I spent an hour on Saturday and all day Sunday on a Crosstourer DCT, fab engine, great sound, superb crackle on the overrun which was very addictive. The DCT is amazing, gear changes are instantaneous and sooooooo smooth. Engine pulls so well from such low revs that if you are gentle on the throttle tootling in a suburban area and in D it will be in 5th by 32 mph and 6th by 37. Sport mode and aggressive throttle will see it hold on to any gear up to the redline.
On a medium throttle 3rd , 4th ' 5th and 6th only make there changes felt by a drop in exhaust tone . Amazing. Full throttle shifts are just so quick it's unreal. Fantastic if you regularly take a pillion.
You have total control too even in auto mode , if you don't like the gear you are in choose another . It will stay in what is effectively auto mode but give you the gear you want fro a while until it feels it needs to change again. Example ; in auto (5th gear) following three cars I see an overtaking opportunity coming up so I knocked it down to 3rd , the opportunity comes, gas it , gone, pull back in throttle back and she goes back up to 4th then quickly 5th again.
Of course I could've just pinned it in which case she will drop down a couple of cogs anyway but you don't always want to give it a fistful, it's nice to be ready in the gear you want.
It's a really great bike , solid , stable , surefooted and quick but it's isn't as nimble as the GS, it feels slower steering and the extra weight makes itself felt as 'inertia' when trying to flick it on its side or flip flopping through a series of bends. The weight isn't an issue at slow speed as its really well balanced. The brakes are fab too.
If it handled like the GS it would be awesome . I think a better rider than me wouldn't have a problem with the handling and it might just be a case of getting used to it.
Lastly the fit and finish is superb, the body panels are so well made and fit together so well. I too, a look at the Tracer (not ridden one) and whilst in many ways that might be a better bike, more fun/agile, the Tracer felt cheap and plasticky in comparison to the Honda.
It's a bloody great piece of kit
On a medium throttle 3rd , 4th ' 5th and 6th only make there changes felt by a drop in exhaust tone . Amazing. Full throttle shifts are just so quick it's unreal. Fantastic if you regularly take a pillion.
You have total control too even in auto mode , if you don't like the gear you are in choose another . It will stay in what is effectively auto mode but give you the gear you want fro a while until it feels it needs to change again. Example ; in auto (5th gear) following three cars I see an overtaking opportunity coming up so I knocked it down to 3rd , the opportunity comes, gas it , gone, pull back in throttle back and she goes back up to 4th then quickly 5th again.
Of course I could've just pinned it in which case she will drop down a couple of cogs anyway but you don't always want to give it a fistful, it's nice to be ready in the gear you want.
It's a really great bike , solid , stable , surefooted and quick but it's isn't as nimble as the GS, it feels slower steering and the extra weight makes itself felt as 'inertia' when trying to flick it on its side or flip flopping through a series of bends. The weight isn't an issue at slow speed as its really well balanced. The brakes are fab too.
If it handled like the GS it would be awesome . I think a better rider than me wouldn't have a problem with the handling and it might just be a case of getting used to it.
Lastly the fit and finish is superb, the body panels are so well made and fit together so well. I too, a look at the Tracer (not ridden one) and whilst in many ways that might be a better bike, more fun/agile, the Tracer felt cheap and plasticky in comparison to the Honda.
It's a bloody great piece of kit