It is hard to believe that a single motorcycle manufacturer could manufacture and sell more than 400 million units, but Honda reached this milestone earlier this year. Since 2018, Honda is also producing more than 20 million units per year. Have a look at the press release below:
Since the introduction of the Dream D-Type in 1949, Honda’s 70th anniversary of motorcycle mass-production marks the company’s 400 million-unit milestone for global motorcycle production.
Honda was founded in 1948 and began mass-production of motorcycles at its first overseas production facility in Belgium in 1963. Since then, Honda has expanded its production globally in accordance with its fundamental principle of producing locally where there is demand. Honda currently produces a wide range of motorcycles, from 50cc commuters to 1,800cc models, at 35 facilities in 21 countries.
Since its foundation, Honda has developed and provided products that meet the needs of customers in many countries and regions, based on its belief that “the purpose of technology is to help people.” As a result, Honda achieved its 100 million-unit milestone in 1997, and its 300 million-unit milestone in 2014. In 2018, Honda exceeded an annual production of 20 million units for the first time in its history and enjoys strong support from customers in the Asia region and worldwide. Honda will continue to construct its development and production structure to meet rising demand. And, Honda will strive to realize is 2030 vision, to serve people worldwide with the “joy of expanding their life’s potential.”
Takahiro Hachigo, Chief Executive Officer, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
“For 70 years, Honda has provided to customers worldwide motorcycles that make life easier and enjoyable. As a result, we have achieved our 400 million-unit milestone. I am grateful to all of our customers, and everyone involved in development, manufacturing, sales and service of our products. We will continue to do our best to provide attractive products that meet the needs and dreams of our customers worldwide.”
Honda’s path to 400 million-unit global motorcycle production
- 1948: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. founded
- 1949: Honda releases its first major motorcycle model, the Dream D-Type
- 1958: Honda releases its first Super Cub, the Super Cub C100
- 1963: Honda begins motorcycle production in Belgium (its first motorcycle factory outside of Japan)
- 1967: Honda begins motorcycle production in Thailand
- 1968: Honda reaches 10 million-unit milestone for cumulative global motorcycle production
- 1971: Honda begins motorcycle production in Indonesia
- 1976: Honda begins motorcycle production in Brazil / Honda begins motorcycle production in Italy
- 1979: Honda begins motorcycle production in North America
- 1980: Honda begins motorcycle production in Nigeria
- 1984: Honda reaches 50 million-unit milestone for cumulative global motorcycle production
- 1992: Honda begins motorcycle production in China
- 1997: Honda begins motorcycle production in Vietnam / Honda reaches 100 million-unit milestone for cumulative global motorcycle production (achieved in 48 years)
- 2001: Honda begins motorcycle production in India
- 2004: Honda exceeds 10 million-unit annual motorcycle production for the first time
- 2008: Honda reaches 200 million-unit milestone for cumulative global motorcycle production (11 years since 100 millionth unit)
- 2013: Honda begins motorcycle production in Bangladesh
- 2014: Honda reaches 300 million-unit milestone for cumulative global motorcycle production (6 years since 200 millionth unit)
- 2018: Honda exceeds 20 million-unit annual motorcycle production for the first time
- 2019: Honda reaches 400 million-unit milestone for cumulative global motorcycle production (5 years since 300 millionth unit)
See more of MD’s great photography:
Previous:
‘82 CB750F
‘86 VFR700F
‘87 XR250
‘85 XR200
‘91XR628 HRC Kit
‘82 CB900F
‘91 VFR750
Current:
2003 VTR1000 RC51SP2
2019 C125A Super Cub
No problems with any of them. ♥️
1985 250 Elite scooter, great! As advertised by Grace Jones.
1990 250 Elite scooter, great! Rare.
1985 V65 Sabre, AWFUL! New leftover in 1987, $2500.
2019 CB300R, the best!
I’ve owned many Honda products starting with a CT-70 over 50 years ago. Many Honda bikes since, 3 Honda cars, a Honda powered zero turn mower, Honda powered pressure washer. Now own a 2013 CB1100 and an NC700X. Have never had any back to a dealer for anything other than routine maintenance. Hondas have always given me reliable service and at an affordable price.
