rev ranges – one assumes that gas economy is the overriding prerogative here . The switch also gives three levels of SPORT setting ( The S bit of the DS switch , geddit ?) which allows for an increased rev range between gear changes . So far , pretty straightforward . It is odd not using a clutch , but not utterly foreign ; I ride a Vespa 300 GTS often and really enjoy it ’ s twist-and-go zappery around bustling city streets . There are other changes in this AT too , an adjustable screen , and larger tank , for starters , but retains that super-willing twin workhorse that pulls for Africa ( maybe that ’ s why they named it ?). My first noticeable glitch came as I was riding slowly up a steep side street towards a stop sign , traffic was lurching and slow , and the lack of clutch to hold and smooth the way forward was replaced by a near stall before the bike clunked into a lower gear , and zipped forward a few inches with higher revs . Yikes . A hard test perhaps , but not an unlikely scenario in hilly city riding . Perhaps with more time aboard I will learn that manual flicks take care of that issue .
Change when needed , not when dictated to , a manual override system . It ’ s clear that although the gear selection is intuitive , it ’ s not full AI , and rider input is still key to getting the best out of it . Road riding became more important , then , and some real on-road experience , before tackling the tougher offroad stuff , or attempting adventure-rider tomfoolery .
GETTING TO GRIPS WITH IT This part of the review comes a little later , after several weeks aboard the DCT and some issues have become clearer , some more complex . The first new discovery ; on a tour you cannot beat DCT for speed of change , accuracy , smoothness and effortless riding . It ’ s a revelation , the sheer exhilaration of downblipping two gears with your left thumb and feeling the torque and power sling into the rear traction is bloody fabulous - accompanied by a snarling bark from the exhaust note , it fulfils a basic need , like breathing and eating ; its simply that elemental . And really enjoyable . Rather than being an ‘ issue ’ the DCT became a
38 KIWI RIDER