Several Decades They've Already Proven

Soichiro Honda's passion was motorized vehicles, but, paradoxically, he designed Honda motorcycles. He started out studying the mechanical aspect of automobiles while still a teeenager, working in a repair shop, and he loved racing and fast driving. He understood a lot about operating motorbikes, actually being the owner of a Harley as well as an Indian. It seemed to be only when he was 41, in 1948, that Honda launched his Honda Motor Company, but he had already owned an auto repair shop, starting way back in 1928. He believed he needed to design it well, and create it well, to compete well, so his primary focus was on design, followed by quality. In 1953 Japan was going through a depression, and, even though sales of motorcycles were on the up, the success of his company was in jeopardy. Although an insufficient number of sales were being completed, he kept his factory going because he disliked the thought of taking work away from people. It proved to be a good decision, because in 1958 the most successful motorcycle at any time, the C100 Super Cub, was launched. The bike, which had a three speed transmission along with a four-stroke motor, was a functional bike that was cheap and could be used by anyone. Women specifically accepted it for the purpose of commuting, but novice riders of both genders loved it for its ease of use. Honda reached the standing of the largest manufacture of motorcycles by 1959, mainly because of the success of this bike. They made the decision that it was time for expansion all over the world. They felt that the U.S. was the most important market to capture at the outset. Acceptance by the American consumer would indicate acceptance by the rest of the world. Honda was in fact first on the market to the American public in June, 1959, in Los Angeles, and by 1960 it was possible buy a Honda from any of more than 75 stores. By making available half the funding for two important organizations, Honda demonstrated their commitment to the community and won a huge amount of public trust for their company. The organizations, each of which were deeply appreciated by motorcycling enthusiasts, were the Motorcycle Safety Council and the Motorcycle Industry Council. Honda carried on to develop new motorcycles during the 1970's, which people could not get enough of, keeping them atop the industry. Their models won more than 70 races all over the world in 1973, giving them the standing of the fastest bikes around. The innovative GL1000 Gold Wing was launched in 1975, making touring bikes comfortable and stylish, and the concept was hurriedly emulated by Honda's competition. Revolutionary motorcycles, appealing to different cultures, have continued to be manufactured by Honda. Part of their good image is a result of their continued practice of contributing motorcycles to causes that they regard as worth supporting. Bike safety keeps benefiting by Honda's continued funding of training programs and dissemination of valuable information for the promotion of motorcycling safety. For several decades they've already proven their motorcycles to be one of the most reliable of those manufactured. The success they've attained with some of the big risks they have taken has resulted in Honda being a virtual emperor of motorcycles.