07-14-2026, 01:41 PM
(07-14-2026, 10:47 AM)Gone in 60 Wrote: Hey Cooldrum, yes, please let me know next time you're in the neighborhood. That goes for the rest of you guys!
As for Honda's HQ, I have been there, but not for a show. I think they've moved their motorcycle operations to Marysville, OH, but when it was in Torrance, they used to host focus groups for local Honda owners. I participated a number of times. You'd get a letter in the mail inviting you to a focus group on a Saturday. You'd arrive and be escorted to a nice courtyard, where there'd be three or four prototype bikes on display, with cards indicating each as A B C D. You'd be asked to look at them all closely, then were handed a clipboard with a list of questions:
"Looking at bike A, do you like the style of the headlight? If an LED headlight were an accessory option, would you be willing to pay $200-$300 for it?"
"Look at the fuel tank on bike B. Based on its style, what kind of image do you think it projects?"
The last time I participated in one of the focus groups was probably about ten years ago, and the bikes we examined turned out to be the current line of Rebels.
I grew up in Torrance, not too far from the Honda campus, and moved to Orange County when I was 12. Nowdays, it's a bit far for me to get to on a weekday, so I'm really looking forward to the Cars and Coffee this Saturday. One of the new docents at the Petersen is a big Honda fan, even replicating the '60s-era delivery truck from a local Honda motorcyle dealership. We're meeting up there, and I think he's more excited about it than me!
I had a neat exchange on Saturday afternoon with a guy who walked up and said he was shopping for a CB1100. I had just left the museum, and was enjoying my typical lunch. Canter's is a bit of a splurge for me, so that's an occasional visit. My Pavlovian stop is at a Trader Joe's market a few blocks North on Fairfax to grab a wrap, a bag of their corn nuts (Inka Corn, I need these to keep me sane), and an apple. I usually use a trash can lid in the parking lot as my table, and munch away with my bike parked nearby.
A guy leaving the market walked up and was admiring the CB. He started asking questions that made it very clear that he was looking for one and had done some homework. He knew that mine was a '13, and asked if I thought the 5-speed was ok, or if I wished I'd gotten a '14 or a '17. We chatted for quite a while, and I made sure to let him know about our community if he had more questions or wanted advice. Hopefully, we'll see him here soon!
Hey Gone, My son lives in Rancho Park off West Pico. I can literally walk to Apple Pan from his place. In fact I did that the last time I was staying there. Quite dangerous when trying to eat healthy. Pretty cool to be invited to the focus groups at the Honda HQ. You'll enjoy the Collection hall. There's a good mix of bikes, cars, outboard motors, mowers and generators! They even have the replica pick truck with bikes in the truck bed when Honda was setting up dealers way back when. I also met Luis Zavala , a docent in the vault when I was at Petersen. A nice guy and car enthusiast. I Suggest going as early as you can since there is a line of cars waiting to park at the Honda campus. They had music going outdoors and of course you can buy Honda merch at the store inside. I found a "You meet the nicest people on a Honda " shirt! Ha! My 305 Scrambler was my first bike and I just rode it this morning. I've ridden this bike down Highway 1 from the Cliff House in San Francisco Through Monterey, Big Sur and down PCH to Chula Vista. Fun Times! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87lRxhnil0c
Honda's just have great engineering. Enjoy the story. (not my channel and not self promoting).