I’ll add my list:
69 CB450
79 CB750K
77 CB400F
82 CB/X
84 Nighthawk S
82 GL1100
83 GL650I
89 VTR250
90 VTR250
I had a friend who asked if I owned stock in Honda. I didn’t, but probably should have. Also had an ATC185, a couple of Civics, and a generator.
I’m not as much of a fanatic anymore. The newest Honda I still own is a 1990 (except for the generator), and don’t have plans to buy any more, but I’ve met a lot of nice people while riding (and driving) my Honda’s. The 2 VTR’s still get regular use, and I may yet put one or both of the ‘Wings back on the road at some point.
Congrats to Honda on the milestone. At some point, it seemed to me that they went from an enthusiast company to an appliance company. From the lists, a lot of us appear to feel that way.
Honda perfected the art of making small motorcycles for next to nothing and selling millions of the things… we don’t see it so much in the West but in Asia they swarm all over developing countries and are ultra versatile, even quite fun in 125cc step-thru form if the local laws allow you to ride helmetless. They tend to be bulletproof, too, with decades of work done to perfect their form.
Unfortunately, the current offerings don’t quite do it for me, last two bikes have been MT-07 and 675 Street Triple though I am a great fan of the sixties CB450, first big bike for me. The CB500 is better in every way except being rather bland and I can’t quite bring myself to get sensible and buy one. The CB650 is the other option I am considering but does not quite do it compared to a 765 Triumph Street Triple, another option. Actually I lie, my first big bike was a pre-unit 650 Triton that shook itself apart so did little mileage on it, so maybe having a Triumph that runs beautifully has some hidden appeal to me!
My 2 bits: The picture of the bike in the beginning of the article is beautiful. What is it? It’s got a reverse cylinder 2 stroke, with the exhaust out the back and carb in front.
Started with a 69′ Z50 Monkey yellow.
116K on a 04′ Wing.
VFR12XDCT still in the garage and I liked the tranny so much I bought another DCT.
Pioneer 1000-5 w/DCT, tracks, cab, heater…. Ice fishing explorer!
And a EU2000 generator that has been used for 10 years, mostly sitting outside the icehouse purring away no matter what the weather throws at it.
Great company.
Its the 1949 Honda D-type. First real Honda motorcycle. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_D-Type
Ok, I’ll bite. Hondas have not been all that great for me. ‘79 XR250 busted a rocker arm, ‘74 Elsinore was slow but reliable enough. I had a 125 Elite, the suspension and brakes were terrible compared to a vintage Vespa. My GB500 went through three cam shafts, 16 rocker arms, eight valves, one set of rings four head bolts, two compression release cams, and a crankshaft/connecting rod within 50,000 miles. My XR650L had the screws back out of the stator and it came off wreaking all sorts of havoc, the shifter drum wore to the point I couldn’t upshift into second, and the compression release cam also stopped working before the starter motor froze up. I’ve had zero problems with more Yamahas with greater mileage…
XR650L actually the screws came out of the spinning rotor and wiped out the stator. My ‘74 XL350 vibrated so bad on the highway you couldn’t see but it was a fun bike.
Man, keep your distance, you have bad juju with Hondas. Not my experience at all.
Man, you must be running the crap out of your bikes.
I am 64 and owns a 2003 Nighthawk CB250 (The Lifesaver) and a 2004 BMW R1150RT.(Regrets, regrets).
Oh ! I live in Trinidad, West Indies.
I started riding in 1973, the days of the 2-stroke Yamahas. Honda had the Cub 50, CB90, CB125 Twin, CB175 Twin, CB350 twin. Not having much highways, the 2-strokes outdid the Hondas.
Too, the Hondas were not as reliable as they are today.The CB360 was utter failure! Even in the 80’s with the CBX1000, CB900, CB750F, CB750K, clutch drums would be noisy, valves would stick in cylinder heads, crankshaft would be thrown. The one that was reliable was the CG125 !
I used to say then”Yamaha…..or walk!”.
Drove only Gilera scooter. Once.
Good.
I hope the MD editor had a nice vacation.
I started relatively late on Honda, but glad I did. The name Honda for me is synonymous with motorcycle.
