Tokyo
TOKYO
SHOW TIME
Highlights of the Tokyo, London, Paris and Frankfurt shows,
FUMITO SAKAI
PRESIDENT TOKYO MOTOR SHOW
IN THE CATEGORY of motorcycles and scooters, 14 exhibitors showed their wares, and 16 exhibitors represented the Japanese automotive industry. Each exhibitor was endeavoring to display his wares in a more conspicuous manner than in last year's Tokyo Motor Show. Needless to say, the crowds attending the two divisions were as unalike as night and day; families and family people in the automotive, young and more spirited in the cycle section.
In the two-wheeled category the tendency towards even more diminutive machines, first noticeable in 1960, made even greater strides this year. Another point worthy of mention was the display of ambitious production racing machines as a result of the opening of the new Suzuka circuit and the forthcoming production races regularly scheduled.
Exhibited models can be classified into the following categories and numbers; one 30cc, twenty-six 50cc, twelve 55cc, ten 60 to 90cc, twenty-one 125cc, five 150 to 210cc, eighteen 250cc and two over 350cc. A movement now in progress is towards the revision of existing traffic regulations, aimed at exemption of the 30cc class from the obligation of the regular motorcycle operator's license. This would be similar to current European practices and would create a group of machines to be called Mokicks that would far exceed production quantities now devoted to 50cc machines.
The 55cc class is a hybrid born of the 50cc class by enlarging the bores, thereby taking advantage of a loophole in Japanese traffic laws in respect to the distinction between the 50cc and larger capacity bikes. For instance, maximum speed allowed for 50cc bikes is 30 kilometers per hour (18.5 mph), whereas for 51cc and up the speed limit is 40 kmph (24.8 mph), thus leading to an overpopularity in the class.
The 60 to 90cc bracket is quite small, due mainly to the lower prices corresponding to a special advantage in taxation given this class by exempting them from a commodity tax. All of the 150 to 210cc models shown this year were scooters; Japanese scooters have continued to remain in this capacity for the year.
In the 350cc and up group, only a limited quantity is being made to order by Honda, Yamaha and Meguro because of lack of popularity due to the discrimination in traffic regulations against machines between 251cc and 350cc. Maximum allowed speed for this class is only 60 kmph (37.2 mph). Monthly production figures for Japanese motorcycles and scooters are as follows, for the month of August 1962; 50cc class, 69,769; 125cc motorcycles, 78,935; 125cc scooters, 4,515; 250cc motorcycles, 9,316, 250cc scooters, 1,508; 251cc up, motorcycles, 1,732; total units, 165,775.
Now, let me pick the most interesting models from among the entire group of exhibits, at the show, with the understanding that most enthusiasts in the United States are interested in the Sports types.
50cc CLASS
The Suzuki racing machines have manifested an earnest endeavor on the part of the Japanese industry to work out experimental models in this class. Tohatsu has been experimenting on the Suzuka circuit with a two-cylinder, horizontal, 50cc twostroke, called a Speed Racer Runpet Sports, and though not competitive with the Suzuki factory racer it was nonetheless impressive. Another new Tohatsu was a 60cc machine using a 4.1 hp @ 5,500 rpm and a torque converter giving 37 mph. Also seen around the circuit was Honda with their two-cylinder, 4-cycle production racer.
Suzuki showed two new 80cc machines and a sport model 50cc bike. The "Selpet" 80 Sport is said to have 7.2 hp and do 60 mph with a 4-speed gear box. A trail version with a 6.5 hp is in development. The Suzuki Selpet 50 Sport is an export model, it is rated at 5 hp and claims a speed of 56 mph, it has a 4-speed gear box also.
125cc CLASS
No exhibitors showed a new 125cc model, strictly speaking, but Tohatsu and Shin-Meiwa's Pointer showed new versions of existing models as did Suzuki and Yamaha with their interesting rotary valve 125cc.
250cc CLASS
In the last All-Japan Clubman's Race Yamaha entered their production moçlel racing machine, the TD-1, and succeeded in beating their old enemy Honda in the 250cc race. As a result, Honda started immediately to work on an experimental sample unit of a production model 250cc racing machine, resulting in the announcement of two new models; the 250cc CR-72, and the 305cc CR-77.
A very hot contest is anticipated between Yamaha and Honda next season in this class, with an indication that Yamaha looks very good in the win potential department.
Yamaha also displayed a new YD-T, a 250cc touring model with electric starter mounted in the YDS-2 racing model frame. This is a 17 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 4speed model. Yamaha also showed a 125cc bike based on the YA-5, 12 hp @ 7,000 rpm, 4-speed gearbox. The TD-1 Sport machine, though exported to the U.S. since early 1962, was shown for the first time in Japan. •
