Honda had much to celebrate in 2019.
1. Happy Birthday! Mr. Honda formed his new company in 1948, with the first motorcycle produced the following year, the 98cc Dream D-type. That makes 70 years of motorcycle production.
2. The first modern Superbike appeared in 1969, the CB750, which marks 50 years since that milestone. I was just entering the sport at the time, and remember well the impact of that bike. 750cc was a big motorcycle back then, and my first thought was that if Honda came out with a smaller version I would buy it. They did,..and I did, the CB500. Both were jewels of design and build quality in a time of shaky British twins and archaic American iron. The CB750's significance would be hard to overstate — it ushered in a completely new era of contemporary motorcycle design, look, quality, power...even public perception. And it came at possibly the most opportune time in history, just as the Baby Boom generation was coming of age. I know, I was one of 'em. So, happy 50th birthday to the modern motorcycle.
3. Honda Motor Company is the world's largest producer of internal combustion engines, some 14 million units per year. They're also the largest motorcycle producer, and in 2019 they built their 400-millionth bike, an impressive accomplishment by any measure. And the ubiquitous Super Cub, in production since 1958, is the largest-selling vehicle ever made, hitting 100-million units a few years ago.
Soichiro Honda would be proud.
1. Happy Birthday! Mr. Honda formed his new company in 1948, with the first motorcycle produced the following year, the 98cc Dream D-type. That makes 70 years of motorcycle production.
2. The first modern Superbike appeared in 1969, the CB750, which marks 50 years since that milestone. I was just entering the sport at the time, and remember well the impact of that bike. 750cc was a big motorcycle back then, and my first thought was that if Honda came out with a smaller version I would buy it. They did,..and I did, the CB500. Both were jewels of design and build quality in a time of shaky British twins and archaic American iron. The CB750's significance would be hard to overstate — it ushered in a completely new era of contemporary motorcycle design, look, quality, power...even public perception. And it came at possibly the most opportune time in history, just as the Baby Boom generation was coming of age. I know, I was one of 'em. So, happy 50th birthday to the modern motorcycle.
3. Honda Motor Company is the world's largest producer of internal combustion engines, some 14 million units per year. They're also the largest motorcycle producer, and in 2019 they built their 400-millionth bike, an impressive accomplishment by any measure. And the ubiquitous Super Cub, in production since 1958, is the largest-selling vehicle ever made, hitting 100-million units a few years ago.
Soichiro Honda would be proud.
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