2009 Honda DN-01 Coming to America
Wednesday October 1, 2008
Honda has played it rather safe for the past few years, so it's refreshing to announce that the oddball DN-01 will be coming to the U.S. market. A concept of the futuristic 595 pound cruiser was shown in Tokyo last year and announced for non-U.S. production last October; unlike certain Hondas we can't get here, the DN-01 will be a part of the 2009 lineup.
The $14,599 DN-01 boasts love-it-or-hate-it styling, a modest 680cc v-twin, and a clutchless "Human-Friendly Transmission" that can operate in two fully automatic shifting modes, or a six-speed setting that simulates a manual (which is explained here.) It may be a tough time to market a niche bike like the DN-01, but if anything Honda deserves kudos for pushing the boundaries and adding some flavor to their two-wheeled offerings.
Related:
- Honda's DN-01, Yours for Only ¥1,239,000
- The Future is Now... or, at Least, Soon: Honda to Bring DN-01 Concept to Production
- 2007 Tokyo Motor Show Honda Motorcycles Revealed
- Could Human-Looking Motorcycles Prevent Accidents?
Photo © Honda
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Comments
Next year check ebay for the dealers unloading these at “buy it now” for $6,999.
Scotty…beatcha your wrong…this is great new start for a crossover motorcycle.
You’ll also going to see the new CZi-100 (FI)scooter here too…another great motorbike!
I have seen a few of these here in Japan since they were introduced. When they first came out everyone was very interested and it turned a lot of heads. Bur now that they have been out for a for nearly a year, maybe you notice them as they go by, but now it’s more like just another bike on the road and nobody thinks of it as just “that automatic bike”.
As as motorcycle for 50 years it is refreshing to see a new bike that could be the need of a certain group of riders who no longer can handle the enormous bulk of a larger bike like a goldiwng but are impressed with new technology. With a dry weight of 595 pounds I think it will be a lot easier to handle and manuever. Also with people like me with major back problems who had to give up the heavier bikes and now to see a lightweight come along is refreshing. Let’s give it a chance.
I can think of 14-15 thousand reasons this will not be a large seller.
This is one Sharp Bike!! I just bought one yesterday!!!
DDD
I rode one last week! I’m not giving up my VFR for one yet, but I wouldn’t kick it out of my garage either. My one-word description…SMOOTH. Smooth transmission, smooth steering, smooth ride, etc, etc. Compare it to a CBR, VFR, Shadow, ST, GoldWing, etc, and you won’t like it. Take it for what it really is (something entirely new), and Honda did a great job. I’d expect to see that transmission in a ‘Wing in the next few years…