April 22, 2008

Motorcycle Passion In Japan

The Passions alive and well!

I was in Japan in December and I can report the motorcycle culture is alive and well. It’s just a little different. Of course there are recreational riders. There are many large displacement sport bikes and cruisers ridden by enthusiasts. There are also many who ride small displacement motorcycles and scooters because they are economical. They are cheap transportation!

In rural Japan you’ll see abundance of old ‘step-thru’ models driven by elderly people which must have a million kilometers on them. The elderly are thrifty and appreciate how inexpensive small displacement motorcycles can be for transportation.

The motorcycle museums also reflect strongly, the passion the Japanese have for their motorcycles. Having been to the Yamaha head office in Iwata for a week I had the opportunity to view the spectacular collection of motorcycles on display at the Communication Plaza, which is located next to the head office. We visited the Plaza daily to “take lunch” at the café on the top floor. On display was a 1955 YA-1, 1966 YDS, a 1969 DT-1, 1971 XS650, well you ge the idea, just about every significant motorcycle Yamaha has ever built. The Yamaha Communication Plaza is open to the public on the weekends. So if you’re ever in Iwata…

I also had the opportunity to visit the Honda Collection Hall at Motegi. The Honda collection highlights the Japanese motorcycle industry and even had about a dozen Yamaha motorcycles on display, a YA-1 (that brings the total to 4, for the number I saw during my visit), more YDS’s, a DT-1, Jog scooter, RZ250, TZ125 and a TZ750. They even had a Yamaha grand piano, which was played on the hour by a young Japanese woman. What a beautiful way to view the motorcycle collection. The only thing more stimulating to the ears was the audio display which played the exhaust sound of Jim Redman’s RC166 4 cylinder and Mike Hailwood’s 6 cylinder 250 cc GP motorcycles. Then there was Freddie Spencer’s NS500, the weapon he used during the 1983 GP season to do battle with Kenny Roberts on his YZR500, the sound of the motorcycles was truly music to the ears. Nothing like a 2-stroke on the “pipe”

So, if you’re ever in Motegi…

Other must see motorcycle collections are the Barber Motorsports Museum in Alabama, and the Deeley Museum in Vancouver. I’m also told the National Motorcycle Museum in England is fabulous, but I haven’t been there yet!

Have you been to any motorcycle collections worth visiting? Let me know, I’m always looking for more places to visit.

T. Chelli

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7 Responses to “Motorcycle Passion In Japan”

1. FastJoyRide says:
   

   I visited the Sammy Miller museum (Devon?) in England 15 years ago when I was there for my sister’s wedding. An amazing collection of racing bikes from the early years: trials, hare scrambles and road racing. Well worth the stop if it’s still there.

   April 23rd, 2008 at 10:54 am
2. Dave says:
   

   Great article, I’d like to be able to travel to Japan…maybe someday. Closer to home is the Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Museum in Colorado Springs, Co. Many vintage early 1900s bikes fully restored along with all kinds of memorobilia. Lots of Indians and Harleys.

   April 26th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
3. Thomas says:
   

   Thanks Tim.
   When I read articles like that I always keep reminding myself that it is the writer that sets the tone of the article.
   You guys are great for getting back to everyone so quickly.
   If you ever have a few minutes I would love to have the opportunity to chat with you a bit.
   I am interested further with the emissions levels/standards (I am in the emission reduction business) and it is nice to have someone that is familiar with the levels in your industry.
   If you could send me an email I would appreciate it a lot.
   tcoughlan@gesi.us
   Thank you again

   OK Thomas.. done! thanks TC

   October 7th, 2008 at 7:46 am
4. Yamaha Dirt Bikes says:
   

   Hey,
   Great article.
   Ya passion for motorcycle can be seen everywhere.Once I happened to go to my friends brothers motorcycle race & i was really thrilled by seeing the bike & the race.
   It was graceful.

   January 28th, 2009 at 7:38 am
5. wilson yukio kimura says:
   

   Hello everyone, in mid-1997 went to Japan I hired to work in a factory where he was riding the motorcycle transport cages affiliated with Yamaha motors.co. The section where I worked were riding the cage of transport DragStar xvs650 in the same year started exporting the drag, had in the shed next to the factory cage w / drag in, all black chrome shining 0km, every day I and a few friends’ were going to see DragStar after lunch was drooling so much desire to have one here that currently own a 2010 black chrome throughout most beautiful thing just w / new hyper 1100km flown yet despite having it almost 2 years and 2008 model years never sell. I’m in love w / bikes from Yamaha, my second dream in mind is to get the 950′s successor midnight drag. I worked at this plant for 3 years running, quit Iwata to the factory in a village called Haruna, good times. In Iwata also had a professional football team several times via Dunga giving autographs to fans at the mall ……

   June 29th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
6. Cali Robinson says:
   

   Nice web site I found it on Yahoo , keep up the good work!

   thanks Cali!

   July 15th, 2010 at 4:25 am
7. manpreet walia says:
   

   im from india. i invent a bike design & its my dream to make this bike. its full of technology bike.which have not in whole world. so i want to share this with yamaha.. i love yamaha thats by i share with yamaha. if u want get more information than contact me………

   November 2nd, 2010 at 12:51 pm

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