Description :
Why are clutch and switch if the technology can do it? Automatic Motorcycles are becoming more present, but what are they useful, whom perhaps rightly an eyesore? Variator and dual-clutch transmission in comparison.
A huge proportion of newly produced vehicles in the automotive industry leaves the assembly lines with an automatic transmission.
Stammtisch to heated discussions this amenity has, for years no longer, and a restriction of freedom or reprehensible gearshift laments hardly anyone. Rather the opposite is the case. Compared with manual transmission promises a modern automatic a gain in comfort and ease, and at best an increase in dynamics.
All those who have ever driven a car with a dual clutch transmission will confirm this passionately.
Automatic motorcycles with motorcyclists, however ridicule, at best, met with skepticism by a limitation of the entire “life philosophy motorbike” is even mentioned. But if those skeptics ever ever seen such a bike went and how wonderful that work? Honda believes at least on an ongoing trend and equipped VFR 1200 and Crosstourer also the low-budget motorcycle.
NC 700 S and X, out to an additional cost of 1000 euros with an automatic dual-clutch transmission (DCT).
This dubious at first sight combination of a favorable motorcycle with a lavishly produced double-clutch into place only when you look at the Honda Integra scooter .
It is based on the same engine and frame-based and, in contrast to the competition just that with a classic dual-clutch gear transmission.
The NC 700 S DCT can be externally fortunately not show their scooters relationship. But this new and innovative hybrid strategy between scooter and motorcycle is not. Since 2007, the Aprilia Mana is in the starting blocks.
Your 90-degree V2 engine with 839 cubic centimeters is from the Gilera GP 800 scooter and was acquired technically almost unchanged.
The transmission ratio is continuously changed by a belt drive. Simply raise the gas and glide smoothly across the country. But one must, however, take the roller typical rubber band effect in purchasing.
But who now has a high-revving 50-cc scooter in front of eyes and ears in the wrong, huge.
harmonious. A pressure on the knobs, and the Aprilia V2 with at least 76 hp crankshaft power bubbling going strong.
In this soundscape no one thinks a scooter. Visually, the Mana makes entirely on Italian finesse and emotion, convinced in concentrated viewing with fine workmanship and amazing features features such as adjustable by eccentric tips the foot brake pedal and the gear lever.
Overall, the ergonomics at a high level, although the subtle sporting knee angle is not quite right for the relatively high-mounted handlebars. Whether such a scooter motorcycle is fun? So brave the gas turn up, the centrifugal clutch and left to try to force closure.
Energetic sprints ahead Aprilia. Constant with constant speed, the motor accelerates the Mana pithy and punchy. No wonder, because the high base speed level provides ample torque at any time of the advance, which is, however, accompanied by strong vibrations.
Relieved of all shifts, one can deal entirely with the ideal line. For 229 kg total weight, the mana can comfortably throw in handy tilt draws, then, aided by the excellent functioning Pirelli Tires, stoic and stable their orbits.
After only half an hour test drive through the Black Forest, one wonders as traditionalist motorcyclist how much you can do without real operations with inevitable response to load change.
Although not ultra-direct, but quite fleet commands in implementing the gas propulsion has played a significant part. Three automatic modes (Touring, Rain, sports) are available and differ mainly in the basic speed range. Who wants to determine the ratio itself, this as with the Honda manually toggle switch or foot pedal to the known (supplement Honda: 250 Euro) do.
When Mana seven predefined gear ratios are available sequentially. An actuator to change the distance between the primary pulley. This feature, however, need no one, the Variator harmonizes both when accelerating and when coasting nicely with the V2 engine.
Even the engine brake torque is at closed throttle fine usable. Suffers the driving pleasure so under the rubber band effect? Absolutely not.
Clouded the joy of driving through a rather discordant damping characteristics.
The upside-down fork is tuned too tight, and the adjustable in spring preload and rebound shock, far too low pressure stage. On bad asphalt begins to stir the mana curves properly, verhagelt one line with the reprehensible continuity. That’s pretty ugly.
However downright dangerous is the ABS vote for trips with pillion passenger. Unpack the radial Brembo calipers in single mode rabidly in the large discs and delay with fine control intervals, the antilock brake system completely safe, two-man operation in a rollover when the brakes without driver intervention is almost inevitable. The NC 700 S DCT can significantly better.
But first things first.
A Honda dealer called the engine of the NC with respect to its power delivery a few days ago as a diesel engine and it hit the nail on the head. In general this bike is surpassed in simplicity hardly. Upgrades start moving, feel good.
Ergonomically everything is in place, and also for a permanent stage is nothing wrong. After starting the engine, the deep, far-forward-leaning Parallel Twin reveals his immediate goal: pragmatism and frugality.
On the right handlebar end do you choose one of the two driving modes: D for normal operation, S for a bit sportier locomotion.
The first gear is engaged automatically after a delay. A careful twist of the throttle and, oops, the load makes an extremely motivated leap forward. The duel at the traffic is so despite 48 hp maximum power to a real pleasure. Pretty impressive how fast the sprint from a standing succeed.
But outside the city owns the NC their qualities. As she has the mana as a usable storage compartment in the dummy tank for luggage (in the NC not fit a full-face helmet, the mana).
She is also well tuned chassis of significantly better than the Aprilia. Athletic, but not too tight prove the shock and conventional forks. Bumpy tracks are clearly unexcited as mastered the Italian, and the manageability of the Honda, thanks to its low center of gravity, and in spite of the ten kilo weight to the standard variant of the NC 700 S still colossal.
Even at the lower slopes it remains constant on the targeted line. And if you should have miscalculated before a curve some, the disc starts a forward again properly and safely with the help of coordinated ABS.
The required manual force is, however, compared to the very high mana.
And now works as the dual clutch transmission? Well, it also reveals light and shadow. Under constant train the automatic shifts very smoothly and quickly high.
Depending on throttle position becomes correspondingly low or higher speed.
Curvy tracks with tight turns require a little patience from all those with an automatic connect a pure relief function and comfort gain.
Because sometimes switches off automatically, especially in D-mode, just before the curve at constant throttle position still up a gear, and then the curve apex when applying gas downshift directly again.
This compels to unpleasant steering corrections. In S mode, many bends are done better because the courses are basically turns on.
But it can be done here as well that unexpectedly during gentle acceleration full tilt one gear is higher, which causes at least irritation. The driver is thus called upon to adapt to these situations or to switch to manual mode. Especially before local inputs is recommended in order to exploit this downshift the engine braking torque since the sixth gear to just over 60 km / h remains engaged.
Ultimately in town links the constant annoying, mostly unnecessary toggling between courses. Here is the Aprilia to ride much more comfortable and confident in the sum of their properties, especially the friends of cultivated comfort. On points but the Honda reaps due to low maintenance costs and low fuel consumption for the win.
More from this category
- Aprilia SportCity One 50 & 125 Motor Scooter Guide
- Aprilia RSV4 R APRC Corsa Meccanica Motorcycles, Accessories, Apparel, Parts
- Quick ride on Aprilia Tuono V4 R APRC – Motorbike Tour News – Motorcycle…
- BMW C 650 GT Review – webBikeWorld
- Aprilia RSV4 APRC: a strong competitor
