I'm heading into my third season of riding (have a Ninja 500R) and still have issues with gear shifting - can't seem to "get" what gear to shift down to when slowing down but not stopping and also thru corners. This makes me really nervous driving in Toronto with all the traffic and need to constantly shift, so much that I don't ride as much as I could. Thinking of getting a DN-01 (Honda 700cc automatic transmission) and I have my own list of pros/cons but would REALLY appreciate any feedback from the group if you own one, know someone who owns one or has experience with them. I really don't want to go down to a scooter and thought this would be a great solution.
Need advice: Honda DN-01
- Thread starter SCD
- Start date
Venom01
Well-known member
Dn-01 is a scooter as far as I see it.
Buy something cheaper, like a Yamaha t-max. I have to ask, why you you spend good money on such a god awful looking machine? If shifting really is a problem look at some maxi scoots and I think you'll like what you find.
BTW Maxi Scoots are no "step down" just look at a burgman 650 .
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Buy something cheaper, like a Yamaha t-max. I have to ask, why you you spend good money on such a god awful looking machine? If shifting really is a problem look at some maxi scoots and I think you'll like what you find.
BTW Maxi Scoots are no "step down" just look at a burgman 650 .
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If you actually want a DN-01, you are a rare breed. Honda could barely give those away, and they were trying for a couple of years afterward (with massive discounting).
There are some issues with buying something that was a failure in the marketplace: Next to impossible to find one if you want one, next to impossible to sell one when you don't want it any more, and if some of Honda's patterns of late continue (discontinuing parts on low-volume models very shortly after end of production - very unlike the Honda of the past), next to impossible to fix one if you want to keep it and you break something specific to that bike (bodywork, for example).
A maxi-scooter of some sort would be a better choice if you actually want to ride it. Or just practice changing gears ...
Some people might associate "rare" with "valuable/collector item" ... but being valuable means that someone actually wants the object in question. The DN-01 is an answer to a question that nobody (well ... apparently, ALMOST nobody) was asking, and is highly unlikely to be a collector's item unless there is someone out there who is collecting Honda's failures.
There are some issues with buying something that was a failure in the marketplace: Next to impossible to find one if you want one, next to impossible to sell one when you don't want it any more, and if some of Honda's patterns of late continue (discontinuing parts on low-volume models very shortly after end of production - very unlike the Honda of the past), next to impossible to fix one if you want to keep it and you break something specific to that bike (bodywork, for example).
A maxi-scooter of some sort would be a better choice if you actually want to ride it. Or just practice changing gears ...
Some people might associate "rare" with "valuable/collector item" ... but being valuable means that someone actually wants the object in question. The DN-01 is an answer to a question that nobody (well ... apparently, ALMOST nobody) was asking, and is highly unlikely to be a collector's item unless there is someone out there who is collecting Honda's failures.
There's no reason why you cannot learn how to shift and what gear to be in.
If you're just crawling drop it to first, if you're moving above 10km/h and don't anticipate stopping i would leave it in second, unless ofcourse that boggs down your bike in that case just leave it in first.
Pretty simple 1st or 2nd. As for corners depends how fast you're going.
Uberfetus
Well-known member
I did ride a DN-01 the SMOOTHEST thing ever. Smooth, smooth, and SMOOTH. But I did burn my boots looking for the footpegs.. Floorboards are not my thing, but it is a very pleasant ride. Go into a parking lot and just learn shifting doing some high speed gymkhana kind of thing.
Edit: Also. You should reaaally learn to ride as SLOW as possible while trail braking with the rear brake. Makes riding at a crawls pace of roughly 4 km/h possible and easy. No throttle just keep the clutch slipped halfway and if you are about to fall over tiny amount of throttle, and if you are going to fast rear brake. My step Dad showed me "slow races" when I first started riding. Whoever takes the longest to get from point A to B wins. All clutch slipping, no throttle, and rear brake trail braking. It is a HELPER and a half to know how to do this!!
Edit: Also. You should reaaally learn to ride as SLOW as possible while trail braking with the rear brake. Makes riding at a crawls pace of roughly 4 km/h possible and easy. No throttle just keep the clutch slipped halfway and if you are about to fall over tiny amount of throttle, and if you are going to fast rear brake. My step Dad showed me "slow races" when I first started riding. Whoever takes the longest to get from point A to B wins. All clutch slipping, no throttle, and rear brake trail braking. It is a HELPER and a half to know how to do this!!
