Sorry if anyone gets their panties in a wad.... I've been riding dirt bikes and 4 wheeler since my teens. I'm now 46 so I don't believe it my riding ability. I believe honda needs to build a stronger clutch. I live in Florida with NO HILLS, BUT WE HAVE LOTS OF SAND AND WATER.
I recorded mine before taking in to the dealer for the second time in a weeks. 1st time they told me it was a ground problem!! Brought it home and this is what I recorded. It's not slipping bad enough to leave someone high and dry in the trails but it's not shifting correct.
It has to rev up to about 3000 rpm's to start moving. Then it slides into 3rd and 5th gear at about 1000 - 1500 rpm's more than the even gears. I also noticed my top speed dropped I could barely get it up to 60 mph.
That sucks.
(Disclaimer: I haven't bought mine yet, my issue is not the clutch fear, but that I'm at the point of it being close enough to a 2017 release announcement that I am going to wait and see if Honda releases/teases/announces anything new be it features or vehicles (a rumored sport maybe).)
As I've followed the threads and watched the trends there does seem to be a documentable transmission issue, some with similar riding styles. Some that ride like granddad.
BUT BUT, there are a large number of members who are not having the issue.
I know some people who could tear up an anvil with a rubber hammer, and I know I am in another group that is near fanatical about moderate riding(fun but I know my machines and my limits) as well as preventive and regular maintenance.
So it makes me wonder if it they are not JUST rider or factory related, but a statistical combo.
I wonder if in the MAD rush to not end up in the same inventory shortage situation as the 700(and still ending up in the same situation for a while) there were a few screw-ups that made it onto delivery trucks.
Stems to better production checks and knowing how to drive a clutched vehicle. DCT and CVT are not "clutched" vehicles. You can burn them both up if you don't know how to drive them, I think the DCT is a superior design though. I dislike the idea of a rubber band (yes Honda makes an automotive CVT assembled in a clean room no-less but it is a metal friction surface with a flexible rubber core) and I still would not own it if it was in a ½ to 1Ton truck.