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Boston Motorcycle Lawyer

The Honda DN-01: An Automatic Motorcycle, Not a Scooter
August 12, 2009

The DN-01 is Honda’s attempt to create a new category of motorcycle, which it calls Crossover. Offering Honda’s new automatic transmission, called HFT (Human-Friendly Transmission), the DN-01 combines the ease-of-use of a scooter with the performance of a sportbike.

By “human friendly,” Honda means that the transmission is automatic:

• No need to operate the clutch
• No need to shift gears
• Easy startup on hills
• No need to worry about stalling

By “crossover,” Honda means the bike is aimed at aging as well as new riders.

For a 700cc class motorcycle, the DN-01 is priced high at $15,599, which suggests that it (and specifically the transmission) is expensive to build. Comparable pricing of a scooter or motorcycle in this class is $7,000-$9,000.

Driven by hydraulic pumps and motors rather than by a belt, the transmission offers three modes of driving: Drive (fully automatic), Sport, and Manual (six preset ratios or speeds). The toggle button for selecting these modes and for manual “shifting” is located by the left hand grip, in place of a clutch.

For more details about the complex transmission, visit Honda’s Technology Picture Book Web site.

A liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 680cc V-Twin engine provides 60 horsepower, which is just big enough to pull the 595-lbs bike efficiently. (The motor is not part of the rear swingarm; hence, the DN-01 is not technically a scooter.)

Other features include:

• 17-inch radial tires;
• linked triple-disk brakes with ABS;
• single shock Pro Arm Rear Suspension;
• shaft drive;
• 2-into-1 exhaust system;
• 27.2″-high seat;
• low center of gravity;
• 63.2″-long wheelbase;
• forward-set floorboards;
• LED taillight;
• LCD digital display; and 
• 4-gallon fuel tank.

For more information on the DN-01 automatic motorcycle, visit Honda’s Web site.

Honda offers a few accessories for the DN-01, including a passenger backrest. For a windscreen and hard luggage, check out the model-specific items available from Givi.