DCT Launch Issue

Has anyone figured out how to get around DCT lauch issue???
“Launch” also is the keyword in understanding why the most powerful bike of the bunch, the 145-hp, 613-lb. Honda, posted the slowest quarter-mile E.T. but the fastest terminal speed. The DCT’s automatic clutch engagement prevents the rider from storming off the line at higher rpm in concert with carefully modulated clutch slippage, so precious tenths of a second are lost while the engine spins up into the more-productive area of its torque curve. This lag is exacerbated by ECU programming that mutes the flow of power at lower rpm in the first two gears until the revs climb above 5000.

 

Have you tried starting off the line using the manual mode?

 

Folks, this may have something to do with the reduced power in 1st and 2nd gear (Hondas version of cheap ass traction control), when I rode the auto it seemed to suffer more from the reduced HP in 1st and 2nd than the manual but did not suffer the famouse 3500 flat spot as bad. The Bazzaz 1st and 2nd overide should help.

Regards Bad VFR

 

Thanks Bad and Rocker. I took the launch limitations to be tied to the gears regardless of mode...performance related to gear issue not "mode" issue. I need a couple more hundred miles to break it in before I go full throttle on it but read of this launch issue and wanted to be a little proactive to get it fixed if possible. I'll let you know as soon as I get there. I will have to look into the bazzaz-thanks!
NIK

 

I called Bazzaz and apparently the guy to talk to is Chris West who is on their R & D team and currently working on the 2010 VFR. The sales person told me Chris was out at the tracks until Thursday working on a z bomb for the VFR that should help with the "cheap ass traction control" (ala Bad). The sales person estimated that it should be ready in about 3 weeks and go for about $65 bucks so thats super cheap tweak! I am also ordering the Dam Exhaust which showed some impressive dyno numbers all throughout the spectrum.....so this all may end up doing the trick. Thanks again Bad for pointing me in the direction of Bazzaz!

 

Chris West from Bazzaz indicated that the z bomb for the VFR 1200 will be out in about 15 weeks so there is a little wait on this one BUT the launch issue was cured! The z bomb is suppose to "trick" the bike's system into thinking its in third gear (when its in 1st and 2cnd) thereby pulling through the first and second gears to eliminate the lag and launch issue experienced in the 1st and 2cnd gears which folks may have experienced. Problem fixted for like $65!

 

Will it work with the DCT model or only the clutch model???

 

Chris indicated that it will work for both models!

 

See my other post in the General VFR Discussion thread. When you order the Z-Bomb make sure you don't need that Fuel Control Unit. They told me I needed both and the FCU is $380. Just an FYI.

 

Hey Guitar X, someone else just posted a similar respnose so I called Ron in technical support (got someone live at Bazzaz!) and he informed me that you do NOT need a fuel control unit of any type for the VFR 1200 with a Z bomb and that you will be able to purchase the $65 or so unit by itself and have it perform the way that it is suppose to. Mixed messages?-yes! Maybe some folks are talking to the "sales" people who are trying to do a crafty little upsell? I will ask the people at cycle house who are doing my dyno here in st. louis and get their take on it too because they do everything possible performance wise on bikes for racing, drag racing etc.

 

Saw it...thanks!

 

Very informative thread. I remember when this board was filled with 5th and 6th gen threads of a similar quality...:smile:

 

I agree JTC! I am newer to motorcycles in general and just bought my VFR DCT (which I love) and this site is filled with good information, bright people and perspectives. I'm sure we'll be able to get through any "issues" if we all put our noggins together!