With gasoline prices skyrocketing, car drivers are increasingly turning to two wheels to lower their fuel bills. New riders often start out on scooters because, unlike motorcycles, they have automatic transmissions, making them a cinch to operate. The DN-01 is a bold attempt by Honda to bridge the gap between the two genres, blending the convenience of an automatic transmission with the full-size wheels and long suspension of a motorcycle.

To describe DN-01's design as "fresh" would be like calling Mount Fuji a hill. There's absolutely nothing on the road like it. Viewed from the front, the long-nosed cowl housing dual projector headlights has the ominous glare of a mako shark. From the side, the DN-01's sweeping lines, 10-spoke wheels and single-side swing arm makes it look like it's breaking the national speed limit even at a standstill. Filling out the back is a massive 190-m tire like those found on supersport bikes.

But while the DN-01 may resemble a shark, it has the heart of a herring. The 680cc liquid-cooled, fuel-injected V-twin engine puts out a tidy 60 hp/6.5 kg-m torque, but it has the Herculean task of powering a bike weighing a porky 269 kg.