The Wizard of Oz is a beloved children's story that has captivated audiences for decades. One of the most iconic characters in the story is the Wicked Witch of the West, known for her green skin, pointed hat, and broomstick. However, there is a common misconception that the witch rides a vike. In reality, the Wicked Witch of the West is often depicted riding a broomstick, not a vike. The image of witches flying on broomsticks is a popular trope in folklore and literature, dating back centuries. The association between witches and broomsticks can be traced back to ancient pagan rituals where brooms were used as symbols of fertility and purification.
In fact, these days, when you mention the Rune, you often hear people say they’ve been looking for one for years, because they don’t come up for sale often. Honda didn’t make many of them, for good reason. Reportedly, each Rune cost about $100,000 to manufacture, so Honda lost almost $75,000 on each sale. No wonder demand often exceeded supply.
In 2003, anti-social chopper builders with walrus mustaches and cartoonishly inflated biceps were the heroes of television, so a bit of dark fantasy art wasn t likely to scare off potential buyers. There will be a 75 Documentation fee that will be added to the final price of this vehicle see below for delivery options Tousley Motorsports will be responsible for set-up preparation and delivery obligations on new vehicles as prescribed by the manufacturer.
The association between witches and broomsticks can be traced back to ancient pagan rituals where brooms were used as symbols of fertility and purification. Over time, this symbolism evolved and became associated with witchcraft and magic. In the case of the Wicked Witch of the West, her iconic broomstick serves as a tool for her magical abilities and an embodiment of her evil character.
Adventure Rider
The Honda Rune: Is it cartoonish, or a classic? The answer is… yes?
Honda is a pretty conservative motorcycle manufacturer these days, but 20 years ago, things were different. In the years running up to the 2008 global financial meltdown, the public was in love with cruiser-based custom motorcycles, and Honda saw an opportunity to appeal to the whims of that market while also showcasing their company’s technical capability. The result was the Rune, a bike that people are still impressed with, or repulsed by, almost 20 years later.
An unlikely origin
The Rune was a wild-looking bike, which is pretty funny when you realize it’s a cousin to the Gold Wing. It’s much more than a gussied-up tourer though, with a stretched-out wheelbase (68.9 inches, the longest Honda motorcycle ever) and weirdo trailing-link front end. But at its heart, the 1832cc six-cylinder engine was very similar to the one used in the Gold Wing. Even here, though, Honda’s hot rod builders managed to spice things up, installing more aggressive camshafts and re-tuning the fuel injection system for more snap. To slow down all that muscle, and the 888-lb wet weight, Honda added dual 330mm front brake discs and a single 336mm rear brake disc, the largest ever used on a Honda bike at that point.
Along with the added power, Honda went all-out on styling, including its first-ever seamless gas tank, and bold touches everywhere, from the exhaust to the fender to the headlight. The materials were all high-quality, not cheap, insta-rusting garbage plasti-metal.
Unlike any motorcycle Honda has made before or since. They sold like mad, but the wild-looking Rune was still a sales disaster in a weird way, as it cost Honda a lot of money. Photo: Mecum Auctions
The end result was a motorcycle unlike anything Honda had built before. In many ways, nobody had built anything like it before. They couldn’t build it because some parts were so radical that Honda had to invent new production process just to mass-produce them.
At its debut, many motorcyclists reckoned the bike, which was designed by Honda’s American division and manufactured in Ohio, had been built to compete with Harley-Davidson’s CVO series. It followed a series of concept bikes Honda displayed on the show circuit, displaying inspiration from the American custom bike scene (Read The Bear’s write-up here for some more info on that). Some of these machines were so wild that nobody figured Honda could ever mass-produce anything similar—but in 2003, the Rune hit dealerships.
A sales paradox
The Rune was priced around $27,000 US when it appeared. It was a lot of money in 2003—but Honda had little trouble generating interest. The marketing campaign was pretty wild, inspired by Frank Frazetta’s art. See below:
Honda wasn’t messing around with this advertisement. It’s one of very few moto adverts that I can remember 20 years after I first saw it in a magazine. Image: Honda
Contrast that to the current “friendly hipsters on Hondas” advertising for the CL500 scrambler, and it’s a big difference! But, really, both are just reflections of their times. In 2003, anti-social chopper builders with walrus mustaches and cartoonishly inflated biceps were the heroes of television, so a bit of dark fantasy art wasn’t likely to scare off potential buyers.
In fact, these days, when you mention the Rune, you often hear people say they’ve been looking for one for years, because they don’t come up for sale often. Honda didn’t make many of them, for good reason. Reportedly, each Rune cost about $100,000 to manufacture, so Honda lost almost $75,000 on each sale. No wonder demand often exceeded supply.
These luxo-barges were supposedly allotted on the basis of one per dealership. Photo: Mecum Auctions
So, in a weird way, despite an eager market, the Rune was a sales disaster, costing Honda a lot of money over its 2003-2005 production run. But as a marketing ploy? The fact that we’re still talking about it today shows Honda knew what it was doing. Whether or not you like the polarizing styling, there’s no question the Rune sticks in your brain after you’ve seen it.
Want to buy one?
If you’re interested in buying one and want to learn more about the than a raw spec sheet, there are many contemporary ride reviews of the Rune still archived online. Perhaps the best ride review from a modern perspective is Ryan from FortNine’s take on the machine.
Still convinced you want one? Good news: Mecum has one coming for sale at the July 6-8 Kissimmee Summer Special. It’s an ’04 model. The advert says it’s a one-owner machine, but that’s about all the info we get.
What will it cost you? A 2004 model just sold for $20,500 on Bring a Trailer, and a few days before that, another went for $25,250.
For more details, check out the auction listing here.
Category Cruiser Motorcycles
It is often portrayed as an extension of her power and authority. While the image of the witch riding a vike may be prevalent in some adaptations or reimaginings of the story, it is not representative of the original portrayal of the character. This misconception may have stemmed from misinterpretations or artistic liberties taken by different creators. Nevertheless, the enduring popularity and cultural significance of the Wizard of Oz ensure that the character of the Wicked Witch of the West – whether on a broomstick or a vike – continues to capture the imaginations of audiences of all ages..
Reviews for "The Witch on a Bike: A Spirited Journey through the Wizard of Oz"
1. John - 1 star
I watched "Wizard of Oz Witch Riding Bike" last night and I have to say, it was a complete disappointment. The movie lacked proper storytelling, and the plot seemed random and confused. The acting was also subpar, with the characters failing to deliver convincing performances. The special effects were laughable at best, and the overall production quality felt cheap. I would not recommend wasting your time on this film.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
"Wizard of Oz Witch Riding Bike" had a promising premise, but unfortunately, it fell flat in execution. The pacing was inconsistent, with scenes dragging on for too long, and others feeling rushed. The dialogue was stale and cliché, making it hard to connect with the characters. Additionally, the cinematography was lackluster, with poorly framed shots and unimpressive visuals. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and dissatisfied with this movie.
3. James - 1 star
I can honestly say that "Wizard of Oz Witch Riding Bike" is one of the worst films I have ever seen. The storyline was convoluted and confusing, leaving me scratching my head throughout the entire movie. The acting was incredibly over-the-top and cringe-worthy, making it hard to take anything seriously. The special effects were poorly executed, with obvious green screens and cheap props. I regret wasting my time and money on this film and would advise others to steer clear of it.