1. 2001 VTR1000
2. 2003 CB900/919
3. 2015 CB500X
1963 CL450 orange/white stripe, yeah, drum front brake
1977 CB750K dark root beer metallic
1978 CX500 deep carmine, went to Schweitzer Honda of Hayward’s President’s Day Sale to get a bike for/with my brother, test rode the CX and I was hooked
1979 CB750F-SS DOHC black/red stripe, probably the best handling big I-4 I ever owned, a revelation compared to the ’78 CB750F-SS SOHC
1983 VF700S Sabre, put 100k on it
1994 VFR750 lipstick red, unfortunately the detuned CA motor, estimate 6-8hp less than 49 State models
2004 VFR750F fly yellow, glass smooth motor, never rode a Wing but if it’s smoother than this lump I’d be shocked
I guess I did my part. For pure fun the CX might be my favorite of the above bikes.
1962 C110(50cc)
1962 150 Dream
196? 305 scrambler
1966 CB160
1970 CB350
1971 CL450
197? CB550
197? CB750
1976 GL1000
1978 CB750
1978 XL250newer
1979 XL500
1982 750 Sabre
1984 GL1200
1996 GL1500
1999 GL1500 current
I notice a lot of these lists don’t have many newer Hondas, though.
Honda always seemed like a solid choice, if not at times a bit dated.
Counting backwards from now I’m what you might say one of their regulars.
2019 Africa Twin Adventure Sports DCT
2016 VFR 1200 X
2014 Valkerie
2005 VTX 1800 S
2005 VTX 1800 S
1985 V65 Magna
1982 Nighthawk 650
1971 SL 350
Many other bikes in the last 45 years, but always a big Honda fan.
Don’t get me wrong, Honda makes great options for beginners that might be intimidated by something like an SV650. I helped my mom get a Grom and my girlfriend a Rebel 300, but as a guy that has a few miles under my belt their current offerings are fantastic design applied to products that aren’t competitive for my dollars, on paper at least.
1983 VF750F Interceptor
1985 VF500F Interceptor
2014 VFR800 Interceptor
2015 CBR300R
Along with the motorcycles, numerous civics, one accord and 2 lawnmowers.
Forza Honda !!!
16 Years old – 1966 S65 or 65 Sport, followed over the years by:
1967 CB160
1973 CB750 – Windjammer fairing
!982 V45 Magna – the most uncomfortable ride/seat of the lot
1983 CB1000C – full Windjammer and Hondaline panniers
1995 ST1100 – kept for 19 years and 175,000 km
1996 ST1100 – first used Honda bought in 2014 and still riding today
HONDAS:
66 CB160,
67 CL77,
68 CB350,
67 CB450,
73 CB350F,
76 CB750K,
85 VF1100,
00 CB750,
06 ST1300,
13 CB1100,
14 CB1100
15 Rancher 420
Honda Generator
91 Accord
97 Accord
97 CRV
01 Odyssey
03 Civic
06 Civic
10 Accord
10 Ridgeline
I’ve had a few Hondas.Love ’em
Yep, had a number of Honda products through the years, cars, bikes, lawnmowers, generators. I had a ’14 Accord Hybrid which I loved, smooth, quiet, and very powerful. Did that without a transmission, electric motor did most of the work with the gas engine having mostly a supporting role to the traction motor and battery pack. Just cruising around on the flats it was easy to get over 50mpg. My brother still has and uses my 1978 HR21 lawnmower, never been in for repair. Great company, great products.
The Honda Accord Hybrid is a dream to drive.
Nice interior and ride.
VERY quick acceleration. Unbelievable !
I’ve owned a few Honda’s. Nothing recent though. I did like the 3rd Gen Magna. Had 4 of those.
I’m puzzled why the story omits Honda’s pre-war history. Soichiro and family started pre-WW2, first making and delivering better piston rings. A black and white picture of family members delivering rings in luggage baskets on bicycles is an amazing piece of world and human history (as seen in a small coffee-table picture book of Honda’s history). The war decimated Honda’s business, after which Soichiro started from scratch, again.
Imagine how quickly history unfolded for the man, his family, and the company: from piston rings pre-war, through the war, to nothing, starting from scratch a 2nd time, and then to design and mass produce the Dream D-Type pictured by 1949.
BMW was making bigger 4-stroke shaft-drive boxer twins in 1949; but going by this image, the finish quality of Honda’s little Japanese 2-stroke seems to rival BMW if not surpass it.
