Spencer is here too! Honda Motorcycle Homecoming 2025" at Kumamoto Manufacturing

Welcome back to Honda's hometown!

On Sunday, October 5, "Honda Motorcycle Homecoming 2025" was held at Honda's Kumamoto Plant, the only motorcycle factory in Japan. This is an owner's event organized by Honda for Honda users, and as the name suggests, it has been held since 2018 with the idea of "Welcome back to the hometown of Honda motorcycles.Although the event was cancelled due to the Corona disaster (2020-2021) and bad weather (2024), it will be held for the fifth time this year in 2025 (including an online event for Honda GO members only). For users, it is a chance to enter the Honda factory, and for Honda employees at the Kumamoto Plant, who organize the event, it is a valuable opportunity to make contact with users of their own products. This year's event was a great success, attracting a record number of 4779 visitors (including 2,299 motorcycles).

The legendary champion descended on Kumamoto!

This year's Homecoming had two main points. First, the main venue is now the "Honda Kumamoto Welcome Park. This was opened by Honda in March this year next to the main gate of its Kumamoto Plant, and is a free drop-in facility open to anyone. In addition to Honda motorcycles, power products such as cultivators and outboard motors are displayed in the building, making it a new spot that is attracting attention as a destination for Kumamoto touring.Another highlight of this year's event was the visit of legendary racer Freddie Spencer. The event celebrated the 40th anniversary of Mr. Spencer's 500cc/250cc World GP double title, and also served as a promotion for the CB1000F, a reissued version of the CB750F that is closely associated with Mr. Spencer. The day before the event, Mr. Spencer test rode the CB1000F and gave his impressions (see this article for details).The CB750F he won in the 1982 Daytona 100-mile race in the U.S. was brought in from a collection hall in Tochigi, Japan, and the engine was fired up for the event. The CB750F had been owned by Mr. Spencer for some time, and it was impressive to see his deeply moved expression as he raced the engine.In addition, the actual CB1000F was on display, and the developers gave a talk show, and the car's designer and clay modeler demonstrated sketching and clay work. The timing of the event was just before the official announcement (October 10), and naturally, the event seemed to have an "F" oriented atmosphere.Other events included a display of past Gold Wing models, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of its birth, as well as the 500 million units produced in May of this year. The tour of the factory, which is a staple of Homecoming, included a hands-on bolt-tightening experience and an explanation of the engine parts of the CBR1000RR-R. Below are some photos to give you a more detailed picture of the event.

Mr. Spencer in action!

The biggest topic of the event was Freddie Spencer's visit to Japan. The selfish character of yesteryear? He was on stage for most of the event, providing a great deal of service to the fans.

On the day of the event, the CB750F Kai that won the 1982 Daytona 100-mile race was brought in and the engine was fired up. Mr. Spencer looks on with deep emotion as he watches.

'This bike is like a part of me! YEAH~!

Spencer test rode the CB1000F the day before, and on the day of the event, he talked about his impressions with Takayuki Haramoto, head of development (far right), Junichi Sakamoto, Honda's FUN model supervisor (to his left), and journalist Hiroshi Maruyama, a CB ambassador (to Spencer's right). The engineers did a great job!"

This year, 2025, marks exactly 40 years since Spencer won the WGP 250/500 double title. The champion machines, NSR500 (left) and RS250RW, were also brought in for a talk with journalist Hikaru Miyagi.

Many fans came to the venue to meet Mr. Spencer at first sight...

This is what he looked like after the talk show. Mr. Spencer continues to politely sign autographs.

The venue is a new facility that has just been completed.

The main venue was the new facility, Honda Kumamoto Welcome Park. Admission is free and anyone can visit. Inside the building, Honda products will be on display, including the RC213V-S, the V3 electric turbo that was displayed at last year's Milano show, and historical vehicles. There is also a full-banked RR-R that can be photographed.

CB1000F thrust just before its official appearance (at the event)!

The CB1000F is on display outside the welcome park. Everyone was very interested!

The CB1000F designers and clay modelers demonstrated the design process. Here is a demonstration of the design sketch.

A real clay model of the CB1000F was brought in to demonstrate clay model work.

The aforementioned CB1000F talk show with the development team & Mr. Spencer & ambassadors was of course also held.

Excitement is inevitable! Adult Social Studies Tour

The biggest fun event of Homecoming is a tour of the Kumamoto Works production line. Curious!

A hands-on corner to see how many seconds it takes to tighten 20 screws with an electric screwdriver. The fastest line worker could tighten them in about 30 seconds...it took me almost a minute.

The experience of inserting a piston into a cylinder using a special tool.

A cutaway model of the engine was also on display. It is a shame that the time to listen to the talk was so short!

The company cafeteria's special "Katsu Curry Udon" was also offered!

The "Katsu Curry Udon" served on Fridays in the company cafeteria at Kumamoto Works was also specially served to the participants.

Families sipping udon together.

Special exhibit symbolizing Honda in 2025.

Gold Wing, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025, will have a special exhibit of its past cars, starting with the first GL1000.

There is also a commemorative display of the "500 million cumulative global production" achieved in May of this year.

Also on display are the "Shigeru Matsuzaki-colored" Dax125 unveiled in September and the "tank side panel" for the Kuromi-chan-spec Monkey 125, which will be available for order starting October 31.

Various Honda vehicles in the parking lot, ranging from old to the latest models.

Oh my gosh, even a Cub F model from 1952!!!

The Mayor of Otsu-cho, where the Kumamoto Works is located, Mr. Kaneda (in yellow happi coat) and Mr. Masaki Shimazoe, Director of the Kumamoto Works (to the Mayor's left) also addressed the opening.

Welcome back!" Riders visiting Homecoming are greeted by Honda employees.

See you next year in Kumamoto!

Spencer is here too! Honda Motorcycle Homecoming 2025" at Kumamoto Manufacturing

2025.10.30

Welcome back to Honda's hometown!On Sunday, October 5, "Honda Motorcycle Homecoming 2025" was held at Honda's Kumamoto Plant, the only motorcycle fact...