OK so this might be a problem, BUT other than for the OP I don't think the rest of us should be panicking. I very much doubt if this is a widespread problem as there are now a fair number of DCT bikes out there and I have not heard of this before.

 

Well it would be remiss of me to have experienced this and not shared with others

Trust me, this thing went wrong. Very wrong. I can't confirm that what I experienced was as a direct result of the sticking left switchgear due to water ingress, but there are certainly a number of reports of the switchgear issue

 

Well it would be remiss of me to have experienced this and not shared with others

Trust me, this thing went wrong. Very wrong. I can't confirm that what I experienced was as a direct result of the sticking left switchgear due to water ingress, but there a a number of reports of the switchgear issue

Absolutely, and I know it looks as though the switch is at fault however I think we need to see the root cause, it could for example be due to an issue with the service procedure or incorrect reassembly etc etc.

Hopefully Honda will be looking at this with some urgency. Please keep us informed.

 

:surprise::surprise::surprise:

Keep us posted.

 

Glad you're OK, this problem sounds very dangerous indeed. If they do have any more similar issues there will very likely be a recall.

 

Imagine the bike going "wild" when you are filtering or on a rainy day :frown2:

 

I REALLY want this Africa Twin to be the reliable around-the-world bike Honda is marketing it as. But if there ends up being a fair amount of reports like this and the 2017 model doesn't receive fixes, I'll end up getting an XR650L.

 

Something else that tells me this is related to the left switchgear - HSTC. You can't wheelie the bike with traction control on - it's impossible. As soon as the front goes light it's like you hit an invisible rev limiter................ yesterday I had traction enabled, so why / how did it let me go skywards?

 

Found this on the net:

Posted 08 May 2013 - 07:42 AM

This morning my NC700X DCT wouldn't stand still at the traffic lights on my usual commute run, and the switch to put it in neutral didn't work. The Drive/Sport/Neutral selector wasn't responsive, and I also think that the MT/AT button selected Sport mode. Turning the ignition off and on again didn't rectify the problem, but just as I was getting off the bike to push it, I could select neutral, then gear, and the problem resolved itself.

I'll see if it happens again then call Honda. I suspect an electrical problem. It was wet this morning after a dry spell, although I'm clutching at straws here a bit. Luckily I'm only a year in to the 2yr warranty.

Some details:

Bike was July 2012 delivery, has done 2,500 miles, 67mpg average commuting west London to central London. It's had the chain recall, first service at 900 miles. Is ridden slowly and rarely goes above 70mph. I'll check the oil level when I get back to the bike.
Source

 

Honda UK don't seem to want to take me seriously, so until they do I'll carry on being interviewed by MCN and will spread my experience far and wide

Don't you have a government agency you can report the incident to? In the US we have the NHTSA, which decides what measures to take, recalls etc.

 

Really sorry to hear about that S4MST3R - a major disappointment and a major safety problem.

Sadly I picked my DCT up this morning and didn't see this otherwise I would have had serious reservations about going ahead. But now I'm in the same quagmire as you - albeit not having had the buttock-clenching moments (yet).

What a shame - this is precisely why I didn't go for a BMW... And I have a suspicion that Honda after-sales won't be quite as responsive as BMW after-sales...

Good luck with getting it sorted - one way or another - and please let us know how you get on.

 

That's a terrifying situation you found yourself in and one that gives me the fear.... Glad you got away with it.
I'll admit I have an over active imagination and I don't wish to scaremonger, but if that had happened in some other situation, at speed or mid bend... it could have been potentially life changinglly bad.
How about off road, with a drop..... etc, etc. I'm getting slightly carried away but I'm seriously questioning the faith I had in the new tech and wondering if I could relax knowing about this situation.
We know there are always mechanical failure risks on a bike but not having the ability to physically disengage the motor is a bit of a worry.
I guess well have to see if anything else gets reported and look at the odds but I am now having doubts about my choice of DCT over Manual.

 

I'm happy the OP is fine and sorry to hear that the DCT isn't working out like it says on the box... But it's a far cry from a consistent problem which is being reported by everyone. And I'm not sure if this single post is enough to put doubt on my mind as it has on you it seems.
DCT isn't exactly new technology, has it had been in other bikes in previous years.
Of course, as a buyer of DCT myself, I am hoping it is one off, which remains to be seen.
Honda has always proven to be reliable, so if there is any problem within the warranty period, I'm sure they will fix it.

