Report From Japan
REPORT FROM JAPAN
W. B. SWIM
HAS THE MOTORCYCLE boom ended? The Japanese manufacturers would make a fabulous offer to the man who could answer that question without a chance of being mistaken. Starting with a virgin market in transportation-short Japan not long after the end of World War II, production figures have climbed to previously undreamed-of heights. Then, a few years ago, the export boom, starting with Honda's "Nicest People" campaign (and concentrated primarily on the United States), sent sales figures skyrocketing for all of Japan's makers. Last year, however, proved an abrupt setback both in Japan, where the market seems to have reached the saturation level, and in the United States, where various reasons were given, such as the Viet Nam war, threats of anti-motorcycle legislation, etc. In 1966, this was thought to be a temporary letdown, but 1967 sales figures during the peak season again fell considerably below hopes. Whether the slowdown in sales indicates the boom was a pendulum which is now swinging back, a swift climb to the saturation point, or only a temporary lull before sales begin to climb, is the question the makers want answered.
Production and export figures for the first six months of 1967, which is the most important period of the year in this seasonal business, have just been released by the official compiling agency. Japan's makers produced 1,177,852 motorcycles and exported 545,237 of them during the first half of the year. Both these figures are improvements on the same period in 1966, but not as much as the makers had hoped. Importers in the United States paid $38,625,107 for 151,762 Japanese motorcycles during this six months.
In case you hadn't noticed by looking around the neighborhood, the 50cc is fast disappearing. Only 3,058 were sent to the U.S. this year, in comparison with 58,712 during the first half of 1966. Currently, the 125 to 250cc class is the best seller in the U.S., with imports totaling 43,518. The 50 to 90cc size sold 44,072, the over 250cc class, 35,029, while the unpopular 90 to 125cc bikes sold 29,143.
As has come to be expected, Honda led both production and export tables, with 665,317 and 332,225, respectively. Suzuki led Yamaha in production with 233,796 to 206,536, but just barely edged ahead in exports 83,513 to 83,209. It was nearly a dead heat for the next export rank, with Bridgestone getting the nod over Kawasaki 23,255 to 23,013, although Kawasaki outproduced them 40,751 to 31,395. Lilac brought up the rear by making 57 motorcycles and exporting 22 of them. Figures for Hodaka are not available, as they refuse to join the association which keeps the tabs. There were 14,459 Rabbit scooters made during the period and 867 exported.
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Adding to the worries of Japanese motorcycle manufacturers are restrictions recently placed on the import of motorcycles and scooters by the government of Malaysia. Malaysia imposed a six-month quota of 40 percent of actual sales in 1966 for scooters and put the motorcycles under an import licensing system. Makers fear the next step will be a quota for the motorcycles.
Japan is hosting an international exposition at Osaka in 1970, and motorcycles will not be ignored. The government has announced plans to invite 280 motorcycle officers from 80 nations to come to Expo 70.
Japan's national police have put motorcycle patrolmen on night traffic duty for the first time. Until now, motorcycles had been used only during the daylight hours, although patrol cars have operated around the clock. Because police motorcycles (although painted a distinctive white) are more difficult for motorists to see at night than patrol cars, 100 motorcycle policemen were recently placed on night duty. And very effective they are, too.
Honda's two largest distributors in Japan have deserted them in quick succession and gone over to Suzuki. The defection of the largest, which was doing more than $750,000 annually, caused a drop in the price of Honda shares on the stock market. The head of this Osaka distributor had also been the chairman of the nationwide Honda dealers association and a
close personal friend of the president of the company. The other large defector serviced the Fukuoka area on the southern island of Kyushu.
The export of rebuilt motorcycles from Japan may shortly be prohibited by the Japanese government. The Ministry of International Trade and Industry has begun an investigation upon the urging of Japan's motorcycle producers, and an outright ban or severe restrictions are expected to result. Some 1,000 used Honda 50s have been sold for about $60 each to an importer in England, where they are retailed for about $110, or about half the price of a new machine. One of Japan's largest wrecking yards is rebuilding junked machines with used parts, and the bikes reportedly do not meet safety standards. Also, no provision has been made by the seller for spare parts and service for these machines in England.
The Otsu Tire Company of Japan has placed on sale motorcycle tires with narrow, white sidewalls, which include reflective materials that glow when struck by street lamps or automobile head lamps at night. The firm is advertising the new "Halo Line" tires as providing extra safety for motorcycles, which are relatively hard to see at night, because the luminous substance in the tire sidewalls makes the machine easier to see, particularly from the side.
Suddenly Suzuki, which has always been reasonable about giving out information on new machines, is playing it coy with their new 500cc street machine. Although for months it has been well known by
everyone interested, including, of course, all of the other manufacturers, and despite the fact that many people have seen the new prototypes being tested both in Japan and the United States, the company still refuses to release so much as a photograph in Japan, much less any of the specifications.
