So is the DN-01 worth all the hype? Yes and No. You see, it showcases new technologies like the HFT, which may soon become standard for most two wheelers, the way an auto-tranny did for most cars. What the DN-01 also does is establish a new, aggressive design language in an age where Hondas had started to look too bland and boring as compared to their competitors’ wares. So it is worth all the hype, because it is an important step forward for Honda and an even bigger step of automobile design since the DN-01 is one of the very few concepts that have actually made it to the production line without losing the radical bits.
On the other hand, the DN-01’s price tag surpasses most bikes from Honda’s own stable, including the CBR1000RR and the VFR1200F! It may be justified when you are putting money down for a radical concept, but too much money to ask for when you are talking about pure performance. So if you are looking for a piece of automobile art to flaunt at your Saturday night parties, this is the one. But if you are looking for a hardcore cruiser or a sport tourer, there are other machines in the market that fit the bill better. With performance figures that can’t even shame a goldfish, our little Honda shark is not exactly a ferocious predator in this sea of concepts and production bikes. It is however that smart shark which likes to surface onto a beach every now and then to scare away a few kids and make its presence felt…