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Honda motorcycles hit 200 million

November 23, 1:49 PM
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The first Honda motorcycle -- the Dream
  The first Honda motorcycle -- the Dream

Here's a heck of a landmark: Honda recently produced motorcycle number 200 million. The company began building motorcycles in 1949. The first model to roll off the assembly line with the Dream D-type, pictured at right.

Wow. That's a lot of bikes. I remember when I first got hooked on motorcycles. It was the early 1960s and Honda was sweeping the U.S. with the catch phrase "You meet the nicest people on a Honda."

Back in those days you didn't need a motorcycle validation to ride a bike. Heck, for the smaller bikes at least you didn't need anything. There were no helmet laws, not even laws requiring eye protection. There were a lot of places like 7-Eleven where you could go rent a Honda 50 or Honda 90 by the hour. I don't recall but I think the price was about $3 per hour. That was big money for me back then so I only managed to do it once or twice. 

Being of modest means, but wanting a bike very much, I had my eye set on the Honda 50. At least that's what we called it. I guess they called it the Honda Cub. Back then a new one cost $300. I had a paper route and made about $30 a month. In Nebraska, where I lived, you had to be 15 to ride a motorcycle, so at age 14 I announced I was going to save my money and when I turned 15 I would buy this bike.

Well, a year passed and I saved my money but when the time came my mother informed me that I would never own a motorcycle as long as I lived in her house. I was pretty devastated. I brought this up with her years later and asked why she didn't just tell me that right at the start. I don't think she even remembered it, so she just said she probably thought I wouldn't carry through or would lose interest before it got to that point.

When the time came that I did buy my first bike it was not intentional but I did get a bit of satisfaction. I was out of work and really scraping bottom so as a last resort I asked to borrow $2,000 from my parents to tide me over. Once I had the money in hand I suddenly decided to spend $900 of it on . . . a motorcycle. That's when I bought my Honda CB750 Custom, a bike I still have. And I love that bike.

So congratulations to Honda for hitting 200 million. Obviously whoever decided to get into this line of business had a good idea. I tip my hat. 

For more info: Honda hits 200 million
Author: Ken Bingenheimer
Ken Bingenheimer is a National Examiner. You can see Ken's articles on Ken's Home Page.
Find out more about Ken:
Ken Bingenheimer has been in love with motorcycles as long as he can remember and finds Colorado the perfect place to ride. He shares his enthusiasm on his website, Passes and Canyons, Motorcycle Touring in Colorado. Reach him at kenbingenheimer@yahoo.com.
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