Photo: Honda
It’s rather hard to imagine how 300 million motorcycles look like, but this mental exercise is a must this fall, as Honda announces having passed this milestone in September 2014. That’s right, more than 300 million units have been manufactured globally by Honda, and to make things even more spectacular, a Gold Wing 40th Anniversary was chosen as the celebration bike.
It’s been no less than 66 years since Honda manufactured their first-ever motorcycle, the 1949 Dream D which would mean the debut of one of the world’s biggest and influential bike makers. The celebrations were held at Honda’s primary factory in Kumamoto, Japan, the place where GL1800 Gold Wing, CBR1000RR Fireblade, VFR800F, CRF off-road models, NM4 Vultus, power product engines and more are currently being built. The Kumamoto factory itself is a long-standing enterprise and was established back in 1976. Its capacity reaches 160,000 units a year and employs around 2,600 people.
Since 1963, Honda has been producing motorcycles outside Japan, with the first plant in Belgium.
Currently there are 33 factories around the world in 22 countries. Honda’s Super Cub is the most-produced motorcycle in history, with more than 87 million units manufactured by March 2104. The Super Cub was sold in more than 160 countries.
Honda became the largest motorcycle manufacturer in 1959.
Besides the Super Cub, Honda has also made it into the motorcycling history books with other iconic models, such as the CB750, Gold Wing, the CBR series (600, 900, 1000), the Africa Twin, or the NSR and RC racing-focused machines.
If you feel like getting some insight in what Honda prepares for 2015, check out our EICMA 2014 stories on the new MotoGP-derived RC213V and the upcoming Africa Twin.
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A success story
Honda’s massive success is also present in the motorcycle racing world, with no less than 21 Constructors Titles in the premier class (now MotoGP), 63 Constructors Championships and 697 races across all categories. In 2013, Repsol Honda’s rider Marc Marquez became the youngest MotoGP World Champion ever, while this year he set a new record for the number of victories in one season, after winning 13 races.Since 1963, Honda has been producing motorcycles outside Japan, with the first plant in Belgium.
Currently there are 33 factories around the world in 22 countries. Honda’s Super Cub is the most-produced motorcycle in history, with more than 87 million units manufactured by March 2104. The Super Cub was sold in more than 160 countries.
Honda became the largest motorcycle manufacturer in 1959.
Besides the Super Cub, Honda has also made it into the motorcycling history books with other iconic models, such as the CB750, Gold Wing, the CBR series (600, 900, 1000), the Africa Twin, or the NSR and RC racing-focused machines.
If you feel like getting some insight in what Honda prepares for 2015, check out our EICMA 2014 stories on the new MotoGP-derived RC213V and the upcoming Africa Twin.
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