Having first tested the European market with the all-new 2008 DN-01, Honda now made public the fact of selling their futuristic model in the United States for 2009. The news was anticipated by the motorcycle press and surrounded by a fair share of controversy as the motorcycle buyer in the U.S. is more into the classic style rather than the one that the still strange looking bike tries to implement.
Addressed to people translating from cars to motorcycles, the Honda DN-01 makes riding easy for the respective category of riders. It is all due to the ingenious combination between a fully automatic transmission, a low seat and intriguing design.
Accommodated in an upright riding position and without the worry of shifting gears, a DN-01 rider can fully benefit of the 680cc liquid-cooled 4-stroke 8-valve SOHC 52° V-twin’s performance. The engine is fed through a PGM-FI (programmed digital fuel injection) system, complementing perfectly for the lack of gears. Ok, so it isn’t just a combination between a cruiser and a sport bike, it has similar features to a state of the art maxi scooter.
With figures such as 60 bhp and 47 lb/ft, the bike won’t be hard to get accustomed with on the newly penetrated market, but it is expected to take its time until depleting stocks.
Two colors will be available for it in 2009: Black and Candy Dark Red under a $14,599 MSRP.
Moto journalists have had serious doubts about the Honda DN-01 going into production, but the Japanese manufacturer proves them wrong and starting with August 1 the motorcycle that blends in that much body types will begin being sold in the United Kingdom.
With this new model, Honda intends on showing its open mind in what concerns heading towards new horizons and I guess that the 680cc engine from the Honda Transalp is pretty suitable to do that.
The bike that is too fast to be a cruiser, to comfortable to be a sport bike and too aggressive to be a scooter comes with forward footboards and cruiser-like riding position, maxi-scooter handlebars and sport-tourer appearance.
It not only creates a whole new cathegory, but brings new systems in the motorcycle industry. Such a system is the ‘Human Friendly Transmission’ running in full automatic as an infinitely variable transmission, or locks into standard ratios and so provides a tiptronic-style ‘sports mode’ for when the going gets rough.
Offered for the equivalent of $18,200 in pounds, the brand new Honda DN-01 will have virtually no competition (not that there’s another thing like it on the market and the price is the decisive factor), exactly what Honda intended in the first place.
Honda Motor, Co., Ltd. announced that sales of the DN-01 large sports cruiser will begin in Japan on Friday, March 7. The unique, low-styling body features a liquid-cooled four-stroke 680 cc OHC V-twin engine that resonates power and a new automatic transmission, the Human-Friendly Transmission (HFT), that delivers superior throttle response for comfort even on long rides, and simple operation with no need for clutch use, allowing sporty riding.
Featuring Honda’s innovative (...) > More
Do you remember the new bike from Honda which was unveiled at EICMA 2007? The one which looked more like a scooter?
Yes, the DN-01. And here’s the new commercial video for this bike.
Enjoy!
Radical new styling that grabs attention from every angle. Form-fitting comfort that invites one to both sit on and to ride. Smooth response to every rider input, reacting with exhilarating performance at every twist of its throttle, and… no clutch! Not only that, no gear changer! Is this really a motorcycle? Or is it some strange kind of scooter? > More
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