Honda’s is no Cinderella story. Honda sweated bullets, while Cinderella did nothing except be born with a certain size foot.
The piston ring manufacturer was a different company that Soichiro Honda sold on to Toyota. The story was about Honda Motor Co.’s motorcycle business. Mr. Honda’s personal history is only small part of that. Lots of other people have given pivotal contributions. Most of the motorcycle sales have been after mr. Honda’s passing in 1991 and >90% after his retirement from active work life.
First of all, my first experience must have been around 1965, a girl that would ride by the apartments on some type of Honda step through 50, gave me a ride on the back when I asked. It was great, and knew right then I would own a bike some day. First attempt at riding I believe was around 1968, buddy had a Honda 305, had trouble coordinating the throttle and clutch, rode it through his neighbors fence. Still hooked, getting closer to having a bike some day. Here are the Honda’s I have owned, some of the years may not be correct:
1976 SL175
1981 XR200R
1985 ATC350X
1981 XR100R
2 1978 CX500’s
1982 MB5
1982 CX500 Turbo
1981 CB250RS
1987 XR250R
2 1976 GL1000’s Project bikes- never got running
The XR250 is the only bike I have now, would like to purchase another street bike. Big decision…….there are a lot of choices out there!
Same here. A friend rode up on a Honda 50 around 1971 or so, and that was the first motorcycle I ever touched. I have not owned many Honda’s:
1973 CB175 (stone cold reliable)
1973 CR250M Elsinore (transmission issues)
1974 CB500 Four (clutch issues)
1975 CB750 Four (perfection for the time period, again stone cold reliability)
Shifting and gear issues plagued the early Elsinores. I got proficient at r&r, as well as becoming familiar with new (to me) terms like “back cut” and “rounded dogs” and “case hardening depth’. But, boy what a powerband surge; made it worthwhile.
It was also common knowledge around our shop that the CB500 clutch would slip at WOT. We would reverse the spring spacers early on to try to stop it, but generally the fix was an extra plate kit with heavier springs. They fixed it with CB550, which seemed trouble free.
Honda has been a huge part of my life. My first new street bike was a Harley badged Aermachhi in 1965, my second was a Honda CB 160 in 1966. There have been a slew of Honda motorcycles in my garage ever since. My latest and arguably the best is my 2014 CB 1100 Dlx. Great motorcycle. Also had Honda dirt bikes, ATVs, a generator and 9 Honda cars and trucks incl my current Ridgeline. Ridden in 42 states and 2 provinces of Canada. Never had a Honda fail to bring me home. In my mind the words Honda and reliabilty are synonymous.
First bike was a Honda VTR250.
Great beginners machine.
I’ve owned a number of different makes of bikes, but i keep coming back to the 800cc Honda Interceptor, have owned 3 of them, currently a 2007 VFR Anniversary paint scheme, love that sweet V4 and the neutral handling.
CB92 Benly’62
CB77 Super Hawk
CB750 Four’69
XR200R’91
VFR750F’95
All gone except the VFR. Best of the bunch. Wish I had ’em all back, though.
… and for some to call HD the “motor co”, like thats something completely misses the point. But, if you tried to explain it to them, they wouldnt understand.
Stop. Just friggin’ stop. The thread is about Honda and their accomplishment. JFC.
I am not trying to take anything away from Honda, or derail the conversation- but:
Actually, you missed the point because in the early nineteen hundreds Harley-Davidson launched their business as a company that offered motorcycle motors to other manufacturers. Thus the name:
“Harley-Davidson Motor-Co.”
As seen in first known H-D add from 1905.
My first Honda was a 1965 Super 90. I was 16. It replaced my Sears-Puch moped. Then on to a CB-160, a CL350 and a CB-750K1. Scores of Hondas followed. Working as first a mechanic, then a service manager, parts manager and finally as a salesman sure helped grease the skids as far as ownership. The models that I didn’t own, I at least had chance to ride. I’ve had C-110s, CB-72s and CB-77s. A CB-400F. MX’d on CRs. Roadraced a CB-450 Hawk. Too many to list. Honda dealerships put food on the table for many years.
I met my wife when I sold her a ’75 CB-125 in 1979. We’re still together, and still ride together.
