Honda have gone nuts

**dawnrazor** · 11th May 2006, 17:27

Have just been reading how Honda are making a 680cc V-twin scooter! and its the future of motorbiking apparently.

First shown at tokyo motorcycle show last year as a concept bike, it will be in production next year. Check out
http://world.honda.com/Tokyo2005/dn01/ for more worrying news.

So proof at last that Honda have lost the plot, looks like rossi made the right move to Yamaha after all, although they do make pianos....no they wouldn't, would they...

**UrbanMyth** · 11th May 2006, 17:33

nooo please dont do it honda

**hXc** · 11th May 2006, 17:38

But one crap bike(DN-01) won't make a company bad. Just the same as one good bike(r6) won't make a company great

**Lou Girardin** · 11th May 2006, 17:39

Hahahahahahah, you should have waited for that Finn.

**Ixion** · 11th May 2006, 17:42

Two words. Suzuki Bergman

**Flyingpony** · 11th May 2006, 17:46

Isn't that simply a downsized goldwing?

**Mr. Peanut** · 11th May 2006, 17:47

Thats cool, now wheres the full canopy streamliner with a turbocharged Goldwing engine??

**RantyDave** · 11th May 2006, 17:53

Wow. Ahhh, ummm, ahhh. Hmmm.

Dunno about this one. It sure as shit doesn't look like a scooter, don't imagine it goes all that much like a scooter either. But it has an automatic gearbox which means I'm opposed to it from a moral standpoint if little else.

Looks fucking comfy. Looks like you could drive Welly to Auckland in a day without needing your back fixing afterwards.

Wow. Hmmmm. Dunno about this one.

Dave

**dawnrazor** · 11th May 2006, 18:04

I was thinking it looked like the bastard love child of a fireblade and a v-rod, with all the get up and go of a breville. Does look comfy though, but then again they are saying the new ZZR1400 is DAMN comfy too and that'll do 300KPH with 199bhp and a 300 K tank range as well.

And yes I have just got the June issue of BIKE in the post today, but bloody hell 199bhp (claimed) and handles. And the hayabusa is up for a revamp, looks like there could be a battle of the hypersports again, lets hope honda's dn01 isn't their latest offering.

**Mental Trousers** · 11th May 2006, 18:48

I'd love to get hold of that transmission. The rest is poo though. But in theory with that transmission you could simply push a button and the computer would change the ratios for the 6 speed settings and you could have a close ratio box for sport riding, or more spread out ratios for cruising, or a 7/8/9/10 speed box, or a 2 speed box, or a box better suited to pulling wheelies ....... you name it. Racing you don't bother swapping sprockets, you just dial up the best ratios for the track.

**Oakie** · 11th May 2006, 19:29

At the risk of ruining whatever credibility I may have earned here, I gotta say I kind of like it ... even if it's just because it's refreshingly different.
Boil it down ... it's a 680cc V twin with automatic transmission and proper 'real bike' everything alse (ever see a 'scooter' with twin discs on a proper size wheel up front?).
I did notice that no performance figures were given so I'd assume it won't be popping up in the NZ road racing series next year. I'd be interested to see one in the flesh and I'd certainly like to see if that seat's as comfy as it looks ... especially after bum-ache I got riding back from the West Coast a couple of weeks back.

**Hitcher** · 11th May 2006, 20:03

That, ladies and gentlemen, is not a scooter. It has a frame-mounted engine and therefore, by definition, must be a motorcycle. Just like the big Bergman.

**Motu** · 11th May 2006, 20:29

Most of the scooters from the '50's and '60's used a full tube frame.I kinda like it,but it looks kinda big for that Japanese dwarf...and I bet he's bigger than me....

The blurb about the trans is confusing,and the picture doesn't tell us much - but I'm thinking a stand alone hydrostatic unit.With electronic controls you could program it for any steps you like,it gives engine braking,seamless infinatly variable ratios,have it stepping up as many gears as you like.

**ferretface** · 11th May 2006, 20:49

It'll be interesting to see how much it'll sell for if they do release it....It'll probably be bought up by guys that haven't got the wallet or need for a big thing like a goldwing but still want to do a long ride without the arse ache.