kide
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- Gerry Ide
My latest Cycle World magazine covers the US release of the Honda DN-01 motorcycle..
The big news other than the looks (cross between a Spree, a crotch rocket and a cruiser), is the "HFT" (Human Friendly Transmission), which is one of Honda's few attempts at an automatic transmission in a bike (they built 400's through 750's back in the 70's with a 2 speed called the Hondamatic ). Anyway, I read the description in Cycle World and then went searching because it sounded awfully familiar - here's from their 2007 press release....
"A transmission system with a wide range of functions in a single unit, the HFT is a compact and highly efficient infinitely variable transmission system encompassing functions for starting, power transmission and shifting, all on a single shaft. The basic configuration of the system consists of an <u>oil pump for converting engine power into hydraulic pressure, and an oil motor for converting the hydraulic pressure back into power for output. Both are made up of multiple pistons, a distributor valve and a swash plate for piston operation, while the cylinders are integrated into the output shaft</u>, forming the characteristic structure of the HFT."
Marlin: did S-D have any Japanese "tourists" visit about 3-4 years ago????
BTW - it does have a nifty gearset that essentially locks the box up in "high range", which would be like combining the I/O of both a hydro and manual transmission...
The big news other than the looks (cross between a Spree, a crotch rocket and a cruiser), is the "HFT" (Human Friendly Transmission), which is one of Honda's few attempts at an automatic transmission in a bike (they built 400's through 750's back in the 70's with a 2 speed called the Hondamatic ). Anyway, I read the description in Cycle World and then went searching because it sounded awfully familiar - here's from their 2007 press release....
"A transmission system with a wide range of functions in a single unit, the HFT is a compact and highly efficient infinitely variable transmission system encompassing functions for starting, power transmission and shifting, all on a single shaft. The basic configuration of the system consists of an <u>oil pump for converting engine power into hydraulic pressure, and an oil motor for converting the hydraulic pressure back into power for output. Both are made up of multiple pistons, a distributor valve and a swash plate for piston operation, while the cylinders are integrated into the output shaft</u>, forming the characteristic structure of the HFT."
Marlin: did S-D have any Japanese "tourists" visit about 3-4 years ago????
BTW - it does have a nifty gearset that essentially locks the box up in "high range", which would be like combining the I/O of both a hydro and manual transmission...