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Difference between revisions of "Defining the '80s (Honda)"
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[[Soichiro Honda]]'s meteoric rise from postwar bicycle-maker to world leader in [[motorcycle]] innovation and production is one of the most inspirational stories of our century: In the '50s, the company began building small motorcycles; by the end of the '60s, | [[Soichiro Honda]]'s meteoric rise from postwar bicycle-maker to world leader in [[motorcycle]] innovation and production is one of the most inspirational stories of our century: In the '50s, the company began building small motorcycles; by the end of the '60s, [[Honda]]® had unleashed the mighty [[Honda CB750K|CB750 Four]], arguably the most important new motorcycle of the postwar era; the '70s saw Honda set all-time sales records with the CB350 and then hit the afterburner with the audacious [[Honda CBX|CBX]] and [[liquid-cooled]] [[:Category:Honda GL series|Gold Wing®]]. | ||
Recession and inflation in the 1980s found Honda, and most other motorcycle companies, grappling with growth and direction. The temporarily uncertain market required manufacturers to think carefully about their products and their customers, and about the evolving market segments. As has often proved the case, the decisions and leadership Honda exercised in the '80s made a profound impact on [[motorcycling]], an impact that is still strongly felt today. It was within this decade that Honda helped define and establish each of motorcycling's principal segments: [[touring]], [[sport bikes]], [[cruisers]], [[standards]], [[dual-sport]], and [[off-road]]. | Recession and inflation in the 1980s found Honda, and most other motorcycle companies, grappling with growth and direction. The temporarily uncertain market required manufacturers to think carefully about their products and their customers, and about the evolving market segments. As has often proved the case, the decisions and leadership Honda exercised in the '80s made a profound impact on [[motorcycling]], an impact that is still strongly felt today. It was within this decade that Honda helped define and establish each of motorcycling's principal segments: [[touring]], [[sport bikes]], [[cruisers]], [[standards]], [[dual-sport]], and [[off-road]]. | ||
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One of Honda's brightest stars of the '80s is certainly the [[Honda CBR600F|CBR®600F Hurricane®]]. For most of the late '80s as well as the '90s the CBR set the sales and performance standards for the 600 class. That the inline-four-cylinder CBR could forge its own identity in a Honda product roster headlined by the V-4 VFR is a testimony to its spectacular engineering. Fully clad in aerodynamic bodywork, the CBR changed the notion that a motorcycle's engine must be seen. For Honda, the dollars normally spent on external engine cosmetics were instead put into performance development. Not only did the CBR establish a new manufacturing direction for sport bikes, the Hurricane also attracted legions of riders into the sport bike segment. | One of Honda's brightest stars of the '80s is certainly the [[Honda CBR600F|CBR®600F Hurricane®]]. For most of the late '80s as well as the '90s the CBR set the sales and performance standards for the 600 class. That the inline-four-cylinder CBR could forge its own identity in a Honda product roster headlined by the V-4 VFR is a testimony to its spectacular engineering. Fully clad in aerodynamic bodywork, the CBR changed the notion that a motorcycle's engine must be seen. For Honda, the dollars normally spent on external engine cosmetics were instead put into performance development. Not only did the CBR establish a new manufacturing direction for sport bikes, the Hurricane also attracted legions of riders into the sport bike segment. | ||
Other models also showed Honda's willingness to think off the page, venturing into the rarefied air of discovery. These included the [[Honda GL500I|1982 GL500I Silver Wing® Interstate, a mini Gold Wing]]; the recumbent [[Honda CN250|Helix™]] [[scooter]]; the CBX sport tourer; the ferocious [[Honda CX500T|'82 CX500 Turbo, Honda's first [[turbocharged]] production street bike | Other models also showed Honda's willingness to think off the page, venturing into the rarefied air of discovery. These included the [[Honda GL500I|1982 GL500I Silver Wing® Interstate, a mini Gold Wing]]; the recumbent [[Honda CN250|Helix™]] [[scooter]]; the CBX sport tourer; the ferocious [[Honda CX500T|'82 CX500 Turbo]], Honda's first [[turbocharged]] production street bike; and the [[Honda PC800|1989 Pacific Coast®]]. The most successful of all was Honda's line of Shadow® cruisers. The technical accomplishments of the original [[Honda VT750C|'83 VT™750C V-twin Shadow]] cruiser are often overlooked in the bright glare of other Honda innovations of the time. Even so, the Shadow's liquid-cooled, narrow-angle V-twin engine offered a variety of innovative technologies, including three-valve combustion chambers and a vibration-canceling offset dual-pin crankshaft, a classic Honda feature still in use today. More importantly, the Shadow line helped strengthen the Japanese cruiser segment, currently the fastest-growing class in today's marketplace. | ||
Off-road, the [[Honda CR125R|CR®125]] and [[Honda CR250R|CR250]] motocrossers made Honda by far the dominant player in motocross. It all began with the world's first liquid-cooled motocrosser, the 1981 CR250. With its progressive-rate [[Pro-Link]]® suspension, this bike established the major engineering protocols for motocross machinery for the entire decade. Through the 1980s, Honda's Red Riders™ won 22 National motocross and Supercross titles, while helping Honda win eight manufacturers' titles. | Off-road, the [[Honda CR125R|CR®125]] and [[Honda CR250R|CR250]] motocrossers made Honda by far the dominant player in motocross. It all began with the world's first liquid-cooled motocrosser, the 1981 CR250. With its progressive-rate [[Pro-Link]]® suspension, this bike established the major engineering protocols for motocross machinery for the entire decade. Through the 1980s, Honda's Red Riders™ won 22 National [[motocross]] and [[Supercross]] titles, while helping Honda win eight manufacturers' titles. | ||
Cross-feeding technologies helped evolve the dual-sport XL and off-road XR™ machines. Four-stroke race bike and street bike technology improved the XL and XR singles, as did motocross frame and suspension technology. This cross pollination further indicated Honda's willingness to experiment, as motocross suspension technology was even applied to road racing. In 1986, this crossover helped Honda win every available National motocross title as well as the coveted AMA Superbike road racing title. Meanwhile, on the street, Honda models introduced technology such as integrated cylinders and crankcases for the V-4 engines and the GL1500 Gold Wing's Reverse System. | Cross-feeding technologies helped evolve the dual-sport XL and off-road XR™ machines. Four-stroke race bike and street bike technology improved the XL and XR singles, as did motocross frame and suspension technology. This cross pollination further indicated Honda's willingness to experiment, as motocross suspension technology was even applied to road racing. In 1986, this crossover helped Honda win every available National motocross title as well as the coveted AMA Superbike road racing title. Meanwhile, on the street, Honda models introduced technology such as integrated cylinders and crankcases for the V-4 engines and the GL1500 Gold Wing's Reverse System. | ||