Although I now own only European motorcycles (Guzzis and a Triumph), Honda sure played a significant role in both my working and recreational life.
The chronological list omits a milestone: 1959, the first year Honda sold bikes in the USA.
Your making an assumption that the Author is US centred just like you.
Honda Japan Global HQ is the document source.
You can be sure that those 100 Million bikes made in the last 5 years were in the vast majority were not USA bound.
You can see Thailand & Bangladesh are more profitable and therefore note worthy than the opening and subsequent closing of say Gold Wing manufacture in the USA in Honda History. Just saying.
Thanks for setting me straight. Obviously, judging from the comments here, Honda’s foray into the US was meaningless from a global standpoint.
I assure you, I am much less US-centric than you assume. In fact I gave some thought before adding the last sentence. On reflection I decided that Honda’s entry into the US marketplace was indeed a milestone. Only one among many, but one that should nevertheless be recognized. Honda, with the help of Grey advertising, forever changed the face of motorcycling in the USA. If that isn’t a milestone, I don’t know what is. I think there are plenty of people, even at Honda in Japan who would agree.
I think the list wasn’t intended to simply point out Honda’s most lucrative marketplaces. The social impact of Honda here has been enormous. So just keep on saying. And saying. And…
My first Honda’s were engines. One in my generator (636cc v-twin) and one in my aerator. Great motors. My one and only Honda motorcycle is a 2018 Africa Twin CRF1000L.
I had two Hondas and loved them both: a 1978 CB750F2 with the black motor and a 1975 CB400F. I never understood the magazines raving about the Interceptor. To me, it was kind of bland and uninvolving. Apart from that, Hondas are smooth and refined and enjoyable. They make good vibrations.
Seems that most HONDAS listed here were bought many years ago. Same with me – 1969 350 Scrambler and 1980 CX500. I turned to SUZUKI since 1982 and never looked back.
I bought all of these Honda bikes within the last decade, and they all still worked fine and some of been resold, still working fine.
1964 C200
1973 CL350
1978 XL100
1982 CT110
1974 CT70
1975 XL125
1977 CB750F
1980 CB750F
1980 XR250
1980 CB750F
1981 CB900F
1983 VF750F
1982 CB900F
1984 VF1000F
1988 CBR1000F
1990 CBR600F
1993 CBR600F2
1996 TRX300
1996 EX300
1996 TRX300
1998 TRX450
2000 RC51
2003 VT1100S
2003 CB900F
1976 CB750K
2013 CB1100F currently own
2019 Z125 currently own
I included the atvs I owned. Wish I had a couple of em back. Thanks Honda for providing some great memories.
I guess I could blame my brother for this motorcycle sickness. He owned a BSA 650 but it was his next bike that got me going, an early XL250. And not only motorcycles but a1980 Civic 1300DX, 2018 Pilot EX-L, a push mower, and two I still own, a single stage snow blower and a string trimmer. Whew, I think I should get bonus points or something!
1964 CT200 (Trail 90)
1969 SS125a
1970 CB350
1972 XL250
1979 CX500C
1984 VF700F Interceptor (still own)
The Interceptor has been my steed for many years, joined by my Norge in ’10.
Very fond memories of them all, each an adventure.
1980 CB400T Hawk
1981 GL500 Silverwing
Just a couple of bikes out of the 400,000,000.
The Super Cub needs a two up seat.
The Goldwing is the only Honda I can see myself buying, and not any time soon. What are Honda’s recent good street bikes? Goldwing, Grom, Africa Twin… and? The CTX bikes and the swoopy 1300 cruisers make me think Honda USA is run by people who don’t ride.
No motorcycle manufacturer has come close to Honda for trying unusual designs for sale over its history. Outstanding adventures in imagination and the balls to try, even though some were Totally Weird. Honda has also created many iconic bikes for all time. Enjoy.
Two Suzukis challenge your “unusual design” qualifier: the GT750 “Water Buffalo” and the Wankel-engine 500.
I owned a Honda CB750 and similar vintage GT750. I would say the dual-front disc GT was a better bike overall IF it had better cornering clearance (the triple GT motor was as wide if not wider, and had 3 into 4 exhaust). The GT may have buzzed a bit more at low RPM, the CB more at higher RPM, but both were smooth engines. The GT made more torque (counter-intuitive, being a 2-stroke), and may have even made a little more peak power. The GT guzzled more fuel.
