Soichiro Honda's passion was motor vehicles, but, paradoxically, he introduced Honda motorcycles. He adored driving fast, as well as enjoying racing, and since he worked in an auto repair shop as a teenager, he knew the mechanical things. He got lots of experience with riding motorcycles, because he owned and operated both an Indian, and a Harley.
Despite the fact that he already held 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 needed to develop 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, despite the fact that sales of motorcycles were on the up, the existence of his company was in jeopardy. A small quantity of motorcycles ended up selling, and since he just didn't want to put people out of work, he kept the factory open. It ended up to be the correct decision, because in 1958 the most successful motorcycle ever, the C100 Super Cub, was launched. The bike was versatile and cheap, within anybody's reach, driven by a 4-stroke motor with a 3-speed transmission.
Folks novices at motorcycles found it easy to use, and it soon found a big following amongst female commuters. The buzz of this bike skyrocketed Honda to the number one position by volume of motorcycle makers in 1959. They made the decision that it was time for advancement all over the world. They supposed that the USA was the key market to capture at the outset. Acceptance by the American public would indicate acceptance by the rest of the world. Honda had been first offered to the American public in June, 1959, in Los Angeles, and by 1960 a person could buy a Honda from any of more than 75 stores.
Through community involvement , largely through sponsoring 50% of the funding needed by a couple of organizations, Honda became a trusted brand. These were the Motorcycle Industry Council, as well as the Motorcycle Safety Council, both highly appreciated by devotees of motorcycles. In the 70's the Honda company kept developing new models that people just couldn't resist, and they stayed number one in the industry. They were soon thought to be the speediest 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 concept was hurriedly emulated by Honda's rivals.
Societies world wide remain obsessed as Honda keeps producing motorcycles with their trademark appeal. Part of their great image stems from their continued practice of donating motorcycles to causes that they regard as worth supporting. They remain active in bike safety by backing training courses and making certain motor cyclists have the best information. Over many decades now Honda have confirmed that their motorcycles happen to be amongst the most reliable around. A number of the big challenges they have taken, have earned them such a prosperous empire in motorcycles.