Honda Motorcycles: Illustrated History Books & Guides

Honda - The Golden Age: TT 1959-1967

Honda's entry into Europe began with a bold move: competing in the Isle of Man TT, then part of the World Championship and known as the toughest motorcycle race.
In 1959, Honda became the first Japanese team to participate, with riders experiencing Western culture for the first time, just years after World War II. Their determination and humility won over local audiences, bridging cultural gaps and creating goodwill.

As this book recounts, Honda's motorcycles quickly proved their reliability and speed, earning many victories. Notable racers like Jim Redman, Luigi Taveri, and Mike Hailwood joined the team. By 1967, when Honda left Grand Prix racing, they had dominated the Isle of Man TT, winning all major titles and solidifying their reputation.
This success marked the beginning of Honda's rise as a global motorcycle leader. For founder Soichiro Honda, the Isle of Man TT symbolized the company's early struggles and achievements. The event remains a proud part of Honda's history.

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Mini Honda : The Legendary Little Motorcycles Super Cub, Dax, Monkey

Featuring more than 250 archival and new photos, detailed technical data, and first-person stories from passionate Honda mini-motorcycle devotees, this nostalgic and fun compendium presents the complete model history of Honda's legendary little motorbikes and discusses the unique culture surrounding them.

These lightweight mini motorcycles trace their origin back to renowned Japanese engineer Soichiro Honda, who gleaned as much information as possible from European manufacturers before setting out to create something entirely new.
Honda's original model, the C 100 Super Cub, became a global smash hit. Since its release in 1958, more than 100 million Honda Super Cub mini motorcycles have been produced, and it has become the bestselling motorized vehicle in history.
Over the years, the Honda company continued to refine and develop its winning formula, following up with additional models, including the Monkey and the Dax.

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The Honda Valkyrie

Honda's Valkyrie/F6C entered the motorcycle market in the mid-1990s, redefining Cruiser design and performance. Building on Honda's history of using horizontally opposed engines since the mid-1970s, the Valkyrie featured a fully chromed flat-six engine in a bold 'Hot-Rod' style. Its classic American design and powerful exhaust sound made it an instant success with both critics and riders.
With three versions of the original GL1500 Valkyrie, Honda led the Cruiser market and earned numerous awards.
In this book, Peter Rakestrow explores the development and history of the GL1500 Valkyrie/F6C from 1991, including the NRX1800 Valkyrie Rune of 2004 - a concept bike that became a reality - and the 2014 GL1800 Gold Wing Valkyrie/F6C.
The book provides detailed model changes by year, including specification sheets, and is the first to present the complete story of this iconic motorcycle.

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The Honda Gold Wing - Classic 4-Cylinder Bikes

In the 1970s, Honda redefined motorcycling by introducing the Gold Wing, a series of touring motorcycles that would dominate the roads for over forty years.
With its smooth horizontally opposed engine, faux tank, and low center of gravity, the Honda Gold Wing offered unmatched reliability, comfort, and style. It was designed to cover long distances effortlessly. Initially created for the American market, the Gold Wing continued to lead the touring segment through the 1980s and into the twenty-first century, eventually being manufactured in the United States.
In this book, Peter Rakestrow explores the history of the Honda Gold Wing from its original engineering concept to 1987, when Honda produced the last 4-cylinder Gold Wing. The book provides detailed information on the model's evolution over the years and is a valuable resource for buyers, restorers, and collectors.

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Honda Enthusiasts Guide - Motorcycles 1959-1985

This guide helps non-professional motorcycle collectors decide whether to buy and restore Honda motorcycles produced between 1959 and 1985.
Author Doug Mitchel provides a general overview of each model, highlighting similarities and differences between the model discussed and other similar bikes.

