Showing Tag: "japanese" (Show all posts)

Yamaha Motorcycles (1953 - 2000)

Posted by Howard Trott on Thursday, December 24, 2015, In : Japanese Motorcycles

YAMAHA Japan 1953 -

Torakusu Yamaha, whose name graces the sides of millions of motorcycles did not as far as I know ride one himself. In fact as he died in 1916, he may never have even seen a motorcycle, for which an explanation is required.

Yamaha was born in Nagasaki in 1851 and was first apprenticed to a clock maker, then to a manufacturer of medical equipment. He moved to Hamamatsu in 1883, then working as a self-employed engineer where he was asked to repair the organ at the local primar...
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My first motorbike ( Yamaha RD250LC )

Posted by Howard Trott on Friday, November 27, 2015, In : Motorbike Stories

I have been riding motorbikes for over 30years, in that time I've seen great changes in motorcycle design and performance. My first bike was a Yamaha RD 250 LC, it was a great little bike and pretty fast for its time.

The Yamaha RD 250 LC was launched in 1981 and was the first learner legal bike (at the time) which could actually do a real proper 100 mph. I remember going to see the bike with my old man, sitting on it for the first time and starting it up, my old man shouted 'what are you wa...

Honda Goldwing GL1500

Posted by Howard Trott on Friday, February 28, 2014, In : Japanese Motorcycles

The symbol of the Golden wing was already a familiar Honda trademark when the model was christened in 1975. At the time of its launch, the 1000cc four-cylinder machine was simply the biggest, most complex motorcycle ever produced in Japan. By the 1980's, Honda was an established car-maker, with car and motorcycle assembly plants around the world. In 1981, Goldwing production moved from Japan to Ohio, the biggest market for the motorcycle was in America, but it was exported all over the world,...
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Honda CB350

Posted by Howard Trott on Friday, February 28, 2014, In : Japanese Motorcycles

The CB350 was the smallest of the 1970's road going, four cylinder, S.O.H.C machines. Never officially imported into Britain, and failing to gain support in the USA, Honda looked to Europe, where some countries import tax laws favour sub-350cc motorcycles. Police versions were offered in France and Holland. Even so, the CB350 had a short life. Introduced in 1972, it was replaced in the markets by the CB400F, which appeared in 1974. Capacity of the 400 four was increased to 408cc. It was resty...
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Honda CBR 1100 Blackbird

Posted by Howard Trott on Friday, January 24, 2014, In : Japanese Motorcycles

Motorcycle makers have always wanted to make the fastest motorcycle on the market. Kawasaki claimed the title in 1990 with its ZZR 1100, and it wasn't until six years later that Honda was able to respond. Placing a 164 bhp engine in an aerodynamic motorcycle weighing 241 kg ( 531 lbs ) resulted in a top speed of 285 km/h ( 177 mph ). However, the Blackbird is also docile, easy to ride at low speed, comfortable, and has surprisingly agile handling. It combines the punch of a boxer with the man...
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Suzuki GT 750

Posted by Howard Trott on Monday, January 20, 2014, In : Japanese Motorcycles

Launched in 1971, Suzuki's GT 750 made an immediate impact thanks to its radical design and rapid acceleration. Building on its own success in the 1960's with racing two-strokes, Suzuki decided to create a large capacity, multi-cylinder sports motorcycle for road riders. Suzuki's first venture into the superbike market was largely successful, the GT stayed in production for five years. The three cylinders were arranged in-line across the frame, which could cause the middle cylinder to overhea...
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1988 Honda VFR750 RC30

Posted by Howard Trott on Saturday, November 9, 2013, In : Japanese Motorcycles

Honda's RC30 is quite possibly the greatest motorcycle ever built. Not only was every motorcycle hand assembled by Honda Racing Corporation ( HRC ) in very limited numbers, the technology inside the great V4 engine is breathtaking. Add to this the beautiful styling and the fact it dominated just about every race series it ever entered, and you have a motorcycle that transcends legend.

The V4 engine is a work of art, inside the 16-valve 360-degree 'big bang' V4 motor gear driven cams run on bal...
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