Japan's Terrific Tiddlers
Japan's terrific tiddlers
ROUNDUP
ASTOUNED, ARE YOU, AT THE seemingly endless variety of motorcycles the Japanese manufacturers send to these shores? Well, brace yourself. There are lots more they don't send. Most of them are in the smaller displacement classes, not particularly desirable here in the land of Bigger is Better, but especially hot in Japan, where licensing and insurance restrictions have made smallish bikes very popular. And, fortunately. their relatively petite engines don't make these bikes any less exciting to ride or to look at. Don't believe it? Here's a quick review of Japanese home-market motorcycles: Newest of the bunch is the Kawasaki ZXR250, a four-cylinder, 249cc, miniature superbike that comes complete with monster brakes and an upside-down fork. This little beauty weighs in at a claimed 3 l I pounds dry, makes 44 horsepower at l 6,000 rpm, and sells for the equivalent of about $4400. An even-racier R version goes for $4850.
Want high-tech works in a lowtech look? Suzuki’s Bandit 400 V might interest you. This is the basic
Bandit 400, but with a system that varies the timing of the intake valves so that the bike's engine produces 58 horsepower at 12,000 rpm, but pulls strongly in the lower rev ranges, as well. About $4550.
Also from Suzuki might be the year’s most surprising motorcycle, a down-sized reprise of the Hans Muth-designed Katana GS 1000S, first seen in 1980. This new Katana—with “The Design That Transcends Fashion,” according to the ads in Japanese magazines—retains the original's starship styling; the difference now is that the bike comes with a 248cc Four pumping out 39 horsepower at 1 3,500 rpm. Price will be the equivalent of about $5000.
Also from Suzuki in the 250cc class, but dressed far more conservatively than the Katana, is the X9 1 3 Across, a very smooth piece whose styling shows influences from current Katanas, with one important exception. The Across’ “fuel tank” isn’t: The tank is actually situated behind the carbs. That tankish hump hinges up to reveal a betweenthe-knees cavern large enough for helmet stowage. Price for this cutie is $3950.
Also hot in the 250 wars—and with a list of about $3470, winning the price battle—is the Honda Jade, a standardish model with 1 980s styling that cranks out 39 horsepower at 14,000 rpm from its tiny dohc Four.
Too mellow? For those who need sexy styling mixed in with their speed. Honda also offers a newly revised NSR250R, powered by a two-cylinder two-stroke that makes 44 horsepower at 9500 rpm.
This little beauty weighs a claimed 332
pounds, rolls on a set of fat radiais, and sells for about $4400. When can you get yours? You can't, not unless you’ve got particularly good gray-market contacts, and even then, figure on spending about twice list price. —Jon F. Thompson
