Report From Japan
REPORT FROM JAPAN
W. B. SWIM
JAPANESE MAKERS are putting out a new class of motorcycles about half-way between the present 50cc and 125cc. Honda is developing a 90cc machine, which will be put on sale this spring; Yamaha has announced a 75cc motorcycle, which may be made into an 80cc when exports begin to the states, probably in March; Suzuki already has 80cc models on the market, including a new sports model aimed at the Stateside market this spring, and Pointer has had a 90cc model for years. Tohatsu used to put out a 100cc machine, but dropped it. They still have a 90cc, however, and are working on a new version of it to bring it up to date.
The reason for the new class is that the 50cc market is saturated in Japan and makers fear it will become harder and harder tv sell SOs abroad before too long. Tooled up for large production, they have to find new models which will sell. To hatsu is working on a smaller machine, 30cc or 3 5cc. But the other makers are creating a new class ranging from 75cc to 90cc, because they think the present 50cc riders will step up to this size machine rather than take the expensive jump to a 125cc or larger. If the makers bet right and large sales of the new size result, it may not be long before competition events around the world will have to in clude a new class between Sqcc and 125cc.
A 40-minute color movie showing stepby-step how motorcycles are manufactured copped first prize for Honda in a film contest. "This Is Honda" was awarded the transportation category prize in the First Japan Industrial Movie Contest in Febru ary. Thirty copies of the film, dubbed in English, are being sent to the U.S.
Manufacturers hope to turn out 11 per cent more motorcycles this year than last in Japan. The Japan Small Car Industry Association set a target of 1,930,000 motorcycles for fiscal 1963, which begins April 1. This is 11.2 percent more than the 1962 goal. The Association also set an export goal 38 percent higher than 1962, hoping that 308,100 motorcycles will be sold abroad, primarily in the United States, this year.
Suzuki and Yamaha have announced two new models each. Suzuki's new ma chines are both sports models, a 50cc and a 80cc, aimed at the American rider. Ya maha has their new 7Scc and a touring version of the popular 250cc.
The Suzuki Sports M12 50cc emphasizes speed and economy. It is priced at 60,000 yen ($165) in Japan. The singlecylinder forward-inclined two-cycle engine produces 5 hp @ 8,000 rpm. Four gears give a top speed of 85 kph (53 mph). Springing is telescopic fork and swinging arm. With a bore and stroke of 41 mm x 38 mm and a compression ratio of 6.7, the 50cc engine has a torque of 0.45 kgm @ 7,000 rpm. Suzuki's Sports Kll 80cc, selling for 77,000 yen ($220) in Japan, was made for the American market, but so much local demand built up when it was displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show the company had to put it on sale here too. Exports to the U.S. began in late February. The 4-speed 80cc has a top speed of 95 kph (60 mph) and 7.3 hp @ 7,000 rpm. The single-cylinder two-stroke engine with a compression ratio of 6.7 has a torque of 0.75 kgm @ 6,000 rpm. Springing is telescopic fork and swinging arm. The bore and stroke is 45 mm x 50 mm. Both new Suzuki models are kick started.
Yamaha's 75cc, dubbed the YG1 Yamaha Junior, is a forward inclined singlecylinder two-cycle developing 6.5 hp @ 7,000 rpm. Four gears give a speed of 85 kph (53 mph). The short-stroke engine has a bore x stroke of 47 mm x 42 mm, a 6.8 compression ratio and develops a torque of 0.7 kgm @ 5,000 rpm. Oil damped coil springs control the action of the telescopic forks and swinging arm rear end. The twin-cylinder YDT-1 250cc Yamaha Touring model has a top speed of 130 kph (81 mph) and 18 hp @ 6,500 rpm. The makers claim a quarter mile from standing start in 17 seconds. The 54 mm x 54 mm square bore and stroke and 7.0 compression ratio turn out a torque of 2.4 kgm @ 4,500 rpm. It has four speeds, and is mounted in the popular YDS-2 racing model frame, with telescopic fork and swinging arm. Chrome fenders and tank make the electric starter model pretty flashy.
Negotiations are quietly going on for a new road racing track near Mt. Fuji. The projected circuit would be about 10 miles long and have a short track and two golf courses inside it. One drawback to the 6 kilometer (3 3/4 mile) Suzuka Circuit, opened last fall, is that it's a long way from Tokyo or other major cities and hotel rooms in the vicinity are very few. If the Mt. Fuji track deal comes through, it will be close enough to Tokyo and other centers with plenty of hotels to eliminate these disadvantages of the $4,000,000 Suzuka track. •
