2008 Honda DN-01

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2008 Honda DN-01
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2008 Honda DN-01 (Europe Model)

2008 Honda DN-01 (Europe Model)

2008 Honda DN-01 (Europe Model)

2008 Honda DN-01 (Europe Model)

2008 Honda DN-01 (Europe Model)

2008 Honda DN-01 (Europe Model)

*I posted the Europe Model version photos as I could get really large sized photos of those.

 

2008 Honda DN-01

2008 Honda DN-01

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?

Introducing Honda’s all-new, long, low and luxurious automatic sports tourer. A cool urban warrior that’s both agile and completely at ease with its surroundings.

Once seen, its gleaming profile is impossible to forget. Once experienced, its comfortable riding position and solid stability and handing are under your skin forever. The very latest Honda technology integrated into a unique design concept that will change motorcycling forever.

 

Tomorrow’s Today

World-changing, world-enhancing; a motorcycle with something for everyone. For riders and pillions, laidback luxury and unrivalled ease of operation. For the environment, the cleanest and quietest of emissions. For all who see it a spine-tingling thrill. For the truely privileged, the pride and joy of owning it, and the reassurance of the optimum anti-theft protection on a motorcycle in the world.

 

First and Formost

Every detail represents Honda’s most glorious marriage of form and function to date. It’s unique HFT stepless automatic transmission is a Honda first, delivering a seamless and supremely comfortable spread of power. The discerning rider will also delight in the Monoshock Pro-Arm rear suspension, mass-centralised tank and exhaust, inviting contoured seat and unique chromed bodywork and finish.

 

 

Features & Benefits

– (Please see media/press release below)

 

 

Specifications (UK)

Price On the road excluding road taxes
DN-01 £9,200

HFT
Accessory brouchre in pdf format
DN-01 HFT

Engine
Type
Liquid-cooled 4-stroke 8-valve SOHC 52° Vtwin

Displacement
680cm3

Bore x Stroke
81 x 66mm

Compression Ratio
10:1

Max. Power Output
45kW / 7,500min-1 (95/1/EC)

Max. Torque
64Nm / 6,000min–1 (95/1/EC)

Fuel System
Carburation
PGM-FI electronic fuel injection

Throttle Bore
40mm

Aircleaner
Viscous, cartridge-type mesh net filter

Fuel Tank Capacity
15.1 litres (including 3-litre LCD-indicated reserve)

Electrical System
Ignition System
Fully transistorised electronic

Drivetrain
Clutch
HFT with internal hydraulic control

Clutch Operation
Automatic

Transmission
HFT (Continuously Variable Transmission)

Final Drive
Enclosed shaft

Frame
Type
Double-cradle; steel tube

Chassis Dimensions
2,315 x 820 x 1,115mm

Wheelbase
1,605mm

Seat Height
690mm

Ground Clearance
135mm

Kerb Weight
270kg (F: 131kg; R: 139kg)

Suspension Type
Front
41mm telescopic fork, 106mm axle travel

Rear
Single conventional dampers with 7-step adjustable spring preload, 120mm axle travel

Wheels
Type
Front
U-section twin 5-spoke cast aluminium

Rear
U-section twin 5-spoke cast aluminium

Rim Size
Front
17M/C x MT3.50

Rear
17M/C x MT6.00

Tyre Size
Front
130/70 ZR17M/C (62W)

Rear
190/50 ZR17M/C (73W)

Brakes
Type
Front
296 x 4mm dual hydraulic disc with Combined 3-piston callipers, ABS and sintered metal pads

Rear
276 x 6mm hydraulic disc with Combined dual-piston calliper, ABS and sintered metal pads

 

 

Media/Press Release

PRESS INFORMATION October 2007
New Automatic Transmission for Motorcycles
Human-Friendly Transmission

Corporate Communications Division
Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Introduction
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has set the environment and safety as two of the most important issues in becoming a leading mobility company, and has committed to a variety of activities. In terms of environmental protection, the company has taken on a series of high-level goals and is expanding application of the programmed fuel injection (PGM-FI) system, which is effective in reducing emissions, to cover most engine displacements, from small to large. Honda is also committed to developing an engine with a cylinder-on-demand system that varies the number of active cylinders in accordance with riding conditions.

