Report From Japan
REPORT FROM JAPAN
W. B. SWIM
JAPAN’S MOTORCYCLING ENTHUSIASTS were well pleased with the results of this year’s most famous road racing event, the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy races in Britain. Again Japanese factory teams dominated the week-long contests (reported elsewhere), but Suzuki fans were disappointed that that firm didn’t manage a winner this year, as has been the custom in recent years.
Following shortly on the heels. of Yamaha’s smashing success with its Autolube oil injection system, the other Japanese two-stroke makers are coming out one after the other with automatic systems which do away with the messy necessity of making a mixture of oil and gas for the two-strokes. Suzuki may get theirs back from Yamaha with a forced lubrication system straight off their Grand Prix racer bikes, as it seems to offer some advantages over Yamaha’s system of injecting oil into the carburetor venturi. Suzuki mounts an oil pump which force-lubricates the crankshaft bearings and then oil mists the cylinder walls and pistons.
First model with this positive lubrication is already on sale in Japan, a 6-speed 250cc twin designated as model T-20. Bridgestone was not far behind with their own oil injection system, the first model being their new 175cc twin, model TA-1. Kawasaki, which makes both 4-strokes and 2-strokes, is expected to announce their own oil injection system shortly; word is out that testing is already completed and incorporation on the assembly line is scheduled soon. Makers are holding prices down, which is welcome, but Suzuki may find expenses up a shade as their positive forced lubrication system appears to be more costly to produce than the other manufacturers’ oil injection systems. Writing from Tokyo, it’s nice to see Japan’s motorcycle makers leading the world again with this new innovation, and not hard to predict that European 2-stroke makers will be forced to offer some type of competitive lubrication system before too long.
Fourteen manufacturers recently banded together and formed the Safety Helmet Manufacturers Association with the aim of weeding out substandard headgear and getting it off of the market. The association is headed by Hirotake Arai, who is president of one of the largest helmet makers and also of the Motorcycle Club Federation of All Japan (MCFAJ). Japan has a law making it compulsory for all motorcycle riders to wear helmets when on streets or highways where the speed limit is 37 mph or higher. All helmets made by members of the new association will bear Japan Industrial Standards official quality certification.
Yamaha has established a company in Taiwan to assemble motorcycles. The home factory in Japan is joining with their Taiwan distributor to put up capital for the new firm, which will assemble Yamaha motorcycles using major components shipped from Japan. Taiwan officials require that up to 70 percent of the components be procured locally, and prohibit import of completely assembled machines. Original schedules call for production of five hundred 50cc and 90cc motorcycles monthly, with a later increase to a 2,000 per month capacity.
The Yokohama Rubber Company, one of Japan’s largest tire makers, has announced the production of road racing tires for motorcycles. The firm has developed tires suitable for 90cc, 125cc, 250cc and 350cc motorcycl'es for road races and endurance races.
“Mr. Moto-Cross” of Japan, Suzuki’s Kazuo Kubo, tells CYCLE WORLD his first outing on the model T-20 scrambler in the 250cc class International Moto-Cross championship series in Europe will be on July 25 in Sweden. He had earlier been reported to be entered in the British Moto-Cross round on July 18, and although he will be there, his machine won’t be ready that soon. So he expects to compete only in the Swedish gnd Finnish races in the championship series but hopes to be able to enter other events in Britain while he is over there.
No retail price is available yet, but Honda will be marketing their Honda 250 Super Sport in the United States around September.
New motorcycles galore have flooded the mid-season market in Japan during the past month. Some are all new and others modified versions of machines already on the street. Tops goes to Suzuki’s six-speed, 100 mph twin model T-20 and Bridgestone’s 175 Dual Twin.
Bridgestone named their new machine, the largest motorcycle the firm has made to date, the 175 Dual Twin — signifying dual rotary disc valves for the twin-cylinder two-stroke. The cradle pipe-framed sportster has a real innovation in a gearbox that can be switched from a 5-speed return to a 4-speed rotary system with the flick of a lever. It’s also the first model with Bridgestone’s oil injection system built in. Price hasn’t been announced, but first shipments to the United States are expected to arrive about the time this column reaches the reader.
