Honda is preparing to market the DN-01

Unveiled two years ago, the DN-01 – astonishing concept bike halfway between scooter and automatic motorcycle – should according to our information be marketed very soon in Europe … Video interview with Florent Lionnet (Honda) live from Tokyo.

A Deauville engine (680 cc V-twin), a Forza shifter, a quad drivetrain and a futuristic design? This is the basis of the Honda DN-01, a concept bike halfway between scooter and automatic motorcycle whose marketing, according to our information, will be officially announced at the Milan Motor Show. But Site readers are a little more fortunate than others (see our video interview opposite)…

With his very trendy shark nose in the aisles of the 40th Tokyo Motor Show (read our Special Report tomorrow) and his "Human Friendly Transmission", the new Honda DN-01 combines three concepts dear to the world number one who claims a machine"cool","individualistic"and"technologically sophisticated.

"Many of our customers ride a scooter and we wanted to offer them a new concept with a motorcycle based on the same principle."says Takiro Shibukawa, engineer in the Motorcycle Research and Development department at Honda and responsible for the development of the DN-01. The main target remains bikers,"but we hope some scooter users will also be interested", explains the Japanese manager.

It therefore took two years for this concept bike to be ready to be marketed today, in a version very close to the original model, underlines Florent Lionnet, motorcycle general manager at Honda France..

"The main technological challenge of this concept was the transmission", continues Mr. Shibukawa, because she had to"stay soft so that the bike is pleasant to ride". And even if the transmission comes from the one that already equips Honda quads – just like the DN-01 also uses the Forza shifter -,"it had to be completely redesigned for the motorcycle", assures the Japanese engineer.

The sales objectives for next year remain confidential, but according to our information they could approach those of Deauville (1,483 units sold the year of its launch in 1998).

With its relatively low saddle (690 mm), its wide and repositionable footrests, its double lens at the front, its low center of gravity, its wheelbase of 1605 mm (against 1595 on a Silverwing 400), its absence of clutch at the left handle, its rear foot brake, its ABS and its parking brake, the DN-01 could appeal to bikers looking for a practical and easy machine, but who are reluctant to adopt a vulgar maxi-scooter …. This daring but promising bet should be accessible according to our estimates around 12,000 euros, in purple (photo) or black … Coming soon on Site !

To be continued: the Honda Evo6 concept bike as well as the Yamaha and Suzuki prototypes presented in Tokyo … Stay tuned !

Eric MICHEL

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