Tanegashima high school students and the Super Cub, a good fit

With carrying a satchels crammed with textbooks, students fasten their gym bags packed full of sports gears and lunch boxes onto their own super cubs as they prepare to leave for the day. Mornings for high school students on Tanegashima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture begin with the soft purr of their bike engines as they head off to school.

“The high school sits atop a hill, and my house is far away, I decided I would commute using my own Cub even before enrolling. I think they look so cool.”

Most of bikes parked in the school parking lot are Super Cubs. It appears that “there are a lot of unpaved roads and the Cub is durable and also stable with its large tires, so they have been favored for a long time.” Of course, brand new ones are good, but there are also aged workhorses that have been handed down from older siblings or neighbors. Seeing a range of Cubs from various years lined up in the parking lot is a little exhilarating.

“Being able to see the ocean after cresting the long hill is the part I like most about the road to school.”

Riding along on a Cub every day surrounded by stunning scenery comprised of rich greenery and a deep blue sea. I am a little envious of these young students.

tanegashima graduation

Little things bring happiness to motorcycle taxi driver Donatus

Spending time with family brings happiness. This maxim is true all over the world. It is also true for Donatus Obul, a motorcycle taxi driver working in Kisumu, Kenya. He makes us take note of and appreciate how wonderful this thing is that we often take for granted.

“My favorite part of the day is breakfast with my family in the morning before I go to work. Next is taking my son to school on my Honda motorcycle. I enjoy the chance to talk with him as we ride along.”

It is the little things that often bring true happiness.

“I also really like working as a motorcycle taxi driver. I can control everything because I’m the one responsible. I negotiate and set the fares as well. It is all up to me.”

By the way, just like you love your Honda, do many of the people of Kisumu choose Hondas too?

“Hondas almost never break down, so more and more people are riding Hondas.”

Mcray, the family-loving MC!

Always dashingly in a fine suit and bow tie, Mcray loves to talk, which makes him perfectly qualified for his occupation, an MC!

He is often the master of ceremonies for weddings. He loves his job because he can share in the joy and happiness of one of the most important days in people’s lives.

“Laughing makes everyone feel joy and happiness. It can even brighten up people in a bad mood and make them happy. Being an MC is truly my life’s calling.”

Mcray is also a devoted family man. “I love my family and life now,” says Mcray standing in front of his beloved Honda Accord. He exudes confidence and vitality and his zest for life is infectious!

Kehinde Olaleye, a motorcycle taxi driver in Nigeria

Kehinde Olaleye looks stylish in his colorful clothing!
He works as an okada or motorcycle taxi driver and is always busy as traffic jams are a persistent problem in Nigeria’s big cities.

The only equipment he needs to work is his Honda motorcycle. For more than ten years, it has made sure that Kehinde gets his customers to where they need to be when they need to be there.

“The best thing about my Honda bike is how tough it is. It also has great fuel economy. I recommend Hondas to everyone. My friends who bought Hondas have ridden them for years without any breakdowns. They are super reliable.”

Be it people, goats or chickens, Kehinde is busy every day taking fares and their belongings wherever they want to go. However, he takes Sundays off and goes to church with his family. After the service, they have lunch somewhere in the city or join friends at a nearby beach.

“I also like singing my favorites songs to my wife and son. He is just one and a half years old and always claps whenever I sing. That makes me very happy! ”

Simon Abimbola, master river fisherman

From a young age, Simon Abimbola grew up watching his father fish in the Nigerian village of Imobi. Now he heads out in his small boat every day to his favorite fishing spot.

“I used to only have a paddle and long pole to propel my boat. It would take me four hours to reach my fishing spot. Now, my Honda outboard gets me there in just an hour.”
Simon catches mostly white fish—tilapia and catfish, the staple in many parts of Africa. His village thrives on fishing. Villagers smoke fresh fish, the preferred way of preparing it for eating.

“Honda engines are so easy to operate and very durable. Their great fuel economy is also a welcome advantage. The Honda outboard is a must-have for fishing. Thanks to my Honda outboard, I can stay out and fish longer. Just recently, I caught 450 fish in one day!” says Simon as he tightly holds onto the fish he just caught with his customary technique.

Simon Abimbola is the breadwinner of a family of seven.
He also enjoys swimming in the river to relax on his days off.

Lukas and His Transalp

Lucas Loves Traveling on his Honda Transalp

“Why do I travel? Because it’s when I feel the freest.”

Bucharest, Istanbul, Cappadocia, the Caucasus region, the famed “Blue Eye” near Gjirokaster…. Traveling from Eastern Europe to the Middle East on his Honda Transalp, Lukas Neuman is a man on the move. Sometimes he stops at a roadside café. Other times, he camps in the forest. And, on occasion, he even finds comfort with soft and fluffy puppies.