The GT motor was more complex due to lubrication systems.
Cycle Magazine compared about a dozen mid-late 70s mid-size bikes. IIRC Suzuki’s GT550 triple 2-stroke just barely beat Honda’s CB500-4. The GT’s only nit pick was too narrow a clutch handle!
I was referring to the total number of unusual designs, one of which is almost always somewhere in the Honda line up, not gigantic earth moving different as your GT750 and Wankel examples. Don’t forget the goofy center steering Yamahoe.
Good catch on the Yamaha! Forgot all about it.
During lunch hour I frequented San Francisco’s Golden Gate Motors (RIP, sadly disappeared after the owner’s untimely death). That carmine red metallic Yamaha 1000GT sat there forever.
Then there was also Yamaha’s 82-83 65 degree V-twin liquid cooled shaft drive XZ550 Vision, one of my all time favorite bikes. Its motor may have been smoother than even Honda’s 90 degree V-4 700 and 750, and that’s saying a lot.
It’s been obvious for some time that Honda pulled back on the reins during the’08 downturn (recession). From what I read, they were hit hard as were others combined with less than enthusiastic sales of motorcycles in the US. It showed in their car lines too.
But little by little the ol’ Honda is strengthening and coming back. Their new CEO vows to allow engineers greater freedom of design on final products. What they do in motorcycles is anyone’s guess as it’s quite fickle here in the US.
and I think this is the Third time, they have entered F1 top tier auto racing, and having dominated in the past 2, look to finally be competitive in the current era. Did Harley ever do that? I know, see, some try to knock Honda for their outlying idea bikes, fringe vehicles, but that they rose from the ashes of WW2 and have their hands in, minds in so many things, such as F1, rototics, even an airplane, it opens the field for some target practice.
This is Honda’s fourth go at Formula 1. First (car and engine) in the 60’s was ok, not great. Second (engine only) in the 80’s was total domination. Third (car and engine) in the 00’s was mixed. Race wins as a Honda but the team won a world championship the year after Honda pulled the plug and left. Fourth (engine only) in this decade has been from poor to mixed. Still better than HD of course.
Neal..recent good Honda street bikes? CB 1100 Air cooled I-4 retro is a great all around motorcycle now in it’s 10th year of production around the globe
NC 700/750 another great Honda that gets nearly 70 mpg and pioneered the frunk
CB500X an amazing 500 V twin
And Honda’s DCT transmission is revolutionizing motorcycling, used in Goldwing, Africa Twin and NC 700/750 series
The new 125cc Super Cub is bound to carry on the legacy of the original 50cc model with updated features
CB 500x is a P twin (not V twin) I typed it wrong
I’ll grant that the DCT is a real innovation likely with staying power.
The 500 twins are great if you’re a beginner or if minimizing operating costs is your primary concern but, otherwise, if you can afford more I don’t know why anybody would pick them. I shopped the first gen CBR500 and the fit and finish was terrible, particularly where the dark unfinished plastic of the “cockpit” met the painted part of the fairing.
The Aprilia auto bike had a frunk first, I can’t be bothered to look up the model name. I haven’t seen a single NC750 on the road, I can’t believe its been a success for Honda in the US. I do think it looks great though.
The Cub will keep Honda’s 400m growing in Asia. It will be a retro novelty that sells on its charming looks in the US, like the 1100 you mention.
I’ve only owned one Honda, a 1999 Blackbird (CBR1100XX), but I loved it. Only reason I don’t have it anymore is because it was a bit heavy, so I sold it and got a ZX10R. I still have that.
1964 C200
1973 CL350
1978 XL100
1982 CT110
1998 Valkyrie
2003 VFR800
I forgot to list my 2005 XR650L and my 2008 CBR125R.
The best over all competent and balanced design motorcycle I have owned was a 1989 Honda XL600V TransAlp. Perhaps the first adventure touring by design bike, that was sold short in America because it did not fit any popular defined niche at the time. I iterate BALANCED in weight, aerodynamics, power, ergonomics, cost, speed, fuel consumption, looks, and a whole bunch of other stuff.
That is all. No wait there is more – Great to have motorcycles back as a blog subject ! ! !
