Honda’s DN-01 went on sale in Japan in March 2008. It combined a 680 cc V-twin engine with a 690 mm seat height. Riders did not need to operate a clutch lever.
HFT used an oil pump and a hydraulic motor: the pump converted engine power into hydraulic energy, which the motor converted back into mechanical power. Everyday D and sportier S modes worked automatically; manual mode offered six selectable ratios. A lockup mechanism reduced transmission losses while cruising.
The route to the DN-01 was long. Motocross projects helped develop HFT, and the technology reached the TRX500FA FourTrax Rubicon ATV in 2000. The DN-01 followed eight years later, bringing that experience to a road motorcycle.