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Honda Motorcycles

About honda

Honda is the largest motorcycle manufacturer in Japan and has been since it started production in 1955. At its peak in 1982, Honda manufactured almost three million motorcycles annually. By 2006 this figure had reduced to around 550,000 but was still higher than its three domestic competitors.

Soichiro Honda began producing motorcycles in 1946 to satisfy a thirst for cheap transportation in war devastated Japan. Honda began his effort by installing military surplus engines in bicycles. As Honda became more prosperous, he designed his own 50cc engine for the bicycles. The first motorcycle that featured a completely Honda designed motor and frame was produced in 1949. It was called the Model D for Dream. Soon Model J Benly appeared.

Honda wanted to sell a more powerful motorcycle that led to the 146cc over head valve four-stroke E-Type Dream with a top speed of 50mph. The motorcycle featured Honda's own designed frame and suspension on both wheels.

In 1952 Honda began producing the Cub with two-stroke engine. Its big sales became basis for future development.

In 1953 Honda began producing a four-stroke single powered motorcycle featuring more engineering sophistication. This small motorcycle was also called a Benly and featured a three-speed gearbox, pressed steel Frame, rear suspension with the engine and swinging arm on a sprung pivot, and telescopic front suspension and produced 3.8bhp.

A revolution in the motorcycle industry began in 1958 when Honda brought the C100 Super Club to the American market. It was the first Honda motorcycle sold in the U.S. The small step through design was easy to ride reliable bike. It was featured in the famous “you meet the nicest people on a Honda” marketing campaign that eventually made the C100 motorcycle the best selling motorcycle of all times. Eventually more than 30 million would be built.

CB models included the CA72 (250cc) and followed by the CA77 (305cc). The parallel twin engines proved very reliable, however their stamped steel welded frames handled poorly at higher speeds.

Performance and handling improved when the company bolted the little parallel twin engines to a steel tubular frame and added twin carburetors for more power. The motorcycles were known as the CB 72 and 77 super hawk models and gained a reputation of reliability.

The first commercially successful large motorcycle was the CB450, brought out in 1965 and called the black bomber. This innovative engine featured torsion bar valve springs that allowed high rpm and was the first serious effort by Honda to challenge English dominance in the American marketplace.

This was followed in 1969 with the Honda CB750 four. A powerful and reliable motorcycle that dominated the motorcycle market. The success of the CB 750 4 cylinder Honda led to a series of smaller Honda motorcycles with 350, 400, 550 cc motors and ushered in the era of the universal Japanese motorcycle.

This design would reach its fruition when it morphed into the cult classic inline 6 cylinder CBX in 1978.

The reliability and power of the four cylinder Honda 750 soon led to a new kind of motorcyclist, the long distance touring rider. Craig Vetter designed a full fairing for the motorcycle called a Windjammer. Before long thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts were touring the countryside on their motorcycles behind a Windjammer.

In 1974 Honda brought out the GL1000 Gold Wing. The motorcycle featured a flat four cylinder 999cc a water cooled engine with power delivered through a driveshaft. It proved to be as reliable as the cars of the day. Soon thousands of Goldwings were bought up and converted to touring motorcycles by their new owners.

With interest running so high for touring models, Honda brought out the Interstate model in 1980. This was the first Japanese produced motorcycle to roll off the assembly line as a complete touring motorcycle. The motorcycle featured a full fairing, trunk and saddlebags.

In addition to touring motorcycles, Honda began developing a series of V-four engines in the 1970s. This led to the production of the Honda Sabre and Magna in 1980. These two models led to a whole series of VF designated high performance motorcycles ranging between 400cc and 1000cc. But due to mechanical problems the VF line was unable to sustain itself.

Following the VF was the new VFR series of motorcycles. The VFR 750R was a sport touring motorcycle with lots of power, good balance and reliability. In 1996 Honda produced the fastest motorcycle in production with the CBR1100XX Super Blackbird (1137cc). The motorcycle became popular with the long range high speed touring crowd.

Soichiro Honda died on August 5, 1991 of liver failure.

Honda's entry into the U.S. motorcycle market during the 1960s is used as a case study for teaching introductory strategy at business schools worldwide. There are a few theories explaining their great success.

Moto blog

2014 World Supersport – Phillip Island Results

Mon, 24 Feb 2014

The 2014 World Supersport season opened in dramatic fashion after a red-flagged restart turned the 18-lap race into a five-lap sprint, with MV Agusta making a triumphant return to the top of the podium for the first time since 1976. The Supersport event began with a hard-fought battle between three-time champion Kenan Sofuoglu, Kev Coghlan and Michael van der Mark. Sofuoglu and his Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R held a slim lead over Coghlan’s Yamaha R6 and van der Mark’s Honda CBR600RR when the race was halted after CIA Insurance Honda rider Jack Kennedy suffered an engine problem and leaked oil onto the track.