In fact, they act as though they didn't even have a 500cc, although test production runs were begun more than three months ago. Despite the firm's new-found secrecy, it is known that the T500 is a two-stroke piston port twin with the cylinders nearly vertical, leaning forward just slightly. The 492cc machine has a fivespeed in-unit gearbox, and the estimated 46 hp at 7,000 rpm should give speeds in the 110 to 120 mph range. You can bet the short stroke (70mm bore and 64mm stroke) bike will make a terrific road racer, with double cradle pipe frame, twin carburetors, lightweight in the neighborhood of 375 pounds and very quick acceleration. Accessory tank manufacturers in the U.S. ought to "be happy, because it has a big hump-back tank that looks very like the one on the Honda 450, and many American riders will probably be unhappy with it.
Posi-force lubrication is fitted, of course, with the pump being driven from the right end of the crankshaft, as is the tachometer. The tacho is a separate instrument, matching the 150 mph speedometer, and redlined at 7,000 rpm with calibration up to 9,000 rpm. Three warning lamps are in the tachometer case. The engine is alumi(Continued on page 22) num alloy with iron liners, and sports very big, squarish cooling fins. Starting is by kick lever. The clutch is mounted on the transmission shaft. A one-down, fourlip shift lever is mounted on the left-hand side, but provisions have been made for fitting it on the right without much trouble.
The rear brake is cable operated, and the front stopper is a two leading shoe unit. In small details like the mounting of the footrests and controls, the T500 resembles Suzuki's T200 more than the 250cc X-6. Tires are 2.75-19 front and 4.00-18 rear, covered by a chrome sports fender in front and metallic silver fender at the back.
The new Suzuki T500 has probably the widest dual seat ever produced in Japan, resembling a Triumph or BSA more than a typical Japanese seat, and it has a chrome passenger grip ring running around the back of the seat.
Yamaha, which already has a 350cc machine on the market, is now developing its own twin-cylinder two-stroke 500cc. In general, it looks rather like a big brother to the 350cc, and the engine does not appear to be much larger than the smaller version. The frame has been beefed up, however, and given a longer wheelbase in the prototype. It will be some time before this one will be on sale (next spring is a good guess), and some details could be changed in the meantime.
Kawasaki has a new 50cc scrambler on the dealer s'showroom floors. The tiddlers are a popular class at motocross races in
Japan, often with well over one-quarter of the .total entry. Since there is little demand for a scrambler of this size overseas, however, the firm does not plan exports for the new model.
Yamaha is rumored to be planning a production run of its successful new 250cc single-cylinder scrambler. Five of the pipeframed racers have been made, three for the most successful use of its factory motocross team in Japan and the other two sent to Los Angeles for testing. Quick detachable lights and a silencer inside the expansion box exhaust system are thought to be planned, so it can be licensed and ridden on the streets in the U.S. The biggest market for this bike should be in the United States and England. Look for it next spring if the company goes through with plans to put it into production during the winter off season. Technical details and photographs were printed in this column in the August edition.
Benidicto Caldarella, the Argentine road racer, who gave Mike Hailwood a fit for several laps at the Daytona GP some years ago, was reported to be in Japan recently for secret testing. It really was secret, too, for everyone still swears they never even heard of the gentleman. Since he formerly piloted a Honda Four, and has considerable experience on four-stroke multis — particularly the Gilera Four — it was assumed he was being tested by Honda, which seems to be one shy in its GP team of riders. Now, however, it appears more likely that he was coming over to see Yamaha. If true, it would lend credence to the rumor that Honda has put out the
bait to lure Bill Ivy, this year's 125cc world champion, from the Yamaha team.
Speaking of road racers — Isao Morishita quit Bridgestone when they made the decision not to compete in GP racing with their 50cc water-cooled twin. He is now employed at Kawasaki, and expected to ride that firm's 125cc water-cooled twin at the Japan GP. He is quite small, so he may pass up rides on the 250cc and 350cc Kawasakis. Morishita's contract is only through this year's GP, however, so he could be back to Suzuki for next season. That's where he made his successful start in GP racing.
Suzuki's 50cc Three may make an appearance at this year's Japan GP, but the betting is against it. It reportedly does not have much more power than the company's fast twin, and the reliability is suspect. Troubles could be ironed out in time for the GP season next year, however.
With the reported approval of the FIM in Europe, the Motorcycling Federation of Japan has franchised an overseas district in Macao, which is some 1,800 miles from Japan. The new Macao district is working on plans to have motorcycle road races included with the Macao Grand Prix for cars, to be held later this year. This will be the small island's first motorcycle road race. Meanwhile, the MFJ reports it has received inquiries from Hong Kong, 40 miles from Macao, and another overseas district may be established there later.
