This Passion Was Complemented By His Mechanical Knowledge

Soichiro Honda's obsession was motor vehicles, but, paradoxically, he introduced Honda motorcycles. Driving fast plus racing were activities he enjoyed, and this passion was complemented by his mechanical knowledge, picked up from working in an auto repair shop while he was in his teens. He acquired plenty of experience with riding motorcycles, because he owned and operated both an Indian, and a Harley. Although he already held a motor vehicle repair shop in 1928, it was only in 1948, when he was 41 years old, that Soichiro Honda started the Honda Motor Company. He paid plenty of attention to quality, because he trusted that to compete he needed well-designed products that were made well. His company almost went under in 1953, even though motorcycle sales were increasing, because of economic depression in Japan. He kept his factory going so as to avoid laying off people, even though only a small number of motorcycles were actually selling. It turned out to be the correct decision, because in 1958 the most successful motorcycle ever before, the C100 Super Cub, was launched. The bike, which had a three speed transmission plus a four-stroke motor, was a functional bike that was cheap and could be used by anyone. Not only could new drivers operate it effortlessly, but it became a way of commuting for women. By 1959, due to this bike, the biggest producer of motorcycles was Honda. At that time they made a decision to set their sights on the world. They supposed that the United States was the most important market to seize at the outset. They believed if their designs were accepted by the American people, they would win over the rest of the world as well. June of 1959 marked the first time a Honda could be purchased in a retail store in America, namely in Los Angeles, and the number of well-to-do dealerships had mushroomed to around 75 just a year later. By making accessible half the money for two important organizations, Honda demonstrated their commitment to the community and won a huge amount of public trust for their company. The organizations, which were profoundly appreciated by motorcycling enthusiasts, were the Motorcycle Safety Council and the Motorcycle Industry Council. Honda continued to produce new motorcycles during the 1970's, which people could not get enough of, keeping them atop the industry. In 1973 Honda motorcycles were the champions of over 70 races around the globe, and they were soon famous as the speediest available. 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. Societies world wide remain enthralled as Honda keeps producing motorcycles with their trademark appeal. Part of their excellent image is a result of their continued practice of donating motorcycles to causes that they regard as worth supporting. Bike safety keeps benefiting by Honda's ongoing funding of training courses and dissemination of valuable information for the promotion of motorcycling safety. For a number of decades they've proven their motorcycles to be some of the most reliable of those manufactured. They've already become renowned rulers in the motorcycle industry, in no small part because of their determination to innovate irrespective of the circumstances.