NGC Honda - early model

[Canuck750]

A 1958 Honda,  JC58 Benly on CL Seattle, a special bike indeed.


https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/mcy/d/pasco-1958-honda-benley-jc-58/7324755429.html

[krglorioso]

Mighty oaks from tiny acorns grow.  I was a Marine on the Japanese island of Okinawa in 1960-61 and this was when Honda was emerging into a wider market with the CB-72 "Hawk" 250 and the CB-92 (I later had the "R" model which was a 125cc twin club racer).  By 1965 I was a mechanic for Heyser Honda in Laurel, MD, and saw more Honda development work, culminating in September of 1969 when we uncrated our first of many CB-750s. 

Ralph

[ozarquebus]

That is a historical artifact.

 Inventing an industry from ground zero like they did was miraculous. The early development stories from Honda, Sony, etc are filled with stories of coping with adversity and innovation. Sony built by hand their precision screwdrivers from  old bicycle spokes when they began their manufacturing, for instance. Failure was not an option.

[berniebee]

For a moment there I thought it was a 2 stroke, until I saw the oil line meandering from the crankcase up to the head.  Good article in Motorcycle Classics Magazine about these bikes here:
https://www.motorcycleclassics.com/classic-japanese-motorcycles/1958-honda-jc58-benly-zmwz17ndzhur/

[JJ]

WOW!!  What a time capsule of motorcycle history indeed! 

Way cool!!

[Muzz]

Styled like the NSU Max.

I too thought at first it was a two stroke.

[Guzzi Gal]

A 1958 Honda,  JC58 Benly on CL Seattle, a special bike indeed.


https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/mcy/d/pasco-1958-honda-benley-jc-58/7324755429.html

If they made one that looked like that today, I'd be in!

[ohiorider]

Styled like the NSU Max.

I too thought at first it was a two stroke.

Very German-looking!

Bob

[JJ]

For perspective - Here is a 1958 NSU Super Max F250   

[EldoMike]

Pretty well known that Mr. Honda studied the German motorcycles as he was designing his motorcycles...I've always wanted a 50's Benley