“I was looking for a tough, reliable bike I could really trust. The Transalp fit the bill perfectly. Traveling on this machine, I can feel the freedom of wind on my face and the spirit of adventure.”

His next destination? Germany or possibly Asia. Where is he today? Without a doubt, he’s riding and exploring the landscape of another new foreign land.

Delivering happiness - Toronto baker Lindsey

Lindsey begins the day early baking her original cookies. She runs a unique and trendy shop on Queen Street West. Her kitchen is infused with the blissfully sweet smell of cookies, beginning with prep at 7 in the morning and lasting throughout the day until 6 in the evening.
All Lindsey’s creations are distinctive and colorfully decorated. They’re a joy to look at and taste amazing!
“The great thing about the baking business is that I’m always part of happy occasions. Whenever I make a delivery, everyone is happy to see me and get my cookies. Who doesn’t love cookies?!”
Lindsey serves a broad clientele from large companies and local shops to children’s birthdays and even weddings. With plenty of room for carrying the latest batch of ingredients or cookies, her silver Fit can do it all from shopping trips to deliveries.
“Down narrow alleys or one-way streets with cars on either side, my Fit can go anywhere. It’s the perfect car for me and for getting around Toronto.”

Motorcycles and traveling, a big part of Sarah’s life

Sarah got her first motorcycle when she was 8. It was a Honda XR100, a present from her dad.

“Although I was scared at first, my dad, who rode off-road motorcycle, was patient and persistent, eventually encouraging me to ride.”

Since then, Sarah Martin has reveled in a life bedecked with Honda motorcycles. Her husband gave her a Honda bike as a wedding present. During their honeymoon, she used the new XL175 to tour around the Sierra Nevada mountains and Yosemite National Park.

“Honda bikes always start with just one kick. I like their reliability and style. They’ve have helped me grow and opened up possibilities.”

The motorcycle she likes and rides now is an XL200R. She and her husband Drew, a photographer, travel as a trio with their dog Bodie. Last summer they loaded their bikes onto a trailer and hauled that behind their camper, travelling around the western part of the United States for five weeks.

“I met my husband through motorcycling, and have also connected with some wonderful friends and seen spectacular scenery thanks to motorcycles. For me, my motorcycle is not just something that I ride, but it is also a door for me to new experiences.”

Her stories, spoken honestly and naturally, resonate in my mind as words of wisdom. It is, perhaps, as if riding motorcycles is some new kind of philosophy.

Interview ver.

Making engine sounds while kneeling on TATAMI mats!
Artisanry produced through brotherly love.

In the corner of a TATAMI mat room, a young boy uses a crushed can to create the sound of a car engine. Blowing into the can, he makes the precise sound for shifting into and out of each gear, while his brother, seated beside him, pretends to shift gears on a make shift console box. I bet they love cars. The purity of their enjoyment is heartwarming.

The brother making engine sounds is SOHTA. He was 14 then, but is a freshman in university now. He wants to design cars someday, so he enrolled in the design department. SOHTA is definitely a hardcore car fan!

“The video I uploaded was from when my brother was a third grader at elementary school, and I was in my third year of junior high school. My father was a mechanic and worked on cars, so we were crazy about cars even at that young age. I watch F1, MotoGP, and rally racing, and also enjoy bicycle racing. Because of that, I think the feel of shifting gears is deeply ingrained in me.”

Both the steering wheel and stick shift his younger brother is playing with in the video are real sports car parts that they found lying around the house. They probably put the gear console together with the real thing in mind.

“As a hobby I often sketch cars. One day I would like to see a car that I design racing through the city. By the way, my younger brother is in junior high school now and he’s taken up street performing.”

I wonder if he’s putting to use his masterful gear-shifting skill in his street performances!? I’m super curious about that!

Soba noodle restaurant frequented by professional Shogi players

Today, just like every other day, this Honda Cub loads up with orders of piping hot noodles for delivery from HOSOSHIMAYA, a famous old Soba noodle restaurant run by the same family for three generations.

Located near SHOGI (Japanese chess) Hall in Sendagaya, Tokyo where top-ranked players gather to compete and test their skills, HOSOSHIMAYA has been in business for more than 40 years.

The shop, sporting a nostalgic facade, is sandwiched between high-rise office buildings in a quiet section of town. The entrance is adorned with a traditional indigo blue curtain, and sitting out front is a seasoned Super Cub fitted with a food delivery rack. Everything is just the way you'd expect it to be!

“We've been using this Cub for nearly 30 or 40 years,” says owner TSUYOSHI HOSOYA who works with his son SHINGO and grandson TAKATO at the restaurant. The motorcycle has been the favorite of all three generations. For some reason, more and more people have recently been remarking, “Hey, that Cub is pretty cool!”

