Honda Parts Heat Up

HONDA PARTS HEAT UP

THE MOTORCYCLE-PARTS business is booming in a big way, thanks in part to renewed interest in vintage Hondas, according to American Honda’s parts division. The division expected to see its best sales month ever in April-fairly amazing, considering that Honda has been doing business in the U.S. since 1959.

An especially healthy seg-

ment of Honda’s parts business relates to bikes built between ’59 and ’75, a period in which Honda sold 4.7 million units.

“It’s mostly the more classic Hondas,” says Chuck Nix of American Honda’s parts division, “early CB750 Fours, the 305 Twins, that type of thing.” As you might expect, the most sought-after items are cosmetic parts: seats, tanks, fenders, sidepanels, instruments. “Good restorers can recreate chrome parts and other metal parts,”

Nix says, “plastic parts and instruments are tough to recreate.” Honda’s not sure whether this recent upsurge in parts demand is nearing its peak or simply the tip of the iceberg. But with millions of aging Hondas out there increasing in value, it’s a good bet that parts demand for old models will remain strong. -Mitch Boehm