Honda Motorcycles

Honda Motorcycles
"You meet the nicest people on a Honda!"

I might have a special feeling about Honda Motorcycles because my first bike was a Honda Nighthawk, or I may be just like many, many motorcyclists who appreciate the quality, variety and affordability of the bikes offered by this company - a mainstay of the Japanese manufacturers.

Soichiro Honda started Honda Motor Company in 1948, at the age of 41. After several prototypes and various small 50cc displacement 2-stroke "scooter-type" machines, by 1958 production started on a motorcycle - known as the "Super Cub - a cheap and practical motorcycle that literally anyone could use. It used a 50cc four-stroke OHV motor and centrifugal clutch with three-speed transmission. It was so easy to operate that even new riders could ride it as easily as a pushbike.

The Super cub was built without a crossbar (like a girl's bicycle) which made it popular with the ladies and set a new trend in commuter motorcycling. The word "scooterette" was coined to describe this step-through style motorbike which sold in 50, 70 and 90cc versions.

So, as a woman motorcycle rider - I feel I owe a debt of gratitude to Honda - for having the vision to manufacture and market a motorcycle to women - long before most of us were born.

Honda StepThrough Motorcycle Circa 1958

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Honda Motorcycles "You meet the nicest people on a Honda!"

Honda Motorcycles
"You meet the nicest people on a Honda!"