Honda History
Honda has an illustrious history in the world of powersports vehicles, having been at the forefront of the development and manufacture of both motorcycles and ATVs. Their innovative designs have paved the way for other companies to follow in their footsteps. Road Track & Trail located in the greater Milwaukee, Wisconsin metro area, is a proud Honda dealer, featuring a wide array of new and used Honda motorcycles, ATVs and quads. For those curious about the history of this game-changing Japanese company, we’ve prepared a short fact sheet with all the important details.
Origin Story
Soichiro Honda began his eponymous company in 1948 in the Minato ward of Tokyo, looking to build better-quality engines than the ones he’d previously encountered. His first model was a single-cylinder engine fitted to a pedal bike. Honda decided to manufacture larger and stronger engines that were capable of supporting motorcycles. In 1949 he hired on visionary engineer Takeo Fujisawa, who was equally invested in fulfilling Honda’s visions of expanding his company to build engines that supported all manner of vehicles.
Honda Motorcycles
The company’s first motorcycle, called the D-Type, which stood for Dream, came out in 1949. The D-Type was widely successful among Japanese customers. Within a decade, Honda was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in Japan, releasing their highly successful Super Cub model in 1958. In the following year, Honda launched its first overseas branch in the United States, called the American Honda Motor Company. Centered in Los Angeles, California, Honda was able to commandeer the American motorcycle market with their innovative sales pitches directed at commuters rather than the rougher crowd that motorcycles had previously attracted.
Over one million Honda motorcycles were sold in the United States during the 1960s, leading up to the CB750, a “superbike” within the means of everyday citizens that utilized racing technology to create a fast and comfortable bike. The CB750 was in continuous production for over thirty years owing to its versatility and popularity with a wide range of riders.
From rugged touring bikes to their popular mini-bikes, Honda motorcycles have made waves in the motorcycle industry and provided customers from all walks of life with bikes that suit their travel needs. They continue to build consumer-friendly models today with a focus on safety and quality unparalleled by other manufacturers.
Honda ATVs
Honda entered the powersports sector early in the game, releasing its first ATV in 1969. They manufactured three-wheel styles up until the 1980s when production of this style largely ceased due to safety concerns. In response, Honda developed the 1986 FourTrax TRX350 four-wheel drive quad model that was safer and more utility-focused.
The Honda Rincon came out in 2003 and is in its second generation as a top-of-the-line recreational ATV. The liquid-cooled four-stroke engine was a new innovation, as was the ability to switch between automatic and manual transmissions, called the Electronic Shift Program. Radial tires, independent rear suspension systems, and a hydraulic disc brake system. The Traxlok system lets riders choose between two-wheel and four-wheel drive modes with the flick of a switch, too. Further updates made these quads more fuel efficient with low-fuel indicators alerting riders when 1.1 gallons of fuel remain.
To learn more about all the motorcycles and ATVs that Honda has to offer, come down to the Road Track & Trail showroom, located just west of Milwaukee’s city center. Our dealership serves customers in nearby Waukesha and Kenosha, Wisconsin, as well as those from the greater Chicago, Illinois, metro area. We can get you set up on the Honda ATV or motorcycle that meets your needs and your budget.