Honda DN-01 700 2011 — Specifications

What is the price of a Honda DN-01 700 2011? Count on 9,990 euros for this machine that stubbornly refuses to fit into any category. Neither truly a tourer, nor quite a cruiser, and even less a scooter despite its clutchless transmission, the Honda DN-01 700 cc remains one of the boldest gambles ever attempted by the Tokyo manufacturer. Born on show floors in 2005 as a concept, nobody seriously thought Honda would dare put it into production. And yet, there it is in dealerships, faithful to the prototype right down to its excesses.

Design-wise, the DN-01 provokes. Its low, stretched profile, its front end carved like a shark's snout, and its Pro-Arm single-sided swingarm create a silhouette unlike anything else. You love it or hate it, but you can't ignore it. Honda set out to invent a category, and visually, mission accomplished. The problem is that beneath this spacecraft-like bodywork beats a 680 cc V-twin borrowed from the Deauville and Transalp. Its 60 horsepower at 7,750 rpm and 58.8 Nm of torque at 5,500 rpm are enough for urban cruising but can't compete with a BMW K 1200 GT or a Yamaha FJR 1300. Top speed caps out at 180 km/h, confirming the machine's laid-back vocation. The minimalist windscreen doesn't exactly invite highway mile-munching anyway.

The real tour de force lies in the transmission. The HFT, standing for Human-Friendly Transmission, has nothing in common with a simple scooter CVT or a conventional semi-automatic gearbox. It is a hydromechanical continuously variable system that adjusts gear ratios progressively. Three modes are available via the right switchgear. The automatic AT mode offers D and S positions, while the manual MT mode lets you select six gears from the handlebars. A dedicated button engages neutral. On paper, it's appealing. In practice, this technology makes riding disconcerting for a motorcyclist used to a clutch lever, yet incredibly accessible for a beginner or a city rider seeking scooter simplicity in a motorcycle's frame.

The ergonomics push this comfort logic all the way. The seat drops to 690 mm, reassuring shorter riders. The swept-back handlebar, wide floorboards, and semi-reclined custom-style riding position invite leisurely cruising. The fully digital instrument cluster, with its backlit white LEDs, displays speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, and gear indicator. The steel double-cradle frame, 41 mm fork, and single rear shock absorb road imperfections competently, while the ABS paired with combined braking secures the package with 296 mm front discs and a 276 mm rear disc. Nothing sporty, but the overall setup remains sound.

The downside? The 270 kg wet weight. At that heft, low-speed maneuvers become a weightlifting exercise. And the tire choice raises eyebrows: a 130/70-17 up front and a 190/50-17 at the rear — sizes worthy of a sportbike, fitted to a 60-horsepower shaft-driven machine. Style takes priority over dynamic logic here. For anyone eyeing a Honda DN-01 700 2010 on the used market, these limitations are worth keeping in mind. The DN-01 is aimed at an urban rider drawn to the design and ease of use, not at a long-distance tourer or a rider chasing thrills. It remains a singular object, a bold technological wager that never found a mass audience, yet deserves respect for daring what no one else would.