Report From Japan
REPORT FROM JAPAN
JACK YAMAGUCHI
HONDA TO COMMENCE MC PRODUCTION IN THE U.S.
The United States is the largest market for Japanese motorcycles. Total sales in 1971 registered a massive 62 percent increase over the previous year, and total value also rose by a sharp 73 percent above the previous year. Unchallenged top maker Honda is now carefully studying the plan of commencing motorcycle production in the United States in the foreseeable future at the time when another uprevaluation of the yen seems inevitable.
It is viewed by Honda that another uprevaluation of the yen will make both ends meet, if the company ventures to commence knockdown production in the United States, and the company also intends to locally spend profits drawn therefrom, in order to contribute to the development of regional communities. A project team has already been formed within American Honda, and is now studying every detail of local production.
Honda exported some 800,000 units to the United States last year, and this total showed a startling 22 percent rise in comparison with the previous year. Exports in March this year set a recordbreaking total of $2719 million.
Against such an unfavorable trend caused by evergrowing exports to the United States, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry is now suggesting possible recommendations for self-control in export volumes and prices.
At this time Honda is most keen to materialize its plan of knockdown production in the United States in order to successfully cope with the forthcoming and inevitable situation.
But, if the plan materializes, Honda will avoid competition with Harley-
(Continued on page 100)
Continued from page 98
Davidson, sole maker of the United States, by setting a limit to local production models.
DISC BRAKES FOR SUZUKI THREES Suzuki has recently introduced a disc braked version of the GT 550 which also features a unique ram air cooling system. The two-stroke Three is equipped with four mufflers for the sake of maximum silencing efficiency. A rugged double-cradle frame in combination with front Ceriani type forks ensures top class cruising reliabilty.
At the same time, Suzuki remodeled its mediumweight sport street GT 380. The modified model features a front disc brake like its bigger brother. This brake needs no adjustment. Its twostroke Three is also equipped with four mufflers, and the exclusive Suzuki ram air cooling system.
In recent months, Suzuki has registered a noteworthy increase in heavyweight and mediumweight bike sales abroad, and with those powerful additions to the line, Suzuki is now aiming to snatch a larger share of the overseas markets.
Its export target is set at 3000 units for the GT 550 Disc, and 2500 units for the GT 380 Disc, monthly.
GT 550 DISC SPECIFICATIONS
(Continued on page 102)
Continued from page 100
GT 380 DISC SPECIFICATIONS
ANNUAL AUTO-BY RALLY
The motorcycle rally annually organized by Auto-by is the largest scale event of this kind in Japan.
This year it was promoted late in March in the finest weather, and attracted some 300 enthusiastic rallyists. Machines used in this event ranged from 50cc mopeds to 1200cc monsters, thus reflecting a very wide stratum of rally fans in this country.
Auto-by’’s rally is a time competition which is run over a distance of some 75 miles around Tokyo, but is designed to inspire a sense of traffic safety to participants, as it is staged on normal public roads.
This year, apart from a very wide variety of machines used in it, particular interest was attracted to very sophisticated devices which were mounted on machines, enabling riders to more accurately calculate time and distance. [O]
