Motorcycle Store Online

- I STILL can't find anyone from the 60's and 70's that recalls the Korean motor cycle company KIA-Honda. Why?
I lived in Korea from 74 to late 1980. I owned FIVE KIA-Honda motorcycles. I had a 50 "step through" that was the oldest ('65-ish) with a Japanese Honda engine and Korean KIA-Honda frame, tires and the proud name KIA-Honda on the seat back. Then I got a 90cc still with a Japanese Engine but all the rest was Korean made. My next 90 said KIA-Honda on the motor ITSELF. They even briefly made a copy of the famous Honda CB 350 twin in a 250cc version. This stopped in 1973 when gas got up to $8 US a gallon during the embargo. The engine was Japanese but everything else was Korean. I brought a Japanese 350 motor from a Fukuoka junk yard, brought it to Pusan on the Kampu Ferry and mounted it to a Korean KIA-Honda frame. Fit like a glove. I had the fastest bike in Kyong Ki Province! Why won't anyone admit to the very foundation of the Korean motorcycle industry? The story Mr. Ahn, my honored mechanic told me was this. About 1964 a group from Honda came to Korea with the idea to help Korea start up a motorcycle industry. President Park had just come to office and insisted that each year a higher percentage of the bikes be made in Korea. The models chosen were four. The ubiquitious "Step Through" 50, a motorcycle body 50, a 90cc bike (by far the biggest seller) and a few (heavily luxury taxed) 250cc versions of the Honda CB 350. As the years went by, I saw NOTHING but KIA-Hondas! It was the only bike made in the country. I have photos of two dozen KIA-Hondas at intersections in Seoul. I have pictures of my bike with inch-high KIA-Honda letters on the tank. What gives? I even contacted KIA and they deny this ever happened. When I sent them photos of a KIA-Honda dealership in Seoul, they never wrote back. Koreans should be proud of how they have pulled themselves from the ruin of war up into the beautiful, vibrant nation it is today. I hope they don't forget they food they ate, the products they purchased and the family's first transportation was likely a KIA-Honda. I've been searching for years for even one person to admit to this company.There is a Korean movie from some years back about the Kwangju Massacre. I think its called "5-18". (I was there. Don't ask me about it.) However, in addition to those darling Pony taxis, you can see KIA-Honda 90's and 50's puttering by. Why is so big an achievement denied?

A Look at the name: KIA [Korean Company] -- Honda [Japanese company] --- As you know the history of Korea, I assume; you also know how much Korea hates to associate itself with Japan or anything Japanese --- Korea is very very proud of it's immense growth -- Korea built itself up, entirely on their own ... even the help they did recieve from outside countries is downplayed a lot here. But admitting that a major company like KIA actually had its start with help from Japan? People want to forget this. Therefore they will not likely admit to it- and the average Korean wants it this way. **I just talked to my boyfriend, a Korean [We live in Korea] and he said that Koreans view the KIA in KIA-Honda as a entirely Japanese brand. That the KIA in Korea today makes cars, not motorcycles and the techniques are very different -- So the KIA today isn't thought of as the motorcyle company, but the car company.

- Any body now of a web site?
That you can look at to find serial numbers of honda motorcycles im looking for for the frame numbers of CR 500 s ive found a site called cycle chaos but it only posts info up untill the 98 model but they were made till 2001.

A I know of a web site where Pit Bulls ride Harleys http://www.hollithesidecardog.com