HOSOSHIMAYA serves ramen as well as soba, and the curry rice bowl is the dish of choice of a certain well-known young shogi player when he’s competing at the nearby SHOGI Hall!

“Because we're a soba restaurant right in the middle of the city, I think it's a given that we deliver,” says SHINGO.
I hear the purr of the Cub coming down the street, and a delicious smell wafting through the air.
Hmmm, I think I'll send out for some soba, too.

Jess, a fashion press manager from Taipei, has continually driven a Honda

The "Harajuku of Taipei," Ximending is the go-to district for Taipei's fashionable teens. The sought-after Taiwanese street casual brand OVKLAB is the quintessential embodiment of this district. Jess is OVKLAB's fashion press manager.

"The coordinates that Jess puts together serve as models for everyone. Even magazines feature his styling suggestions," says Angie, a makeup artist, praising Jess's extraordinary fashion sense. Jess has been driving Hondas since he was in his teens. He rode a Cub C80 as a student and got a Civic from his dad when he turned 20. He currently has a CR-V. Before heading out to street photo shoot, he loads his car with plenty of clothes for models.

"When I have children, I'll probably get a wagon, but, for now, I want to keep driving this car for as long as I can."

Practicality, it turns out, is also part of the true nature of Taipei's most fashionable press manager.

Bursting with love for his wife and radio-controlled cars!
Mr. Chan, a radio-controlled car enthusiast from Taiwan

Mr. Chan sells medical supplies to doctors in Taiwan. But, he is actually a radio-controlled car aficionado! He loves them so much he even set up his own RC car track and store, which he opens at every evening at 6:30 p.m. after his day job. On holidays, his regular customers come by in the morning and spend their time customizing their treasures and racing them against one another.

Chan's favorite car, both radio-controlled and real, is the Honda FIT, which he bought after he fell in love with it at first sight.

"I test drove it, and the performance was exceptional. I bought mine three years ago, and still have no desire to trade it in for anything else."

Incidentally, Mr. Chan, who was born in Hong Kong, fell in love with his Taiwanese wife at first sight too and moved to Taiwan to be with her. Mr. Chan is still head over heels in love with both his wife and car.

Fluffy "Beer" and the Ming Lung family from Taipei

Taipei-based photographer Ming Lung has a four-person + one-dog family: his daughter Fang Yu who loves the ukulele, his son Kagei who someday wants to play baseball like Shohei Ohtani, his wife Ru and himself plus their dog Beer who got his name because his fluffy coat looks like the froth on a beer!

In his spare time, Ming Lung loads his favorite bicycle into his Honda Element and off he goes to "wander" about.

"My first Honda was a DJ-1 that I got when I was 16. I had always liked bikes, but, when my relatives gave me their Honda car, I was awed by how rugged it was. This Element is my second Honda. Its spaciousness and great ride made it comfortable to drive when I took it around the entire island of Taiwan."

His children and dog Beer bustle around Ming Lung, who, though a father, talks like a happy and enthusiastic youth. No matter where you go in the world, families are always great, aren't they?

Greg’s Big Mower
Famous Throughout Australia!?

All around Australia, huge objects called “big things” dot the landscape: a koala, a pineapple, an axe, and even a Scotsman. They’ve been put up for many reasons: local publicity, business promotion, and even just to stand out. Simple in form, but often great in impact, some of these objects have made their way into the Guinness Book of Records. People even take holidays to travel around and see these large objects.

The Big Mower, located along the Sunshine Coast, is one of these great objects. The huge Honda grass cutter serves as a billboard advertising for a shop selling generators, lawn mowers, and leaf blowers. Cutting the grass in front of the sign with a seasoned touch is Greg Cassidy, a former soldier, all-around nice guy, and the second-generation owner of the shop, who started cutting grass with a mower when he was about 10 years old.

“The big mower used to be a different model, but we updated it when we started selling Hondas!”

"We love go karts!"
Brisbane's Four-Person Go-Kart Crew

Go-karts are popular in Australia, a country renowned for its love of motorsports, and Slideways Go Karting Australia operates the country's largest go kart venues with three tracks in the Brisbane area. Its entire fleet of 125 go karts is powered by Honda engines.

Why Honda? "When you're running 12 hours a day, seven days a week, you need a reliable engine. It also has to produce enough thrust to shoot the kart up a slope carrying a 130kg driver," says Mark as the other three track operators nod in agreement. These four love karting and racing whenever they have time.

Today, like every day, I drove my beloved little Honda Jazz.
Nick, manager at Life Saving Club

Situated near the luxury hotels and condominiums of the Gold Coast sits the charming suburb of Burleigh Heads, home to the Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park Surf Life Saving Club, a traditional club with over 1,200 members.

