What the heck bike is THAT?

[merv]

Some guy on a litre sportsbike isn't going to like it.

That's the point, if you don't like it, don't buy it, but no point dissing it because someone else likes it.

The comparison to a Bonneville is pointless because they are so different. I made my comments above about the streets of Rome and I can say there wasn't a Bonneville in sight for the days I was there in the middle of winter.

The DN-01 may not sell well in NZ because maybe our market doesn't need it yet.

[bogan]

if I had shitloads of cash id buy one, be fun to tinker round with the cvt, maybey turbo it. Its the first CVT bike (though not a true cvt) (that im aware of) so it can only get better, well, till the lectrics take over anyway

[Big Dave]

Vespa calls it 'Twist and go' - that's what the Honda does - but on motorcycle scale.

[Big Dave]

That's the point, if you don't like it, don't buy it, but no point dissing it because someone else likes it.

The comparison to a Bonneville is pointless because they are so different. I made my comments above about the streets of Rome and I can say there wasn't a Bonneville in sight for the days I was there in the middle of winter.

The DN-01 may not sell well in NZ because maybe our market doesn't need it yet.

The price will hamper sales. But that doesn't seem unique to this Honda Vehicle either.

Power is similar and the road dynamics aren't *that* different to the 19" bonne.

[merv]

Yeah but no fairing and other luxuries on a Bonne wouldn't suit those wanting something a step up from a scooter which is why I say a Bonne is quite different. Sort of like comparing a DR650 to an F650 in the dirt world - built for different reasons.

[Big Dave]

Fairings are ghey.

[merv]

Haha, but nice in places like scooter crazy Rome in the winter, that's what I'm saying.

[short-circuit]

The confusing vehicle.

The technical information that came with the Honda DN-01 was far more comprehensive than anything I’ve ever picked up with a bike before.

The Team at Blue Wing handed me a pack that contained around 40! pages of schematic diagrams and exploded views of the machine.

Spok Voice: ‘They are simply fascinating, Captain.’

I didn’t appreciate them fully until I’d been living with the bike for a week.

Note that I called it a bike, and not without due consideration.

I didn’t have any issues with it, rather that defining exactly what this vehicle actually ‘is’ becomes subject to some debate, because this is quite a unique machine.

Honda proclaims quite prominently in the preface to those forty attached pages that ‘The DN-01 is most certainly a motorcycle’.

With a 680cc, liquid cooled 4-stroke engine with 8 valves, SOHC, 52 degree V-Twin, running a compression ratio of 10:1 and knocking out 45kw @ 7,500rpm and 64Nm @ 6,000 rpm it has ‘mid-power motorcycle’ numbers. (For comparison a Bonneville has 50kw and 69nm). It’s the same unit that lives in the Transalp and the Deauville Hondas.

The Front 130/70 ZR17 and rear 190/50 ZR17 tyres (Yeah – 190 section) are cruiser-motorcycle-like. As are the combined high performance anti-lock brakes with twin 296mm 6 pots up front and 276mm 4 pot at rear. Leaning on the rear pedal also brings some of the front brakes into play.

The double cradle steel tube frame the bike employs under the motorcycle size bodywork is also quite conventional.

Complemented by a 1650mm wheelbase and 28 degree steering angle, it all adds up to give the DN-01 the road manners of a sweet handling road bike. I found myself enjoying cornering and employing the better-than-a-cruiser ground clearance.

The ergonomics, seat comfort and riding position are all as good as the most comfortable of cruisers and are very relaxed.

The single sided swingarm and really wonderful shaft drive unit are big-motorcycle grade and the performance of the pro-link mono shock rear and 41mm front forks are also up to nice-bike par.

The more bikes I ride, the less stock I put in the importance of overall weight of a road bike. More important is the centre of gravity. If you are newbie to riding and prone to rookie mistakes like parking downhill you might notice it, but I was surprised to look at the spec sheet and discover a slightly porky 269kg. I only found it light and easy.

And that is where all this ‘motorcycle comparison’ leads to.

Easy.

The Ed’s first utterances after his initial ride out to our photo shoot was ‘this is the easiest bike to ride that I have ever ridden.’ I was greatly relieved to hear it because that was exactly what I had been spruiking to all and sundry who questioned nature of the bike.

It is remarkably, ‘scooterishly’ easy to ride and it achieves this in several ways.

Firstly there is all that bona fide motorcycle running gear that can handle surface inconsistencies, potholes and bumps like no 14” wheeled scoot can.

Then there are the ergonomics and ride feel that the crazily swept-back handlebars and cruiser style seating position give the rider. Supremely relaxed and really ‘big Scooter’ easy.

Then there is the gearbox. I’m prepared to call the DN-01 a landmark vehicle – simply because of the gearbox. A good number of the 40 techno pages are about it.

How history judges it remains to be seen, but along my motorcycle journey I’ll mark it as the first viable automatic motorcycle I’ve ridden.