Makers claim 20 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and a top speed of over 80 mph for the new kick started sportster. Bore and stroke of 50 x 45mm (1.97 x 1.77 in.) give piston displacement of 177cc, allowing the use of many parts and pieces from the Bridgestone 90cc machine to lower costs. Compression is 9.5:1 and top torque 13.7 ft-lb at 7,500 rpm. Electrical system is 12 volt with battery ignition and an AC generator. Suspension is telescopic fork and swing arm, both oil damped. Bridgestone lists the weight at 271 pounds, apparently dry although not stated in the specifications. Wheels are 18 inch, with a 2.50 tire in the front and 2.75 on the rear. Dimensions are 74-inch length, 29lAinch width with standard handlebars, 40inch height, 30.7-inch saddle height, 48Viinch wheelbase and 6-inch road clearance. Caster is 64°, trail 3.29 inch and the new machine mounts a 2V2 gallon gas tank and 3.8 pint oil tank.
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Suzuki is boasting that its 6-speed aluminum alloy cylinder twin model T-20 is the world’s first production 250cc which will do 100 miles per hour. It’s the company’s first street machine with forced lubrication of the main-bearings and connecting rod big end. This one also claims 25 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and torque of 17.46 ft-lb at 7,000 rpm. Suzuki decided to use exactly the same aluminum alloy for their pistons and cylinders, and claims that because the parts’ expansion rates are identical, heat dissipation is three times as fast as other machines. They also claim a weight saving of one-third.
Extensive testing was conducted on American highways, as well as in Japan, including one 24-hour stretch at a steady 75 mph. The company is advertising the fast acceleration strongly as well as the constant mesh close ratio six-speed transmission. Top is an overdrive. Frame is of pipe with a double cradle running under the engine, and a double leading shoe racing-type front brake is mounted. Suspension is conventional telescopic fork and swinging arm, both oil damped, with 3-step adjustment on the rear. The T-20 weighs just over 300 pounds and mounts 18-inch rims, with a 3.00 tire in back and 2.75 on front. Bore and stroke are square at 54mm for a piston displacement of 247cc. The T-20 is 79 inches long, 30 inches wide, 40 inches high, has a wheelbase of 50" and road clearance of 6".
Yamaha produced a step-through 60cc machine and then conducted a nationwide “Name It” contest, with first prize a motorcycle plus over $800 in cash. Top speed is around 45 mph and this model includes Autolube oil injection. Complete specifications, along with the name, should be available next month.
Suzuki came out with a new size, 118cc, for their new model B-100 when everyone was exnecting something just below lOOcc or around 200cc. Suzuki claims the new one gives 125cc performance for less money and with a lighter weight. The single aluminum cylinder gives 9 hp at 7,000 rpm and total weight is only 194 pounds. Top speed of the 4-speed motorcycle is 65 mph. The factory hasn’t made any announcement yet, but don’t be surprised to see this one exported before too long, at a price not much above 90cc. This 2-stroke has conventional suspension and 2.50-17 and 2.75-17 tires. It is 64 inches long, 25" wide, 28" tall, has a wheelbase of 47Vi" and 6" clearance.
The Motorcycling Federation of Japan’s
(MFJ) coming 24-hour endurance race at Suzuka Circuit may prove to be somewhat of a letdown for spectators expecting to see Japan’s fastest street machines, as the sponsors are not going to let either Honda’s 450cc or Suzuki’s T-20 250cc motorcycle compete. MFJ regulations require a minimum of 1,000 units produced, and neither company had made this many of these new models by the cut-off time, which was a few days before this column is being written. So this tips in a Honda CP-77 305cc Police as the likely overall winner, with the darkhorse possibility of Yamaha’s 305cc, a Kawasaki 500cc or some foreign machine taking the honors.
