Dateline: Tokyo
Dateline: Tokyo
ROUNDUP
New model shows are taken very, very seriously in Japan. A case in point: an estimated 1.2 million of the curious packed into a convention center during the 12-day run of the 25th Tokyo Motor Show.
What they saw didn’t disappoint them. Besides huge fleets of Datsuns, Toyotas, Hondas, Mitsubishis and Isuzus, on hand were 409 (Yep. You read right. That’s four-oh-nine.) different models of two-wheelers.
There were prototypes and production bikes. Domestic models and export models. Tiny scooters and imposing touring machines. Smalldisplacement commuter bikes and large-displacement sport bikes. Cruisers and racebikes. Off-road and street. Something for everyone, to repeat yet again an oft-repeated marketing cliche.
From the staff of Cycle World Japan, our licensed counterpart across the Pacific Ocean, here’re some of the highlights of the show:
Most notable among Honda’s 137 models was the CBR400F. The 16-valve inline Four has Honda’s new, modulated valve control system. The system works like this: at low rpm, two of the valves (one intake, one exhaust) in each cylinder are inoperative. The theory is that the resulting eight-valve engine will have greater lowend torque. As rpm increases, the other eight valves go to work to produce good top-end
response. The CBR also comes with a square-tube, double-cradle frame and a new 4-into-2-into-l-into-2 high-efficiency exhaust system. Honda says the innovations help the 400 turn out more than 59 bhp.
A variation of Honda’s CBX250 also aroused a lot of interest. The CB250 Clubman, which has a twincam Single, features distinctly British styling, with a Triumph-like tank and seat. Honda calls the Clubman its “Trad-Bike.”
On the light side: Honda displayed a number of twostroke scooters. Included were the Flush-S, with “meteor-shaped” styling (great balls of fire!), and the Beat, with an expansion chamber and “racer cowl nose.”
Over at Yamaha, the theme was “The New Yamaha Dynamism.” Tops in Yamaha’s display was the RZV500R, a street-going replica of the YZR500 racebike. The RZV’s watercooled, two-stroke, 50-degree V-Four is virtually identical to that of its racing cousin. Standard are aluminum cradle frame, full fairing and Yamaha Power Valve variable exhaust port system. The factory says the 500 is good for 80 bhp.
There was a good deal of interest, too, in Yamaha’s new trials bike, the TY250. The TY, with a two-stroke, 246cc torque-induction Single, weighs in at 182 pounds, says the factory.
Also on display was Yamaha’s prototype PTX-1, a 500cc, four-wheel “personal transport vehicle.”
“Try New Suzuki” urged the banner across the way. Under it was the new GSXR400, a street bike with styling reminiscent of the factory’s endurance racer.
The GSX has a water-cooled, 16-valve inline Four that turns out 59 bhp, says Suzuki. Both the frame and swing arm are aluminum.
Kawasaki’s motto was “Take the Best Machine” (it was a good year for slogans). One of its best was the KR250, which the factory calls “the ultimate two-stroke quarter-bike.” A scaled-down street version of the KR Grand Prix racer, the small KR has a water-cooled foreand-aft Twin and a lightweight, three-piece aluminum frame. The Uni-Trak rear suspension is located under the crankcase, a space-saving design.
Along with the good news at the show, came a helping of bad: Japanese bike sales, both domestic and export, were down drastically during the six-month fiscal period between April and September 1983, the Big Four reported. Domestic sales were down 34 percent. Exports dropped by 22 percent; although shipments increased to the Middle East and Southeast Asia, they were more than offset by drastic reductions in exports to the U.S. (down 54 percent), Europe (down 50 percent) and Africa (down 82 percent).
Worst-hit were Suzuki and Yamaha. Suzuki’s exports declined by 36 percent and domestic sales fell by 13 percent; the company’s declared profits dropped by 27 percent. Yamaha’s news was even more dismal: declared profits were down 52 percent. It’s speculated in Japan that Yamaha may have to carve its work force by some 2000 employees to cope with the soft market.
Harley wins CHP business
Harley-Davidson, once the biggest supplier of police motorcycles in the U.S., has regained the California Highway Patrol account after 11 years.
Harley won the account by underbidding Kawasaki, which had wrested most police business away from the American company in the early 1970s. Harley guaranteed a price of $4393 for its police model; Kawasaki quoted a price of $4649.
The highway patrol will buy 131 specially outfitted FXRP police bikes, which are equipped with Harley’s new Evolution engine.
“We are thrilled to have won the CHP order,” said Dick Reiter, Harley’s fleet sales director. “It is a great morale boost.