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I can't quite get my head around how someone who already rode for 2 seasons has trouble with shifting gears.. how much actual riding did you do the last 2 years? Can you not feel if your engine is lugging when its too high of a gear? I don't get it, what are you confused about exactly?
If you enter turns without downshifting, and then find the motorcycle lacks power when you get on the throttle again, you were in too high of a gear. This only has to happen once or twice before you get it, I would hope.
If you enter turns without downshifting, and then find the motorcycle lacks power when you get on the throttle again, you were in too high of a gear. This only has to happen once or twice before you get it, I would hope.
+1 on the mana.
espro
Well-known member
automatic motorcycles? whats next, cars that park themselves? oh wait...
what is humanity becoming, traction control and people still spin out cause its raining, awd drive and people are in ditches with 2 cm of snow....
im disappointed in you people
what is humanity becoming, traction control and people still spin out cause its raining, awd drive and people are in ditches with 2 cm of snow....
im disappointed in you people
Burgman 650 likely too heavy in traffic for the OP.
Honda Silverwing, Burgman 400 are decently priced CVT scoots that can still handle the 400 series.
Honda 700DCT is way overpriced.
Might be seating position that is bothering you - weight is well forward on the bars.
Something more upright like the new Honda CB500 or if you can find one the BMW Scarver.
Weird looking but built for city
Helps if you say how old you are, and how tall.
Dual sports are nicely upright and that helps shifting.
Versys might be another
go in sit on it - if you like - cut a trade deal - save the tax
http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-veh...ppers-2009-Kawasaki-Versys-W0QQAdIdZ453193923
The 850 Mana is superb but not as a commuter and $$
Decent Burgman 400 - good commuter - lots of storage.
You would be up for a CVT belt change in 6k km or so.
http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-veh...rs-2005-Suzuki-Burgman-400-W0QQAdIdZ460633939
Honda Silverwing, Burgman 400 are decently priced CVT scoots that can still handle the 400 series.
Honda 700DCT is way overpriced.
Might be seating position that is bothering you - weight is well forward on the bars.
Something more upright like the new Honda CB500 or if you can find one the BMW Scarver.
Weird looking but built for city
Helps if you say how old you are, and how tall.
Dual sports are nicely upright and that helps shifting.
Versys might be another
go in sit on it - if you like - cut a trade deal - save the tax
http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-veh...ppers-2009-Kawasaki-Versys-W0QQAdIdZ453193923
The 850 Mana is superb but not as a commuter and $$
Decent Burgman 400 - good commuter - lots of storage.
You would be up for a CVT belt change in 6k km or so.
http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-veh...rs-2005-Suzuki-Burgman-400-W0QQAdIdZ460633939
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Someone should have explained to the guys at Honda that a "polished turd" is just a figure of speech.
Someone should have explained to the guys at Honda that a "polished turd" is just a figure of speech.
The rebel inside me screams out for that. OK, it's more of a wail but I like it the same way I like Dan Gurneys' Alligator. It could be a hoot to ride where none of your friends can see you.
conundrum
Well-known member
I agree with what others are saying here -- there really is no real reason why you "can't" learn to shift to the point it becomes second nature.
As for what gear to shift down to, just drop a gear if you need to drop another do it, and so on and so forth. If coming to a stop, keep doing down until 1st or maybe 2nd (then shift into first clutch in just before coming to a complete stop). If you're taking a corner at an intersection, then likely 2nd or 3rd is your friend. I might have only been riding a year on a 250, but I've driven stick before getting a bike since I was 16 (31 now).
With that said, if you are really interested in the DN-01, I saw one at GP back in the fall, but have no clue if it is still there or not...but as others have pointed out there really isn't a market for them so it could still be there. Also I hope you don't take this post the wrong way...I'm just saying maybe you need more practice before deciding to give up on the bike you have now.
As for what gear to shift down to, just drop a gear if you need to drop another do it, and so on and so forth. If coming to a stop, keep doing down until 1st or maybe 2nd (then shift into first clutch in just before coming to a complete stop). If you're taking a corner at an intersection, then likely 2nd or 3rd is your friend. I might have only been riding a year on a 250, but I've driven stick before getting a bike since I was 16 (31 now).
With that said, if you are really interested in the DN-01, I saw one at GP back in the fall, but have no clue if it is still there or not...but as others have pointed out there really isn't a market for them so it could still be there. Also I hope you don't take this post the wrong way...I'm just saying maybe you need more practice before deciding to give up on the bike you have now.
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