Back in October 1946, Soichiro Honda established the Honda Technical Research Institute in Hamamatsu, Japan. It was there he developed and manufactured small 2-cycle bike engines. It was only two years later that Honda Motor Company was born. And in 1959, Honda opened its first dealership in Los Angeles with only six employees and its Super Cub motorbike that debuted earlier in 1958. It was also in 1959 that Honda earned a notable sixth place in the 125cc class at the Isle of Man TT and opened the doors to American Honda Motor Company. Then in 1960, Honda begins manufacturing motorcycles in Suzuka, Japan and follows up in 1981 with its 500cc World Motocross Championship for its third-consecutive year. Also in 1981, Honda introduces the ATC250R, the first true high-performance ATC (all-terrain cycle), taking wins as it had at such places as the legendary Baja 1000. Take for example its 1984 SCORE Baja 1000 effort, where it outran every buggy and truck in the event, and all but three motorcycles (Chuck Miller and Randy Morales were the overall winners that year on their XR500R). As the three wheelers came under pressure for increased scrutiny over safety concerns, in 1986 Honda launched the Honda FourTrax 250R ATV. Utilizing the same basic engine as the race-proven ATC250R-a liquid-cooled 246cc two-stroke with reed valve induction, a six-speed transmission and a vibration-canceling counter-balancer-the FourTrax 250R also featured a unique box-section frame. Honda engineers designed an automotive-type front end around the two front wheels utilizing independent suspension and long double-wishbone architecture to minimize bump steer. The rear end was familiar terrain, with a chain-driven solid axle and sophisticated Pro-Link single-shock suspension system. Since then, an array of industry hallmarks line the halls of Honda history, which is why it remains amid the top of the powersports world.