What a unit. No clutch, no foot operated gear selector, and with a selection of three modes and six gears ‘triptronic’ at the push of a few buttons.

What tended to marginalise the riders I spoke to about the machine was the styling and the ‘why do I need an automatic – changing gears is integral to my motorcycling experience’ factor.

Typically, the styling is Scooter like in some ways and uniquely DN-01 in others. There is a scooter style integration to the passenger accommodations (that the co-pilot rated as ‘good’) but the view from the cockpit had me thinking surf ski.

The long, low slung bodywork evoked sharks and ‘Aliens’ I quite enjoyed the looks and the double takes it inspired. It’s got some neat – and some totally unique – lines.

But it really is about that gearbox. The HFT. Human Friendly Transmission.

OK. Divorce yourself from the notion of a sports motorcycle and concentrate on economical, reliable, urban transportation.

Both the Ed and I missed turnoffs on route because we were so relaxed and chillin’ riding the thing.

Naturally we remained ever vigilant to the dangers that two wheel transport entails, but the DN-01 is so effortless you kind of forget about having to ride it. It really is genuine twist and go effortless transportation in a new system.

Honda says that ‘The HFT is an infinitely variable automatic transmission device that transmits the drive power and shifts the transmission by converting the engine power into hydraulic pressure.

In addition to the Automatic transmission function the HFT also operates the Starting clutch, Lockup mechanism and the Neutral Drive Clutch.

The starting clutch engages when turning the bike over, the lockup mechanism proves ‘better drive’ from the transmission and the Neutral/drive clutch is engaged by the rider when stationary.

There are three buttons to control the gearbox. The N-D switch on the right hand switch block puts the bike in neutral or drive modes. Engage neutral at traffic light or when stopped for longer periods.

Then via a switch on the left hand switchblock either Economy or Sports modes of variable ratio automatic are selectable.

Further to that, a trigger on the right had turns the whole affair into a push button 6 speed tripronic for out and out sports riding. At which the DN-01 also makes a pretty good show.

Pulling away from the traffic lights has a certain Scooterish feel – no matter what mode is selected, it winds up, until you look in the mirrors and see how far the cars behind the cars are in your mirrors are. Then glance down at the futuristic dash board nestled inside the bodywork. S***! 85!

All the ease of a scooter and the performance of a mid power motorcycle.

It makes running around town a breeze. I used it for the day to day chores of my graphics business around Auckland and loved it. Just so easy.

I’d like to see some sort of carrying capacity built in, a top box or other option would be good. As standard there is space for a cable lock under the seat and that’s all.

But getting back to easy transport and it’s simply outstanding.

The motorcycle running gear means that it’s quite comfortable at open road touring speeds and carving up the freeways. It’s very stable and with tidy road manners and the ability to carry pace that surprised me.

It will make a great ‘graduation’ bike, is marvelous urban transport, has unique and individual styling and offers a glimpse of the future of 2 wheeled automatics.

Confusing and exceptionally nifty – all at the same time.

They are Ghey Ghey - not just Honda Ghey.

[slowpoke]

That's the point, if you don't like it, don't buy it, but no point dissing it because someone else likes it.

The comparison to a Bonneville is pointless because they are so different. I made my comments above about the streets of Rome and I can say there wasn't a Bonneville in sight for the days I was there in the middle of winter.

The DN-01 may not sell well in NZ because maybe our market doesn't need it yet.

The tester brought up the Bonneville.....what's Rome got to do with anything....?

And if we aren't here to talk/argue about bikes why are we here? To swap cake recipes? (You wouldn't have a nice white chocolate and raspberry gateaux recipe by any chance.....?)

Take a look at an Aprilia Mana for a cheaper, more competent auto alternative, it's even got luggage space.

[Big Dave]

DN-01 should at least come standard with a top box.

[short-circuit]

DN-01 should at least come standard with a top box.

Just to ghey it up a little more

[FROSTY:Me]

Actually Jorja loves the look of em. Low and easy to ride. Perfect for her.
Hey Big Dave you don't ned an objective second opinion test rider for this one do ya??

[Big Dave]

Actually Jorja loves the look of em. Low and easy to ride. Perfect for her.
Hey Big Dave you don't ned an objective second opinion test rider for this one do ya??

That bit is almost a year old Frosty. They have been out a while.

[Drew]

Mate - it's an old joke. Like all Honda riders are gay.

I dont get it, Honda riders are gay.

[slowpoke]

Forget this slush box, CVT, "twist and wait" business. What would be interesting is an automated manual gearbox like BMW's SMG or Porsches PDK. Not a jap "tiptronic" which is just a manually controlled auto box but a genuine manual gear box with it's shift mechanism automated.

It's that Keith Code thing, where you've got a dollar's worth of attention to spend at every corner. Automating the gearbox would free up a bit more attention for braking, acceleration etc while still retaining the responsiveness of a manual gearbox.