2009 Honda DN-01

[JRO]

It is my understanding that we may be seeing more of this kind of machine, around the world. Reason being: it broadens the market base. In many countries, Japan, for instance (if I remember correctly), they have different types of licenses. There's a license for manual, gear-shifting machines, and a license for automatic ones. Want to ride an FJR? The license is more difficult to aquire. Want to ride a scooter? Simple to pass the test.

So, building 'crossover' bikes opens up cycling to a LOT of people who couldn't afford, or didn't have the skills, to ride a regular motorcycle. Now, they can ride a 'real' motorcycle, with an easier-to-aquire license.

It's being imported to the U.S., because we like shiny things.

I can see it attracting first-time riders, women, gizmo-addicts, hard-core Harley riders, and anybody who suffers from gout. In today's X-Box, cell-phone, 500-channel satellite-TV, Traction Control society, shifting a manual tranny is becoming a lost art. It's time consuming, non-digital, requires a little practice, and most people (kids and adults, alike), just don't want to do it. There are a lot of automatic-only people out there who are attracted to motorcycling, but don't want to learn how to use a clutch. This thing could be the answer to their dreams.

But, I doubt it. At $14,000+, I can't see sales amounting to much.

 

[radman]

Honda calls it a "crossover bike".link

Then Skooter® will undoubtedly be the first one here to have one.........

 

[johnny80s]

A set of hard cases included in the price would have been nice.

 

[RadioHowie]

Honda calls it a "crossover bike".link

Then Skooter® will undoubtedly be the first one here to have one.........

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

SNERK!

 

[MotorToad]

I honestly can't think of a good thing about this bike. Honda brought us an automatic before and it was horrible. I wish they'd learned then.

Styling? Meh, it's not for me but looks are just looks. There might be someone somewhere that doesn't hate it. Maybe it has a mother?

Engine? It's a freaking Hawk GT engine. With probably another couple of hundred pounds to push around. Fail.

Transmission? It ain't got one. Fail. (CVTs might be the way of the future, but that doesn't mean they don't suck. You can pry my clutch lever out of my cold dead fingers!)

Price? You. Have. Got. To. Be. Kidding. Me. I wouldn't pay $4,599 for this thing unless it came with hard bags full of gold. And I mean full! But, no, they want $14,599 for it. That's just an insult. That's stupid. I will, and this is a promise, tell each and every person that I see riding this (all both of them, I'm sure) that (s)he is a %^&*ing *****.

I'd pay $15k for an off-rental Kia before I'd buy one of these. I'd quit riding. I'd just quit.

 

[SouthernCruizer]

I honestly can't think of a good thing about this bike. Honda brought us an automatic before and it was horrible. I wish they'd learned then.
Styling? Meh, it's not for me but looks are just looks. There might be someone somewhere that doesn't hate it. Maybe it has a mother?

Engine? It's a freaking Hawk GT engine. With probably another couple of hundred pounds to push around. Fail.

Transmission? It ain't got one. Fail. (CVTs might be the way of the future, but that doesn't mean they don't suck. You can pry my clutch lever out of my cold dead fingers!)

Price? You. Have. Got. To. Be. Kidding. Me. I wouldn't pay $4,599 for this thing unless it came with hard bags full of gold. And I mean full! But, no, they want $14,599 for it. That's just an insult. That's stupid. I will, and this is a promise, tell each and every person that I see riding this (all both of them, I'm sure) that (s)he is a %^&*ing *****.

I'd pay $15k for an off-rental Kia before I'd buy one of these. I'd quit riding. I'd just quit.

Dont hold back, tell us what you REALLY feel :blink:

 

[RatoneMuerto]

It is my understanding that we may be seeing more of this kind of machine, around the world. Reason being: it broadens the market base. In many countries, Japan, for instance (if I remember correctly), they have different types of licenses. There's a license for manual, gear-shifting machines, and a license for automatic ones. Want to ride an FJR? The license is more difficult to aquire. Want to ride a scooter? Simple to pass the test.
So, building 'crossover' bikes opens up cycling to a LOT of people who couldn't afford, or didn't have the skills, to ride a regular motorcycle. Now, they can ride a 'real' motorcycle, with an easier-to-aquire license.

It's being imported to the U.S., because we like shiny things.

I can see it attracting first-time riders, women, gizmo-addicts, hard-core Harley riders, and anybody who suffers from gout. In today's X-Box, cell-phone, 500-channel satellite-TV, Traction Control society, shifting a manual tranny is becoming a lost art. It's time consuming, non-digital, requires a little practice, and most people (kids and adults, alike), just don't want to do it. There are a lot of automatic-only people out there who are attracted to motorcycling, but don't want to learn how to use a clutch. This thing could be the answer to their dreams.

But, I doubt it. At $14,000+, I can't see sales amounting to much.

I agree JRO.We dont have to have the "skill license "that is required in other countries.My daughter and my wife want a bike but they so intimidated by all the things they have to do on one.This one would fit here perfectly but the price is is a deal killer.I wont be putting one in my garage as much as I like the concept.As for my choice why put out over 14k when you can still find deals for left over Goldwings with great incentives or a new BMW RT for about $1100 more.Looking at Harley Davidson's website promotion,You could even buy two new Harley 883's for what one of these cost!Even if you hate Harley you cant beat that deal!

 

[rushes]

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

Here's my prediction...

They sit on dealers floors for a couple of years cause nobody wants one. Then BIG discounts to get rid of them.

5 ta 10 years from now they'll be going for 20 grand....

After lookin' at it, it does kinda resemble a drag bike...

Some kid'll figger out how to hook up a turbo to it...

