The Greatest Ad Campaign in Motorcycle History
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- čas přidán 5. 07. 2024
- This video goes into the history behind Honda's 'You meet the nicest people on a Honda' ad and how it's promotion of the great Supercub changed the motorcycling world forever.
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"In the mid 70s, Honda himself began to calm down, as he knew he was getting a bit older."
Honda: *proceeds to make the first superbike*
I commented on your Superhawk video about two friends who rode them from Kabul, Afghanistan to Paris. Here's another connection related to this video. I dated a girl who's father was an executive with Pan American airlines. Pan Am was the operator of Ariana Afghan Airlines and her father, originally based in Japan, was transferred to Kabul to handle Pan Am's relationship with Ariana. While still in Japan--early 1960's--Honda used my not-yet girlfriend to promote the 50cc Cub in a brochure intended for the American market. She was blonde and very cute so Honda sat her on a Cub, smiling and wind tossing her hair, with the now ubiquitous tagline "You meet the nicest people on a Honda." They were right!
Great story !! I'd like to see that advert with this lady , how can we find it?
Pretty cool story Chip
@@davecullen5986 I have hunted high and low for it. I could have sworn I had kept a copy from those days but apparently it got lost. I have searched the internet too but still can't find it. Even though the brochure was produced in Japan , it was in English and obviously targeted at the American market.
Wow! Always nice to hear such insides👍
Too funny. I started riding motorcycles on a new Honda Cub in 1966... and I just brought home a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 last week. Simple, fun motorcycles are still what it's about for me.
The first ad made me chuckle
My first motorcycle was a 1964 super cub with a 55cc engine that sat in someone’s backyard for 30ish years. All I did was change the oil and give it gas and after a few dozen kicks and half a can of starting fluid it fired off.
I was there for all of it. Well almost all of it. The first motorcycle I threw a leg over was a Honda in the mid 60’s. The motorcyclist I did know at that time rode BSA’s and Triumphs not Harleys. My first was the was the Super 90. Followed in quick succession wIth a 305 Superhawk, CB 175, CB 350, SL 350 and then on to the original CR250M Elsinore. Me and Honda departed ways when the Kawasaki Z1 came out. Which by the way I still have.
From there, there was no looking back, I was hooked on the Japanese bikes till present. Huge salute to Soichiro Honda for all the great times. By the way I’m one of those nicest people.
Great channel!
I started out on a Honda 50 s on gravel roads and had a blast. I'm over 70 now and I still ride (BMW). My moto is if it ain't fun why do it.
Many young riders I know start out on a GSXR or simulator and miss out on all of that experience and fun.
Please don't confuse fun with adrenaline. One in enjoyable the other is highly addictive and can be fatal, in more ways than one.
Happy Riding
Best
I'm 73 and ride a Beemer too. Also picked up a Ducati this year -- not ready to stop yet. Be safe
I couldn’t agree more
Can't get enough! I have a '68 C-90 Cub and it makes me smile more than my Honda Valkyrie 1500.
Worst thing I ever done was selling my Honda Valkyrie,grrrrrrrrr thanks for reminding me man. lol 😝
I had a 2002 blue and white Valkyrie. Added a 9.5 gallon custom fuel tank, Honda hard bags, and electronic cruise. That was my touring bike. I sold it around a year ago. The buyer got one heck of a good dependable bike.
Do you blow other guys on bikes?
The first big seller here was the Honda AG 90. A bike that farmers were desperate for. But the nicest people ad definitely worked wonders. It made small cheap bikes once more available to the masses. A girl, just out of high school, worked at a summer job to get the money to purchase her Honda 90 scooter to get to further studies. I also had a small bike to get me to uni. We met by chance at a motorcycle safety rally. And she really was the nicest person I could ever have hoped to meet. That was over 50 years ago now and she is in the other room. The ad campaign and those bikes gave me so much more than a motorcycle. For that I am forever grateful.
