Honda’s hydraulic-drive DN-01 ? shown as a prototype in 2005 - will go into production in 12 months. It could consign conventional gear-changes to the history books.
Insiders say it will be on sale in Japan early next year and be available in Europe by the end of 2007.
It uses a V-twin engine developed from the Deauville’s 65bhp, 680cc unit. But instead of conventional gears, the DN-01’s engine is connected to a hydraulic pump, which sends hydraulic fluid to a turbine driving the rear wheel via a shaft.
Valves alter the flow of hydraulic fluid to offer a completely variable transmission