Letter From Japan
LETTER FROM Japan
Yamaha turns on the fans
Japanese manufacturers have finally realized that motorcycles will no longer sell themselves. That’s why several of them here in Japan have begun extensive off-season promotions intended to generate interest and goodwill among potential buyers. This move has been made necessary by a worldwide sales slowdown of considerable proportions. This problem, aggravated by the ever-rising yen and continually shrinking dollar, has caused unusual productcost increases for Japanese bikes in export markets. So w hen the president of Honda called 1986 “a harsh year for the motorcycle industry,” he wasn’t overstating the case.
Yamaha, however, has become more aggressive in the off-season to combat complacent sales. Currently, Yamaha has Japan’s top-selling 250 (TZR250) and 50 (YSR50), and its FZR750/1000 are already generating interest all around the world, but the company needs to do more. So Yamaha has attempted to “Turn-On the Fans in Winter” with a campaign that allowed buyers in Japan to get close to racing heroes and works racing machines.
The vehicle for the campaign was a highly successful, five-part Championship Carnival of Grand Prix machines and riders at various locations around Japan. Meeting the motorcycle enthusiasts were Eddie Lawson, Martin Wimmer, Tadahiko Taira, Giacomo Agostini, Randy Mamola, Mike Baldwin, Kenny Roberts, Carlos Lavado, Christian Sarron. and a nine-man team from Yamaha Racing Japan. The machines included Lawson’s YZR500, a YZF750 of Lucky Strike, and one of Team Marlboro’s YZR250s. In addition to questions asked of the top riders by the fans and a discussion about the results of Grand Prix rider feedback in current street motorcycles, there was a pictorial history covering 30 years of Yamaha racing.
In a slack season, Yamaha’s Carnival certainly seemed to have the desired effect: At its own Championship Carnival soon threafter, Honda followed Yamaha’s lead and presented a program featuring retired, but everpopular, GP rider Takazumi Katayama.
The last of the Ninjas?
Kawasaki has just released the latest version of the GPX400R, with a re-
designed engine, chassis and bodywork. The 16valve, liquid-cooled inline-Four produces a claimed 59 horsepower at 12,000 rpm, and has a claimed weight of 383 pounds, putting it right into the thick of the 400cc sportbike battle in Japan. Initial reaction to the bike places it very close to the Honda CBR400 in terms of versatility and comfort, but behind the FZR400 in handling and power. This Ninja, which rounds out the domestic lineup, will most likely undergo one significant change in the near future when it be comes a 600 destined for the U.S. market in early 1988. -Kengo Yagawa