2014 WSBK – Phillip Island Results

Sun, 23 Feb 2014

When he signed with the team, Eugene Laverty said he would give all he possibly could to bring Suzuki back to the top of the podium once again. Well, it sure didn’t take the Northern Irishman long to accomplish that goal, winning the very first race of the 2014 season at Australia’s Phillip Island course. The win was Laverty’s third in a row, including the final two races of the 2013 season when he raced for Aprilia.

Top Five Global Motorcycle Companies Ranked

Fri, 21 Feb 2014

- Honda Motor Company Limited - Yamaha Motor Company Limited - Hero MotoCorp Limited - Bajaj Auto Limited - Harley–Davidson Incorporation According to Research And Markets, who bill themselves as “The World’s Largest Market Research Store,” these are the top five companies of the global motorcycle industry, with data collected from 2006 – 2011. The study itself is several chapters deep and must be purchased (you can do so at the link above), but in short, Research And Markets have compiled a study observing the evolving global motorcycle industry, its competitive landscape, and the corporate and marketing strategies adopted by the motorcycle companies as some of the factors to have remarkably impacted the global motorcycle industry dynamics. Developing regions, such as Asia and Latin America, which perceive two-wheelers as a basic mode of transportation, are expected to remain the most promising markets for scooters, light motorcycles, and mopeds.

Sportbike VS Rat Bike Drag Race – Video

Fri, 21 Feb 2014

In a revision of the classic hustle of tempting someone with something shiny and new with the easy mark of something old and dumpy, this CBR1000 rider lines up against a 70 hp Harley rat bike in a back alley drag race. What makes this video so compelling is the Honda rider’s unfailing belief in the superiority of his higher-powered, more performance-oriented motorcycle. He lines up against the Harley rider not once, not twice, but three times – only to get his ass handed to him each time.

Marc Marquez Breaks Leg in Training Crash

Thu, 20 Feb 2014

Reigning MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez has broken his right fibula in a dirt-track training session. Marquez, who had a remarkable 2013 campaign to win the MotoGP title as a rookie, will need up to a month to recover, which should just about make him available for the 2014 season opener March 23 in Qatar. The Repsol Honda rider was brought to the Hospital Universitari Quirón Dexeus in Barcelona, Spain, for examiniation by Dr.

2014 AMA Supercross – Arlington Results

Tue, 18 Feb 2014

James Stewart‘s hot streak continues with his second-consecutive win and fourth AMA Supercross podium in five weeks after an impressive effort at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Fresh off of signing a contract extension with Yoshimura Suzuki, Stewart took control of the Arlington main event on the third lap, passing holeshot-taker Ryan Dungey and running away with the win. With his win last week at San Diego, Stewart becomes the first rider to win back-to-back races this season and establishes himself as a championship contender as we approach the mid-way point of the 2014 season.

Shoei Release Three New Marquez Replica Helmets

Tue, 18 Feb 2014

Without a doubt, Marc Marquez is the darling of MotoGP. This coming by virtue of becoming the youngest person to ever clinch the premier class world title — in his rookie season. To celebrate the world champ, Shoei has released three new Marquez replica helmets, each with their own unique story.

2013 Honda CB500F, CB500X and CBR500R Recalled in Australia

Tue, 18 Feb 2014

Honda has recalled its 2013 CB500F, CB500X and CBR500R models in Australia because of a defect that could cause an oil leak. At the moment, no recall has been announced for the U.S., though there is a good possibility one will be announced shortly, as all 500-series models are manufactured in the same Honda factory in Thailand. There is a similar recall for the Japanese market for the CB400F, CB400X and CBR400R, which are mechanically identical to Honda’s 500-series models, but with a smaller engine to meet the country’s tiered licensing requirements.  According to the Australian and Japanese recall notices, the rocker arm shaft sealing bolt may come loose, causing oil to leak from the engine.

Results From Day 2 Of World Superbike Testing At Phillip Island

Tue, 18 Feb 2014

World Superbike testing at Phillip Island came to a close today, and when the dust settled, reigning champion Tom Sykes stamped his authority, setting the fastest time of the test at 1:30.239, just five thousandths shy of the outright lap record held by Carlos Checa. The time was set during the morning session of testing, though nobody was able to best Sykes for the remainder of the day. Eugene Laverty, who was fastest on day one, showed his pace was no fluke as he stayed near the top of the time sheets, ultimately finishing second behind Sykes, with a best time of 1:30.513.

Results From Day 2 Of World Supersport Testing At Phillip Island

Tue, 18 Feb 2014

If there’s one constant when it comes to World Supersport racing, it’s that Kenan Sofuoglu will be at or near the front at all times. The former champ has a special ability when it comes to lapping middleweight sportbikes as quickly as possible, and it showed again at the conclusion of World Supersport testing at Phillip Island. Sofuoglu’s best time of 1:33.506 was set during the first day of testing, but still nobody was able to beat it.