For each model, the book includes essential information such as:
- Cost to acquire the project
- Value after restoration
- Which bikes/models should not be restored due to declining value
- Location of frame and engine numbers

The book also offers guidance on assessing the condition of key components, including paint, decals, chrome, seat, rubber parts, and suspension.
A section at the end of the book provides additional help, offering advice on where to buy classic bikes, where to find parts, who to contact for assistance, and which restoration tasks should be assigned to specialists with specific skills.

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Classic Honda Motorcycles - Identification Guide to the Collectable Models 1958-1990

This book provides a comprehensive overview of Honda motorcycles produced from 1958 to 1990, featuring iconic models such as the CB77 Super Hawk, CB92 Benly, Dream, CB750, and more.
Based on the "Illustrated Buyer's Guide to Classic Honda Motorcycles, " this revised edition includes over 400 additional photos, showcasing every collectible Honda model.
Motorcycle enthusiasts will find valuable information about which bikes suit different riding needs, which models are the most collectible, and how to source parts for rare Honda motorcycles.
The book also offers general and mechanical evaluations of each model, detailed specifications, riding impressions of select Honda models, and other useful insights.

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Honda ST1100 / ST1300 Pan European (1989-2002) - Brooklands Portfolio

Brooklands Portfolio book featuring Honda ST1100 and ST1300 Pan European models from the years 1989-2002.

• The period articles, brought together from leading British and American motorcycle magazines, provide much information about history, model changes and engineering.
• Also driving impressions, original road tests, comparison tests, technical data, etc.
• Offers also advice for the purchase of a pre-owned Honda Pan European.

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Honda Gold Wing (1975-1995) - Brooklands Portfolio

Brooklands Portfolio book featuring Honda Gold Wing motorcycles from the years 1975-1995. Describes the Honda Gold Wing 1000, 1100, 1200, 1500/6, Interstate and SE.

• The 36 period articles, brought together from leading British and American motorcycle magazines, provide much information about history, model changes and engineering.
• Also driving impressions, original road tests, comparison tests, technical data, etc.

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Motos Honda

This book traces the history of Honda motorcycles over five decades, from the 1970s to the present day, from the CB750 Four to current models. Forty models, representative of Honda's technological and stylistic evolution, have been selected.
Each motorcycle is presented in its historical context and compared to its competitors. A complete data sheet and numerous photos complete the description of these iconic models.

Pages of the book "Motos Honda"

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Honda : de la CB 750 aux V-4 - 40 ans en endurance

In September 1969, the victory of the Honda CB750 at the Bol d'Or in Montlhéry marked the beginning of Honda's history in motorcycle endurance racing. The factory team then achieved numerous victories with various machines, two or four cylinders, in-line or V engines.
This book tells the story of 40 years of Honda competition in endurance racing. It pays tribute to the riders, technicians and tuners, both those from Honda and their competitors, who contributed to the history of this discipline.
With over 300 photos, many of them unpublished, testimonies and the results of all the races, this book is a reference for the history of motorcycle endurance racing.

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Little Honda - Die legendären Kleinmotorräder Super Cub, Dax, Monkey

Small, retro, and iconic: Honda's mini motorcycles are legendary. While Honda is mainly known today for cars and large motorcycles, the brand also produced the best-selling light motorcycle, the Honda Super Cub, with over 100 million units sold since its introduction in 1958.
By chance, Honda created a second series of small motorcycles: the Honda Monkey. Originally intended as an amusement park attraction, the Monkey became a market hit from 1961. In the 1970s, it was seen as the coolest ride. The Honda Dax followed, known for its foldable handlebars and use in motorhomes.
Though many replicas flooded the market in recent years, Honda returned in 2019 with a new Monkey to continue the legacy of its predecessors. Until then, motorcycle fans can enjoy a fascinating journey through time with "Little Honda, " featuring original photos and interesting background information.

In this book, Gerfried Vogt-Möbs introduces the mini motorcycles that defined the 70s lifestyle:
- Complete history of Honda light motorcycles: Super Cub, Monkey, Gorilla, Dax
- Many historical photos
- Detailed technical data
- Contemporary tests and ride reports

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