“Honda Honda Honda Honda”
November 7, 2022 2:03 PM Subscribe
Japan: the early 1980s. You have a small, urban, low fuel car containing a foldable motocycle which you are trying to market to younger demographics. Who do you hire to promote the car but ... a ska band from England called Madness, famous for their 'nutty train'. And thus a series of adverts for the Honda City came to be, and the tune became the song “In The City”. Though never released as a UK single, the track became the b-side to Cardiac Arrest and has since been performed live; the song Driving In My Car also appeared in the ads. The fuller and stranger story of the Honda City car from Honda's own website, Marco On The Bass and Autoweek. Bonus: Madness allegedly derived their 'nutty train' from this Dave Allen sketch.
I want a Honda Motocampo so, so badly. I also want the City, of course, but I have no real place to put it. I guess if I had the City I could put the Motocampo in the trunk, therefore solving 1/4 of the problem I just created for myself.
posted by 1adam12 at 2:24 PM on November 7, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by 1adam12 at 2:24 PM on November 7, 2022 [4 favorites]
The Motocampo looks fun but have you seen their new electric step-through moped?
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:48 PM on November 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:48 PM on November 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
I've mentioned this here before, but one of my favorite things about living in Japan is just how much ska is used as background or interstitial music in variety shows. Do you have a short little video that will play as Japanese celebrities react to it? Have some ska! Need some faint background music playing as the show comes back from commercial, while the hosts are doing that friendly little chatting thing? Sounds like a time for ska!
The best part of this little best part for me is that so much of it is incredibly deep cuts from 3rd wave ska. Sure, I've had my interested piqued by faint tones of Fishbone, Less than Jake, Mustard Plug, Skankin Pickle and Save Ferris, but wait, what? Was that really Minneapolis' own Animal Chin? How did Johhny Socko end up as background music on Japanese TV? And the Pinstripes?
It brings me inordinate joy, each and every time it happens.
posted by Ghidorah at 2:54 PM on November 7, 2022 [29 favorites]
The best part of this little best part for me is that so much of it is incredibly deep cuts from 3rd wave ska. Sure, I've had my interested piqued by faint tones of Fishbone, Less than Jake, Mustard Plug, Skankin Pickle and Save Ferris, but wait, what? Was that really Minneapolis' own Animal Chin? How did Johhny Socko end up as background music on Japanese TV? And the Pinstripes?
It brings me inordinate joy, each and every time it happens.
posted by Ghidorah at 2:54 PM on November 7, 2022 [29 favorites]
ONE SCHLEP BEYOND
posted by phooky at 3:07 PM on November 7, 2022 [7 favorites]
posted by phooky at 3:07 PM on November 7, 2022 [7 favorites]
ONE SCHLEP BEYOND
One Step Beyond by Madness, and a gleefully live cover by the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra.
posted by Wordshore at 3:22 PM on November 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
One Step Beyond by Madness, and a gleefully live cover by the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra.
posted by Wordshore at 3:22 PM on November 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
Wait wait wait wait my brain is melting down.
Genki Sudo is a Japanese retired MMA fighter, born in 1978, who went on to a second career fronting a techno band called World Order who according to Wikipedia are "best known for their tightly choreographed robotic dance performances in public places." When I first saw one of their videos featuring the band walking in a tightly-packed line I found it kind of familiar but couldn't figure out why. Now I realize that it is a lot like the Madness Nutty Train (which BTW I never knew had a name). It would be just too too perfect if the origins of the World Order dances are dimly-remembered Honda commercials from Sudo's childhood.
posted by googly at 3:26 PM on November 7, 2022 [9 favorites]
Genki Sudo is a Japanese retired MMA fighter, born in 1978, who went on to a second career fronting a techno band called World Order who according to Wikipedia are "best known for their tightly choreographed robotic dance performances in public places." When I first saw one of their videos featuring the band walking in a tightly-packed line I found it kind of familiar but couldn't figure out why. Now I realize that it is a lot like the Madness Nutty Train (which BTW I never knew had a name). It would be just too too perfect if the origins of the World Order dances are dimly-remembered Honda commercials from Sudo's childhood.
posted by googly at 3:26 PM on November 7, 2022 [9 favorites]
have you seen their new electric step-through moped?
