2009 Honda DN-01
Just some motorcycle news for motorcycle people.
Honda is bringing it’s DN-01 to the US. This is really a super interesting bike to me. It is almost a Ninja 250 for the mature transition yuppie biker. The reason I say that, is it fills a niche that is hard to to find right now. It’s a bike for that guy/gal that wants a sportbike style with cruiser comforts. In addition it comes with a very manageable 680cc v-twin to push it’s 595 lbs down the road.
The most interesting part is it’s transmission. Automatic / CVT… WTF?
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.
This, technology wise, is pretty rad.. Which also make it a really nice starter bike for some (yes, manuals can be the demise to some would be bikers…) But at the end of the day, to me, it does takes the fun out of function.
The only real downside I see, is that at $14,599, I don’t see fellatio as a standard feature? Perhaps that will be in next years model. 
More Info: Honda USA
Chris H. Said,
October 2, 2008 @ 2:17 pm
That has got to be one of the ugliest bikes (to me) that ever I’ve seen! $15K? For that? meh, I wish they would bring the Transalp to US.
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Nathan Said,
October 2, 2008 @ 3:57 pm
Taking shifting out of motorcycling is like taking sex out of a marriage.
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Mr. 2Fiddy Reply:
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:03 pm
You mean a fact we’re all going to have to face one day?
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Chris H. Reply:
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:37 pm
There’s sex in marriage?
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Julian Emmett Turner Said,
October 2, 2008 @ 7:33 pm
My coworker’s Chinese scooter has CVT (at least the manual called it that). The Can-Am Spyder does too IIRC.
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Julian Emmett Turner Reply:
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Cost almost as much as the Spyder too.
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adam f. Said,
October 2, 2008 @ 8:22 pm
automatic!? i thought that electric bike was ugly ! i dont think id even pay 3000 for that bike!
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inbox526 Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 7:27 pm
So its like those tipptronic/paddle shifters they have in cars? Which have an “automatic” function, but if you switch it over you can still “upshift” and “downshift” by pulling on the paddles/shifter.
Interesting that its finally on a bike though.
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noch Said,
October 6, 2008 @ 1:47 am
http://cars.uk.msn.com/Motorbikes/Bikes.aspx?cp-documentid=8294554
in summary, it’s a 15k scooter.
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LowRiderGhost Said,
October 6, 2008 @ 12:09 pm
Yikes? Gotta’ agree with most folks here - 15 grand for a 250cc scoot?! Maybe that’s a sign of things yet to come but I hope it’s later the sooner! Nuff’ said.
LRG
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murray Said,
November 2, 2008 @ 5:14 am
yeah i saw one of these when i was at phillip island GP.
UGLIEST BIKE EVER.
is it really that hard to use a clutch and move your left foot up and down??? paraplegic friends of mine would laugh at this bike and call it gutless.
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Felix Stafford Said,
November 12, 2008 @ 8:38 pm
cnmj4h2zqoyt1r5y
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Mavrrick Said,
March 2, 2009 @ 6:11 pm
Well i think to claim this is a 250CC scooter is a bit harsh. I really doubt a 250cc engin can do anything close to what this will.
Ugly is an opinion. I think the bike has an interesting sporty look to it. Clearly if you prefer the traditional cruiser you won’t like this bike.
My bigest dissapointment is the price. I mean when I start thinking about spending 15k on a this i then realize that just for a little more i can get a real cruiser like a Victory Vision for only a few thousand more. Which is 10x the bike this is for a very small increase in price
I currently have a Yamaha V-Star Silverado, which I have come to really appreciate for it’s ease of riding for the beginner. It is built solid and it cost me half of the msrp of the DN-01. I can see spending maybe 10 or 11 but 15 is completely redicoulous. For the most part i see the DN-01 being in the same ballpark as my Yamaha V-Star with a few creature comforts.
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James Reply:
March 3rd, 2009 at 2:10 pm
you guys are misunderstanding the post its a 680cc vtwin motor, not a 250 scooter
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James Said,
March 3, 2009 @ 2:11 pm
just meant to post not reply sorry
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