Report From Japan

REPORT FROM JAPAN

W. B. SWIM

EXPORTS OF Japanese motorcycles rocketed a huge 255 percent during fiscal 1962 (Apr. 1, 1962 to Mar. 31, 1963). Exports numbered 257,095 machines, compared to 100,854 in fiscal 1961. Production was up 4.8 per cent, from 1,650,526 in 1961 to 1,729,896 in 1962. The boom era of the 50cc motorcycle is over, however, with production dropping 24.7 percent from 196l's high of 913,183 fifties to 687,334 in 1962. That left a big gain of 49.2 percent in larger machines, up to 975,457 in 1962 from 654,006 the year before. These are fiscal year figures, but calendar year figures show just the reverse. During calendar 1962 (Jan. 1 to Dec. 31) Japan manufactured 1,674,625 motorcycles where in calendar 1961 the total had been 1,803,371. The trend away from the 50cc machines is emphasized this month by the announcement of Honda’s 90cc model and Tohatsu’s 35cc machine. They aren’t agreed on which way the market is going, but both makers are certain it is away from the 50cc class.

Honda officially announced their 90cc model on May 20. From outward appearances, it is a big brother to their popular Honda 50 Sports. The 86.7cc 4-cycle OHV engine, laid on its side and pointing forward like the Honda 50, gives out 6.5 hp @ 8,000 rpm. The four-speed rotary type transmission allows a maximum speed of 90 kph, which is a bit over 55 mph. The compression ratio is 8:1, and maximum torque is listed at 0.654 kgm @ 6,000 rpm. Bore and stroke are 49mm x 46mm. Nearly 200 miles per gallon is claimed for the 90cc motorcycle, which mounts 2.5017 tires front and rear. The machine has a kick starter and the finish is of the quality expected of Honda. Larger, brighter tail light, leading link front suspension and swinging rear arm, clutch on the right hand side of the engine, pressed steel backbone frame and other details are noteworthy.

A small but smart 36cc motorcycle has been put on the market by Tohatsu. The Tohatsu Mokick has a 2-cycle, single cylinder mounted horizontally which whips out 2.2 hp @ 6,000 rpm. A twospeed gear box gives a top speed of 25 mph, and an automatic centrifugal clutch is featured. A backbone type frame of pipe features a gas tank under the seat and extending over the rear fender, swinging arm rear suspension and unique torsion rubber suspension in the front. The maker claims the unusual front suspension contributes to quiet operation. Tires front and rear are 2.25-16 and both wheels have internal expanding brakes, right foot controlled in the rear and right hand lever controlled for the front. The bore and stroke is a square 36mm x 36mm and with a 7.5:1 compression ratio turns out a maximum torque of 0.3 kgm @ 4,000 rpm. Aside from an expected bargain purchase price, the economical 36cc machine is expected to get more than 250 miles per gallon. Exact price and mileage figures have not been announced.

Tohatsu has switched names on their new 125cc sports machine for the U.S. market. It was originally called the Tohatsu Twin Deluxe, as reported in this column in June, and is still called that in Japan. But for the U.S., the company decided to name the 15 hp 125cc LE Model the Tohatsu Sports.

Minor changes, for the better, have been incorporated into two Honda models, the 125cc and 250cc. Most important to the rider, perhaps, is the well-designed and shaped pipe handlebars, upswept in “Western style,” which replace the former pressed bars. From the safety angle, the new, much larger and brighter stop light is a definite improvement. The shape of the turn indicator lights has been changed to a near square, and they are larger too. The gas tank has been redesigned on both models, and enlarged on the Honda 250 so that it now holds 13.5 liters. The shape of the rubber knee pads has been changed, and pads have been added to the Honda 125 tank where there were none before. Size and shape of the single saddle and buddy seat for models sold in Japan has been changed as well, but export models will continue with the two-rider model as in the past.

Japan’s motorcycle sport enthusiasts and makers are quite háppy with the way the racing season got off to a start in Europe, with Japanese machines figuring well in several races before the first of the big ones, where Suzuki copped a second and fourth in the Spain Grand Prix 50cc event with Honda riders sweeping one, two, three in the 125cc and second through fifth in the 250cc race. Japan was particularly elated to see Honda rider Kunimitsu Takahashi take third in the 125cc and fourth in the 250cc and Suzuki team rider Isao Morishita place fourth in the 50cc event. Takahashi had earlier won the 125cc at the Nurburgring international race, and much is expected of this rider

who recovered from severe injuries garnered in a nasty spill in last year’s Isle of Man T.T. and is out burning up the European circuits again. Japanese enthusiasts expect to see more of Suzuki and less of Honda in the winner’s places this year, with greatest interest centered on the 125cc races. Suzuki is fielding a huge team of almost 20 men, while Honda did not send a factory team but instead lent machines to four riders to use for private entries.

Eyes are on the Isle of Man T.T., where four makes of Japanese motorcycles will compete. Suzuki has a brand new fourcylinder 250cc racer, which should make its debut in this race. Both Suzuki and Yamaha are fielding racing teams, with Yamaha expected to put Daytona G.P. winner Furnio Itoh and three other riders, including one foreigner, on the mountain course. Honda’s four “private entry” riders will be on hand, of course, and Tohatsu is reported to have two or three British riders ready to compete as private entries in the 50cc and 125cc events.

A three-rider, 6-lap team relay race drew a lot of interest at the Eighth All Japan Moto-Cross held in the foothills of Mt. Fuji at Asagiri on April 28 and 29. Kazuyuki Miyoshi, Yuto Hori and Yoshihiro Mimuro, all riding Tohatsu machines, won, followed by a Suzuki-Honda team and then a Honda-mounted squad. Tohatsu riders copped the Open and 50cc class, with Suzuki men taking home the 250cc and 125cc trophies. One Suzuki rider and two boys on Tohatsu machines had a field day for themselves. Besides being on the winning relay team, Miyoshi won the 50cc and placed third in the 125cc races on Tohatsu motorcycles. Kazuo Kubo won both the 125cc and 250cc events and placed second in the 50cc race, on Suzuki machines in all three events. Tohatsu-mounted Ichiji Arai won the Open and took seconds in both the 250cc and 125cc races. Tom Dixon, on a Honda, copped fourth in the 250cc event, to be the only foreigner to get his name in the winners’ list. Arai’s time for 10 laps of the 1.31-mile course was 33 min. 5.8 sec. The 250cc 8-lap winning time was 25m 15.1s, the 6-lap 125cc time was 18m 52.0s and the 50cc winner made four laps in 12m 45.0s. Coming across the finish line, in the Open it was Tohatsu, Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki; 250cc lined up Suzuki, Tohatsu, Yamaha, Honda, Yamaha; 125cc saw Suzuki, Tohatsu, Tohatsu, Yamaha, Suzuki; and 50cc it was Tohatsu, Suzuki and three more Tohatsus. So Japan’s big four makers pretty well split up the honors between them.

Three ex-motorcyclists were among the nine race winners in Japan’s first Grand Prix for automobiles, held May 3 and 4 at Suzuka Circuit. Osamu Mochizuki, Japan racing team manager for Suzuki, won the 400cc touring class race driving a Suzulite Fronte; Giichi Suzuki, former Honda racing team star, won the 1,000l,300cc touring car race with a Volkswagen; and Tatsu Yokoyama won the over 2,500cc sports car race driving an E-type Jaguar. Several other former motorcyclists placed well up in the various races. •