Once you digest the new design of the DN-01 you need to spend a minute getting used to its controls and seating – after all you may know how to ride a boat, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be comfortable riding a tamed shark as well. The handlebars, to start off with, are at an unusual angle. Though the rake angle of the forks isn’t too extreme, the handlebars extend all the way back as if they were designed for a custom chopper. Add to that the fact that the bars’ beefy proportions intimidate you when you hold them for the first time. The seating posture is such that while the stretched out foot pegs need your feet to be placed in a chopper’s posture, the handlebars make you feel that you are clinging on to a scooter. But like any other Honda, this geometry makes the bike feel extremely light and easy to use (not necessarily comfortable) once you start rolling. However, the long wheelbase makes it difficult for a newbie to change directions on the DN-01 especially at crawling speeds. The conventional forks I complained about earlier, have a stiffer ride to offer. The seats are comfortable with their wide design, but the stiff suspension does become an issue on bumpy surfaces. On the highway, the wind-blast tires you further as the puny windshield isn’t all that effective.
But with the beautifully laid out roads in Goa and the fast moving traffic on them, the DN-01 feels simply superb to cruise on. The 680cc V-twin engine is a smooth operator. In fact, it is so relaxed that is only churns out 43-odd horses from its two cylinders. The beauty of this machine however lies in the new transmission system. Honda calls it the Human Friendly Transmission (HFT). Unlike the conventional CVT transmission on your Activa, the HFT is an electronically controlled automatic transmission with a hydrostatic drive that employs a variable displacement axial piston pump with a variable-angle swashplate. You didn’t understand the last part, did you? Neither did I, to me it sounded more like Optimus Prime’s mating call! In simple terms, the HFT is a transmission which lets either lets you change gears with a small switch on the handlebar or allows you to relax and does all the gear shifting by itself.
Either way, the electronics make sure that the gearbox is giving you optimum performance. What this translates into is a laid back ride that gives you the comfort of a cruiser and the convenience of a scooter. The smoothness of a hydraulic shaft drive and the confidence of combined-ABS only make things better. When I rode the bike and tried the manual shifting, all it did was it gave me a few extra revs at the top end to play with. On the automatic mode the DN-01 resorted to a smaller rev-band for optimum performance. But even with all the gizmos, the DN-01 will sprint from naught to 100 km/h in a lethargic 8 seconds with an achievable top speed of 180-odd km/h. Given these performance and handling characteristics, I would prefer cruising on the DN-01 on some smooth country roads or even in the urban environs durining non-rush hour traffic. The vehicle isn’t exactly meant for the twisties or for long distance touring like some self-proclaimed experts have concluded in recent times. After all, Honda recommends only a 147 kilos of laden weight, leaving you little room for the luggage.
