While both me and my wife have Wings, we do not do cones with them. We use our work R1200RTPs for that. They turn much easier and are much more nimble.

 

For ABS, I was thinking ABOUT BLOODY TIME!!!! For DCT, I am still and possibly will always be "Not on a vehicle that leans on turns".... Unless you give me access/control to a clutch. It has absolutely nothing to do with slow speed maneuvers; it has a great deal more to do with high speed turns and tar snakes or anything contributing to traction variances. I can hit a 18' U without any problem on either my 2010 and 2018(M) and I came rather close on a test ride of a DCT after only a half hour on it (first time ever sitting on one). Slow speed maneuvers on that test ride had me thinking "not bad", but I still had that issue on a DCT I mentioned at the beginning of this post. Actually, having 3 variables to play with to "get it right" on slow speed stuff has much more room for error, as if one of the three are off, you can compensate with one of the other two and still "get it right". Some of my 18' U's have higher RPM than others, some more brake, but I still hit that tight of a U because the clutch offset the "error". With only two variables to play with, having one off means the other has to be perfect to compensate the error; or you will be picking yourself and then your bike up off the pavement. I had to keep those low speed maneuvers toned down to not push it because it was not my bike and I did not want to pay for damage from a mishap either. So, a 20' U was as tight as I was going to try on the DCT.

 

I have stated the exact same philosophy in previous posts. 3 variable are better for compensation.

 

New Vettes, S'tangs, top model Porsches, Ferraris all DCT. It can shift faster than you. The bike is no different

 

I've read on his YouTube replies where Motorman was not pleased with the GL1800DCT for his style of drills. I would be good to hear from D.J. Fire when/if he does a test ride as his technique is a bit different. Its a great bike regardless.

prs

 

No doubt, it is a great bike and does everything I ask it to do. I think the technological improvements are marvelous. Take a look at the new mid engine Chevrolet Corvette, no manual transmission. How about a 6 speed manual for the new Ford Mustang GT500? Not happening. There are lot of changes that at first we deny an opportunity. Remember when ABS was a “no thank you, I like to control my own brakes”. Progress waits for no man...

But theres nothing wrong with loving what works best for any individual. Options are nice!!!!

 

I have said many times there are things I can do with a manual bike that I just do not have the confidence to do on my DCT. Maybe Im not willing to learn because you need to know where 100% of your capability is and the only to learn is to push the DCT past its limits. Meaning pushing the bike until it stalls under braking and goes over. Imagine the cost....Yes the DCT handles well under slow speeds with using the rear brake for friction zone control. Am I willing to see how much abuse the DCT clutch will take? NO.

I have been riding Police Motors for 13 years, and probably much more than 100,000 street miles on the police bike. I never kept track. Thats a lot of stop and go. We practice cone courses monthly, it is a perishable skill. The initial certification course was 80 hours and a LOT of bike picking up. Bruises from heel to hip. Im not going to put my bike through what it would take. Ive seem videos of people doing coursework on a DCT, but its not the same distances as the Northwestern curriculum.

I do not care to debate what a DCT with TB can or cannot do vs a Manual bike using TCB. My personal opinion is that the 3rd variable of the clutch lever allows more precise control.

 

" Meaning pushing the bike until it stalls under braking and goes over. Imagine the cost....Yes the DCT handles well under slow speeds with using the rear brake for friction zone control. Am I willing to see how much abuse the DCT clutch will take? NO. "

" Im not going to put my bike through what it would take. Ive seem videos of people doing coursework on a DCT, but its not the same distances as the Northwestern curriculum. "

I put your remarks in quotes because those are the ones I wanted highlighted.

You are not the first motor officer that has told me " I wouldn't put my own bike through that " . For the average guy/gal riding motorcycles, to try to learn what you motormen/women do would require a lot of abuse to the bike and, like you said, to the rider. For years, my motorcycling experience was DIMINISHED by my INABILITY to perform those exercises. It ate at me terribly. It got to the point that I almost quit riding because I felt like such a FAILURE....because I couldn't do an 18 ft(two parking places) u-turn....ON COMMAND!

I have let that go now. I can turn in 20 ft.....sometimes. I can turn in 24ft...sometimes. LOL. Now I don't care if I have to do a 3 pt turn. I finally realized that I wasn't going to risk, what I had to risk, to come close to doing what you cops do. Not to my bike, and not to myself. I was never afraid of dropping the bike for fear of injury(that was a stupid assumption too). I was afraid of the damage my bike would receive when it toppled over and I fell off. And I didn't want to go through the hassle and expense of getting it fixed.

