Honda | 摩托车百科

Overview

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. was founded by Soichiro Honda in 1948, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Honda is not only the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer but also one of the largest engine manufacturers. From the Super Cub (over 100 million units produced since 1958) to the Repsol Honda team on MotoGP grids, Honda is renowned for innovative engineering and reliability.

In 2023, Honda sold over 18 million motorcycles globally across 120+ countries. The motorcycle division remains the company's most stable profit center, built on the philosophy of "providing mobility for more people."

History

Early Years (1948-1960)

1948: Soichiro Honda establishes Honda Motor Co., initially producing auxiliary engines for bicycles
1949: First fully self-designed motorcycle, the Dream D (98cc two-stroke)
1951: Dream E with innovative overhead valve engine, far outperforming competitors
1958: Super Cub C100 launched with 50cc four-stroke engine, becomes the world's best-selling motorcycle
1960: Suzuka factory completed, Honda's largest production facility

The Super Cub's success transformed Honda from a domestic Japanese company into a global brand. By 2017, cumulative Super Cub production exceeded 100 million units across 160 countries.

Global Expansion (1961-1980)

1961: First Isle of Man TT entry, sweeps top 5 in both 125cc and 250cc classes
1969: CB750 Four launched — world's first production four-cylinder motorcycle, the "original superbike"
1970: CB750 becomes a massive success in North America, reshaping the US motorcycle market
1975: Gold Wing GL1000 launched, creating the luxury touring category

The CB750 Four marked a turning point in motorcycling history — proving that production four-cylinder engines could be both reliable and powerful, driving the global rise of the Japanese motorcycle industry.

Golden Age (1981-2000)

1983: NR500 with revolutionary oval-piston engine technology (8 valves per cylinder × 4 = 32 valves)
1987: VFR750R (RC30) homologation special, a racing legend
1992: CBR900RR Fireblade launched, redefining superbikes with revolutionary lightweight design
1993: NR750 — world's first production motorcycle with oval-piston engine and first with digital dashboard
2000: CBR954RR Fireblade continues the lightweight philosophy

Honda CBR900RR Fireblade

Modern Era (2001-Present)

2004: VFR800 with Dual Note exhaust system
2010: VFR1200F with Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) — the first DCT motorcycle
2014: NM4 Vultus with avant-garde design
2015: Africa Twin CRF1000L with DCT, redefining adventure motorcycling
2018: All-new Gold Wing with 1833cc flat-six engine and 7-speed DCT
2021: CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP with 217 hp and aerodynamic winglets

Motorsport

Honda is one of the most successful manufacturers in MotoGP history. The Repsol Honda Team holds the record for most premier-class race wins.

MotoGP Achievements

Champion Riders: Marc Márquez (6 premier-class titles), Mick Doohan (5 titles), Valentino Rossi (2002-2003), Casey Stoner (2011)
Manufacturer Titles: Over 25 manufacturer championships in the premier class
RC211V: The V5-cylinder 2002 machine that dominated the early four-stroke MotoGP era

Honda also competes in the Dakar Rally (multiple motorcycle class wins), AMA Supercross, Motocross (MXGP), and the Isle of Man TT.

Iconic Models

| Model | Category | Highlight | |-------|----------|-----------| | Super Cub | Commuter | World's best-selling vehicle, 100M+ units | | CB750 Four | Standard | First production four-cylinder, the original superbike | | CBR900RR Fireblade | Super Sport | Revolutionary lightweight design | | Gold Wing | Luxury Touring | 1833cc flat-six, DCT, airbag option | | Africa Twin | Adventure | CRF/CRF1100L, DCT adventure benchmark | | NR750 | Technology Flagship | Oval-piston engine, limited production |

Innovation Highlights

DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission): First on a motorcycle in 2010, now a Honda signature technology
Oval-piston engine: NR series exclusive, enabling 8 valves per cylinder
PGM-FI: Programmed Fuel Injection for optimal combustion efficiency
CBS: Combined Brake System linking front and rear brakes

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Founded: 1948 Founder: Soichiro Honda Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan

Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer and an important company in the automobile and engine manufacturing fields. Soichiro Honda founded Honda Motor Co. in Hamamatsu in 1948, initially focusing on motorcycle engines. In 1949, Honda launched its first motorcycle, the Dream D-Type. Honda then rose rapidly through outstanding engine technology and reliable quality, and by the 1960s it had become Japan's leading motorcycle exporter.

Brand History and Milestones

Honda entered the U.S. market early in 1959, and in 1969 launched the CB750 Four. This inline-four road bike is considered the beginning of modern high-performance motorcycles and established Honda's leadership in global motorcycling and the market. In the 1980s, Honda introduced the Gold Wing flagship touring model, which remains a benchmark for large touring motorcycles. In the 1990s, the CBR sportbike series swept both world motorcycle championships and production markets.

Core Technology and Product Lines

Honda is known in both automobiles and motorcycles for CVCC engine technology and AT/CT transmission systems. Motorcycle product lines include scooters (PCX, ADV150), street bikes (CBR series), cruisers (Gold Wing, Rebel), adventure models (Africa Twin), off-road bikes (CRF series), and superbikes (CBR1000RR-R). Honda's Double Overhead Camshaft (DOHC) engine design and Unit Pro-Link rear suspension are key technical features.

Market Positioning and Global Influence

Honda motorcycle cumulative production has exceeded 400 million units, with a sales network spanning more than 160 countries. Honda is also an F1 engine supplier and plays an important role in MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3. Soichiro Honda's philosophy of "dreams in products" emphasized both technical innovation and reliability.

Representative Models

Dream D-Type (1949): the brand's first motorcycle CB750 Four (1969): a pioneer of inline-four road bikes Gold Wing (1980): a flagship touring standard Africa Twin (1988): an adventure multi-purpose classic CBR1000RR-R (2020): a sportbike flagship

Honda upholds the principles of "respect for the individual" and "the three joys," and is committed to providing diverse, high-quality mobility tools for riders around the world.