Report From Japan

REPORT FROM JAPAN

W. B. SWIM

THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE for an exchange of top scrambles riders between Japan and the United States this year. The Motorcycle Club Federation of All Japan (MCFAJ) has offered to foot the expenses for a team of riders while they are in Japan. They would be expected to pay their own round-trip transportation to Japan and bring their Stateside equipment with them. While in Japan they would ride in one of the big nationals, and probably a couple of district races on the weekends before and after the All Japan, for a total stay in Japan of about 16 days and three racing events. Accommodations will not be in first class hotels, but in homes of MCFAJ officials or riders, who will provide the room and board and transportation to the races for the American riders.

The 14th All Japan Moto-Cross Championships is scheduled on May 21 and 22

and the 16th All Japan Moto-Cross on October 8 and 9. Any of the leading American scrambles riders who are interested and able to foot their expenses to Japan are invited to get in touch with CYCLE WORLD. There is no 500cc class in these national championships, but any machine with over 225cc can enter both the 250cc class and the Open class races. On the other hand, four or five of Japan's top moto-cross riders have expressed an interest in paying their own way to the United States to race there for three weeks or so. They will be accompanied by some of the top MCFAJ officials, who want a first-hand look at how races are run and courses laid out in the U.S. Arrangements for accommodations in the homes of clubmen are now being made.

The other organization, the Motorcycling Federation of Japan, is hoping to be able to send at least one winner of its moto-cross championship race to Europe this year, but plans are not yet definite.

Japan's motorcycle manufacturers are in top gear, gaining speed all the way. The official figures are now in on production and exports during 1965, and both show gains. Exports in particular are zooming, with 1965 figures topping the year before by 76.2 percent for motorcycles larger than 50cc. The tiddlers barely held their own with an increase of two percent, bringing the overall figure, including scooters, down to 46.6 percent. In dollars, the makers topped 150 million to bring in $163,033,305 in 1965. Of this $ 106,91 3,981 came from sales in the United States, which bought 495,742 motorcycles and 1,585 scooters. Japanese makes took about 70percent of the U.S. market in 1965 and expect to up this to 80 percent this year. Honda alone, which accounts for some 60 percent of the U.S. market, plans to sell 450,000 motorcycles in the States this year. Worldwide, Honda exported 597,293 of the 1,465,762 motorcycles they made in 1965. Yamaha was the second largest exporter with 125,338 machines being shipped, but only the third largest maker, turning out 244,158 motorcycles. Suzuki produced 341,367 machines but only sold 98,800 of them overseas. Exports of other makers (with production in brackets) were Bridgestone 29,984 (76,994), Kawasaki 13,933 (48,745), Lilac 170 (289) and Tohatsu 367 (0). There were 35,079 Rabbit scooters made and 2,841 exported, while 30 Silver Pigeon scooters went overseas although the company has ceased production.

The 90cc class took over as the leader from the 50cc class in exports. Exports by classes were: Up to 50cc, 240,520; 50125cc, 408,907; 125-250cc, 125,225; and Over 250cc, 91,233. The 50cc class was the only one in which production dropped below 1964 levels, with the 645,601 made being only 99.4 percent of the year before. The 50 125cc class was steady at 100.8percent with 1,259,157. A lively advance of 38.4 percent was registered by the 168,434 motorcycles in the 125 250cc class but the big jump was in the Over 250cc class, with the 104,023 produced being nearly three times as many as the 35,565 made in 1964, which pretty well shows the way the pendulum is swinging. Most of these large motorcycles are exported, 91,233 being sold overseas, mostly in the United States. The United States, plus 38,888 two-wheelers sold in Canada, represented 62 percent of Japan's market. The second largest area was Southeast Asia with 22 percent, followed by Europe, 8 percent; Latin and South America, 3 percent; Africa, 2 percent; Middle East, 2 percent; and Oceania (mostly Australia and New Zealand) 1 percent.

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Tohatsu motorcycles may be on sale again this year but by what name is anybody's guess. The Japanese factory ran into financial difficulties in March of 1964 and ceased production. Now an offer has been made by a combine of financiers in Taiwan (Republic of China) to buy the factory's machine tools, remaining parts and blueprints, lock, stock and barrel. Tohatsu would complete production of machines and parts which were on the line when they turned the current off and ship them along with everything in the factory except the building itself to Taiwan. The Nationalist Chinese intend to put the hot 6.8 hp 50cc Sports into production first, and then later make 125cc motorcycles as well, if business is good and there is a demand for them. Serious negotiations are just getting underway and it's a long time yet before any contracts are signed, but this is liable to be the best offer Tohatsu will get, as the price of used machine tools in Japan is at rock bottom.

Yamaha has announced minor changes in the 250cc YDS-3 and the 305cc YM-1. Top of the list is a boost in horsepower, to 26 hp @ 8,000 rpm for the YDS-3 and 27 hp @ 7,000 rpm for the YM-1. Previous figures were 24 and 26. The shape of the front fender has been changed and the tank color is also different now.

Suzuki has brightened up their 50cc series with minor changes as well, the most important being the installation of a 4.5 hp @ 8,000 rpm engine in all models. Other changes include mounting a telescopic fork on the M15 models; covering the until-now exposed rear springs on the M12 by fitting rubber fork boots; and a neat rolled-type sports fender. Handlebars on both models for domestic sale are now the raised type. New model designations are Suzuki 50 M15 Mark 2, 50 M15D Mark 2 (with electric starter), 52 M16 Mark 2 (with 52cc) and Suzuki Sports M12 Mark 2.

Suzuki will also install their "posi-force" lubrication system in the 80cc series machines shortly. It is already in use on the 250cc and 150cc.

Honda hasn't announced any changes yet, but a rumor says they are going to make some changes in their "nifty fifty" model C-100 and C-102 for the first time in six years. Don't be surprised if it ends up with an overhead camshaft engine, as the 50 is the only Honda without an ohc at present.

Movie star and motorcyclist Steve McQueen is in Taiwan filming a movie, and Suzuki took the opportunity while he was in the Far East of inviting him to make a trip to Japan at their expense. He reportedly has accepted and will arrive as soon as shooting is completed for a look at Suzuki's factory and a ride around their superb test course.

Honda's new top rider, world champ Mike Hailwood, recently flew in secretly from South Africa for a few days at Suzuka Circuit, testing the racers Honda will use to contest the GP events this year. Security was tight and nobody can say for sure what he tested for the 500cc class, but it apparently was a bored-out 350 four.

Three Americans were promoted to Junior Class for MCFAJ moto-cross races this year. They are Del Carroll of the Tokyo All Stars club, TMA district, and two from the North Japan district, Dennis DeGraf fe of the Tohoku Kawasaki Speed club and Bill Harris of the Aomori Rangers Club. The MCFAJ named seven experts and 130 Junior riders this year, considerably more than last year.