Honda DN-01 700 "Sport Cruiser"

[scan]

This is a lot like the new Victory concept bike. Sports fairing, sports body work, but forward controls. Also the Victory concept bike included an automatic transmission of sorts (what's that belt thing called with the variable pulley?). But it really does look like a scooter without the pass-thru that you expect in a scooter. When you look at the floorboards though, it screams cruiser.

In the end though they appear to be trying to appeal to everyone. The end result is they will appeal to hardly anyone. Cruiser guys will say, that is NOT a cruiser. Sports guys will say, that is NOT a sports bike. Scooter guys will not like the missing leg pass-thru. And it in no way appeals to the standard or naked crowd for obvious reasons.

I don't know, maybe newbies who don't want to learn to shift and have not yet formed a flavor for a bike type might go for it.

[Sev]

I agree with Scan. It tries to hard to be to many things, and ends up just being nothing.

[Venarius]

Retro-cruisers are for fat, old, married guys.

Or fit, young, single guys with a smoking girlfriend...



Maybe you just think that because you've seen old guys on them...but given the fact that they have been around longer than any other style, more people actually have the chance to grow old (30+ years) riding those style bikes.

I've had a sport bike. I chose this for my next bike. You think their for old fogies? I think their for people who want style and the ability to RIDE COMFORTABLY on a 1000+ mile trip, and not impress people with a top speed you'll never ever use.

I wouldn't take my old Sport bike across 4 states, let alone cross-country.

Boo yah ka Shaw


PS
You know whats funny, I've found that the two types of bikes (sporty vs cruiser) attracts very different kind of girls. When I was totin the sporty, the girls I got were just like the bike... fast. There for a few nights, then gone.

But the girls I've gotten on the cruiser are just like cruisers...there for the long haul.



And whether you want to admit it or not...80% of riders won't even see top speeds that are capable of big cruisers today (130 mph+)...so the top speed factor of a sport bike doesn't really matter in the real world.

And since big cruisers (vtwins) are faster accelerating from 0-30ish than a sportbike (bc of torque), If I'm at an intersection stopped and need to get out of there to keep from getting hit, I on my big, heavy, retro cruiser have a better chance than you and your "speedy" little GSXR750...or whatever it is you ride.

And finally, (and I don't think I'm that bias bc I've owned both sporty and a cruiser) I've found worlds more squids on a sporty than on cruisers.

[freebird]

teknoman,

"I saw it and and E-04 at tne Long Beach convention very impressive."
Is that correct? You saw the DN-01 and E4-01 at a show here in the USA?

================================

[Sev]

I was sort of agreeing with you Venarius, some of what you were saying was kind of making sense, until you got to the acceleration bit... I've seen first hand the difference between a sportbike, and a cruiser, and well, you live in a fantasy world.

You seem more intent upon proving to us that you got the right bike then actually stating anything.

[Ninja Geoff]

That thing's nose fairing is ugly as sin. Other than that, i like it.

Also the Victory concept bike included an automatic transmission of sorts (what's that belt thing called with the variable pulley?).

Continuously Variable Transmission. It works by keeping in a certain rev range and adjusting the pulleys in a way that speeds up the vehicle. For instance, if you do 1/4 throttle, the motor may only operate at 2,500 rpm. But mash the throttle and the motor will put itself close to redline for the duration of accelerating. So, no building of HP is needed, it's all there from the start. BUT they still have more powerloss than an standard transmission, though not as much as a conventional automatic transmission. Though depiste the constant HP, a standart trans equipped vehicle will still out-accelerate a CVT equipped vehicle. That, or Top Gear lied to me.
From what i've heard, the CVT vehicles drive silky smooth as there's no sudden gear changes, even under hard acceleration.

[scan]

That thing's nose fairing is ugly as sin. Other than that, i like it.

That's actually a good point. If you look at it objectively, it's just a modern cruiser, but they went to far with the sporty fairing. Maybe if they scaled back that look a bit, it wouldn't look so bad.

Or maybe I'm just post whoring to get to 1000 posts. Yeehaw!

[Venarius]

I was sort of agreeing with you Venarius, some of what you were saying was kind of making sense, until you got to the acceleration bit... I've seen first hand the difference between a sportbike, and a cruiser, and well, you live in a fantasy world.

You seem more intent upon proving to us that you got the right bike then actually stating anything.

Test it out.

I'll run my VTX1800 against your sporty. I bet you that I'll get the jump off the line and have the lead up until your sport bike gets to around 25-30 mph and then your engine can spin up and you will pass me.

I'm not saying that I will win the quarter mile against a sport bike, but If we're only talking the length of the intersection you need to cross, My bike will accelerate faster than a sport bike. Even if we're only talking stop light to stop light, I'll at least be able to keep up with your sport bike, you won't be "dusting me".

However, if we were to take it on to the highway where you could utilize your power once your engine spins up enough RPM's, there would be no contest your sport bike would win.

But as I said, if you (sport bike) and I (big twin cruiser) are both stopped at a red light, and an 18 wheeler comes barreling at us from behind, and we both roll on the throttle at the same time...I'll be across the intersection before your sport bike. And its not because cruisers are "power demons" it's simply because they make more torque. My big twin makes more torque at idle than most sports bikes do at peak power.

[Venarius]

or to put it a simpler way...

A sport bike (most likely an inline 4) generates most of its power in the high RMP range. A big V twin generates most of its power before the 3500rpm range.

In the time that it takes the inline 4 (sport bike) to spin up enough RPM's to get into its prime power range, the V-twin will have already hit its peak long before, giving the V-twin bike a jump off the line and a lead up until the inline 4 can spin up to a high RPM. However, once the inline 4 spins up enough RPM's, you will come flying by the vtwin.

It works out to give you the following consequence.

A big twin will have the jump off the line and lead the sport bike up until around 25-30 mph when the sporty will spin up enough RPM to generate the power needed to come flying past the big twin.

Big twin wins to 30mph,
Sport bike wins after that.

You seem more intent upon proving to us that you got the right bike then actually stating anything.

The right bike...for me.
I'm not trying to preach that sporty's suck and cruisers are the only "real bike"
I'm responding to the original comment of "Cruisers are for fat, old, married guys".

That original statement holds as much water as saying "Sports bikes are for young, immature, boys who want to impress everyone". Someone can't make a blanket statement like that...

Both bikes have pluses and minuses.

[Ninja Geoff]

or to put it a simpler way...

A sport bike (most likely an inline 4) generates most of its power in the high RMP range. A big V twin generates most of its power before the 3500rpm range.

In the time that it takes the inline 4 (sport bike) to spin up enough RPM's to get into its prime power range, the V-twin will have already hit its peak long before, giving the V-twin bike a jump off the line and a lead up until the inline 4 can spin up to a high RPM. However, once the inline 4 spins up enough RPM's, you will come flying by the vtwin.

It works out to give you the following consequence.

A big twin will have the jump off the line and lead the sport bike up until around 25-30 mph when the sporty will spin up enough RPM to generate the power needed to come flying past the big twin.

Big twin wins to 30mph,
Sport bike wins after that.

You seem more intent upon proving to us that you got the right bike then actually stating anything.

The right bike...for me.
I'm not trying to preach that sporty's suck and cruisers are the only "real bike"
I'm responding to the original comment of "Cruisers are for fat, old, married guys".

That original statement holds as much water as saying "Sports bikes are for young, immature, boys who want to impress everyone". Someone can't make a blanket statement like that...

Both bikes have pluses and minuses.

That's why you rev high and slip the clutch on a sport bike. And i don't think taking all of 2 seconds to get to 30 mph is slow.