I'd like to see a video about Bridgestone motorcycles.
Honda cubs are going up in value here in the UK, better than Money in the bank...
Im a 'second generation' consumer of the Nicest People campaign. I grew up seeing pictures of my dad on his CB350 during his high school days, and that shape of motorcycle stuck with me. it sat upright, it had great lines, a clean bubble tank, and looks exactly how a kid would draw a motorcycle. I bought into the idea of "motorcycles don't have to be Harleys" pretty quick. I have nothing against Harleys now, some are pretty cool. But that idea got me to buy a CB175 in college to work on and learn. Now I'm on my 3rd CL350 and having a blast. I get a thumbs up on every ride and it feels great.
That sales campaign had everything to do with making the American public perceive motorcyclists as capable of being respectable humans. Prior to that biking was only for tough people. The Marlon Brando image was the only image. My parents let me buy my first Honda in t966 because I could point to this ad campaign and tell this was a new motorcycle culture. ( Still had to overcome the "danger" part though, but I managed) I'm still riding.
My first bike was a Honda 50 1968 or thereabouts, cost me £15 in 1971, i took my mother for a ride on it and she was blown away by it, she just loved it, 45mph and 160mpg flat out everywhere lol 😂
My mates would laugh at it, but they had to use bus’s everywhere, i remember passing them on my wee 50 with me girlfriend on the back while they were waiting at the bus stop, wee were on our way to Portrush, a seaside town and they were going to Belfast city centre for the day, can you guess who had the best time lol 😝. They never laughed again at me.
The new Honda CT125 is very popular. More power than earlier super cubs and disc brakes front and back.
I still have a 1961 Honda 50 Sport sitting in my garage. I'm 72 years old now and the Honda hasn't run for several years. This bike is basically a family heirloom.
1981 GL1100.....this SOB still runs like new, but I have to admit I was a grunt mechanic in a Honda shop in the '80's. Keep the oil clean, synch the carbs every once in a while, and meet anyone that likes motorcycles!!
Getting a bit nervous about the electronic ignition........we'll see!!
You meet nicest people on honda...so true
You still meet the nicest people on a Honda! Since I ride Honda, I have to agree!
My 1st bike was a used Honda 90 in 1964. I learned how to ride on the way home.
I've watched a couple documentaries on Mr Honda. The guy was a maniac, and not always in a good way. I'm a huge fan.
I'm a fairly new subscriber and I love your channel. I've owned a Cub and my wife and children loved to ride it around the block, they couldn't get enough of it. I'm no braggart but I've owned so many motorcycles that I can't remember. I'll be 61 on the 22nd of this month. So many motorcycles, so little time.
A very similar marketing strategy was employed in Britain by Innocenti and Piaggio to sell their Lambrettas and Vespa models. They were sold through pedal bike shops rather than motorcycle dealerships and the advertising on TV was very similar. Massively successful. Lambrettas and Vespas have a massive fan following here in Britain right up to the present day.
I've had a couple of big bikes of various varieties, then one day a friend of mine was selling an 70's 70cc cub pretty cheap so I thought i'd give it a go. Now I have no big bikes left and 5 classic honda minibikes from 65' to 86'. They're far too much fun, super economical, reliable, but even if they go wrong they cost virtually nothing to repair. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a super fun bike on the cheap.
When I wrenched on bikes in a Honda, Norton and BSA motorcycle shop in 1969, we received a CB750 and I assembled it, servicedbit and ran it against one of the mechanics Norton 750s.
The British bike lovers in the shop almost acted jealous about the Honda being smoother and oil tight and so much more reliable.
I have had 7 Honda bikes in my possession. Great machines.
My first street motorcycle was a Honda Shadow 1300C
Absolutely love it.
Won't ever get a sports bike!
I'm a cruiser for life!
I still have my 67' CA-102 in the garage. Maybe I'll take it for a ride today.
You hit the nail on the head.