Nick, the club’s manager and unsung hero, is the mainstay of the activities of the club’s lifesavers.

“The thing I like most about my job is that all the money we take in is invested in surf rescue. I work behind the scenes, but I feel like I’m right alongside the lifesavers protecting surfers’ lives.”

Driving his Honda Jazz, Nick heads to work today, just like every other day, to make sure everything is in place behind the scenes to keep the beaches clean and safe for all.

An Australian Man who Loves the Sea!
Fishing Guide Sam

Morning comes early for those who like to fish.

It’s 5:00 a.m. Under an early dawn sky, a cruiser sets out to sea. Sitting at the vessel’s helm with a serious look on his face is Sam Crompton, a fishing guide who comes from a family with a strong fishing lineage. Taking guests out on his boat, he guides them to desired fishing locations. Should he be asked, he is more than happy to prepare his guest’s catch or help them find certain rare fish.

“Honda outboards are great. I’ve used them for more than 800 hours, yet every time I go out to sea they work perfectly.”

Sam loves fishing. Even on his days off, Sam will go fishing together with friends if their schedules match. I wonder what he will catch this morning….

Gold Coast surfer Lani, riding blue waves and driving a Honda Jazz

This is Surfer’s Paradise, so named because surfers from all over the world travel here to surf. Eighteen-year-old Lani Moorhouse, who was born and raised in nearby Currumbin Alley, a famed Gold Coast surf spot, heads to the beach almost every day in her Honda Jazz after finishing work at 2:00 in the afternoon.

Her Honda Jazz, the same blue color as the waves she rides, used to belong to her mother. She received it as a congratulatory gift when she got her driver’s license at 16. The “P” sticker on the back of the car isn’t a parking pass. It’s to indicate that Lani is still a novice driver.

“What’s my dream? I would love it if I could be a professional surfer. No, someday, I will definitely be a professional surfer!” said Lani with a big cheerful smile.

A Deep Love for Animals, Wildlife Keeper Jamie

The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in Queensland is a popular place for hugging koalas and feeding kangaroos. Home to more than 1,000 animals, the sanctuary also employs Jamie, an animal keeper with a true love for birds and reptiles. Her working partner and other love is a company Honda Odyssey wrapped in an animal-themed motif. Whenever she participates in an event outside the sanctuary, this is the vehicle she uses to transport the animals.

“I really love a Sulphur-crested cockatoo named Yella and a carpet python named Wallace! The Honda Odyssey rides so well, so the animals are always comfortable and happy."

Trevor and Matt commute using a four-wheel buggy over the sandy terrain of Moreton Island

Moreton Island, located just off the coast of Queensland near Brisbane, is the third largest sand island in the world. It is a treasure house of nature and wildlife and a popular tourist destination as well.

Trevor and Matt are the two guys riding buggies. They look like they are having a lot fun riding the quads, however, this is not something they do for fun. For them, the buggies are an essential mode of transportation. Both work at Tangalooma Island Resort, and they always use buggies to get around whether to patrol the island or commute to work.

“I first rode an ATC90 when I was ten years old, since then I’ve always had Hondas,” said Trevor, who has more than forty years of experience riding quads.

His parents bought him his first buggy when he was ten so he could ride around the family’s land, and he has been riding one ever since. He’s an excellent rider, whether it’s across flat ground or over steeply sloping sand dunes, as well as an accomplished general manager at the resort. Whatever he’s doing, his beloved yellow buggy is a big part of his life.

Koban and her Honda Cub “Sorako” love exploring Japan

On her sky blue Honda Cub “Sorako,” Koban has ridden all over Japan, visiting 42 of the country’s 47 prefectures so far, and amassing over 8,000 followers on Instagram where she posts photos of herself with her Cub.

She first met here Cub six years ago.

“The more I ride it, the more accustomed the Cub becomes to my body. No matter where we go, it always fits perfectly into the scenery.”

Today, Koban is traveling from Osaka to Okayama. Sorako and Koban board a ferry to visit Shodo Island via Setouchi.

“The great thing about the Cub is that it is a great conversation starter. Wherever I go, people come up and tell me, ‘I used to ride one of those.’ This is what is so unique and charming about the Cub, it’s something that everyone can talk about.”

Movie Screen Slideshow Out in the Woods?!
The Trail-Walking Family

Ever since they were students, these two have enjoyed backpacking. Before they knew it, they found themselves walking trails and doing activities outdoors all the time. Now they publish TRAILS, a web-based magazine. Given their strong passion for camping and sleeping outdoors surrounded by nature, it is only natural that their son Riku would fall in love with camping too! Riku is first-rate camper who can set up a tent by himself, and likes to help his father build the evening fire. He is definitely a full-fledged member of the TRAILS crew.