I love that they’re bringing the Supercub look into their electric lineup! I’ve been pining for a Trail Cub 125 for two years and there is no finding one in Oregon. I finally broke down and got a TW200 to scratch the “exotic dual sport from another era” itch.
posted by mph at 3:31 PM on November 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
I love that they’re bringing the Supercub look into their electric lineup! I’ve been pining for a Trail Cub 125 for two years and there is no finding one in Oregon. I finally broke down and got a TW200 to scratch the “exotic dual sport from another era” itch.
posted by mph at 3:31 PM on November 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
I owned the US version of the SuperCub when I was in college and I'd kill to have it again. But the sticker price on the new one....yikes.
and why only one seat?
posted by JoeZydeco at 4:03 PM on November 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
and why only one seat?
posted by JoeZydeco at 4:03 PM on November 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
They are pretty current bikes, feature-wise: LED lights, a few nice electronic affordances (electric seat, fob ignition, digital dash), fuel injection, lots of pretty plastic. My 2018 Grom is a comparative parts bin bike, and compared to my t-dub, the SuperCubs might as well be from Star Trek times. Still high, given a Rebel 300 is a reasonable exit-to-exit bike and only costs $700 more.
re: passenger seats: They're available in Europe and Asia as an optional feature, but not North America. I see teenagers here in Portland going two-up on Groms and it is a little nerve-racking. I spotted some kids doubled up on my commute down an urban parkway with a speed limit of 50. I can get my Grom to sort of screech at me for getting it to 57 in a tuck going downhill. Seeing a little two-up 125 in a sea of SUVs and freight trucks ... yikes.
posted by mph at 4:45 PM on November 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
re: passenger seats: They're available in Europe and Asia as an optional feature, but not North America. I see teenagers here in Portland going two-up on Groms and it is a little nerve-racking. I spotted some kids doubled up on my commute down an urban parkway with a speed limit of 50. I can get my Grom to sort of screech at me for getting it to 57 in a tuck going downhill. Seeing a little two-up 125 in a sea of SUVs and freight trucks ... yikes.
posted by mph at 4:45 PM on November 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
Nah, my North American C70 had a passenger seat and footpegs. The campus cops knew I had a legal two-seater so they left me alone while busting everyone else trying to fit their friends on their Sprees.
Granted, that 72cc engine had to struggle sometimes with two people on it but you could make it work.
posted by JoeZydeco at 5:04 PM on November 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
Granted, that 72cc engine had to struggle sometimes with two people on it but you could make it work.
posted by JoeZydeco at 5:04 PM on November 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
I wonder if, through these Japanese ads, you can a line from the nutty walk to Genki Sudo's World Order and their distinct dance style
posted by thecjm at 5:15 PM on November 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by thecjm at 5:15 PM on November 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
Is this related to the Colgate Pump? Forget Mad Men, more like Madness men, amirite...
posted by credulous at 6:42 PM on November 7, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by credulous at 6:42 PM on November 7, 2022 [3 favorites]
Motocampo
I've been aware of this bike for a while but until now I didn't realize it had a 99 pound curb weight, wet. Holy crap! That's a lot of weight to pick up and place or remove from a trunk, and it's also a pretty significant amount of weight for the Honda City to be hauling around in addition to passengers and cargo.
The Motocampo looks fun but have you seen their new electric step-through moped?
I'm curious about the price, weight and range on this one, too. Those belt drive pedals are going to be horrible to pedal on.
I have a little beat up 750 watt e-moped that someone left to me when they moved and one of the huge problems with e-mopeds is the Q-factor (pedal stance width) and short crank arm length with no gears means that pedaling... doesn't really work.
I mean you either have to be going up a hill and bogging down the motor so bad that you're going like 5-10 MPH to keep the pedal cadence below about 100-120, and even then you get to spin like crazy. Anything faster than 5-10 mph and you'll wish you had a egg beaters for legs because you're going to need to be able to sustain a cadence of like 200+
It does chooch along pretty good on a mostly worn out battery and will eventually hit 30ish on a flat road and is fun and comfy but, man is it heavy compared to an e-bicycle.
And the linked Honda e-scooter is claiming 4000 watts of drive power, which isn't small, but it's definitely carrying around a lot of cosmetic plastic and extra steel to fortify a stepthrough frame, not to mention the weight of drum brakes.
28 mph is pretty anemic as far as ebikes are concerned, especially for something that has to ride in city traffic that's technically not allowed in bike lanes and trails. 28 MPH is technically a class 3 ebike if you ignore the 4000 watt motor claims, which I'm guessing isn't nominal power but peak power. 4000 watts of nominal is Sur Ron territory and should normally be able to do 50+. On dirt, no less.
