Difference between revisions of "Honda History"

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Even though there have been some 160 different makes of Japanese motorcycles, the history of the Japanese motorcycle industry didn't really get under way until after World War II. The rise of the industry was led by Soichiro Honda, an inventor-engineer who began in 1946 by converting government surplus
generator engines to power bicycles.
==Smoking Like a Chimney==
Honda built his own "chimney" 50cc engines (so-called because they were tall and smoked a lot) and in 1948 founded the Honda Motor Company. In 1949, Honda was the first Japanese manufacturer to make both engines and frames. Honda visited the [[Isle of Man TT]] for the first time in 1954 In 1959, in its first TT, Honda won the 125cc manufacturers' award.
==An Exporting Phenomenon==
The Honda motorcycle quickly established its own identity, with advanced features like overhead camshaft in 1955 and an electric started 125cc in 1958. In 1955, the maker opened an overseas branch in the United States. Honda offered world markets a new type of sporty, well-equipped two-wheeler. By 1960,Honda was building half of Japan's 1.8 million motorcycles and exporting 45,000. That was already more than the British were exporting, and the figure would multiply sixfold in two years.
==See Also==
==See Also==
*[[Honda Models(US)]]
*[[Honda Models(US)]]