“Watching slides on a movie screen in the middle of nature is something you don’t normally do, and that is what makes it such as special experience,” said Riku’s father as he brought out his Honda generator. With the ENEPO generator, people can enjoy watching slides and movies on a movie screen even where there are no power outlets.

“The ENEPO uses butane canisters to generate power, so it is easy to use. Especially for someone like me who doesn’t want to bother with anything that is too difficult!”

Raphael, an Elementary School Student in Toulouse, France

“I always use my Honda Kick ’N Go to get to the neighborhood park. Dad takes me to judo practice and picks me up with his Honda Cub. I love Honda and Japan!” said Rafael, an elementary school student living in Toulouse who loves to rush about on his beloved Kick ‘N Go. His favorite car is the 1976 Civic driven by his father, a Honda collector. “It always smiles at me,” Rafael says affectionately.

“We took local roads and drove all the way to Bordeaux in the 1976 Civic. I will never forget that trip. It was so much fun. We also took the Civic to the Circuit d’ Albi and Circuit de Nogaro motorsport race tracks.”

A classic car lover, Rafael’s father was captivated by the S800, making him a Honda fan in the process.

Does Rafael also like old classic cars?

“I really like the sound that the engine makes on the latest Civic Type R,” said Rafael.

Hmmmm, I may have misjudged him a bit.

Passionate Technical High School Teacher
Hopelessly in Love with the NSX!

Akihiro Unno is a teacher at a technical high school in Aichi prefecture. His passion for the NSX runs deep, so deep, in fact, that he has filled his whole house with NSX paraphernalia (with his wife’s understanding of course…)!

“I bought my first NSX about 19 years ago. It was pre-owned, but still expensive for me at the time. The NSX was designed and built by top engineers seeking to compete and dominate the global market. When I first sat behind the wheel, I was hooked and knew right away that this was what I wanted to drive. Back then, I also used it for commuting to the high school where I worked. When I drove up in my NSX, students would yell out, “Hey, cool car!”

As a teacher, Unno has focused on building an NSX mockup with his students who dream of being automobile designers. When he first launched the project, the school had neither the equipment nor materials needed, and Unno had to invest a lot of his own money.

“Initially, when I started this project, people said that I was just playing around and wasting time. That was very tough and I felt bitter about it. Sometimes, the stress was so intense that it felt like a blood vessel in my brain would burst. However, I began this project with the best of intentions, namely my students, in mind and that effort has turned out rewards many times over.” Some of Unno’s students have found jobs at automobile manufacturers they longed to work for. One of them has even gone on to become a designer for Honda.

“Looking at and being deeply moved by what you’ve built with your own hands is something you’ll always appreciate. My job is to provide people with that kind of opportunity.”

For Unno, happiness is sipping coffee in his garage and looking at his NSX. A hardcore fan of this remarkable sports car, he is content and living a passionate life.

Lover of Songbirds and the Honda Cub
Grandpa Hassan from Morocco

Hassan Baddou, a grandfather, runs a small bird store tucked away in a corner of the Marrakesh market. Recently, a much larger pet store sprang up not too far away. However, Hassan seems unconcerned as he sits relaxing in his chair.

“I like these little song birds, that’s why I do this,” he said. The other thing he loves as much is his red Sports Cub. He bought it with a bonus earned as a pro soccer player in his distant past. “It’s rugged, has superb fuel economy, and above all it is beautiful. Small birds and this Honda have been my partners throughout my long life.”

The varied colors of the birds and the dark red body of the Sports Cub perfectly match Grandpa Hassan’s style.

In a land of heavy snow, this snow blower gives Tsuneo and Haruyo more time to spend together.

Tsuneo and Haruyo have been married for 50 years, farming fantastically delicious Uonuma rice for almost as long in the snowy area of Niigata prefecture. After shoveling snow for decades, they bought a Honda snow blower three years ago to lighten the load.

“What once took us a week to shovel can now be cleared in half a day. It’s just amazing.”

Thanks to their snow blower, the couple now has time to occasionally visit and relax in the hot springs on the other side of the mountain.

“I can also go now to a nearby public bath every Tuesdays and Fridays and even play Shogi (Japanese chess) late into the night with my friends,” said Tsuneo.

“I don’t join him there,” laughed Haruyo.

The vegetables they collect after strapping on snowshoes and harvesting them from under a blanket of snow look so delicious. I am a little envious of all the goodness on this delightful couple’s dining table.

Love fishing. Love Honda engines.
Serge fishes Lake Geneva in a Honda-powered boat.