“The CHP is the most prestigious and professional law enforcement agency in the country, and has the toughest standards around. This contract proves that the new breed of Harley-Davidsons more than measures up to those standards,” Reiter continued.
Before Harley was awarded the contract, its police bikes underwent a series of tests measuring performance, handling and reliability. The bikes passed those tests “with flying colors,” said Reiter.
Harley officials are hopeful that the CHP contract will result in sales to other law enforcement agencies.
“Because of CHP’s tough standards, they are extremely influential, and other agencies will frequently follow its lead,” Reiter said. “We think this is a major step in winning more police contracts.”
BMW school: “Speed with safety”
7"he 22nd annual BMW high-performance riding and driving school is scheduled for June 20-23 at Germany’s Nurburgring.
Enrollees will study safe, high-speed riding on the famous Grand Prix racetrack.
The school is limited to BMWs. There are divisions for both cars and bikes. Rentals will be available.
Tuition is $275. Passengers also may participate, for an enrollment fee of $ 1 35.
Further information is available from Rob Beach at Beach Motorcycle Adventures Ltd., 2763 West River Parkway, Grand Island, N.Y. 14072. Phone(716) 7734960.
Moto Guzzi gets new American distributor
^he new American distributor for Moto Guzzi, a division of Maserati Automobiles Inc., plans a major expansion of the dealership network for the Italian-made motorcycle, say company officials.
George Garbutt, Maserati Automobiles president, says Benelli-Moto Guzzi North America will seek to sign new dealerships in all major American cities. Other plans call for a major increase in parts inventories, he said.
Benelli-Moto Guzzi North America, a Baltimore, Maryland-based company, recently assumed the distributorship from Berliner Motors of New Jersey.
“We intend to extend every effort to expand and promote the Moto Guzzi to claim its rightful share of the market,” Garbutt said. “With first-rate service and availability of all parts, we can offer our Moto Guzzi owners the kind of attention they want and deserve.”
Sales of Moto Guzzis had been hampered by poor availability in some parts of the country, and owners sometimes complained of delays in obtaining parts.
New Italian models take the stage in Milan
Honda was there with its racy, new 1000 Interceptor superbike, but the home teams generated the most interest at the recent Milan, Italy, motorcycle show. Cagiva-Ducati, Laverda, Bimota, Moto Guzzi, Benelli and Moto Morini all took the opportunity to launch new models.
The crowds were thickest at the Moto Guzzi exhibit, where eight, count ’em, eight new production bike were unveiled. Most notable were the four-valve-per-cylinder treatments of the 350, 500 and 650cc V-Twins. The V65 Lario produces a claimed 60 bhp at 7800 rpm; top speed of the 378-pound 650 is estimated at 117 mph. Moto Guzzi now boasts 50 bhp for the 500, and 40 bhp for the 350. All three come with 16inch front and rear tires, and new sports styling.
Guzzi also showed a pair of enduro-styled trail bikes powered by two-valve versions of the 350 and 650 engines; a restyled 1000SP, with a 16-inch front wheel; and two new 125cc reed-valve two-strokes. The 125s, which also will be sold as Benellis, have a monoshock frame and are available in either trail or custom styling.
Not on hand was the rumored eight-valve LeMans, but a factory spokesman hinted that the reworked 850 would soon see production.
If there’d been such an award, the Most Exotic prize would’ve gone to Bimota. The company took the covers off its experimental Tesi, a striking bike built around the Honda 400cc and 750cc VFour engines. The Tesi has a carbon-fiber, monocoque chassis with center-hub steering and a single front shock, linked to the axle by rocker arm couplings. Rear suspension is monoshock. According to Bimota, the bike “questionis) traditional motorcycle design values. The company expects to field a race version, equipped with the 750 VFour, by next year.
Cagiva, meanwhile, marked its cooperative arrangement with Ducati by introducing the Elefant, a new enduro-styled bike powered by Ducati’s 750cc VTwin. The familiar Ducati road race engine is mounted in a box-section frame, with leading-axle forks and monoshock rear suspension. The Elefant, which has its turn signals built into its 5gallon gas tank, produces 81 bhp and weighs less than 370 pounds, says Cagiva.
Cagiva also showed restyled versions of Ducati’s 350 and 600 Pantahs. The Pantahs continue to use Ducati-designed frames, while Cagiva works on newgeneration chassis. Other models in the Cagiva line-up included a restyled 125 trail bike; an all-new 200cc watercooled trail bike; and a new 125cc two-stroke street bike, with electric-start and a sixspeed transmission.