For enhanced safety, Honda has increased the scope of application of advanced brake systems such as the Combined Brake System (CBS) and Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) to support improved braking efficiency, considering the specific needs and characteristics of each market and each model. The company has succeeded in developing the first airbag system for mass-produced motorcycles in the world and this system has been launched on the Goldwing in Europe, North America and Japan. Meanwhile, in the area of educational hardware, Honda is cultivating its own unique technologies through such activities as research and development for a regular riding trainer and a riding simulator, which allows riders to effectively learn how to judge and foresee dangerous situations.
Along with these types of environmental and safety activities, Honda is also putting effort into riding pleasure, or in other words, the area of “fun,” through the development of motorcycle technology.

With the aim of providing products useful in the everyday lives of customers, Honda has developed and sold motorcycles equipped with easy-to-operate automatic riding technologies. As a pioneer in the era of automatic systems, Honda launched the Super Cub C100 in 1958, equipped with an automatic centrifugal clutch mechanism, which allowed gear
shifting without the need for clutch operation. The sports bike Eara (750cc), released in 1977, was the first large-sized motorcycle in Japan to feature a torque converter.

In 1980, Honda put the Tact on the market, a machine equipped with the Honda-original continuously variable transmission, the V-Matic, and Honda has continued to develop a variety of new mechanisms up into the present. Currently, scooters are the focus for automatic transmission use, but, for the motorcycle, with its popularity as a hobby machine in Japan, the U.S. and European countries, Honda believes that there is a demand for even easier operation in shifting with the automatic transmission and that desire for automatic transmissions will increase from now on, even for very sporty models. Honda has been involved in the development of new automatic systems suitable for these sporty motorcycles for many years and is certain that the DN-01 with the Human-Friendly Transmission (HFT) presented here will open new horizons for motorcycle enthusiasts worldwide.

DN-01 (Scheduled for exhibition at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show)
HFT (Human-Friendly Transmission)

 

Development Target
The key concept in the development of the DN-01 was relaxed and easy operation with a luxurious feel and striking uniqueness.

To realize this concept, the Human-Friendly Transmission (HFT) was adopted. Incorporating a lockup mechanism and start clutch for even more compactness and improved efficiency, the major features of the system include:
– A compact unit increasing machine design freedom
– Highly efficient torque transmission due to mechanical transmission in parallel with hydraulic transmission
– Simple system configuration and high level of controllability
The compact unit increases the degree of freedom in designing the motorcycle and the highly efficient torque transmission allows a ride feel unique to motorcycles, while the various built-in shifting modes provide easy and sporty riding pleasure.
Innovative design
Ride feel unique to motorcycles
Easy operation

HFT System Configuration
The HFT consists of an oil pump for converting engine power into hydraulic pressure, and an oil motor for converting the hydraulic pressure back into power for output.

Hydraulic Fluid Flow
High-pressure fluid flow
The engine rotates the pump swash plate, which has a gear mechanism. The rotating swash plate pushes the pump pistons to increase the pressure on the hydraulic fluid and feed it to the high-pressure annular chamber. The high-pressure fluid is then fed to the oil motor piston chamber where it pushes the pistons forward, which then push the motor swash plate.

Low-pressure fluid flow
The lower-pressure hydraulic fluid returns to the pump through the low-pressure annular chamber. In this way, the fluid circulates between the pump and the motor.

Hydraulic Fluid Flow
Movement of distributor valves and pistons
The distributor valves play an important role in fluid circulation. The valves are placed both in the oil pump and motor. When the pump pistons move to the compression side, the valves connect the piston chamber and the high- pressure chamber. When the pump pistons move to the expansion side, the valves allow a connection between the piston chamber and the low-pressure chamber. The valve in the oil motor moves opposite to its counterpart in the pump, ensuring the circulation of fluid within the system.

The distributor valves ensure constant conversion of the engine’s output torque to high hydraulic pressure power. The reaction to the hydraulic power is then converted to torque that rotates the cylinder, while the movement of the distributor valves is regulated by an eccentric ring, for system simplicity and constant, stable operation.

Power Transmission
When they are pressed through the swash plate, the oil pump pistons compress the hydraulic fluid to feed to the high-pressure chamber. The high-pressure fluid then generates pushing force which acts on the pump and motor pistons and each piston receives downward reactive force from the swash plate. With the pistons connected to the cylinder, the reactive force generates rotating force (torque) that drives the cylinder and the output shaft incorporated into the cylinder.

