2008 Honda DN-01 Production Bike makes its debut

Wed, Oct 24, 2007

Motorcycle


(A DN-01 will all the added bells and whistles. Pretty sexy!)

More great TheScooterScoop exclusives from Skorj at FilmWasters.com. This time we’ve got the final production version of the Honda DN-01 Automatic Sport Cruiser (not a scooter, but a two wheeled oddity for sure). Expect to see this on Japanese streets sometime next year. No commitment on an arrival date for the USA… and why WOULDN’T they bring it here? It has no competition in its class (yet).



(The production version of the DN-01′s dash board)


(What the DN-01 looks like from the passenger seat)


(Another shot of Honda’s new-fangled auto transmission the “Hondamatic”)
So looks like it’ll be the Aprilia Mana 850cc vs. the Honda DN-01 680cc vs. Gilera GP 800 850cc for the battle of the mega automatics in 2008. Arigato Skorj! We look forward to more great TMS 2007 coverage as the day progresses.

***UPDATE***
Our inside man in Japan does more than take pretty pictures. We also have reports of an actual release date for the DN-01. Expect to see this baby on the road August of 2008. I guess that makes this more of a 2009. That’s all we know right now.

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25 Responses to “2008 Honda DN-01 Production Bike makes its debut”

  1. Dudel Says:

    Word on DN-01 availability:

    Just yesterday I noticed Snake’s panhead Harley outside the local saloon and went in for a chat. As we all know, Snake is the head of the motorcycle division of Honda USA and is well known in the industry having worked for twenty-two years in a senior position at Harley Davidson. Anyway, I personally spoke with Snake about the possibility of the USA getting the Varadero, the SH300, and the DN-01. Snake said, “Dag nabbit! We don’t want no fancy-pants sickles. GoldWing for da elders, the CBR-RRs for the punks, a 49er scoot for the college girls, and as many fake Harley rice-cruisers as ye got. That’s it! And we certainly don’t want no dolled-up, lipstick on a pig, auto-tranny sickle.”

    Reply

  2. Steve Says:

    HAHAH! Dudel, surely you jest. Though it really does pan out with Honda’s trend here in the USA.

    So… is it Ray “Snake” Blank? That’s the only senior I know at Honda Motorcycle… but I’ve never known him as “Snake”. Ahh, the things you learn at your local saloon.

    Reply

  3. Dudel Says:

    By the way, not sure if anybody has picked up on this yet… the Honda EVO6 Concept with the 6-cy GoldWing engine is an auto-tranny (I assume the same HFT as the DN01)

    http://www.honda.co.jp/motorshow/motor/

    Reply

  4. Tim Says:

    The Hondamatic is anything but new-fangled. My father-in-law has a 1977 750 Hondamatic.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hondamatic

    Reply

  5. Anonymous Says:

    I get to ride both traditional motorcycles and modern scooters. I really wish Honda would use two hand brakes instead of a hand/foot brake like an MC. For me it is more instinctive. I suppose it would alienate traditional bike riders and they are probably more interested in that market. Other than that it’s great to see this bike in production. I think Honda has done a good job.

    Reply

  6. dudel Says:

    [1] It’s not the Hondamatic transmission from your father-in-laws CB750A (i.e., a clutchless 2-speed with torque converter). The HFT transmission is hydraulic with a mechanical lock-up.

    [2] Be thankful that this production model does have right-hand & left-foot brake rather than dual-hand brakes like a scooter. The NTHSA/DOT requires right-foot brake on non-scooter motorcycles which means the DN-01 shown here meets USA specs for importation.

    Reply

  7. GenWaylaid Says:

    I believe the DN-01′s style of “Hondamatic” is a direct evolution of some of their ATV transmissions.

    As an environmentally-conscious company, Honda has recycled the “Hondamatic” moniker from their 1976-84 CBs to avoid catchphrase pollution in the groundwater.

    Reply

  8. Anonymous Says:

    Well that is great that the bike meets US specs for importation. Still those specs are dubious considering this bike doesn’t have a manual transmission. Just a sign of bureacracy keeping innovation out of the market.

    Reply

  9. Anonymous Says:

    This is a motorcycle, not a scooter. So they do have automatic motorcycle competition here in the US. I think the bike is cool but it’s not a scooter so no buy from me even if it does come here.