 

"plus they gave me back the ludicrous amount of throttle free play"
... did they adjust the throttle cable? I remember my throttle cable sticking open on my X7 when I was just a teenager. That was a lot of fun. With 6" of snow on the ground!

 

Oh great, what memories, I had an X7 also. My throttle was fine but a rear puncture, two up at 70MPH on M4 was scary!

 

You maybe right Washryc, it's not that new and it's only one incident. Same could happen with any other part of a bike I guess... Just that it's new to me and probably most on here and I find it takes me a while to catch up with tech changing. I still ride with two fingers covering the clutch from starting on two strokes, old habits and all that..... I'll see how it goes and not do anything rash.

 

Its not the only incident of its kind, i have had 4 DCT bikes and had no problem but have read of at least 3 more.

 

It is a brand new generation of DCT though (3rd gen?). But DCT has been around for 6 years on a production Honda, and has proven incredibly robust

Little update:

Honda Assist arrived at lunchtime - and then left again as the vehicle they sent wasn't capable of carrying the AT. Haha - you couldn't make it up! Bigger truck came a couple of hours later and just before loading it I started the bike up. Interestingly it wouldn't engage drive and wouldn't show neutral on the gear indicator (green N light was displayed on the side segment)

It seems to have gone into some sort of failsafe mode and just had a flashing "-" where it would normally show, "N"

None the wiser yet as to what happened yesterday, but it's now at the dealers and am expecting a new left hand switch set to be fitted on Monday morning. I really need them to conduct a thorough test as my confidence in what was becoming a brilliant machine, up until it went wild on me, has taken a bit of a knock

Honda have called me a few times wanting details and have committed to working closely and supporting the dealer in investigating what went on

Thanks for finding that post marekm. That's the first I've seen of anybody else having any form of DCT trouble. I've been riding it in the wet since I picked it up, including through some pretty big floods on Wednesday. I did a lot of research before deciding on the DCT over the manual, and it's still the version that fits my needs

 

Glad you are ok!

It seems to have gone into some sort of failsafe mode and just had a flashing "-" where it would normally show, "N"

This is mentioned in the owners manual, page 134. See attachment.

What about your service, did they do something to the switchgear? At least they must have opened it, if they found water inside. Maybe they did something wrong when they put it back together? Cable under the screw? This is just a speculation...

.

 

Guessing here but once water gets into electronic circuits and connections it can be totally unpredictable. Especially as the switches on the left side control both TC and the gear changing. What's a little more mystifying is the revving of the engine but as that's no doubt handled via the same CPU it might just be all the confusing signals from the left control that are outside normal parameters and then all bets are off... Or that the right unit has problems!! Strange that Honda didn't test this too well - or maybe production units differ slightly from test units.

There was another owner who reported a startup issue on this forum - it crunched slightly and then wouldn't engage a gear until it was restarted. So maybe the various manifestations are out there.

So Honda has a problem - well, we DCT owners have a problem anyway. Not only will we not trust the bikes but we won't be able to flog 'em! Who'll buy one if this starts happening more often?

Given that even the manual units are getting switchgear problems the owners of those bikes might want to lean less on the TC...

B*gger.

 

Guessing here but once water gets into electronic circuits and connections it can be totally unpredictable. Especially as the switches on the left side control both TC and the gear changing. What's a little more mystifying is the revving of the engine but as that's no doubt handled via the same CPU it might just be all the confusing signals from the left control that are outside normal parameters and then all bets are off... Or that the right unit has problems!! Strange that Honda didn't test this too well - or maybe production units differ slightly from test units.

There was another owner who reported a startup issue on this forum - it crunched slightly and then wouldn't engage a gear until it was restarted. So maybe the various manifestations are out there.

So Honda has a problem - well, we DCT owners have a problem anyway. Not only will we not trust the bikes but we won't be able to flog 'em! Who'll buy one if this starts happening more often?

Given that even the manual units are getting switchgear problems the owners of those bikes might want to lean less on the TC...

B*gger.