The biggest hurdle to the motorcycle industry is being approachable to people who don't ride motorcycles, yet. Honda nailed this with their ad campaign. To be honest, it would be great if they kept running it, because even today, it takes quite a bit of research to find approachable motorcycles for new riders. That's what advertisements are for, they take the research out of discovering something new.
I see the American motorcycle industry today and it has a lot of the same problems as those decades ago. Very few bikes less than 700 cc, the rebel stigma, and the very real statistics of death. Companies like Harley Davidson, Indian, and Triumph play into it. Those rebels are their main consumer. When senior citizen Billy Bob of the West Coast Eagle Gang drops his Electra Glide one too many times, he'll be getting the Trike next.
Really the only brands that are even entertaining newcomers are Honda, Kawasaki, and Royal Enfield. They don't even market that well on mainstream TV. I see far more GM ads.
Interesting video. I especially found your Royal Enfield comparison interesting. I was a long time Honda owner. After having not ridden for a number of years, I decided to buy a new bike. And, the bike I bought was a Royal Enfield!
I too started riding motorcycles in 1990 with a Honda SS50. Although they were produced in great numbers, they all seem to have their own character. They are so much fun to ride! Only a real Honda rider knows what I mean! 🙏🏻
Excellent, Text, video and presentation.
C-100 Super Cub....My first motorcycle in high school.
Bart, your communication is so clear; intonation etc, so interesting to listen to. And Your research is spot on. No B.S from you !
More video essays abou motorcycle history? Yes please!
Honda did a really good job, now Underbone bikes are the majority in South East Asia.
Anyone from school kids to teenager and elderly people owned one
Its 2023, I still ride a 2001 XR650R. It is fast as hell and exhilerating.
It would be great to see you go back now and find out why none of the companies have launched an ad campaign as successful as Hondas to increase ridership and reverse the trend of decreased motorcycle sales!
Because Harley and Indian play into that "Bad boy rebel" stereotype and ruin the market for innocent newcomers.
Suzuki had a video, I assume never aired in the USA, "you get more nookie on a Suzuki" 1974
7.25.22. A friend of mine who is much older than I am, used to state, you meet the nicest people on a Honda⚠️, but you meet the important ones on a Harley™️‼️ mind you this was in the mid to late 60s, he had a 1967 Harley Davidson Sportster 900 XLCH✊🏽
Don't forget, the other Japanese manufacturers followed on with their own versions of the Super Cub. Yamaha had the V50/V80, later the T80 Town Mate with shaft drive. Suzuki brought out the FR80 and Kawasaki had one too.
I had a Yamaha V90 for a year in 1977. Totally uncool but cheap and reliable. (As a 17 year old I couldn't fort the insurance on am KH250 anymore).
Even today bikes such as the Yamaha Crypton or Honda's own Wave or Biz are basically a modern rendition of the Super Cub, keeping their ease to use, reliability and simplicity, but with a modernized look and some nice additions such as a more powerful engine and underseat storage.
@@lotophagi711 That's true. Way back in the 70s Yamaha had the V50, V70 and V90. I remember seeing them. Later they streamlined it down to the V50 and V80. There was also a V75 fully automatic in the 70s. My Mum had one.
Nice deeper dive than most! You're ok bart!
When I was 18, I wanted a Ducati or Z1 Kawasaki, because that's what the big boys rode. Now I'm 66 and got the Ducati ( although not the Z1), and I want to have a bike like when I was a boy. So I got a C125 and it really is so much fun. But you couldn't tell me that when I was 18. Go figure. Nice video Bart as always 👍🇦🇺
I really like your videos bart, they're good! Lots of other videos out there which aren't. Good work! 🙂
Really like your channel. Keep up the good work.
Honda was genus.. As they produced the Z50. The Trial 70. The Trail 90. There was something to fit the whole family...And they did just that. As families would buy 3-4 at a time....
well done synopsis.
The reason the super cub was so popular is that it would not die no matter how much you abused it.
