Details: Honda DN-01 Human Friendly Transmission

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Honda_DN-01_transmission.jpgWe’re looking forward to trying the Honda DN-01 when it arrives in the US some time in early 2009. Why? Its transmission. Dubbed the Human Friendly Transmission (HFT) by acronym happy Honda, it’s actually a clutch-free Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) that’s capable of operating in two infinitely variable automatic drive modes or a manual mode, which allows riders to switch through six predetermined ratios using their left thumb.
>Sound confusing? It’s really not. The process works like this:

1. Start the bike. The transmission will automatically be in neutral,
in which position it sets itself when the engine is switched off.

2. Press a button on the right handlebar marked ‘D’ and the HFT switches into Drive mode.

3. Twist the throttle, the neutral light on the instruments is replaced with a ‘D’ and you can pull away clutch-free.

4. Proceed to ride like normal; the HFT will continuously vary its
ratio to suit riding conditions. When little to no acceleration is
required, it’ll be as high as possible for maximum fuel economy, when
extra power is needed for acceleration or climbing a hill it’ll switch
lower to suit the amount of load placed on the engine.

5. Want more emphasis to be placed on performance than economy? Select
Sport mode on the right handlebar, an ‘S’ will illuminate in the
instrument panel and the HFT will choose its ratios with performance in
mind, providing maximum acceleration when the throttle is opened.

6. Not good enough for you? Select Manual mode and the HFT will allow
you to switch between six artificial, preset gear ratios, mimicking a
traditional manual gearbox. You do so by selecting ‘M’ on the right
handlebar, which replaces the ‘D’ or ‘S’ with the number of the current
gear.

7. Use the up and down button placed under your left thumb to move up
or down through the “gears.” The HFT allows engine braking or the use
of maximum revs just like a normal transmission, but won’t allow you to
select a gear that’s too high or too low for current speeds.

8. Come to a stop — there’s no need to pull a clutch in — and the HFT will automatically shift itself into first gear.

9. There’s no need to do so, but you can now switch into neutral and/or
turn the engine off, which automatically engages neutral for you.

The entire system should be much easier to use than it is to describe.
HFT differs from the clutchless shifting on Yamaha’s FJR1300AE in that
it doesn’t merely eliminate the clutch, but offers a totally different
style of gearbox that replaces gears with a belt and cone system that
isn’t constrained by the need for predetermined gear ratios (except in
manual mode); HFT also eliminates the traditional foot-operated gear
lever in favor of bar-mounted buttons.

Honda

  • http://www.fullcustomphoto.com Yuri

    I dunno, the five-speed in my XS850 is pretty friendly, and the last time I checked I was a human. You want to ride a slushbox? Ride a stepthrough…or a car.

  • annonymous

    whats going on with the posts?

  • Transient

    The technology is interesting, but the costs are staggering. This is the kind of thing that a lot of people (read: non-motorcyclists) could enjoy, but not at the price of a Honda Fit.

  • Ty

    A potential game-changer. Give it time. Give Honda and others a chance to bring more ‘matics to the market and help expand it. We need all the help we can get. Ride a mid-size scooter around and loads of car drivers and passersby will ask two questions: How many miles per gallon? Is that an automatic? They have a reason to join us as riders. They are trying to figure out if they can do it. Many of them don’t have manual tranny cars, and some don’t want a scooter — they want a motorcycle. Auto-bikes will eliminate a barrier. They still have to learn how to ride right (MSF, riding gear, etc.). But we all need to be more inviting to potential new riders of all kinds. Women, youth, you name it. If we don’t have more riders in the market within 10 years, we won’t have all the great choice in bikes and adavncing tech that we see today. Every rider should be an ambassador and get one other person involved. Be inviting.

  • http://weroam.wordpress.com Darek

    My friend has a Honda ATV, a FourTrax I believe, and although Honda says “automatic” on the spec sheet, its operation sounds identical to this tranny. Obviously it’ll have different gear ratios and such, but It has a D mode, in which you can choose to shift up and down through the gears with your thumb.

    I get that this hasn’t been done in a motorcycle before though, but I think riding is dangerous, and i feel like taking the responsibility of control of the transmission will have the same affect as it does to many people who get into a car and go into autonomy mode.