Laverda postponed the introduction of its four-cylinder superbike. The company’s Milan offerings included a new, water-cooled 250cc single-cylinder touring bike, and four water-cooled 125cc Singles. The 125s, which use Zundapp top ends on Laverda cases and transmissions, come in street, sport, custom and off-road models.
Moto Morini displayed a sporting, restyled treatment of its 350cc V-Twin, with rear-set pegs, sport and lower fairings.
And yet more from Moto Guzzi
Hot on the taillights of the new bikes announced by Moto Guzzi at the Milan, Italy, motorcycle show, came word of yet another new model.
The new machine is another eight-valve V-Twin, a
750cc touring bike. The styling is rumored to be “American-influenced,” whatever that means; for what it’s worth, the V75 is said to resemble Honda's Ascot models.
Moto Guzzi says the V75 will weigh 383 pounds, and produce 72 bhp. Top speed will be more than 120 mph, the factory claims.
There’s been no word yet on which of the new Guzzis are U.S.-bound, or when they’ll be available.
Harley financing offered by Ford
A s the result of an intercompany agreement, Ford Motor Credit Co. now is offering financing to purchasers of Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
Under the terms of the agreement, the auto loan company will extend bike financing through Harley’s 700 U.S. dealerships as well as through Ford Credit’s branch offices.
The program will increase customers’ options—and chances—for credit, said Harley President Vaughn Beals.
Harley is the second bike manufacturer-distributor to reach such an agreement with Ford Credit. Yamaha announced a similar program last year.
AMA seeks Sierra Club refund
The American Motorcyclist Association has asked a federal court to order that the Sierra Club reimburse $7000 in legal fees spent by the AMA in fighting a lastminute appeal seeking to block the 1983 Barstow-toLas Vegas desert race.
On Nov. 18, a federal judge ruled against the Sierra Club’s request for an injunction against the off-road event. On Nov. 21, the club filed its appeal of the ruling.
The appeal was denied by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal on Nov. 23, just three days before the race.
The AMA’s suit characterized the Sierra Club’s appeal as “vexatious,” and argued that it misrepresented facts, ignored evidence and attacked the district court’s investigation.
Court rules allow defendants to recoup the legal costs of fighting frivolous legal actions.
To revive the classic desert race, AMA’s District 37 spent more than $30,000 in legal fees.
What’s red and orange and black all over?
One of the latest members of the Harley Owners Group, that’s what.
The member?
American Honda Motor Co. The Japanese manufacturer’s American subsidiary joined HOG last November, paying for a one-year membership with a $30 check drawn on the Mitsubishi Bank of California.
What? you say? You thought HOG membership was open only to owners of Harley-Davidsons?
It is. Turns out that Big Red’s American distribution company is the proud owner of a 1980 FXB Sturgis, VIN 1 H44962JO.
As part of its membership package, the folks at American Honda received a HOG pin, orange-and-black patch and a year’s subscription to the Hog Tales newsletter.
To be fair, buying competitors’ bikes is a common practice among motorcycle manufactures. Harley, we hear, owns at least one Gold
VV lllg.
Just in: the ’84 Montesas
Three trials bikes and two woods-enduro bikes make up the 1984 model lineup from Spain’s Montesa motorcycle works.
At the top of the list is the Cota 350 trials bike, based on the design that has captured two world and three U.S. trials championships. The 350 is also similar to the bike used by factory rider Toni Gorgot to claim'first place in 1983’s Scottish Six Day Trial.
The big Cota is a 349cc two-stroke. It comes with a six-speed transmission, chrome-moly double cradle frame, semi-enclosed chain, Betor gas shocks, pivoting tank/seat unit. This year’s model has new, competition brake linings, stronger hubs and improved clutch. The factory claims a dry weight of 204 pounds.
The Cota 242 has a new, 237cc engine, and features a sleeveless alloy cylinder with nickel-silicon bore. It also has an alloy swing arm and a high-performance exhaust system. Dry weight is said to be 189 pounds.
The Cota 200 displaces 1 73cc, and is a smaller version of the 350. Claimed dry weight is 189 pounds.
The all-new 360 H7 and 250 H7 are Montesa’s woodsenduro bikes. Standard are a chrome-moly double cradle frame; Marzocchi forks;
Betor gas shocks; six-speed gearbox; electronic ignition; and 2.8-gallon plastic fuel tank. The 360 displaces 349cc; the 250 displaces 246cc.
Prices are: Cota 200,
$1799; Cota 242, $1999;
Cota 350, $1999; 250 H7, $1849; and 360 H7, $1959.
Further information is available from the American importer, Cosmopolitan Motors Inc., Jacksonville and Meadowbrook Roads, Hatboro, Pa. 19040. Phone (215) 642-9100.