There have been more races than one column could possibly report in the last month, but to hit the high spots briefly, here’s a rundown of the more important and closely contested.
MFJ held its first 6-hour endurance race for amateur riders at Suzuka Circuit and pulled an entry of 45 machines although only two classes were run, 90cc and 50cc. Honda won the big one and Yamaha the little one. You nearly want to sit down and cry for MFJ and Suzuka. Practically every time they hold a race it rains, and this was no exception, with it pouring during Saturday practice and drizzling steadily all day Sunday, resulting in plenty of high speed spills. Still the winning machine averaged 57.7 mph for six hours, counting gas stops and pit stops for rider changes. Honda led the entries with 19 in the 90cc and five in the 50cc and led the trophy winners too. All the first six in the 90cc race were Honda S-90s except for a Bridgestone in 5th place. In the 50cc class it was Yamaha, Suzuki, Yamaha and three Hondas. Twenty-seven machines were still enduring at the end of six hours. All riders of the first three teams in both classes were promoted on the spot to junior status.
Twenty-four Americans were entered in 32 events at the 5th Speed Scramble races near Tokyo, the first big event after the U.S. military base clubs were set up in a MCFAJ district of their own. Four went home with trophies, although none managed to win a race. Best was Del Carroll of the Fuchu Motorcycle Club, who took second in the novice 125cc race riding a Suzuki. John Linaburg bounced his Honda in for a third in the 250cc event, Allen Chabot managed a seventh in the Open on a 90cc Bridgestone and Royce Johnson’s Honda took tenth. All three riders are from the All Japan Motorcycle Club. Kinjiro Yajima rode his Suzuki to wins in the open and senior 250cc races. All other senior races also went to Suzuki riders, Kinji Tohira in the 125cc, Kunio Iida in the 90cc and novice Hiroshi Akiya won the senior 50cc event. Novices can compete in senior races, but seniors and experts cannot enter novice events. Two novice winners, the 250cc and 90cc, rode Suzukis, a Yamaha man took the 125cc and the 50cc went to a Bridgestone rider.
Eleven Americans showed up for the 1st 24-Hour Trial in a river about an hour from Tokyo, but the best they managed was a ninth place in the over-90cc class by Royce Johnson of the AJMC. Yamahamounted Tokuzo Hirano lost only one mark to win the under-90cc class, followed by a Suzuki with six and a Tohatsu and Bridgestone each with seven. Eight bad marks were good enough for Moritaka Shimada and his Kawasaki to take the over 90cc event. The second place Tohatsu rider had 20 points lost. Tokyo West District chairman Hiroshi Honda dropped 19 marks riding a Bridgestone to win the over-30 age class, and your correspondent squeaked into a fourth with 35 bad marks, also on a Bridgestone. Over-40 age class was won by Shizuo Hayashi’s Kawasaki with 20 marks.
It was a Suzuki day at the 2nd Buso Moto-Cross, with that firm taking eight out of nine first places. Two senior riders from the Johoku Riders MC hogged the spotlight, with Kinjiro Yajima winning the Open and 250cc and Yasutomo Sugaya taking the 125cc, 90cc and 50cc races. Novice Akiya Hayashi won the 125cc and 50cc, also Suzuki mounted, and another Suzuki novice took the 250cc, leaving only the novice 90cc race for the opposition, with a Bridgestone rider getting the checkered flag.
Highlight of the day was a team relay race at the 2nd Asagiri Moto-Cross. Eleven teams of four riders on four different sizes of machines competed, with the Tokyo Auto Crazy club winning. They fielded a 50cc Honda, 90cc Bridgestone, 125cc Suzuki and 250cc Yamaha. The day turned out about like that for the makers as well, with everybody getting a win. Senior race winners were open to 250cc, Yamaha, 125cc Suzuki, 90cc Bridgestone and 50cc Honda while for the novices it was 250cc Yamaha, 125cc Yamaha, 90cc Bridgestone and 50cc Suzuki.
