You Meet the Nicest People on a Honda

I'm on my 4th Silver Wing now. I remain fascinated by these bikes.

#4 is an elegant, metallic gray 2008 I use as a "work" bike -- running errands, weekly grocery shopping, etc. The 46-liter GIVI top case really helps.

I was just reading about the origin of Honda scooters. Soichiro Honda had a small company that produced pistons for Toyota before he branched off into motor bikes. His original Cub and Super Cub scooters were designed as work and errand bikes, equally easy and useful for deliverymen and housewives. They were created to be simple and reliable from the very beginning.

Eventually, the Honda Cub and Super Cub became the world's biggest selling two-wheeled machine and sent Honda on the way to becoming the largest motorcycle manufacturer on the planet. The three men who started the business, led by Mr. Honda, steered the company through incredible success together and retired at the same time.

I remember the introduction and jingle as a kid: "Go little Honda, Go little Honda, You meet the nicest people on a Honda." Here it is ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmIm9-Ebyo4

Here are a few 60-second commercials introducing the Super Cub to America ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck9wBHW2160

Sixty years later, they're still for sale as 2019 models ....

https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2019-Honda%C2%AE-Super-Cub-C125-ABS-5011493365

Morning Mike, have you given up on the BMW scooters? Paul

true you do but giving credit where credit is due one of the nicest acts of kindness was a fellow in Tennessee who stopped and helped us, pulled up pulling an utility trailer with the HOG emblem on the side, a HOG man himself explained it nicely, you needed help you rode I stopped.

"have you given up on the BMW scooters?"

Hey Paul,

Nah, I love the BMW C 650 GT. There is a 100% chance I will own another one.

Having discovered big scooters late in life -- I bought my first Silver Wing on Christmas Eve, 2017 at the age of 64, and didn't even know they existed shortly before that -- I am making up for lost time.

I've owned nine since then. I find good deals, update all the maintenance, which I thoroughly enjoy, ride them for awhile and sell them for a break-even price or modest profit. It's a labor of love.

Currently I have a 2008 Silver Wing and 2016 Burgman 650 in the garage.

If Suzuki is not going to produce new Burgman 650's, I will end up with a white 2018 at some point. I would like a white BMW C 650 GT as its companion.

Of course, I'd still love a 2013 Silver Wing with low miles. Decisions, decisions!

And when I'm old and feeble, I might be checking out a Honda Super Cub. ;o)

"a HOG man himself explained it nicely, you needed help you rode I stopped."

I wasn't knocking the owners and riders of any other brand of bike.

"Nice" is simply what Honda used. Mr. Honda liked it. The message was also smart counter-branding to the growing image of Harley/American bikers as rough and tough rebels. Witness Brando's classic line in the 1950's biker movie, "The Wild Ones" ... "Hey Johnny, what are you rebelling against?"

Johnny: "Whaddya got?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl6si74ZXUs

Personally, I think bikers of every brand are a unique and special brotherhood. If I see a bike broken down on the side of the road, I am stopping to offer help -- doesn't matter what they're riding.

When I got my first moped at sixteen years old, Suzuki AP50, the Honda Cub was known as the Honda Bog Seat. I don't know if it was a local thing, I was living in the north west back then.

Delray wrote:

"a HOG man himself explained it nicely, you needed help you rode I stopped."

I wasn't knocking the owners and riders of any other brand of bike.

"Nice" is simply what Honda used. Mr. Honda liked it. The message was also smart counter-branding to the growing image of Harley/American bikers as rough and tough rebels. Witness Brando's classic line in the 1950's biker movie, "The Wild Ones" ... "Hey Johnny, what are you rebelling against?"

Johnny: "Whaddya got?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl6si74ZXUs

Personally, I think bikers of every brand are a unique and special
brotherhood. If I see a bike broken down on the side of the road, I am stopping to offer help -- doesn't matter what they're riding.

No knock intended, heck we received less from our own G'Wingers it all depends on the individual.

Brotherhood indeed, they're just motorcyclists that like and prefer a specific type of bike, whether it's custom, sports, adventure, tourer, or whatever. Then they dress up in the gear that goes with their chosen style of bike. Now they're all dressed up with nowhere to go and need to show off their crotch rocket or whatever and new gear to similar minded souls.

They probably know others that have similar taste in bikes and riding gear, so they make plans to go off to a greasy spoon cafe or somewhere similar where other members of their chosen tribe hang out. After years of reading forums posts it seems that most riders in any tribe need to be part of a riding group to venture out miles from where they live for unnecessary fried food, or they wouldn’t venture far on their own at all.

Biker hangouts are essential to show off and strut their stuff, where else would anyone notice or be remotely interested that they've fitted an after market Yoshimura can, or are wearing the latest Arai full face helmet. Of course with the current **** storm all that has stopped as we're in lockdown, on a normal Sunday they'd be out in force.

There's was still quite a bit of window rattling, slumber disturbing thumping going on this morning

Meldrew wrote:

After years of reading forums posts it seems that most riders in any tribe need to be part of a riding group to venture out miles from where they live for unnecessary fried food, or they wouldn’t venture far on their own at all.

I'll have to admit I'm a Harley basher. Rode many a different type bike over the years. Dirt, Dual sport, Cruiser, Naked, Sport touring and Scooter.

I'll stop for any biker who might need help. We are all different but share 2 wheels.

I'm not a group rider tried that for awhile, to many issues with large groups. 2-3 friends with know skills that's a fast safe ride. Solo is best .....

I once stopped to help a fat bloke who was pushing his Harley along a road, apparently it had a flat battery and he'd had no luck trying to bump start it. I said I'd be happy to help and I was, until I realised the fat boy on his Fat Boy expected me to push the Harley along with the weight of him sitting on it.

I went along with it and had a few goes until I was sweating like a glass blowers arse inside the Aerostich suit I used to wear back then. Not a word of encouragement or gratitude from Harley boy for my efforts, or a suggestion we could push together, so I got back on my BMW and left him to it.

I hope you kicked his bike over before you left

Its funny, my older Harley buddies are looking really hard at the comfort and lighter weight of my Swing.