no need to stop etc.
With just a few exceptions the DCT technology has proven to be pretty reliable so far, and at least some of the issues have been electrical rather than with the DCT itself. There have been as many issues with the manual clutches as there have DCT's.
As said, the only way to find out is to try it, and try all the modes and ways you can override it etc.