Japan Waxes Nostalgic
JAPAN WAXES NOSTALGIC
ROUNDUP
WHAT’S BIG IN JAPAN, you ask? If you read last month’s Roundup, you know that rally-style dualpurpose bikes are all the rage. Well, that was then and this is now; the latest craze is “retro” streetbikes that harken back to the glory days of the ’70s, the ’60s and earlier.
Glance quickly at the Honda CB400 Four at the top of this page, and you could be excused for thinking it dates from 1975. It doesn’t-it’s a brand-new model that mates the 53-horsepower, liquid-cooled, 16-valve engine from the discontinued CB-l with bodywork that mimics that of the classic CB400F. While the 422-pound CB is equipped with such ’70s features as a 4into-4 exhaust (the original had a 4-into-l), twin shocks and wire-spoked wheels, it has been upgraded with triple disc brakes (the original had a single front disc and rear drum). It sells for the equivalent of $5085 in Japan.
Yamaha’s new Bronco doesn’t evoke memories of any one particular model; rather, it blends styling elements from the 1969 DT-1 and 1970s four-strokes such as the TT500. With an engine sourced from the XT225, you could call the 238pound Bronco a “retroSerrow” and not be too far off-though the disc front brake and single-shock rear suspension lend a modern flair. Various nostalgic-looking accessories for the $3500 Yamaha include a chromed luggage rack, muffler guard and leather tank satchel.
Suzuki has two entries in the nostalgia stakes. The Tempter’s lines and double-leading-shoe front brake are reminiscent of a 1950s Velocette, but its 27 horsepower, 399cc Single is very much like that of the Savage 650 cruiser. It sells for $4100.
We’re not sure what to make of Suzuki’s other retro-bike, the Volty. What we do know is that it’s powered by an electric-start DR250 engine, and that it features a single-disc front and a drum rear brake, twin chromed shocks and a brown leather saddle. It’s also quite light-275 pounds-and cheap: just $2900 in Japan.
We’ve shown you Kawasaki’s Gold Star-inspired Estrella 250 before (Roundup, April, 1996), but here’s a version that’s even more retro. The Estrella Custom features a two-tone paint scheme, solo seat with passenger pillion and wire wheels. Two versions are available: the drumbrake example shown here, and another with disc brakes front and rear. Both sell for $3950.
Are any of these bikes destined for the USA? Fat chance, Bubba. Americans have never embraced small-bore streetbikes in general, and retrostandards in particular, so it’s unlikely the Japanese will chance selling these here. Still, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a few examples imported here via the gray market-there have got to be a few enthusiasts who’d like a new CB400F to park alongside their old one.
Brian Catterson