As his passion for fishing grew, Serge left his job as postal worker to become a fisherman. His office is the largest lake in Switzerland, Lake Geneva. Cutting through the morning mist, he sets out for work every morning at about 5:00 a.m. in his Honda outboard-powered boat.

“I love fishing. Sometimes I think ‘wow,’ what a great catch,’ but sometimes the next day it is no good at all. There are good times, and there are bad times. That uncertainty and thrill is what makes fishing so much fun. The only constant is my Honda engine. Even when it is -10°C outside the engine always starts in one go. It’s a Honda, what else can I say?”

In the evening, when work is all done, Serge sometimes enjoys a glass of wine with a colleague. On this day, the wine is accompanied by some freshly caught freshwater fish, a privilege of the fisherman who ply Lake Geneva.

“We sell most of the fish wholesale to local restaurants. We keep it in the community because we want to stay local. Now, how about another drink…”

It seems indulging in a few glasses of wine after work is a favorite part of Serge’s day.

“From as far back as I can remember, I have always loved motorbikes.”

Julie, a Parisienne, has secretly longed for a bike ever since she was a child. However, nobody in her family ever rode a bike and she had no opportunity to indulge her passion. She would glance at bikes travelling the city streets and feel they only existed in some distant place. “For me, bikes were an alien world.” While yearning for a bike of her own, Julie grew up, eventually graduating from a celebrated design school in Paris

Thanks to Guillaume, a bike rider she started seeing four years ago, Julie has at long last started wearing a motocycle jacket. She made the decision to get her motorcycle license and chose a CBR500R as her first bike.

“I definitely knew I wanted a CBR500R as they have a reputation as safe and reliable! They also look so beautiful!”

Julie has finally saved up some money and is planning a bike trip across uk with Guillaume…

What you need is passion and a Honda! An energetic motocross teacher

Guadeloupe is a small French island floating in the pristine blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. Eric, an energetic man possessing the cheerfulness and passion associated with the Caribbean mindset, teaches motocross to island kids every Saturday.

Eric has 50 students. They range in age and ability from a five-year-old girl, who has just started riding for the first time, to professional riders registered with the French national team. Quite an awesome group!

“I started motocross when I was about 19. At first my passion lay with riding but before long, however, my enthusiasm turned toward teaching others. It is a true delight for me to see other people find joy in riding a motorcycle.”

Thirty years have passed since Eric first began spending his own money to buy Honda motorbikes. The adults who share Eric’s passion and support his school are all his former students.

“I have always used Honda bikes. They don’t develop odd tendencies and age gracefully. For young kids starting out and learning to ride naturally, Honda is the best partner.”

Love my S800!
The nicest people in Paris

The members of the Honda S800 owners’ club can’t stop boasting about their Hondas.

They have adopted marketing copy from the U.S. used in the 60s as their club’s slogan: You Meet the Nicest People on a Honda. The club has 75 members of differing backgrounds and tastes, but they all have a couple of things in common: an unrelenting love for the S800 and being treated as “weird” by those around them when they start talking enthusiastically about their obsession.

In 2016, traffic regulations governing Paris streets restricted older cars such as the S800 to weekends only. Even so, when people drive this loveable little car, they are warmly welcomed by city residents.

Times may change but love does not. These are the nicest people in Paris.

The Long Version can be viewed at the following link.
https://youtu.be/7L1IFKEtd2k

Days of my youth with a Super Cub. Simo, the butcher shop’s delivery man.

Mohammed, who goes by the nickname Simo, is the second son of the Chguifi family, which has operated a butcher shop in Marrakesh for generations. He is a high school student, complete with an infectious smile! He decided that once he graduates high school, he will start training to join his father in the family business.

On weekends and school holidays, Simo works as a delivery man for the shop. He speeds off on each delivery riding the Super Cub bought by his father who boasted, “The only bike I can completely trust is a Honda.” It is unbearably hot in the summer, but Simo always looks cool as he rides through the streets. Simo does not shout about it, but riding the motorbike on deliveries is his favorite part of the day.

Schoolgirl biker in her school uniform

Ploy is a 17-year-old high school student and a biker. She’s a member of the Two Wheel Club.
“My dad and brother rode bikes and that got me into riding, but now I’m more of a biker than they are.”
The club members get together for evening meetings at a café where they have milk-based Thai sweets.
They also do volunteer work, and their next destination is a rural school. They’re going to make a playground for children using old tires.

