DCT Is Not Ruining Motorcycles — But the Facebook Comments Might Be

By Jerry James – Moto Adrenaline Tours

There’s nothing like a calm morning scroll through your motorcycle groups on Facebook… until someone drops the DCT bomb.

Yep, another post about Honda’s Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), and just like clockwork, the purists come flying in like seagulls at a picnic.

“That’s not a real motorcycle!”“It’s just a scooter with big dreams!”“What’s next, cupholders and Netflix?!”

Let’s pump the brakes — or at least apply them smoothly with ABS — and have an honest, slightly humorous, and totally clutchless conversation about DCT and why it’s not the beginning of the end. In fact, it might just be the beginning of something awesome.

“But I Want to Shift My Own Gears!”

Cool story. Most DCT bikes let you do that! You can go fully automatic and let the tech handle everything, or switch to manual mode and click through the gears with handlebar-mounted buttons. It’s like shifting with your thumbs — and if that doesn’t sound cool, you’ve clearly never flown a drone or played a video game in the last 10 years.

“It Takes Away the Skill!”

Yes, and so did fuel injection, power brakes, traction control, and disc brakes. Want to really test your “skills”? Try riding a rigid-frame bike with no suspension, no helmet, and wooden wheels. That’s the way grandpa did it, right?

But here's the truth: DCT doesn't take away skill — it removes distraction. It gives you one less thing to worry about when you're dodging potholes, admiring the view, or trying not to stall at a red light with your pillion on board.

“It’s Not the Same Experience.”

You’re right again. It’s smoother. It’s stress-free in traffic. It’s easy on your left hand in stop-and-go conditions. It’s a hoot in the twisties. And it lets more people — from beginners to aging riders with arthritis — keep enjoying the ride.

You know what’s really not the same experience? Sitting at home reading negative Facebook posts while other folks are out riding their DCT-equipped bikes with giant grins on their faces.

Real Talk: Motorcycling Is About Freedom

Some of us love the old-school clunk of a foot shifter. Others enjoy seamless transitions and effortless acceleration. One is not more "authentic" than the other. Both are valid. Both are motorcycles. And both deserve space on the road and in the garage.

Motorcycling is freedom — the freedom to choose your machine, your adventure, and your experience.

Worried About Resale Value? Bless Your Heart.

Let’s address the elephant in the room:

“But what about resale? No one wants a DCT bike!”

Okay, let’s be brutally honest: the resale market for motorcycles isn’t exactly booming — regardless of transmission type. Unless you’re selling a collector's item with Steve McQueen’s signature and a tank full of moonshine, you’re probably not making your money back.

And if you're buying motorcycles to flip for profit? Well… that’s a blog post (and probably a therapy session) for another day.

Final Thoughts

So is DCT for everyone? Nope. But it’s not ruining motorcycling — it’s enhancing it for a lot of riders. And that’s a win in our book.

So whether you clutch, click, twist, or just twist and go — keep the rubber side down and let others enjoy the ride their way.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to ride my DCT through some Ozark twisties — and I promise you, I’ll be smiling the whole way.

Want to test ride a DCT for yourself? Come join us on one of our Moto Adrenaline Tours — we don’t judge your transmission… we just ride.

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