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

<snip>... why put out over 14k when you can still find deals for left over Goldwings with great incentives or a new BMW RT for about $1100 more.Looking at Harley Davidson's website promotion,You could even buy two new Harley 883's for what one of these cost!Even if you hate Harley you cant beat that deal!

Yea but..., none of the bikes you mention have automatic transmissions with shaft final drive.

Altho, some do have 25 year-old engine designs -- like the Honda DN-01....!

 

[Makuna]

(CVTs might be the way of the future, but that doesn't mean they don't suck. You can pry my clutch lever out of my cold dead fingers!)

The Honda does not have a CVT, it has an automatic transmission (you know, like your cage). It supposed to be some new twists to a design they have had sitting on the shelf, not CVT, but still an auto.

I personally am not hung up that my bike has to having manual shifting, but there still alot about this honda that screams suck.

 

[MotorToad]

The Honda does not have a CVT, it has an automatic transmission (you know, like your cage). It supposed to be some new twists to a design they have had sitting on the shelf, not CVT, but still an auto.
I personally am not hung up that my bike has to having manual shifting, but there still alot about this honda that screams suck.

Styled like a sportbike, but offering Honda's radical new HFT Transmission, it's an automatic unlike anything you've ever seen. You can shift it into six preset ratios, or you can let it function as a stepless, no-shifting Constantly Variable Transmission, or CVT.

From Honda themselves.

I don't like CVTs or automatics, even DSG-style flappy-paddle semi-automatics, because I like to be the one taking care of things. I like getting the downshifts right, dropping three gears into a corner. I like to weight the shifter on the front straight so that it clicks up a gear when it hits the rev limiter. Automatics are for drones in their SUVs, motorcyclists tend to like being more involved in the shifting.

I know my last post was maybe tinged with a little negativity, but it bugs me that the VFR is in it's eighth model year of the only VFR I've ever not liked, there's no replacement for the Super Hawk, and they present this to us like it's some sort of answer to all our needs. The price, though, is astonishing and ridiculous.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

I know my last post was maybe tinged with a little negativity, but it bugs me that the VFR is in it's eighth model year of the only VFR I've ever not liked, there's no replacement for the Super Hawk, and they present this to us like it's some sort of answer to all our needs. The price, though, is astonishing and ridiculous.

Things are different over at Honda these days -- the old boss, Soichiro, isn't around anymore and I think they might've even forgotten him?

As to the HFT drive: it's a hydraulic transmission with an engine driven hydraulic pump and a computer controlled hydraulic motor (it's been discussed here on the forum before). The Honda 'CVT' reference says it can operate like a CVT. Both the CVT and the 'swashpate' hyd. drive (Waterbury Speed Gear) have been around for about a half-century (or more?).

As to the viability of the DN-01 in the marketplace: It's a big bike (about the size of a VTX 1300), it has bigger tires than the FJR, it has a very low seat height -- it's a (futuristic-looking) automatic cruiser. That's probably just what the market is looking for.... :huh:

 

[FJRBill]

Kudos to Honda for thinking outside the box. Some of the changes may be put into play on other bikes in the future. At 595 lbs., it is a big bike, and with a price of over 14k I don't see any milestones being made. I have a 2001 Honda Sabre, it produces around 65hp. Decent acceleration, 14.9 1/4 mile time, and a top end well over 100. It also cost half of the DN-01 and weights less. Good concept, poor presentation. Lighten it up and lower the price, then sales will be slightly less stagnent.

 

[jet mechanic]

Well I hate to be the first one to admit to it,,,,

But the wife has been following this bike since she first saw it almost a year ago now?? As soon as it appears on the show room floor I'll probably have to start making room in the garage for one.

She has a down payment ready and is gainfully employed so there is nothing I can say about it.

I just wish she can do some kind of test ride before she buys!!

I'll post up if it happens.

 

[happyPuppy]

Have her take a look at the Yamaha T-Max. It looks much the same is very popular in Europe, and has been around awhile. It is also 8k ( still too much IMO) Here is a decent review of the big scooters Maxi-Scooter Review Here is a pretty brutal review of the DN-01 too, Review on Honda DN-01 I was able to test ride the T-Max and it handles very well, light and nimble leans well and fun. A lot better looking than the Burgman 650 IMO.

 

[Violione]

I like the look of it, I like the concept - Crossover of cruiser sport bike, I even like the smaller engine displacement (680cc). The automatic tranny is a real selling point , it would be the perfect bike for Scoops, my wife, but HOLY **** BATMAN what is Honda thinking with a price tag of almost 15-grand? Looks like they're trying to recoup their R & D costs in the first 1000 bikes sold. As others have said, the asking price is going to kill a really potentially good bike concept! I hope Honda is doing some forum snooping and realizes that its asking WAY TOO MUCH!

Just saying.

 

[HotRodZilla]

There was a big article about it written up in Rider Magazine this month (November edition I think). The author hated it and if you look at the picture, he looks terribly uncomfortable trying to ride it. AND, as said before...The price...Holy ****!! Rider explains what some of us have known all along, saying that that new high-speed transmission does the same thing a more conventional tranny does, it just costs way more.

Honda describes it as a scooter, but the DN-01 has NO storage. According to the article, not even a small glove box like we have. On top of that, Honda is not offering any luggage to go with it. I donno what they're thinking, but lets see where this goes.

 

[v65]

There was a big article about it written up in Rider Magazine this month (November edition I think). The author hated it

I noticed that too. Rider has been printing some negative stuff, refreshing!

 

[SouthernCruizer]

More links to info on this mutated sport/tourer/scooter/crossover/concept motor sickle

https://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorc...01-ar47277.html

Video >> https://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZmXQceqRu8

 

[Fubar]

Ugly exhaust!