Power Transmission
Motor swash plate movement and torque transmission
The torque available depends on the angle of the swash plate. The oil pump generates constant torque because the inclination of its swash plate is fixed. However, torque generation may be varied by altering the angle of the swash plate incorporated into the motor. The output torque is at a maximum when the motor swash plate is set at the maximum inclination. When the angle is decreased, the torque also decreases. With a perpendicular setup, the oil motor does not generate torque and the only available torque is that directly transmitted by the oil pump.

Power Transmission
Motor swash plate movement and gear ratio
One function of the oil motor is varying the gear ratio by changing the inclination of the swash plate and the resultant amount of fluid required by the motor. The amount of fluid required by the oil motor side creates the difference in rotation between the pump swash plate and cylinder. When this difference is largest, the gear ratio is lowest. When there is no difference, the ratio is at its highest.

Low ratio
With a large motor swash plate inclination, a large amount of fluid is required, corresponding with the larger strokes of the motor pistons. Therefore, the rotational difference between the pump swash plate and the cylinder (output shaft) grows larger so that the pistons move faster. The ratio is thus at its lowest when the inclination of the motor swash plate is at a maximum.

Medium ratio
As the motor swash plate angle is gradually reduced, the amount of fluid required for motor piston
operation decreases. The rotational speed of the output shaft increases and the rotational difference
between the shaft and the pump swash plate decreases. Here, the gear ratio varies continuously.

High ratio
With no motor swash plate inclination, there is no motor piston stroke and thus hydraulic fluid is no longer required. The rotational speed of the pump swash plate becomes the same as that of the cylinder (output shaft), resulting in the highest ratio (gear ratio of 1.0).

Electronic Shift Control
An electronic device was adopted for HFT shift control. The electronic control unit (ECU)
regulates control motor operation based on various information such as engine speed and throttle
setting. The rotation of the control motor is converted to a linear motion by a ball screw, varying the
inclination of the motor swash plate. To meet diversified rider needs, HFT offers two fully automatic
shifting modes—D mode for ordinary riding and S mode for a sporty riding experience—or the 6-speed manual mode, which gives riders the option of riding with a manual transmission feel. Riders can then switch among the three modes in accordance with their preferences.

At the highest ratio, there is no torque transmission from the oil motor, but losses due to friction and fluid compression occur with circulation of the high-pressure hydraulic fluid. To minimize losses while improving transmission efficiency, the HFT is equipped with a lockup mechanism. The structure is such that the mechanism begins to operate when it detects that the highest gear has been selected, and the distributor valve blocks the path of the high-pressure fluid to the oil motor piston chamber.

Lockup mechanism
When the lockup mechanism is idle, the distributor valve moves with the eccentric ring in the outer perimeter and switches between the piston and the high and low-pressure chambers. At the highest ratio, the hydraulic actuator cancels the eccentricity of the perimeter ring and the distributor valve blocks the fluid path between the high-pressure and piston chambers, causing lockup conditions.

The hydraulic actuator carrying out for the lockup function is controlled electronically. According to information on engine speed, output shaft speed and swash plate angle, the system ECU determines if the highest ratio has been engaged and allows fluid flow from the external oil pump to the solenoid valve to change the eccentric ring placement.

Start Clutch
Smooth starting and stopping, along with overall system compactness has been realized by combining
a compact hydraulic start clutch with the HFT.
The start clutch consists of:
1. A clutch valve connecting the high and low-pressure chambers
2. A centrifugal governor that operates the clutch valve through engine rpm
The centrifugal governor rotates with the oil pump swash plate.

The weights inside the governor expand outward due to the centrifugal force resulting from the increased rotation of the pump swash plate, which pushes the connected clutch valve inward. When rotation decreases, spring force returns the clutch valve to its original position.

As the governor moves, the clutch valve moves inside the hollow shaft to connect and disconnect the high and low-pressure chambers. When the two chambers are connected, because fluid pressure is released into the low-pressure chamber, no torque is transmitted and the clutch remains disengaged. When the two chambers are disconnected, fluid pressure, torque is transmitted and the clutch is engaged. Since the clutch is operated by regulating hydraulic pressure, taking full advantage of the characteristics of the HFT, start clutch operation is smooth.