You could not say the same thing about Royal Enfield.
Love this content! Especially this topic! Having 8 cubs, and 4 cub variants form the 60's I'm fairly versed in the history of this bike. I suggest you do a little deep dive on the surge of production through the Asian entrepreneur Loh Boon Siew. Malaysia became one of the key reasons there was over 100 million of these bikes produced.
Pretty much every motorcycle school here in Australia start you out on a Honda 125
Difficult to find new CT125 Trail at the dealer. Had to drive long distance and lucked into a new / late season arrival, that had not yet been put out for sale.
There is a rebuilt 1964 Super Cub C102 "Honda 50" 125cc e-start repower and a 2022 Honda CT125 Trail, parked in the kitchen; fit in hotel rooms too.
Both red, 64 has the CT90 dual range rear sprocket and knobby tires for trail use. ALL plastic and bits reproduced and replaced from Malaysia. New engine bolted in place of original and looks stock.
The 2022 Trail 125 is from Thailand; nice bike, efi, abs and still lightweight.
Seems to still be popular over there.
And honda had an ad campaign that was called the power of dreams.
Just great !!
Trinidad & Tobago.
West Indies.
11:40 I want to ride my new bike through salt water and sand!
😬 😂
Lovely video.
I wish more people went on two wheels in my adopted home of Prague.
Honda c50 70 90.Just takes me too my childhood what days what fun we trialed it we abused it it took ll
You need to check out the Japanese anime "Super Cub"....A beautifully executed "slice of life" anime..With a gorgous soundtrack...The story of a school girl with no friends or life direction..buys a secondhand Super Cub C50....What is also very cool is that all the backdrop scenery is of REAL places...I adore this anime..nothing really happens as such...but that's it's beauty...It's so chill.
Went and bought a CT125 hunter cub after seeing it.
This is GREAT! I LOVE IT!!!
There never seems to any mention of the cheap financing in the UK that Honda offered in their early days
My other favorite advertisements was Follow the the leader, he's on a Honda.
I very much injoy your comments and insights.
However the advert campaign in the 60s and 70s was a bit of either wishful thinking, or outright misleading in upper North America.
It worked on teens, and helped them convince Mom and Dad that they weren't going to join the Hells Angels or Easy Rider.
However there were not thousands of suited executives or elegant Laura Petries or Carol Bradys riding motorcycles or mopeds in that era in the US and Canada.
Once helmets and special licenses for 50cc and 90cc riders came around in the 1970s....that pretty much knocked out any idea that respectable adults were going to ride little scooters.
You did see some of them on CBs and Triumphs by the 70s for gas prices and weekend fun, but even sexy Dr Steven Kiley couldn't sell the CB750 as an office commuter.
I just brought back my wife's 87 Honda rebel she lives
I can't find sales stats by region, but I think that most of these bikes were sold in Asia rather than the USA where they just a workhorse.
Great video, very interesting, I can't ride due to brain damage, money, and no interest, but I do appreciate it. I just wanted to say I've loved Harley Davidson since I was a kid, I fell in love with the exposed, stripped down look and the sound, I loved Sportsters, Bobbers, Dynas and Softails. Ducati, has been on my radar ever since the video for Eve's who's that girl from 2001, and I know MV Agusta from Teen Wolf the tv series.
Honda got a little help from THE BEACH BOYS !
I owned a 65 honda 50 that was a regular motorcycle when i was about 13 or 14 after riding around the trails on a home made mini bike with a briggs and stratton 3hp engine.
Over here in aus we did have fifty’s but we also had the nineties I done a lot of miles on the nineties
Verrry enjoyable 😊
I had the 1st Honda cub 50 plastic chicken as a kid in 90s , it was faster than a new 90 , no restrictors an was tuned good
in india, before royal enfield. the youth bought bikes because of looks, performance, expensive price tag. the family man or women bought bikes for daily commute. traders bought tvs xl100 heavy duty or bajaj ct100 for mileage. when royal enfield came the biking game changed forever.