Water in electrical circuits is never predictable. In most instances it does as expected and shorts everything out. Sometimes it blocks the current path and other times completes the current path despite the switch being in the open position. With a multi switch housing as found on motorcycles all bets are off.

 

Sounds like a nightmare. One thing I can't get my head around is why it revved open with a manual throttle. I could understand if it was a fly by wire, anyhow I'll be taking it easy in the wet from now on, only done 100 miles so far so good

 

Yeah I couldn't figure that throttle but out either tbh.
Now I'm wondering IF this is something we can control, by making the switches more water tight than when it left the factory.

 

My hand muffs are on order as I write this! Lol.

 

Well, glad no physical harm was done to the OP, apart from new undies and valium.

I think (hope) this is going to be a one off situation. the clue for me is the
free play in the throttle, something not right there.

I would guess that water in the switchgear caused gearbox glitch, and human error in servicing combined to produce the buckeroo effect.

All i can say is hope it get sorted and the root cause of the issue is found.

I shall be making a mental note to myself to hit the kill switch if I experience anything like that.

 

Now I'm wondering IF this is something we can control, by making the switches more water tight than when it left the factory.[/QUOTE]

Yes, I used ACF50 spray and Corrosion Block grease on all switch gear internals as soon as I got home, should not have any problems with water in the switch gear, I also removed the block connectors from the REG/REC PGM-FI UNIT and various connections just behind the rear shock and used Corrosion block waterproof grease, these seem to be very exposed to all the crud!bloody stupid place to put em!!

 

Now I'm wondering IF this is something we can control, by making the switches more water tight than when it left the factory.

Yes, I used ACF50 spray and Corrosion Block grease on all switch gear internals as soon as I got home, should not have any problems with water in the switch gear, I also removed the block connectors from the REG/REC PGM-FI UNIT and various connections just behind the rear shock and used Corrosion block waterproof grease, these seem to be very exposed to all the crud!bloody stupid place to put em!!

Could you explain what you did? I have never had to "water proof" my bikes...
Having come from riding only make sports, classics and thumpers, I rarely ride in the rain, or try not to as much as I can...

You open up the switchgear unit and spray on all contact points? And grease the contact points as well?

 

This little note alone disqualifies the new AT as a "True Adventure" bike :frown2:

They may have just as well written.

"If the "-" indicator is blinking immediately stop your bike, park it in a safe place, walk to the nearest Starbucks / McDonalds and wait for your Honda dealer to arrive. You will be able to resume your adventure ride as soon as we have......."

The only question which remains:

Should we laugh or cry ?

 

No sense in going to Island on the new AT

 

Yes - basically, until proven otherwise, we should have bought a different bike. What a shame - and how unlike Honda.

I know a lot of people are saying this might have been an isolated incidence but let's be honest - it's currently a small sample size and a bike has proved to be dangerous. What other conclusion can you draw other than Honda have dropped the ball big time? I'm naffed off - I have to buy another bike I can rely on and I now can't sell the one I have. I hate to say this but maybe I should have bought the BMW after all.

Strange how reality can bite - I thought I had bought a bike I can rely on... Now I'm not entirely sure I want to ride the bike I have in the garage with 24 miles on the clock! B*llocks.

 

Calm down dear, do you mean the BMW that killed Kevin Ash on its launch.

If I understand you correctly, you dont have a problem with your bike, but want to sell it allready.

 

I take your point - it's a good one. But I'm anxious - I have a bike I want to go places on and it might just have a serious problem. Do I wait for it to be resolved, do I wait for it to happen to me or do I wait for it to be identified as an isolated issue?

I'm nervous!

I'm the first to admit I could be over-reacting. But equally, if I knew this before I had bought the bike I maybe wouldn't have bought it and I'd possibly have bought something else. As my trips are imminent I will now wait anxiously for info - I'm hoping all is ok and its a simple fix - like new switchgear all round. But you can't possibly be sitting there thinking all is ok can you?

 

Maybe motorcycling isnt for you>
What if a car, t-bones you, what if you hit a patch of diesel on a bend, both more likely than experiencing the same situation as the OP.

 

Thanks - enlightening response.

If only all my customers were as understanding when we ship our software releases. Lol!