Focus On Design Followed By Quality

Soichiro Honda's passion was automobiles, but, paradoxically, he introduced Honda motorcycles. He loved driving extremely fast, as well as enjoying racing, and since he worked in an automotive repair shop as a teenager, he knew the mechanical things. He understood a lot about driving motorbikes, as the owner of a Harley as well as an Indian.

Although he already owned and operated an auto repair shop in 1928, it was only in 1948, when he was 41 years old, that Soichiro Honda started the Honda Motor Company. He believed he had to structure it well, and produce it well, to compete well, so his primary focus was on design, followed by quality. In 1953 Japan was having to deal with a depression, and, although sales of motorcycles were on the up, the existence of his company was in jeopardy. He kept his manufacturing plant up and running so as to avoid laying off people, even though only a small number of motorcycles were actually selling. It proved to be the right decision, because in 1958 the most successful motorcycle ever, the C100 Super Cub, was launched. The bike, which possessed a three speed transmission plus a four-stroke motor, was a functional bike that was cheap and could be used by anyone.

People new to motorcycles found it easy to use, and it soon found a big following amongst the women commuters. By 1959, as a result of this bike, the biggest maker of motorcycles was Honda. They determined that it was time for growth around the world. They believed that the USA was the most important market to seize at the outset. Endorsement by the American community would mean acceptance by the rest of the world. June of 1959 marked the first time a Honda could be purchased in a retail store in America, specifically in Los Angeles, and the number of well-to-do dealerships had mushroomed close to 75 just a year later.

Through community involvement , largely through sponsoring 50% of the funding needed by a couple of organizations, Honda became a trusted brand. The organizations, both of which were deeply appreciated by motorcycling enthusiasts, were the Motorcycle Safety Council and the Motorcycle Industry Council. People kept advocating Honda to be the number one motorcycle manufacturer during the seventies, as they continued developing new bikes which proved irresistible. They were soon thought to be the quickest bikes in the world, flowing from their winning of over 70 global races in 1973. The ground breaking GL1000 Gold Wing was launched in 1975, making touring bikes comfortable and stylish, and the style was hurriedly emulated by Honda's competition.

Cultures all over the world remain enthralled as Honda keeps producing motorcycles with their trademark appeal. Part of their great image is due to their continued practice of giving motorcycles to causes that they regard as worth supporting. Bike safety keeps benefiting by Honda's ongoing funding of training classes and dissemination of valuable information for the promotion of motorcycling safety. Honda have developed a history of dependability over the many years they have been available. They've become iconic rulers in the motorcycle industry, in no small part because of their willingness to innovate irrespective of the circumstances.