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October 19 2005
Honda’s automatic bike
Honda has launched a fully automatic concept bike at the Tokyo motorcycle show, which it promises will make it to full production.
The DN-01 concept is a sports-tourer based around the Deauville v-twin 680cc engine, but Honda has taken out the standard motorbike gearbox and inserted a scooter-style continuously variable automatic system.
The rider will be able to choose between two different automatic modes - presumably one for sport and one for normal riding – and a fully manual option so the rider can choose when to change gear via the bar mounted buttons.
Although currently a concept Honda has said that it aims to put the bike on sale in the near future.

I like it! Well, except for the floorboards being placed so far forward. I likes my feet underneath me.

Thanks for the post, DJ. If you get any more info, please keep going with this thread. I loved my dad's Suzuki Burgman, but I imagine I'd like this thing a whole lot better.

Maybe it's the revised VMAX!

The dude in the saddle looks right a home !

OOPS that's a HONDA ( dumbass ! )

Hmmmm....

No mention of ABS, power assisted or otherwise.

Interesting, but...

A "Sports-Tourer" with feet-forward riding position and floorboards???

And only a 680cc V-Twin Deauville engine??? Not exactly a stellar performer that traces its roots back to the original Honda VT-500 Custom and Ascot...

Seems more like a "cross-over" design to bridge the gap between motorcycles and scooters - sort of a bike to bring scooter riders up into the motorcycle ranks - which is really not a bad idea.

Nice seat and interesting styling. Lots of brakes. 17" wheels. Shaft drive. All a good thing...

I've often wondered when someone would untilize a CVT on a full-size motorcycle. Really is a terrific method for the transfer of power... Always in the right "gear", maximum torque always readily available, good traction control, reliable, quiet, smooth, and seamless delivery...

But make mine around 1000 to 1300cc's and around 150 HP and 115 ft/lbs of torque, have an RT or FJR riding position and same weather protection, the aforementioned multiple shift program maps with manual selection capability, standard cruise control, on-the-fly suspension adjustment ala Beemer's ESA system, etc... *BUT NO LINKED BRAKES*!!!

Should be interesting to see how Honda markets it, and if the marketplace accepts it.

Cheers!

Dallara

Remember the Suzuki G-Strider.....looks like Honda thinks it's a good idea.

The Japanese are small light people (except the sumo's )...so they need a low seat height...and 600cc to them should be plenty.

They remind me of recumbent bicyles...I wonder if they'll run with a flag.. ..so they can be seen between the cars.

DJ

Well, let's not leave Dan Gurney out of the conversation. Low and low center of gravity, relatively recumbent, small displacement, goes like stink if the stories are true:

http://www.allamericanracers.com/alliga ... 11-03.html

As an aside, I think there will be a lot more people on bikes in the near future. And not for image, really, but for economy. If someone who is weirded out about clutch/gear action this (and many other sorts of ride) would be perfect. Closer to what they're expecting and expectations are the reality here. I think the Honda and the G-Strider look pretty cool. Probably cooler to someone who doesn't yet ride...

Interesting machine, but most certainly not aimed at the likes of us. A "cross over" as Dallara said is the target audience for this one. Oh! Dallara the UK rag "BIKE" has photo's of the new '06 FJR1300 without a clutch lever (seems you change gear with buttons rather like on some "sporting" autos) . What's going on here? Is this on all models for all markets? An optional extra? Is this the begining of the end for the clutch as we know it? If there is no clutch (lever) then it must dissengage automatically when stopping and engage drive from standstill as the revs increase. As one who hates linked braking systems I can't see you liking this! Does your Yamaha dealer friend have any info for us?
Cheers Simon

Oh that is so going to have linked brakes. And a sign on the back 'Long Load' and 'Be aware Vehical makes wide turns'.

Something to be said for CVT tranies, they are simple and keep the engine in the torque band......

Try a Nissan Murano, or either of the Maxi Scooters the Burgman or the Silver Wing, they all have the CVT......the Burgman has both a power mode and can be shifted (5 gears)

The new Honda is nice but I have to agree with Dallara, we will eventually get there.......

Cool pic. Thanks again DJ!

Hey remember guys - it's a concept bike at a show. I think the significant thing is the CVT tranny - the bling factor like floorboards and rearsets can easily be adjusted before the bike actually hits the street.