I was trying to relate the learning to golf. I had been a 1 handicap at golf during my younger years, and I figured if I could learn all the complicated techniques and physical coordination it took to play at that level that surely I possessed enough talent to u-turn a motorcycle in 18 ft.....WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I couldn't learn how to do it. I was trying to compare two two completely different things. The "learning" techniques between the two endeavors are not alike in ANY way.

So YES, after seeing what you guys do, I agree with you that the manual clutch will allow you to do much tighter turning that a DCT will do...on COMMAND.

 

I talked to an HPD motorcop deputy at Cycle Shack about a year ago. He was in on a relatively new GL1800 but not a 2018+. He said that until recently the Houston Police Department had a sweetheart deal with the Harley Dealership that allowed them to bring their previous models back in for the full trade-in amount on a new Harley. They were encouraged by management to use that dealership. That deal apparently fell through and now they are free to buy anything that works for them. That's why he was on a Goldwing.

 

Lookie what Houston PD got!

Why is this thread titled "DCT" Police Edition, when it's a manual tranny bike?

Would you kindly edit your title for accuracy.

Tim

 

Fixed.

 

Several Police in Katy and Houston Texas use the 2018-2019 Goldwings. Some use the 6 Speed and some the DCT. One similarity is that many have the rear tire changed to the next size smaller in narrowness. I was told by one officer they turn & handle better. In Texas most cities have the officers purchase their bike. They do get extra $$$ monthly to pay for them. He also told me there is a waiting list among officers wanting to ride bikes

 

2019 Honda Goldwing Feniex Police Lights by EFS Houston Emergency Fleet Service

 

I seemed to recall San Antonio and a few others used the previous generation of Goldwing as a motor unit.

 

I seemed to recall San Antonio and a few others used the previous generation of Goldwing as a motor unit.

My brother recently bought a 2015 Goldwing that was a previous SA police bike. So far, he has no complaints and got him on a Goldwing for a reasonable price. I think it had 48,000 on it when he bought it...heck, that's not even broke in yet. It should serve my brother well.

 

Lookie what Houston PD got!

Looks like a Manual 6-speed to me...

 

Unless the cop has ungloved gorilla hands, it looks like he'd have to take his hand off the throttle to activate the lights/siren. Maybe on the clutch side to the left of the bike's info controller would be a better location?

 

I figured it was only a matter of time. The bike is going to make a great PD bike.

 

OK, so where do I go place my order for the control Pod and light/siren kit?

Very cool....thanks for posting.
I can see where the manual would make more sense for this application.
But for pure fun, the DCT is the ticket IMHO.

 

OK, so where do I go place my order for the control Pod and light/siren kit?

Very cool....thanks for posting.
I can see where the manual would make more sense for this application.
But for pure fun, the DCT is the ticket IMHO.

I think this is the company - Feniex Industries Feniex Lights & Sirens | Emergency Vehicle Products | feniex.com‎

 

The Wing would be a great police bike, but someone will have to build more robust crash protection before anyone puts into the police fleet.

 

The DCT, given the way Honda has the manual mode self down shifting, SUCKS for the slow police cone drills wher the only choice is to lock it down in mule gear. The ability to lock it into 2nd or even third is desirable for that. It would be better for most all manual mode riding. The older GL will dance circles around the new edition.

prs

 

not once someone with that skill became accustomed to the DCT. you cant compare someone that has been performing slow drill techniques for 20 years on a clutch bike, with that person just placed on the DCT bike. put it in manual and choose the gear you want. foot brake and throttle is easier than foot brake, throttle and clutch.

 

Appears they passed on the DCT. Would have been great for the operator, especially around town.

 

Agree. Actually, I always thought the ideal in-city police bike would be the Africa Twin DCT. It's really fast (like, keep up with all but the highest-end sport bikes), great suspension for stairs/curbs/whathaveyou, and the DCT eliminates 700 clutch-pulls per block.

 

I wonder, is it speed limited like the consumer version?? It’s the color I like best too. Drool!!

 

Unless he had the ECM reflashed.

 

You need to bring that bad boy over to Dot's the next time we have breakfast there!