It's long, it's low, it's...
It's long, it's low, it's got floorboards... it's a cruiser! They don't all have to look like Harleys do they?
Every once or twice a decade or so, Honda throws it's massive technological toolbag at a single machine, I think mostly just to show the industry it can. A few years ago, the Rune landed on U.S. shores sealed in a big box of holy crap, a manufacturing giant's show of strength and integrated style. Now comes the DN-01, invading the nation with smooth, seamless power delivered automatically, or by pushbutton. One can only wonder what these masterminds will ship us next, Godzilla?
But even the building crunching, power-line munching, human smushing symbol of technology run amuck would be calmed by this soft, human-friendly "Dream New-Concept 1" bike. It is actually kind of cuddly.
The DN-01 is not touted as a green machine, although it somehow feels like it should, even though its roughly 43 mpg (mostly two-up, mostly highway riding) is only slightly above-average motorcycle fuel economy. Maybe because the bike is whisper quiet, or that it just works so well with virtually no effort, the DN-01 seems like it must run on good vibrations.
Actually, a 680cc, liquid-cooled, 52-degree V-Twin, loosely borrowed from the 20cc larger European Transalp, spirits the bike away via gas-fed fuel injectors and Honda's Human Friendly Transmission. Nice bit of engineering this enchanted cog box; it feels like you're riding a lullaby. If you're not careful, the DN-01 will lull you to sleep.
I believe if you make a motorcycle too easy to operate, rides too smoothly and quietly, the operator's mind can too easily drift off to dreamland. Nothing like a stiff shifter, clunky transmission and ill-balanced, smelly motor to maintain proper motorcycling attention. I also suspect the DN-01's near silent and silky workings produce a low-frequency hum that somehow reminds you of your momma reading nursery rhymes. Of course, I have nothing intelligent to support this speculation except that my passenger said she distinctly heard an occasional snore emanating from the bulbous area under my helmet. It's possible, could have happened; I may have nodded a little bit but only at stoplights where it is probably legal to do so... somewhere.
The Honda has no foot shifter or hand clutch; in fact, if the target customer is shifter-challenged and ADD, the DN-01 is perfect. Just push D for Drive and go. At stops, there is no need to toggle back to Neutral; the DN-01 hovers at the line, waiting patiently for the next wrist twist. For riders who may have left arm or leg difficulties, the DN-01 is their power-assist ride.