    Reply

  10. dudel Says:

    YO STEVE:

    I assume “Expect to see this baby on the road August of 2008″ means the Tokyo Gaikan Expressway rather than the Pacific Coast Highway. Or does your inside man in Japan have confirmation of a USA release?

    Reply

  11. ScooterScoop Says:

    Hey Dudel. No word on when they will land on our shores. Sorry.

    But I did find another video if you’re interested:
    http://lulop.com/post/10783?media=video

    Reply

  12. Alayne Says:

    The production model of the DN 01 has the right foot brake because it is classed as a motorcycle and not a scooter. The original 2005 concept bike had the left hand rear brake.
    All scooters(limited numbers because of left hand brake) imported into the USA have step thru and left rear hand brake. DOT allows a limited number of megascooters into the US with Left hand brakes that’s why there is not a qty at the showrooms of these scooters.

    Reply

  13. Alayne Says:

    I believe that the DN 01 is USA bound in 2009, why else would they go thru the Engineering headache of changing the left hand rear brake to a right foot rear brake.

    Reply

  14. Steve Says:

    Brilliant deduction Alayne!
    I’m in agreement with you on that 2009 date. Tell you the truth, I wouldn’t be surprised if Honda planned to hammer the expos in Q4 2008 and launch a major roll-out of new models (motorcycles and scooters) for the US market in 2009… and that’s not just me being optimistic.

    I hope for their sake it’s not too late. Many manufacturers and distributors have BIG plans for 2008… just wait until you hear the coverage of the 2008 Indi Dealer Expo! It’ll be exciting to say the least.

    Reply

  15. Anonymous Says:

    hurry up and get that dn-01 on the US market. No market for an auto trans bike? think again…there is a market and i am waiting for the dn-01 to get here. Hurry up Honda!
    yes there is competition …suzuki built their bergman…a 650cc fast scooter…ridley has their 740 vtwin, ladies love the ridley, for the auto trans as well as putting both feet on the ground at a stop….nice bike, cruiser, loud pipes…where’s honda? Hurry up and get that bike here!

    Reply

  16. Anonymous Says:

    I would love to have that bike here in the US!!! I will be buying this bike..

    joey nc

    Reply

  17. scootermad Says:

    I’ll be sticking with my Burgman, sure the DN-01 looks nice, but wind protection looks non-existent as does storage space, with panniers it will look clumsy. It’s gonna be a big heavy windy pose-machine for people who can’t change gears, For pose factor nothing beats a Harley.

    Reply

  18. steveinsandiego Says:

    even tho i’ve ridden fat sloppy wallowing cumbersome cruisers for ten years,i fell in love with the DN01 first time i laid eyes upon it. obviously i’d hafta take a short, er, ok, long test cruise before i plunked down the bux (providing the pricetag is acceptable). i have ridden a burgman 650 and honestly i didn’t care for the cvt based on the 10 miles i rode the thing. the DN01′s tranny may be a different story altogether. i certainly hope to see this vehicle on these shores – shortly!

    Reply

  19. Anonymous Says:

    Regarding left hand rear brake on scooters: The Helix has a right foot rear brake and it is a step thru scooter… Leland

    Reply

  20. Anonymous Says:

    I’d buy a DN-01 in a heartbeat.

    I’ve been riding a scooter (Honda Reflex) and would like to step up to something full-cycle-sized but w/ an auto trans.

    The DN-01 looks like that bike to me.

    Reply

  21. Anonymous Says:

    680cc’s + an automatic transmission + the shape of the saddle = it’s a chick bike – the only growth demographic left to market.

    Reply

  22. Anonymous Says:

    I think there is lots of growth left in the market. With fuel going up-no it is not done-and the baby boomers increasing their leisure time and interest in toys the market is expanding. I was just in Paris and there are Burgmans all over the place.
    I would love to have another automatic-had the ’76 CB750A. I hate to think what the DN will cost if not made in the US.

    Reply

  23. Anonymous Says:

    I can’t believe how intrigued I am by this bike. Would love to see it in the U.S. Especially in a the off-white color shown.

    If not the Aprilia Mana is always an option…..

    Reply

  24. Brian Hahn Says:

    Bought It! It arrived Friday March 20th. She’s a beauty!

    Reply

  25. ScooterScoop Says:

    Hey Brian!
    So, how do you like it so far?
    It’s funny, I hadn’t though about the DN-01 in some time, but imagined myself riding one yesterday.

    I think I wanted to know what it felt like.

    Reply

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