Over 100 million sold. Boggles the mind.
Those weren't boxes of cake. They were clothing boxes. She'd just gone shopping at a high end clothing store.
Personally i've never liked such small bikes 50cc, i do ride in the wet and such small bikes can have you on the ground in a flash in the wet, that said, i love my CM450's CB400's and CMX 450 Rebel all from the 1980's and not expensive and great projects and very reliable bikes that i highly recommend, love them.
@bart where did u get this footage. 10:15 that dude is leaving Boneyard in Bend.
You’ve inspired me, I’m taking the Cub out.
I wonder if you know about the 12 episode, 24 minute per episode ad/anime for the Super Cub.
Little Honda's are very hard to find been looking for years .if find they are so expensive
Can you do a Video of the Full Historie of MZ
Surprised there was no mention of Jack McCormick.
I think the time is right for Honda to re-launch this ad campaign.
Where is Ed March? His Journey with the c90 around the world needs to be mentioned here.
Great video, although you did lose me for a while with the Enfield bit.
Honda Grom is a new SuperCub
A friend sent this video as I was working on one of my Honda Cubs. Yes they are the greatest motorcycle ever created.
You meet coolest people in a mad bikes
And 1 childish
in least developed countries, Honda didn't need to invest much on advertising Cub series. It is what most people need as primary form of personal transportation, replacing bicycles. Cheap, reliable, economical. I had owned a 1984 Cub C70 during my college years.
That was the real key. It produced the bikes we NEEDED. Where for more than a decade before this the bikes were unsuitable as daily transport. Only bikes like the Vespa existed for the low cost transport market prior to this. However it was more than a pushbike. I carried bales of hay, saddles, skis, golf clubs and my guitar. It was able to transport useful amounts of material that was necessary to make it practical transportation.
Helmets,,, just not a thing then. I’ve had several Hondas. I still wake up with near death experience nightmares. I love my Tesla.
It'd be great if you could ride an old cub and share your experience with it.
Why not play the advertising jingle 'you meet the nicest people on a Honda' which was plugged frequently on KYA in 1964-65?
Honda bikes my favorites, follwed by yamaha suzuki and kawasaki
You meet the baddies on Yamaha !
BSA had that in the 1950s called The Winged wheel. In poor countries where bicycles are the main source of transportation a powered wheel will sell. In developed countries where you have better wages your standards are higher a winged wheel clipped your bicycle is not good enough anymore. Honda could sell products to developed countries because they sold millions of units of them to undeveloped countries. It was Asian sales that paid for their factories until they got into the bigger motorcycles like the CB750. Honda best selling motorcycle of all time was the cb350. When they came out with the cb450 they only sold ten thousand a year it was called the black bomber because she bombed in sales. Honda was not sure that its customers really wanted a bigger motorcycle other than the 350 which is why they did not spring for the Machinery to make diecast cases for the 750 that's why the first 750 cases where sand-cast. If the bike was a failure they did not lose the money for making dies for the engine. But with the collapse of the British motorcycle industry due to incompetence management as well as employee sabotage and other reasons the Japanese started to sell their motorcycles like it was going out of style. That's why Honda built the factory just to make the CB750 and one came off the assembly line every 3 minutes. But like Peter Egan of cycleworld Fame of the CB750 he said it was the first bike he had that it was cheaper to throw it away that you fix it. It was cheaper to buy another bike that you fix the old one.
They were acceptable to Parents unlike Bonneviles or Harleys
Showing people riding motorcycles especially a bigger one, without appropriate protection is a bad idea
"The Wild One", not "...ones"!
Hi !
Girls do you wont a red hot thing be twin your legs then hop on a Honda. ward paly Auston rest in peace mate.
“You meet the nicest people on a Honda”. Not necessarily. I know a guy called Mental Dave who rides around on a Blackbird. He’s a right cu..
weird......i never owned a Honda