Even in LA, he’s still a Super Cub fan

Nathan enjoyed 15 minutes of fame as “Mr. Cub” in Japan after he appeared on the TV show riding a Super Cub around the country. He’s an animator in real life, and after returning to LA, he decided to draw manga based on his travels on the Super Cub.
“When I was travelling around Japan on the Super Cub, I saw the moment a bird caught a bug in a rice paddy and ate it. I was able to see that because I was taking it slow. Taking a trip on a Super Cub means taking it slow. I want my manga to express the appeal this holds.”
He wakes up at 6:30 and leaves home on his Super Cub, sketching Super Cub manga ideas and working on animation at a café. He rides his Super Cub home in the evening and continues to draw his manga. Even after returning to LA, Nathan’s still super into his Super Cub.

Bangkok street food vendor lives every day with 3 Hondas

Chareon lives in Bangkok and spends his morning, noon, and night always with Honda.
Before dawn, he picks up drunken customers with his bike taxi. After the sun comes up, he buys fish and vegetables at the market and loads them onto his commuter bike, and in the evening he grills fish for sale at his bike food stall. He uses a total of three Hondas as he works to support his wife and three kids. It may not be an easy life, but he still flashes a big grin from time to time.
“I like to use Hondas. They’re durable and the parts are cheap. I’ve been using Hondas for twenty years. My friends who have food stalls here all use Hondas too. And I sell a lot of fish. Honda bikes get a perfect score in my book. Honda must have a bright future.”

An old bike loved by a vintage car mechanic

Erkrath is a quiet town on the outskirts of Dusseldorf. Daniel, a German mechanic, restores vintage cars here. He spends his days with four-wheeled vehicles, but when he saw an old Honda at an event, he instantly became fixated on those with two wheels.
“I saw a CB550, and I thought ‘I can’t just build cars—I need to build bikes too!’ So I looked around for the best custom machine I could find, and that’s when I found this CB250 about twenty kilometers away.”
While paying homage to the original parts, he’s also added parts he’s made himself to create the ultimate customized 1975 CB250. Maybe the blue body looks so amazing because it shows his respect for the bike.

*He is driving on the private road.

rooshers.com

Cool skateboarding dad in Portland

“Tomorrow’s really busy, but I can spare five minutes or so now. Why am I busy? I’m playing with my daughter of course!”
Tyler is a cool skateboarding dad in Portland, a city that loves skateboarding. He’s the owner of Cal Skate, an Oregon skate shop with a long history. Cal Skate not only sells skateboards, it also supports the skater community by providing a place for local skater kids to hang out and collecting donations to build a skate park.
He’s an old school skater, but his other wheels are the CR-V that his wife gave him.
“Of course I love it! Not that I had a choice in the matter.” [laughs]

Cal Skate Skateboards

A story of an LA café owner with
great glasses and a great Honda

We dropped in at a nice-looking café in LA. When we asked if anyone around had a Honda, it turned out the café owner did.
“We bought it when our daughter was born. I put the infant car seat in the back of my brand new Honda and went to pick up my wife and brand new daughter. I love my car. It’s roomy and how the side door opens outward is awesome.”
Before we have a chance to ask, Matt starts talking animatedly about his Honda, which is three months older than his daughter Penelope. He works in the movie industry too, but we think his glasses are even cooler than that.
""These? I just got them. Do they look good on me?""
His down-to-earth personality is totally cool.

Shy boy and wild bike

The Good Mod furniture showroom and workshop in Portland, Oregon has fans as far away as Japan. Evan is part of the Good Mod team. His model good looks and a slightly shy smile definitely make an impression.
He’s been tinkering with bikes since he was about 15 years old, when his friends would hang out in his family’s yard and talk about bikes.
He owns an ’84 XL. As he kick starts his bike, his shy demeanor takes a turn for the wild.
“I use it to commute to work, and I rode it hundreds of miles when I went camping with friends in Nevada!”
His vintage bike is older than he is, and shows off a different side of his personality.

thegoodmod.com

Boatman on the Chao Phraya River

A small boat jauntily plies the Chao Phraya River, swollen from the monsoon rains. The young man’s name is Natthapol.
His family has lived on the water for generations on the outskirts of Bangkok.
“Boats used to be how we got around every day, but now it’s cars. We hardly ever use boats any more to get around. But I like boats. I’ve been driving them since I was just a little boy. I used to even go to school by boat.”
He bought a boat just for fun two years ago. It’s powered by a modified Honda outboard motor.
“It runs really well and I like how it can run for a long time. I enter boat races with it several times a year too.”
We tend to like things that are an extension of our culture and nature. And that is a beautiful thing.

A cat is sleeping on my bike” in Istanbul

Bikers are familiar with the phenomenon of cats sleeping on their bikes. This is something people have in common around the world.
Erdem works in the Bakirkoy district of Istanbul, Turkey. Cats love his Honda PCX.
“Cats like to sleep on the seat of my motorbike. They seem to know which places are comfortable.”
This sleepy kitten was born in the garden of where Erdem works.
“I heard it mewing on the garden and took it to its mother. It grew up in our garden, but I don’t know where it is now. It abandoned us.”
Watching Erdem tenderly petting the kitten in the video is a little bittersweet.

