1601 DT final

if you happen to be pottering
along enjoying the scenery in
sport one, and suddenly decide
to chase your mate who has
just blasted past, the electronics
will immediately pick up your
more aggressive riding style
and adjust accordingly. That all
describes the go part.
The stopping bit is
just as clever.
In default the bike (both versions
have the same ABS system)
is set to full ABS. This controls
both the front and the rear
brakes. In addition to the ABS
on the front brake Honda use
their dual braking technique
where pressing the back brake
always puts some braking
force on the front as well. It
works so well the rider can’t
even feel it, other than the bike
stops incredibly smoothly and
efficiently. What’s more the ABS
works under all conditions. (well
we couldn’t try it on ice because
the air temp was over 36 C
most of the time) It does work
exceptionally well on unpaved
surfaces…even when there is
just a layer of dust on a hard
packed surface. For most riding
it’s best just to leave it on. It can
be turned off, mostly for use on
heavy sand and dirt surfaces
where locking the back wheel
helps turn the bike, for instance
around sharp, slow turns.
Interestingly even though the
dash light shows the ABS is off, it
still operates on the front wheel.
But wait folks, Honda still has
one more electronic safety trick
on this bike. It has a four stage
traction control system. Default
is full traction control, indicated
by three bars on the dash panel.
With a flick of a switch this
can be reduced to a marginal
one bar, or it can be switched
off completely when the bike
is stationary. With three bars
showing it is very restrictive,
cutting the power very quickly
and comprehensively. It’s
probably excellent in heavy
rain and perhaps black ice,
but too much everywhere else.
The other modes work well,
and it’s easy to find one to suit
the conditions. It’s as good a
safety aid as the ABS. Then
the CRT model has one last
trick up its sleeve. All of this
wizardry is made possible by
the latest version of Honda’s
dual clutch technology. In
normal operation to ensure silky
smooth gearshifts, both up and
down, and to give the bike an
absolutely seamless ride from
standstill to top speed there
“But wait folks, Honda still
has one more electronic
safety trick on this bike. It
has a four stage traction
control system.”
50 DIRT & TRAIL MAGAZINE JANUARY 2016
1601 DT Africa Twin.indd 50 2015/12/16 9:41 AM