Danny,Rebel 1100
I picked up a manual last Friday. Weather and work has kept me down to < 100 miles as of today. Nice riding posture but I am concerned that the natural position of right foot will keep the brake pedal in play, More on that to come.
Not too surprisingly there seems to be a supercharged effect right around 4300 rpm with lots of roll on power. Due to self inflicted break in protocol I won’t go much over 4K until 300 miles.
As this is my first bike in many years without a fairing i was concerned about buffeting but in low 60s temps dressing with layers yields a comfortable ride.
Shifting is much smoother than my 2018 AT. Gears seem to fall in line w no real persuasion needed.
I am a fan so far.
Just decided to drop in and join the forum to throw in my two cents here, and to start what’s sure to be a colorful discussion about DCT vs manual. Why would I do such a thing? Cos I just quite unexpectedly picked up a new Rebel 1100 DCT yesterday. Freezing friggin cold and lots of snow still on the ground, but it was either brave the cold, or wait who knows how long for the next dry day above freezing. I had originally intended to put down the deposit and wait, right up until they called me yesterday morning to say it’s ready to pick up. I mean, who in their right mind would want to put it off!
Anyway, about the bike ... pictures don’t do it justice. Videos don’t do it justice. I admit, I was a little concerned at first about the humpy gas tank, as I pave always preferred the low, swooping lines of something like the VTX’s. But you really have to see it in person before you decide if it’s hideous or beautiful. Or somewhere in between. My first reaction to seeing it up close - definitely not hideous. One look at the paint in the sunlight, and it starts looking downright beautiful.
Now I’ve only had one 40-minute ride on mine, and most if that was spent trying to keep the blood circulating in my fingertips. But I still have a first impression, which is - I love this bike. The 1100 has lots of power for a bike this size, certainly plenty enough for this old fart. It feels much lighter than it really is, and the suspension absorbs every bump in the road, really one of the smoothest and comfortable bikes I’ve been on. The nice rumbly exhaust note is also something no video I’ve seen yet has been able to capture - as soon as you turn the key it just sucks you in.
And the DCT - clearly about as polarizing a subject as which weight oil or octane gas to use if there ever was one. Well, I love that, too. After riding for over 30 years, I’m no stranger to shifting, and yes, there was definitely a concern about whether not having to shift would take away from the riding experience. I can say without hesitation, it does not. In fact it adds to the experience, especially if you’re more of a relaxed kind of rider than a thrill-junkie. You really must try it for yourself before passing judgment. Of course not everyone will like it, but I promise there would be a lot of people who will like it who think they won’t.
Just before I left the dealer yesterday, my sales guy said he thinks Honda knocked it out of the park with this bike. So far I’m very much inclined to agree.
Check out the Honda F6B with DCT. Has a nice “bagger” look with automatic transmission.I have owned Harley's for years but due to arthritis in my left ankle and elbow I had to stop riding. It was very painfully shifting gears and even using the clutch lever. Based on what you have shared I think I can return to riding using the DCT. Sure I'll probably have to put up with scorn from traditional riders, but, at least I can ride once again.
It probably won’t do any good (remember, this is the mentality that panned HD for daring to produce a water-cooled V-Rod), but if you were to go with a DCT and catch flack for it, give ‘em the old don’t-knock-it-til-you-tried-it line. Every reviewer I’ve seen who thought going into their test rides that they’d hate a bike with no clutch and shift levers ended up liking the DCT, some just tolerating it, but a few others thinking they could see themselves preferring it. Every real person I’ve spoken to who has ridden both comes away loving the DCT. But we all know there are some people who will never be convinced.I have owned Harley's for years but due to arthritis in my left ankle and elbow I had to stop riding. It was very painfully shifting gears and even using the clutch lever. Based on what you have shared I think I can return to riding using the DCT. Sure I'll probably have to put up with scorn from traditional riders, but, at least I can ride once again.
Wife is really enjoying hers. Picked up a Sena Outrush helmet for her last Saturday and I’ll have one Friday so we can talk while riding. Got FM also so she can have music.Picked up a new Rebel 1100 DCT last Friday. My incentive was that I'm getting to the age where bike weight makes a difference and my clutch hand isn't working as well as it once did. I rode a Triumph Tiger 1050 for a few years and loved the power to weight ratio (which occasionally made me do things I maybe shouldn't have been doing). The biggest problem on the Triumph for me was the seat height. I lowered it an inch and was still on my tippy toes at stops. In my short time riding it, I think the Rebel handles as well as the Triumph. It does not lack for power and as for the DCT, I like it, my clutch hand likes it and in manual mode it is a blast. Just keep the power on and hit the paddle. Shifts seamlessly. No one shifting manually will even come close to keeping up. In traffic, put her in automatic and no more clutching worries...sweet. So far I love it.
Vito,Interesting new bike. But the only passenger seat available is one of those tiny little pads. That worked for my wife 40 years ago, but she would never go for it today. And even though she hardly rides with me anymore, if I bought this bike I would be telling her that her passenger days are over for good. Hope you enjoy your new bike.
The way this bike is selling so far, I’m fully expecting Mustang and Corbin to come out with something more amenable to passengers than that factory cheek pad.Interesting new bike. But the only passenger seat available is one of those tiny little pads. That worked for my wife 40 years ago, but she would never go for it today. And even though she hardly rides with me anymore, if I bought this bike I would be telling her that her passenger days are over for good. Hope you enjoy your new bike.
Hesitation on downshifting isn’t exactly how I’d describe it. I’ve ridden almost exclusively in standard mode, and it flat out just doesn’t like to downshift until the engine is almost down to idle. Most of the time I’m fine with this, but occasionally I’m puttering along at 35-40 mph and it’s up in 6th, and I hit an incline and it feels like it’s almost lugging. I don’t want to whack the throttle to force it to downshift, so I’ll just tap the thumb lever once to push it down a gear and we’re all fine. Again, it’s not very often this happens, and when it does the correction is simple. When it does downshift on its own, it seems perfectly smooth to me.@Danny Linguini ,
The only problem is the wind management at freeway speeds. How do you manage this issue on freeways?
Read somewhere that the upshifting of the DCT seems smooth but when slowing down, some reviewers said DCT seems to display some hesitation. Is that true in your experience?
Also, looks like the belly & the radiator are completely exposed to rocks and I don't see Honda selling any accessories for those. I guess 3rd party products should be more prevalent over the coming months.
Someone ( @Trials) biased me about the single disc front brakes; these days, I do look at them.
Only for the riders who for whatever reason don’t feel like shifting. I’m quite sure they’re not on any kind of path to remove shifting from every motorcycle. And if they are, well all be long dead and buried before it happens.Now they are taking shifting out of a bike..... for the love of God....
Thanks for the post.It's a good idea but hopefully it doesn't feel like a rebel. I like the look and ride, but man Rebel's feel like a frail little girls bike when you sit on it. The Vulcan S is one of those beginner cruisers and feels waaaay more solid and rideable than the Rebel.