82 CB650 Nighthawk
96 VFR750
98 Nighthawk 750
85 Nighthawk 700S
05 CB500F
I’ve owned way over 20, too lazy to count right now but probably closer to 40. I worked for Honda for years in sales, still very close to that same dealer, matter of fact, I’m probably headed out here today to buy a CRF450L:)
1984 CB125
First taste of true freedom, never looked back.
I have had a few Honda motorcycles. I still have a 2003.
But in 2007 when Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki stopped selling two stroke dirt bikes. I sold my CR250 and to this day refuse to buy anything more from Honda Kawasaki or Suzuki.
Support is mutual. So is its lack. The motorcycles that I have purchased new since 2007 are either Yamaha or KTM.
I gave up on road racing in general and professional motorcrooss in 2002 for similar reasons. Not one care in my head or a dime of my money.
I have had a few Honda motorcycles. I still have a 2003.
But in 2007 when Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki stopped selling two stroke dirt bikes. I sold my CR250 and to this day refuse to buy anything more from Honda Kawasaki or Suzuki.
Support is mutual. So is its lack. The motorcycles that I have purchased new since 2007 are either Yamaha or KTM.
I gave up on road racing in general and professional motorcrooss in 2002 for similar reasons. Not one care in my head or a dime of my money.
When KTM & Yamaha stop making 2t dirt bikes, will you quit riding all together?
No. I would quit buying new bikes. The cool thing about two strokes is that they last forever.
KTM sells lots of two strokes. You can count on dirt bikers to remain sane for the foreseeable future.
I have watched many years and types of 2-wheel racing and will be a fan as long they continue to race. There are many things I miss from times past, but I would have missed out on so many wonderful experiences if I shared your view. Seems a rather narrow view to me. To each his own.
That’s fine. Don’t let my opinion keep you from getting any kicks. I’m just some internet idiot.
My deal with racing now days is to either be in it or stay home.
I haven’t had a television for thirty years. I’m just not much of a watcher of things.
1972 CT70
1974 XL100
1974 XL350
1971 SL175 (stolen)
1978 XL250S
1979 XL500S (stolen)
1971 SL100
1982 XL500R
1984 VF1000F
1990 VFR750F
1991 VFR750F (current)
1971 SL175
1972 SL350 (current)
1971 SL175 (3 more, current))
1974 XL100 (current)
1975 XL100 (current)
Not much into the newer stuff, though the last couple years Honda seems to have gotten its mojo back…
1978 XL 75
1983 CR 80
1986 XR 250
1987 ATC 200x
1987 CR 125
1986 XR 350
1986 ATC 250r
Wish I had them all now.
1980 CBX1000
1981 CB1100F
1983 CX650T
1983 GL650
1987 XL600V
1987 NS400R
1992 ST1100
All great bikes, well maybe not the SilverWing..
That’s massive. I’ve also owned my fair share of Honda motorcycles but, put this in perspective; since 2018, Honda has been selling 20 million motorcycles a year! The number one selling car, by a huge margin, VW sold “only” 21 million air cooled Beetles (99.9% manual transmission) in 70 years of production. The numbers are mind boggling.
Let’s see if I can remember…
1974 MR50
1978 XR75
1981 CR80R
1984 XR350
1984 Interceptor 500
1988 Hurricane 600
1999 Interceptor 800
Late 90s XR200
2001 RC51
2002 RC51
2002 CBR600F4
2002 CRF450R
2003 (or about) CRF230
2006 Interceptor 800
I think that’s about it. There was a time the license plate on my Chevy was “RIDERED”. I’ve kinda quit buying Hondas but I can honestly say I wish I still had them all.
1981 XL250
1981 XL500
1991 CR500
1995 CR250
2001 CR125
2001 CBR 600 F4i
That’s actually all the Honda’s that I had, although I think I overcompensated for not having a Trail 70, like some of the kids we camped with!
1976 CB 750 K6
1979 CBX
1982 VF750C
1983 GL1100I
1984 CX650E
1987 VT1100C
1999 VT 1100AT
I may have been down to the Honda shop a time or two.
I bought a 1973 CT70, a 1973 Xl250, and a 1980 CB750F.
I did my part by purchasing two HONDA motorcycles.