But I wonder which market will really be interested in this type of bike - cruiser or sport-touring? Maybe Honda's marketing department is also still grappling with this so they threw in some "cruiser bling" just to hold the interest of another potential target market.

I wouldn't consider it because I don't want an auto bike, and the feet are too far forward for my tastes, but its a Honda so you know it'll be smooth and reliable.

SimonD said:

Oh! Dallara the UK rag "BIKE" has photo's of the new '06 FJR1300 without a clutch lever (seems you change gear with buttons rather like on some "sporting" autos). What's going on here? Is this on all models for all markets? An optional extra? Is this the begining of the end for the clutch as we know it?

For 2006 there are two different Yamaha FJR models... The "standard" FJR-1300-A, which does have ABS and Yamaha's linked brake system, but a conventional 5-speed gearbox with a normal manual clutch - complete with left-side handlebar lever. Then there is the FJR-1300-AE - same as above, but the "E" stands for "Electric Shift" - as in teh clutch and gearbox are actuated electro-mechanically. There is no left-side handlebar clutch lever, but added to the left-side bar is a set of paddles/buttons... You upshift with your left forefinger, downshift with your left thumb - or you can use a foot lever mounted in the normal location. None of these directly actuate the gearbox or clutch on the AE, but instead operate switches that actuate the clutch and make the shift through a set of servos... Not too many details as of yet on exactly how the clutch works coming ot a stop or leaving from a standstill, but most likely it is simply computer controlled and gathers data from sources like wheel speed sensors (already there for the ABS), throttle position sensors (already there for the E.F.I.), crank speed sensors (already there for various subsystems), etc. Ferrari has a similar electro-actuated clutch on some of its street cars, and the technology is old hat in Formula One... (you guys did know that Yamaha is involved in Toyota's F-1 effort, and used to be in car F-1 itself, didn't you?) "Launch Control" as it is often called in F-1 can give pretty dramatic starts...

However, if I go with the FJR-1300 it will most definitely be the "standard" old "A" model, with conventional shifting...

Why?

Well, you know me... I'm for as little computer-controlled, servo-assisted, "think-for-me" riding "aids" as possible for my motorcycle riding experience each ride. I can live with ABS, as long as it is completely transparent, and Yamaha's is by far the best in the industry in this regard. As for the linked brakes... Well, from what my buddies at Yamaha tell me, this is easily "worked around" with just some hose magic, and then is completely defeated with no adverse effects on the braking system. Cost to do this should be under $100.00, and is completely reversible.

Second reason... The Electric-Shift option adds almost $2000.00 to the price of an FJR, adds some weight and complexity, and is just one more thing to go wrong...

*NOW*, CVT transmissions really do interest me... That's a whole other ball-game. They were outlawed in F-1 years ago when Williams was developing one, and that was a shame, because had CVT's made a breakthrough on the world stage of F-1 and been successful, I think we would see them in more cars and bikes today - and they are a definite way to improve the breed for all of us.

Efficient, light weight, simple, reliable (in this day and age and with the materials available), foolproof in operation, and yet offer definite increases in performance across the board. Someday, they will change motorcycling forever... at least as long as internal combustion engines are still around burning fossil fuels.

Cheers!

Dallara

Looks like a big-a$$ed ugly scooter with a tractor seat to me!

Boxer said:

Looks like a big-a$$ed ugly scooter with a tractor seat to me!

That's what a BMW K-1200-LT looks like to me!!!

Cheers!

Dallara

I thought hard about getting a car with CVT (the Civic made two generations ago) or paddle-shifting (BMW M3). Nothing beats the feeling of a good shift whether on a bike or car however, and I will stick to manual.

Early generation CVT's have shown a tendency to fail. My right hand thus far has not

Ok we've seen Honda's new low rider..and we've seen Suzuki's G-Strider..now check out Yamaha's attempt..what were they thinking..

DJ



Oh...and a bit more on the Honda here.. http://www.motorcycledaily.com/20octobe ... a_dn01.htm

This stuff looks like lounge furniture!

Where is the remote?

that yamaha looks like a Kaiten
http://www.combinedfleet.com/kaiten.htm

The honda looks like a Yamaha R6 had sex with a scooter.