2009 Honda DN-01

[SouthernCruizer]

MSRP $14,599 in Red or Black

elements of a sport bike, relaxed cruiser comfort and the operating ease of an automatic transmission.

four-valve, 680cc liquid-cooled V-twin engine, the anti-lock, combined braking system, modern digital instrumentation and especially the HFT transmission, a highly advanced hydromechanical automatic transmission that literally sets the new DN-01 apart from all other motorcycles.

article in motorcycle.com

 

[SouthernCruizer]

Another pic of the beastly scooter

 

[Walden]

kind of looks like it needs a nose-job, eh?

and what's with the floorboards?

 

[Crash Cash]

Looks like it was "designed" by the same cocaine-addled pencil-monkey that did the Valkyrie Rune. It's almost as ugly as something out of Orange County Choppers.

 

[johnny80s]

I like it a lot! I wish they had a manual version too. I like the styling and really like the sunken seat. I would love to see a 1000CC version and I am curious about the leg room. It looks a little more comfortable for shorter people than my 6'2" frame.

I like the black way better than the fancy dancy purple color though.

I say kudos to Honda for making a good looking scoot!

 

[happyPuppy]

I like the looks, but I question if the scooter market really wants bigger scooters. I see no advantage over a bike just a really high price to not have to shift. Scooters IMO , fill the gap of the lack < 400cc bikes, with a lot of choices, are inexpensive, easy to operate, park and navigate the urban environment. I doubt it has anywhere near the same performance numbers of a similar size bike.

 

[JRO]

$14thou+change for 61 horsepower?

Ahahahahahahahah!

I'd rather buy a used dump truck.

 

[meosborn]

Looks like the answer to the question not asked. What market would this be targeted at? Looks like something from Blade Runner.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Sport looks, scooter seat and trans, low power, cruiser floor boards?

The perfect result of a committee!!!

It could be what we used to call mixed-breed mutts:

[SIZE=18pt]The Curb-Stone Setter! [/SIZE]

 

[RadioHowie]

Just to stir the pot a little, why are some of you guys calling this a "scooter"?

I see a motorcycle.

If you can't swing your legs THROUGH the frame, it ain't a scooter.

If it's the two piece seat, as Checkswrecks implies, then the FJR is a "scooter".

If it's the auto tranny, then a Boss Hoss is a "scooter".

If it's the modest horsepower, then every HD other than a VRod is a "scooter".

I'm just curious why something that would probably appeal to a wider audience than our beloved FJR would be denigrated by some as being a "scooter"? Wassamatter? A little insecure with your choice of moto-mount?

 

[SouthernCruizer]

Ummm...HONDA™ called it a scooter back in 2007 when they first released details about the concept.

p.s. I think it looks RAD

************************

Wikipedia:

<<<Modern scooters cover a broad spectrum of designs: step-through or step-over frames, small or large wheels, front fairings or floor boards, and manual or automatic transmissions.

At one end of the current market, the Vespa LX series reflects the scooters' historical antecedents: small wheels, floor boards, front fairing, inner fairing storage. At the other end, the Honda Big Ruckus features no bodywork, floorboards or step-through frame, but is still classified as a scooter due to its smaller wheels and engine placement. The Piaggio MP3, with two front wheels (three wheels total) reflects the fluid nature of the scooter classification. Modern scooters have a wide range of engine displacements, from under 50 cc to over 799 cc, and some have engine locations in stark contrast to classic scooter design (e.g. Yamaha T-Max 500, Suzuki Burgman 650, Gilera GP800).>>>

 

[squeezer]

I was reading the review of it last night in Rider. The way mags depend on advertising, it has been so long since I read a negative review that I thought nobody would publish one anymore. Well, somebody did. The reviewer hated it. Couldn't figure out what the market was. Not enough oomph to appeal to someone who rides a regular bike and none of the amenities that typical scooter riders like (e.g. storage space -- there's none). Awkward, uncomfortable riding position -- they just hammered it on all points.

You know, Honda makes some very cool bikes that you can't get here. Why did they send us this one? Do they really think Americans just like shiny stuff? That we won't buy a bike that is actually useful as daily transportation?

 

[Hit the Road Jack]

Seems to me it's a scooter for folks who don't want to be seen on a scooter.

 

[keithaba]

Isn't that the new VFR?

 

[radman]

Ummm...HONDA™ called it a scooter back in 2007 when they first released details about the concept.
p.s. I think it looks RAD

What the hell did I ever do to you?

 

[SouthernCruizer]

Ummm...HONDA™ called it a scooter back in 2007 when they first released details about the concept.
p.s. I think it looks RAD

What the hell did I ever do to you?

*********************************

Sorry Radman®

what I meant to say was...it looks KEWL

any Kewl*.* users here??

When I first saw a report on this concept bike/scooter/whatever, it looked a little more scooterish, but the final product definitely looks more motorcyclish than scooterish. I think the price will drive most of the potential buyers away. Still a good idea though, to have an automatic bike with low seat height, decent HP, big wheels, etc for 1st time riders, shorter status peeps, and elderly with waning leg strength. I think Honda should tweak it and get it affordable.

Just my $.02 worth :dribble:

 

[rushes]

Honda calls it a "crossover bike".

link

 

[RatoneMuerto]

I want to pitch in my two cents.This bike is what is hot in Europe right now and it is a niche between the maxi scooter and motorcycle.The Aprilia Mana is 800cc and has a similar tranny but has the ability to be shifted maually if desired.The Gilera is a Maxi scooter able the rock on at near 300kpm!So this one is right in between those two extremes.At least Honda is giving the US market a shot at it.The seat is also much lower than most sport bike models again filling in a niche.Being Honda I am sure the maintenance costs will be minimal.The tranny is probably closer to the type Nissan has in their cars..It kind of figures though.Honda brings a funky Euro design to the US while HD locks us out of its greatest Euro standard ever built

 

[El Toro]

I think Honda should tweak it and get it affordable.

Sadly, the primary thing that will make it affordable is a strong US dollar. With the Euro worth close to a buck and a half, if its not built here, or in a place where the currency is specifically tied to a fixed exchange rate with the dollar (like China has done), its gonna be expensive here. Meanwhile Honda has backed out of building motorcycles here in the US and is transferring their workers from making Goldwings and VTXs over to their car production... hope that lasts, but no telling.

There are a heck of a lot of old folks riding scooters. I know because I had a brief stint with them before I found the FJR AE and got rid of the scooter. I think that as some percentage of these folks get off of the scooters they will still want something with simple controls, and that's where the DN-01 comes in.

I drove through our local Honda dealer's lot last night before closing and visited with one of the mechanics. Knowning that I had an AE, he mentioned the Honda. I gotta admit - it doesn't appeal to me at all. I agree with the guy above who said it looked like it had been designed by a committee. But if the AE didn't exist, and I wanted a bike that wouldn't require the use of my left foot, I would choose the DN-01 over a true scooter any day of the week.

The price might seem high... but its no higher than a lot of other things that people buy, and it doesn't have any real competition yet, so if you want a bike with a true automatic and you don't want a scooter, it may be your only choice other than the Dyersburg built bikes with the small block V8s and auto trannies (Boss somethin' or other and a ton of weight).

Meanwhile, if we want stuff to be priced well, we've got to get back to defending our currency....I won't make a political value judgement abou that here.