I have never seen a bike that is this ugly or cool (I have not decided).  This is Honda’s DN-01.  Inside this odd bike there is a 680cc liquid-cooled engine with a HFT continuously variable, hydromechanical two-mode automatic transmission.  The transmission also has a six-speed manual mode that I can picture it being clunky like an automatic transmission in a car. 

 

This motorcycle appears to be new for 2009.  I’m looking forward to seeing this bike in person.  From the picture it looks like this bike could be quite comfortable to ride while still giving the sporty bike appearance.  The handle pars appear to be raised and allow the rider to sit fairly upright.  However the windshield does not look like it will do much for a ride who is sitting up.

 

I can see this bike as being a fairly good motorcycle for touring.

 

While looking at riding gear at motorcycle superstore, I stumbled upon this Icon backpack.  It is unlike anything I have ever seen before.  The overall concept of having a highly visible riding backpack is a great idea.  I’m going to try to track one of these down in a store where I can take a close look at it, but I’m afraid that Icon did not spend enough time looking into the organization beyond the helmet and face-shield compartments.  When I’m commuting I typically have a computer, pens, paper, power supplies, extra computer cables, phone, books and or files.  I am waiting for someone to make a good riding bag with places for all of that.  I hope this one comes close.  I’ll let you know if I find one in a store.

 

 

 

 

 

Sun

day KT and I enjoyed a nice escorted ride through the back roads of southwest-lower Michigan.  The ride was the first annual benefit ride for my college alma mater.  For $25 we received a shirt, free lunch and a nice escorted ride.  And it all the proceeds went to a good cause–architecture missions project fund.

As far as bikes go there was a fairly diverse selection of motorcycles there.  Everything from the Road King, Sportster, Shadow, and Rebel to sport bikes like the GSXR, Hibusa, R6, Katana and CBRs to name a few.  The Kawasaki Ninjas were probably the most popular motorcycle there.  I think of the 25 motorcycles that went there were probably four or five different Ninjas.

The Sheriffs department escorted the ride through the back roads of southwest Michigan.  The rout took us around small inland lakes, through wonderful ripe vineyards, past apple orchards being picked and into corn growing farm country.  We stopped at an ice cream shop called the Hayloft.  Fitting being it was in the middle of farm country.  Good ice cream and a nice place to eat it. 

Returning the sheriffs department lead us buy the Cancer Society’s ride to support cancer research.  That was a larger group of people, probably 100 bikes.  It was fun having the groups going opposing directions on the same road.  There was a lot of waving and honking.

I think you will see another blog post about this ride next year.  The feedback from alumni, students and other community people that went was very positive.