LA family’s camping adventure

The Dyer family is from LA and loves to go camping. Blessed with packing skills from being born into a large family, the father handily packs up their minivan with camping gear and equipment for six. Once that’s done, they’re headed to Mt. San Antonio. So how did the dad get so good at packing up the car?
“I’m one of eight brothers and sisters, so I’m used to only having a little bit of my own space. It makes you good at organizing and packing.”
Even though some of the kids got carsick from playing in the car and the winding mountain road, once they reach the campsite they’re laughing and having fun. Dad’s hot dogs are the best! This kind of quality family time is hard to find.
“No matter how busy we are normally, when we go camping we have fun together and all sleep together at the same time and in the same place. The time on the drive to the campsite and the time camping is very special for us.”
And what camping equipment does the mom of the family want Honda to make? A garbage can that can attach to the car. It doesn’t get more real than that.

Honda engineering team becomes a world-record holder

Saturday September 17, 2016, USA Mountain Standard Time. At Mike Cook's Bonneville Shootout held at the Bonneville Salt Flats International Speedway, a team of young engineers from the Automobile R&D Center at Honda R&D Company clocked an FIA-approved world land speed record.

A team of engineers with three to five years of experience at the Automobile R&D Center was created in an in-house program for the speed challenge. They developed the design for the car used in the challenge, researching the information and designing, building, and testing the machine themselves. They lightened the car body as much as possible to reduce air resistance, and used an engine modified from the S660 subcompact sports car. The driver was Hikaru Miyagi, who clocked a world record on his first attempt.
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(Excerpt from Japanese press release)
http://www.honda.co.jp/Racing/news2016/01/

Limbo on a bike!!

There’s an amazing performance put on in Norfolk, England. The rules are simple. No matter how low the bar is, you go under it not with your body, but on a bike. People get into it and cheer when someone makes it under the bar!
“The best part is when I put the handlebars down so low they scrape the ground, and then get back up again and ride off!”
Alan is one of the performers. Have you ever seen anyone scrape their Honda like this before? He goes lower, and lower still! His limbo keeps going.

A man in the snow with a GORILLA

In a small town in Moscow Province, a man is digging his mini bike out of the snow after leaving it outside for two days. It’s a Honda GORILLA mini bike. It was really buried under the snow, and it’s only been two days!
The owner of the GORILLA is Doroshenko Sergey. He looks hopeful but a little nervous as he kick starts his bike. One, two, three—four kicks and the engine starts!
“This was a test. This is why I like Honda bikes. Hondas run even under the toughest conditions. This GORILLA could go to the ends of the earth.”
Doroshenko knows the severe Moscow winters. It was −30℃ when we caught up with him.

Japanese family in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City, the 2002 host of the Winter Olympics, enjoys an abundance of nature. Shogo and Mina both love to ski. They met more than 15 years ago in Salt Lake, got married, and now have two daughters. They love to help wash the car!
“I’ve always had a Honda. This is my third one. You probably think it’s because I’m Japanese. Not at all! It’s because the dealer is a really nice guy. Pretty simple, huh?”
They often have family barbeques in their spacious yard. While their favorite food may still be miso soup, their open and adventuresome personalities fit right in with Salt Lake City.

Honda is the best!
Eric kickstarts his bike and the mood

A man in a straw hat is zipping around the white Salt Flats on an old Honda. His name is Eric Ross. He’s an administrator at Bonneville Speed Week, where speed freaks come from around the world to compete to clock the fastest time ever in their class. He loves his Honda XL, which he rides all over the Salt Flats to deliver information to participants.
“Why did I choose this bike? It was in storage for eight months, and I kick started it on the first try!”
He rides off under the blazing sun, injecting his irresistible cheer into the intensely competitive mood.

A farmer / chef in Portland who’s like
the cool big sister you wished you had

The city of Portland has gained fame for its spirit of freedom and progressive lifestyle. Stacey Givens runs a small urban farm and kitchen called The Side Yard right in the city together with a crew of friendly and determined volunteers. She grows organic herbs and vegetables to use with other urban-grown goods as the chef of her seed-to-plate catering and supper club business that has earned rave reviews.
She has a hip urban look but it’s not just style—running a farm is hard work. Watching her push the tiller under the summer sun, with her smart hair and capable demeanor, you might start to think of her as the cool big sister you wished you had.
“My dad likes growing vegetables, and he would always say, ‘Honda does so much for me!’ Now I rely on Honda for all kinds of things. It’s like one of my trusted friends.”