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Danger_dave
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 05:17 am: |
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Swapping for the 'Wing tomorrow. http://world.honda.com/news/2008/2080228DN-01-Large-Sports-Cruiser (Message edited by danger_dave on August 13, 2008) |
Beachbuell
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 06:26 am: |
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Link isn't working. |
Danger_dave
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 06:59 am: |
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Sorry - cut and paste - Try again. http://world.honda.com/news/2008/2080228DN-01-Larg e-Sports-Cruiser |
Danger_dave
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 07:00 am: |
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Seems to work now - it's to a Honda DN01. Honda Launches the New DN-01 Large Sports Cruiser with Innovative Automatic Human-Friendly Transmission TOKYO, Japan, February 28, 2008–Honda Motor, Co., Ltd. announced that sales of the DN-01 large sports cruiser will begin in Japan on Friday, March 7. The unique, low-styling body features a liquid-cooled four-stroke 680 cc OHC V-twin engine that resonates power and a new automatic transmission, the Human-Friendly Transmission (HFT), that delivers superior throttle response for comfort even on long rides, and simple operation with no need for clutch use, allowing sporty riding. |
Miamiuly
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 07:52 am: |
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That is one big, fugly scooter. I'm sure it will serve that purpose in many places, a big step over scooter. |
Seanp
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 08:25 am: |
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I find a normal clutch and shifter to be perfectly friendly to this particular human, and would find an automatic to be rather boring... |
Danger_dave
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 08:39 am: |
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Yeah of course - it's an urban transport vehicle (I assume) - tomorrow will tell. It's a high performance scooter by the looks of things. But then I have fun on a Vespa. |
Mikef5000
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 09:26 am: |
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It's a high performance scooter by the looks of things. At 600 lb's and 60 hp... I don't see much "high performance" about it.b |
Aeholton
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 09:26 am: |
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My dad has an Aprilia 500cc Scarabeo. He's been asking me about that Honda since I sent him a link to the Motorcycledaily.com article about it more than a year ago. Looking forward to your thoughts on it Dave. |
Xl1200r
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 09:34 am: |
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I'm also looking forward to your thoughts on this one. This bike is nothing near anything I would ever own myself, but it's an interesting concept, so I'm curious how well the whole thing works. |
Ft_bstrd
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 09:39 am: |
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So is there a bike that you have tested that you have "blistered" in your review, or do you not do those kinds of reviews? |
Kyrocket
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 09:43 am: |
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I'm curious myself and look forward to your write-ups. Just off the cuff my first thoughts were; great now we're taking the people who weren't coordinated enough to work a clutch and putting them on two wheels. I think Seanp nailed it with the boring, but I've been surprised before. |
Aeholton
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 11:07 am: |
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Just off the cuff my first thoughts were; great now we're taking the people who weren't coordinated enough to work a clutch and putting them on two wheels. Would you say the same thing about someone buying a car with an automatic transmission? I think it's great if it opens up the 2-wheel experience to more folks that might be intimidated by riding a motorcycle. As for coordination, the bike will qualify as a motorcycle (at least here in FL) and all new riders are required to pass MSF (or equivalent) before receiving a license. |
Miamiuly
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 11:15 am: |
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My dad isn't interested in riding, but if he were he would need some type of auto-clutch because his left hand is messeed up. I wouldn't mind one in traffic but I need to shift and clutch, part of the experience. Even in a car it is a tough decision for me, stick in stop and go or auto and boring. Depends on the car too, mustang has to be stick, boring car, not so much. |
Danger_dave
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 05:40 pm: |
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>>At 600 lb's and 60 hp... I don't see much "high performance" about it.b<< Compared to a Lifan 50 it's a hyabusa. |
Danger_dave
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 05:48 pm: |
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>>So is there a bike that you have tested that you have "blistered" in your review, or do you not do those kinds of reviews?<< Not really - there aren't bad bikes any more. No hinged frames - no dangerous brakes etc. There's bikes I don't like very much - but that is about taste, not fault or failure. Still write them up OK because my attitude is - 'If you like doing...then this is a good machine for doing...' It's about the only time it's not all about ME! I did take one bike back and say 'you won't want to read it - let's just let it go hey' once. |
Ft_bstrd
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 06:24 pm: |
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I didn't figure as much. You can always find something good to say about a bike. There are other folks who's sole responsibility is to find everything negative about a bike and then write about it. Just wondered how your do your reviews. Edmunds or Car and Driver write mostly positive reviews about every car regardless of what problems there are. Consumer Reports tends to be much more critical. |
Barker
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 06:33 pm: |
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this is more my style. MANA! Yet another bike i would own, if they sold it in the US. (Message edited by barker on August 13, 2008) |
Ft_bstrd
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 06:40 pm: |
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What's not to like about the Mana? There are more and more people entering the scooter market, there will be several who will not want to make the transition to full fledged motorcycle but will want something with more power and better handling. The DN-01 could be an option. |
Danger_dave
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 06:40 pm: |
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>>There are other folks who's sole responsibility is to find everything negative about a bike and then write about it. << I have the occasional Englishman get on my case about it. You know what their mags are like. 'Wide Glides are crap for Motocross - don't take a DR650 to the outlaw club house.' Where do I sign? |
Danger_dave
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 06:45 pm: |
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It's persisting down here - so I postponed picking it up. (You'd keep the Goldwing in these conditions too) |
Barker
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 06:57 pm: |
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IMHO the mana is brilliant. Honda WTF? If there were dealer in town, and it were sold in the us: I would be the first in line. For many reasons that I dont need to go into right now. One big reason the bike is cool is because of the opportunities for certain potential and former bikers like my buddy Im going to ride with this weekend who is disabled. He would love a sporty v-twin auto like the mana (auto can still be very fun to drive, the mana has "modes" for mpg, sport etc) Not to steal the thunder from the honda, but I really love this bike so here are a few pix that make me smile.
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Ft_bstrd
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 07:03 pm: |
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I like the trunk light. Nice touch. Where's the fuel? |
Barker
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 07:14 pm: |
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I too noticed the lite and the 12v outlet in the truck, I wish they would have coverd the batt terminals. Fuell: (Message edited by barker on August 13, 2008) |
Ft_bstrd
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 07:16 pm: |
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Interesting. |
Danger_dave
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 07:35 pm: |
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Aprilias always look like they were designed by taking several different coloured jigsaw puzzles, mixing them up, and working out which bits can be made to go together. |
Barker
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 07:37 pm: |
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maybe, but they look better that that honda. IMHO |
Danger_dave
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 07:42 pm: |
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They do some nice black and gold ones - but generally It's like Aprilia are the Anti MV Agusta colour stylewise. What shade of purple would you like with that green and red and orange? |
Danger_dave
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 07:47 pm: |
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>>maybe, but they look better that that honda. IMHO<< Yeah it looks like a motorbike - not a....one of them. |
Danger_dave
| Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 07:55 pm: |
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Nah - I have to take it back - they have fixed it for 2008-9. Even the coat of many colours tuono has been sorted.
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