Japan: Honda at Home: part one

by Rick Darke, All images © Rick Darke

Go to Part Two

The morning mail arrives by Honda in rural Kita village in Miyama-cho, Japan, which is internationally reknowned for its surviving wealth of thatch-roofed traditional houses.

Little changed in design over a half-century, a recent-model Super Cub sits on a Kyoto sidewalk. Step-through Hondas are still enormously popular for business and commuter use. The vending machines behind the Honda speak volumes about differences in U.S. and Japanese culture. Typically spotless and rarely vandalized, Japanese machines offer hot and cold drinks including coffee and beer. But don’t think about drinking and riding: The penalties are much stiffer than ours.

In police use in Kyoto, this Benly CD125T sports chrome tank panels and classic lines.

The entrance lobby of The Honda Collection Hall.

In 1946, before he officially founded Honda, Soichido Honda sold engines such as this one, rebuilt and adapted from WWII surplus military transmitting equipment

Produced from 1947 to 1951, the Model A was the first bicycle engine to carry the Honda name.

The 1952 Cub F stands in front of other early models including a row of Dreams and Benlys.

A detail of the 1952 Cub F shows how this hugely successful “red engine with white tank” mounted to a standard bicycle frame of the period.

The full production model C of 1949 was the first model to have both frame and engine designed by Honda. It was a class winner in a U.S./Japan race held in Tokyo. Do you suppose the victory required any pedal assist from the rider?

Look Ma, no pedals! The Dream D of 1949 is recognized as Honda’s first true motorcycle. Its 2-stroke single displaced just under 100cc.

With a modest 146cc displacement, the single-cylinder 1951 Dream E was Honda’s first production OHV 4-stroke model.

The Benly J of 1953 featured an unusual unitary engine and swingarm.

The Dream 4E of 1954 used an E-type 4-stroke engine bored to 220cc, 3-speed transmission. Five distinctive chromed strips gave both the 3E and 4E a uniquely stylish appearance.

The Dream SA of 1955 was a revolutionary design, featuring Honda’s first OHC single in a pressed steel backbone-type frame.

The Benly JB of 1955 was designed to take advantage of changes in laws which eliminated the requirement for licenses for machines up to 125cc. It was the first 125cc Benly model.

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