History of Honda Motorcycles

Honda motorcycles populate the roads of every major city. They’re the world’s most popular motorcycle manufacturer, soaring past competition on the race track and in market share. Not only does Honda excel in terms of volume of motorcycles produced, it also has some of the best built, longest-running bikes you’ll find anywhere. It’s a wonder how Honda went from a company founded in a small town on the southern coast of Japan to the biggest name in motorcycling.

Here at Freedom Cycles in Grandview, Missouri, we put a lot of value in our Honda vehicles and equipment. They’ve been doing things right for seventy years and keep on innovating and producing the best-selling motorcycles around.

We’ve taken the time to write up a quick rundown of the history of Honda motorcycles. Read on, and when you’re ready, head into Freedom Cycles for a great selection of new and used Honda motorcycles. We’re proud to serve Overland Park, Kansas, as well as Lee’s Summit, Independence, and Kansas City, Missouri.

Founding of Honda

Soichiro Honda started things off like many great businessmen of times past: by dropping out of engineering school and founding his own company in 1948. Honda was obsessed with cars and motorcycles to the point of wanting to build his own superior engines for existing vehicles. Honda started out by mounting engines in bicycle frames before moving on to more powerful motors and real motorcycles. In 1949, Honda hired engineer Takeo Fujisawa who helped him develop the D-Type (“D” for dream), Honda’s first true motorcycle. Together they released their bike, which quickly became incredibly popular. In only a decade, Honda would be the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world.

American Market

Honda launched their first foreign subsidiary in 1959: American Honda Motor Co., located in Los Angeles, California. Honda came to dominate the U.S. motorcycle market with the same dependable and affordable motorcycles they’d become known for. They served as a mainstream counter to the rebellious image of American manufacturers and helped bring the motorcycle out of the garage and onto the streets. Many a first-time rider had their start on a Honda motorcycle.

Honda sold their millionth motorcycle in 1968, and the next year they sought to revolutionize the industry with what they called the “Motorcycle of the Century,” the CB750. This bike offered advanced engineering and innovative features on an affordable, mass-market bike. An inline four-cylinder engine with overhead camshaft layout developed for racing made the bike so effective that it birthed a new class of motorcycle: the superbike. The CB750 is widely considered the most influential motorcycle ever made.

Modern Innovation and Imagination

Honda has propelled itself forward with the spirit of innovation they pack into their motorcycles. This tradition is kept alive today in the newest lines of high-performance Honda motorcycles. From the powerful, fully-loaded cruisers such as the Gold Wing, to the lightning quick RC213V-S supersport bike, Honda motorcycles have pushed the industry into new design territory. Where some manufacturers focus their energy in one style of bike or type of riding, Honda has a broad selection of bikes that are perennially some of the best in their respective classes. Whatever style of bike they develop, Honda continually innovates in accordance with their founder’s vision of being unbound by established standards.

The Honda history of innovation and dominance of the market make it a manufacturer to look out for, and their dependable motorcycles are just one of their many great vehicles. Come into Freedom Cycles in Grandview, Missouri today for a test ride and let our staff of knowledgeable and courteous professionals answer any questions you might have. We’re proud to serve Overland Park, Kansas, as well as Lee’s Summit, Independence, and Kansas City, Missouri. Come in today!