For some comparison, my DIY mid drive conversion is 1200 watts nominal with 2200-ish peak output, and since it's a real bicycle first it means the pedals and drive train can actually do something and significantly extend the range, and it's not impossible to ride even with a totally flat battery, and it can easily hit 35, and I've had it up to 45+ on a long straight flat. (Technically I'm not supposed to be on bike trails, either. I think. But I have a speed and power limiter and I ride at normal biking speeds anyway.)
It also probably carries more cargo by weight or volume thanks to plenty of cargo racks and room for large pannier bags. Sure, it's not going to zip up any major hills but it's also like half the weight and maybe a quarter of the price of an e-scooter or moped and I can use it on bike trails to avoid riding in car traffic.
posted by loquacious at 10:04 PM on November 7, 2022 [3 favorites]
I've been aware of this bike for a while but until now I didn't realize it had a 99 pound curb weight, wet. Holy crap! That's a lot of weight to pick up and place or remove from a trunk, and it's also a pretty significant amount of weight for the Honda City to be hauling around in addition to passengers and cargo.
The Motocampo looks fun but have you seen their new electric step-through moped?
I'm curious about the price, weight and range on this one, too. Those belt drive pedals are going to be horrible to pedal on.
I have a little beat up 750 watt e-moped that someone left to me when they moved and one of the huge problems with e-mopeds is the Q-factor (pedal stance width) and short crank arm length with no gears means that pedaling... doesn't really work.
I mean you either have to be going up a hill and bogging down the motor so bad that you're going like 5-10 MPH to keep the pedal cadence below about 100-120, and even then you get to spin like crazy. Anything faster than 5-10 mph and you'll wish you had a egg beaters for legs because you're going to need to be able to sustain a cadence of like 200+
It does chooch along pretty good on a mostly worn out battery and will eventually hit 30ish on a flat road and is fun and comfy but, man is it heavy compared to an e-bicycle.
And the linked Honda e-scooter is claiming 4000 watts of drive power, which isn't small, but it's definitely carrying around a lot of cosmetic plastic and extra steel to fortify a stepthrough frame, not to mention the weight of drum brakes.
28 mph is pretty anemic as far as ebikes are concerned, especially for something that has to ride in city traffic that's technically not allowed in bike lanes and trails. 28 MPH is technically a class 3 ebike if you ignore the 4000 watt motor claims, which I'm guessing isn't nominal power but peak power. 4000 watts of nominal is Sur Ron territory and should normally be able to do 50+. On dirt, no less.
For some comparison, my DIY mid drive conversion is 1200 watts nominal with 2200-ish peak output, and since it's a real bicycle first it means the pedals and drive train can actually do something and significantly extend the range, and it's not impossible to ride even with a totally flat battery, and it can easily hit 35, and I've had it up to 45+ on a long straight flat. (Technically I'm not supposed to be on bike trails, either. I think. But I have a speed and power limiter and I ride at normal biking speeds anyway.)
It also probably carries more cargo by weight or volume thanks to plenty of cargo racks and room for large pannier bags. Sure, it's not going to zip up any major hills but it's also like half the weight and maybe a quarter of the price of an e-scooter or moped and I can use it on bike trails to avoid riding in car traffic.
posted by loquacious at 10:04 PM on November 7, 2022 [3 favorites]
I wonder if, through these Japanese ads, you can a line from the nutty walk to Genki Sudo's World Order and their distinct dance style
I always thought the Nutty Walk was a rip off of the I Can't Dance, dance from that Genesis music video, but I've totally got my timeline wrong and their version is obviously a weak impersonation.
But my cursory research on Genki Sudo reveals how much of a performance artist he seemed to be first, and then: yeah, he fought (I guess?). You can totally catch him doing the robot in one of his call ups.
Anyways always a good day to revisit World Order.
posted by alex_skazat at 11:53 PM on November 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
I always thought the Nutty Walk was a rip off of the I Can't Dance, dance from that Genesis music video, but I've totally got my timeline wrong and their version is obviously a weak impersonation.
But my cursory research on Genki Sudo reveals how much of a performance artist he seemed to be first, and then: yeah, he fought (I guess?). You can totally catch him doing the robot in one of his call ups.
Anyways always a good day to revisit World Order.
posted by alex_skazat at 11:53 PM on November 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
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Here's a City Turbo 2 on Bring a Trailer.
posted by box at 2:11 PM on November 7, 2022 [3 favorites]