    Maybe I’m wrong and it will let people concentrate more on the road and their surroundings. Let’s hope I’m wrong.

  • http://weroam.wordpress.com Darek

    I realize this isn’t a forum, and please forgive me, but in response to Ty, I’m not sure that we should invite everyone to ride. It’s not like driving a car, and if everyone goes into it because they think they’re saving on gas you’ll see a worse spike in Moto fatalities than we have now. The number of riders is still constantly increasing, so I don’t think you should be all that worried that a lack of users will slow manufacturers down.

    What might slow them down, however, is legislation passed to counter a rush of people getting into the sport with adequate knowledge or training and get themselves killed.

  • Curtis

    @Ty and Darek
    Totally agree with Ty, getting people on bikes is not only super important, but if you can teach people to ride without yelling at them (I’ve seen more realtionships killed by boyfriends trying to teach girlfriends how to ride) its good fun. I’m shocked by people who I would expect would have no fun on a bike and come back after their first ride with the biggest grin (this is all on dirt).
    And sure, people will get on a bike for the wrong reasons, like mpg, but once they start to enjoy it, their views will change. Motorcycling should not be exclusive, its the most fun you can have with your clothes on. Check out “On Any Sunday” by Bruce Brown, great movie, and a great view on motorcycles.
    Legislation is the wrong move in my opinion, but I’m just basing it on experiences at the DMV.

  • Ben

    I wonder if, in later HFT transmissions, you’ll be able to adjust the preset gear ratios. That could be interesting for some situations. At the same time, I’m curious about the maintainence intervals for the CVT belt. On the ATV’s with a CVT, the belt is the weak link, which needs to be inspected and replaced rather often compared to a standard clutch pack.

  • http://hellforleathermagazine.com Wes

    Guys,

    We’re continually asking for more innovative ideas to find their way into production bikes and making fun of manufacturers (Harley mostly) that refuse to incorporate them.

    Is this the bike we’ve all been waiting for? Maybe not. But we’ll withhold judgment until we’ve had the chance to try one.

    Hopefully Honda will sell a boat load of them, encouraging a few new people to get onto bikes for the first time or maybe back onto them after a long absence. Doing so would validate their attempt to look for new ideas and bring them into production and encourage them to do so again in the future.

  • Jon Z

    So what’s the difference between this and Suzuki’s 650 Bergman trans? BTW Ben, if it’s like the Bergman, the belt consists of a series of stacked metal plates that are pushed rather than pulled through the pulleys.

  • Ty

    Darek, I appreciate your line of thinking. Which is exactly why I stated “They still have to learn how to ride right (MSF, riding gear, etc.).” When I added “Every rider should be an ambassador and get one other person involved,” I did mean get them involved the right way, so we reduce crashes and avoid bad legislation. Motorcycling is never going to be for everyone. But there are a number of people out there who have that “Moto DNA” within them and don’t even know it. We’ll discover some of them and gain more new riders, due to fuel prices and many other reasons. We have to, because the number of new riders is not constantly increasing and that can’t be taken for granted. Dirt bike sales are way down, and that’s where many next-generation riders start. Dirt bikes are the only option for youth riders. Many street riders are aging out of the market and more will be soon. Again, if we don’t have lots of new riders replacing them within 10 years, then you will see fewer motorcycle manufacturers, fewer aftermarket makers, less innovation, less choice and even less influence among key decision-makers who can affect motorcycling. We can succeed, but we need all the help we can get.

  • http://239-693-0221 John Sabiston

    I have two CVT transmission NSU Scooters The other one is one of a small production of NSU PRIMA”s Also with the type 20 hydrostatic CVT transmission and the same 150 cc engine with electric start !! You can run in automatic or select the ratio by rotating the left hand grip . No clutch !! You can stop in gear and start ahead by advancing the throttle . Also it can be push started if the battery is to low on charge .

    How about that !
    John S.

  • John Sabiston

    I have just turned 80 years old ! I am not well and can not earn money ! Phone # 239-689-5051 e-mail sabiston48@comcast.net Florida zip 33905 .