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My local Honda Dealer tells me production has started on the all new DN-01 and may be in the showrooms late this summer or early 07. Has anybody read the press releases about that bike? The way I understand it that engine is simular to an ATV engine with the automatic transmission and the belt drive. Its a bike designed for beginners thats easy to ride without using a clutch. Its about time Honda came out with a new model, but this bike kinda falls short.

http://totalmotorcycle.com/BBS/viewtopi ... 01&start=0

We talked about this one at lenght not long ago. See the link above.

Why do you think the bike "falls short?"

Or - What would make you interested in it?

I gotta say it's a cool looking, uh... scooter, er uh, cruiser, er... thing.

There is a website designed by honda for the dn-01 and the e-04 that should clear up a whole lot of stuff.did you dealer say how much they are asking for it?

TechBMW wrote:Why do you think the bike "falls short?"

Or - What would make you interested in it?

Well, for starters, the sissy automatic transmission could stand to go.

No, you are wrong.

It uses the NEW Deauville engine which is a fuel-injected 4-valve 680cc V-2 putting out 64-hp [the old Deauville engine was 2-valves, carb'd, and I think 640cc]. If you don't know anything about the Deauville Sport Touring bike you probablu live in the USA [it's not sold there].

The transmissin is a new hydraulic-lock-up CVT that will offer the option of full-auto or thumb-shift [ala, FJR1300-AE].

The bike is going into production and will be available early 2007 in Japan and late 2007 in Europe.

Reportedly Australia Honda is offering "680cc V-2 " training for their shop mechanics. Thus, Honda is either planning on bringing the Deauville or the DN-01 [or both] to Australia. If you live in the USA don't hold your breath.

< I Fly >
PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:22 pm Post subject:
TechBMW wrote:
Why do you think the bike "falls short?"

Or - What would make you interested in it?


Well, for starters, the sissy automatic transmission could stand to go.

I agree on this. It's not hard to learn how to shift on a motorcycle. I think it's easier then learning to drive a stick in a car. Plus, all the control you have with a manual (engine braking, when to shift, etc.) makes it the best option in my opinion, not to mention the increased performance.

I guess that bike is being marketed towards middle-aged women (I'm not being sexist, but most girls I know have some sort of fear of having to shift). So they are trying to make something a middle-aged (most people in that age range I've known prefer cruisers) woman (no shifting). Now, that's not to say those are the only people they're marketing it for, I guess alot of new riders will want one because of the no shifting. But to me, it's just a glorified scooter. There's nothing really to learn (if you've riden a bicycle).

Ok, and I'm go to repeat this because I know someone is going to get upset reading that. I'm not sexist. The whole women shifting thing is simply my experience. There are many women out there who don't have any problem at all shifting, and the are plenty of men out there who are more afraid of shifting then most woman are. It's just a generalization from my experience, not a rule.

In Italy, the overwhelming majority of cars sold are Stick transmission, in the states fully 96% of new cars sold are Automatics. Maybe manufacturers just think Americans are lazy f'n bastards who would enjoy not having to shift on their motorcycles as well?

Of course, that's a generalization like yours ...

The odd thing is that in Italy, there are TONS of scooters - and with the exception of vespas, most scooters are twist-n-go cvt tranmission vehicles. Why is it that scooters don't have manual shift trannies .... and why do people buy them if manual shift is "Safer and more powerful" ? I don't know for sure, but I'll bet that when you are on a small vehicle like that, weaving in and out of traffic, you need to be focusd on where you are going, not what gear you need to be in.

Of course, once again, we go back to living in the stone ages in America, where LANE SPLITTING is banned in all but one state. You lose the ability to weave in and out of traffic, thus making your ride that much less intense and exciting, and I could see why you'd have to row through the gears to make your ride a little more interesting.

Don't CVTs actually offer slightly better performance than manuals, because they can stay at the very peak of the torque curve from bottom to top gear?