3rd Year Special Annual Double Issue Vol 4 Issue 1 & 2 Jan - Apr 2 3rd Year Special Annual Double Issue Vol 4 Issue | Page 70

ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE
In Europe, on the other hand, post-war
motorcycle producers were more concerned
with
designing
practical,
economical
transportation than the social aspects,
or “biker” image. Italian designer Piaggio
introduced the Vespa in 1946, which
experienced
immediate
and
widespread
popularity. Imports from the UK, Italy and
Germany, thus found a niche in US markets that
American bikes did not fill.
The BSA Group purchased Triumph Motorcycles
in 1951 to become the largest producer of
motorcycles in the world claiming “one in four”.
The German NSU was the largest manufacturer
from 1955 until 1959 when Honda became the
largest manufacturer.
four-cylinder engine with the introduction of the
KZ900.
Suzuki, Kawasaki and the Yamaha each started
producing motorcycles in the 1950s. Meanwhile,
the sun was setting on British dominion over
the big-displacement motorbike market.
Japanese Dominance
The excellence of Japanese motorcycles caused
similar effects in all Western markets: many Italian
bike firms either went bust or only just managed
to survive. As a result, BMW’s worldwide sales
sagged in the 1960s, but came back strongly
with the introduction of a completely redesigned
“slash-5” series for model year 1970.
From the 1960s through the 1990s, small two-
British manufacturers Triumph, BSA, and Norton
stroke motorcycles were popular worldwide,
retained a dominant position in some markets
partly as a result of the pioneering work of the
until the rise of the Japanese manufacturers, led
East German Daniel Zimmermann (rotary disc
by Honda, in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The
valve) and MZ’s Walter Kaaden who developed
role of the motorcycle
the
two-stroke
shifted in the 1960s,
expansion chamber
from the tool of a life
in the 1950s. These
to a toy of a lifestyle.
ideas were taken up
It became part of
by Suzuki when Ernst
an image, of status,
Degner,
the
MZ
a cultural icon for
engineer and rider,
individualism,
a
defected to the West
prop in Hollywood
on 13 September
B-movies.
1961 after retiring
from
the
125cc
The motorcycle also
Swedish
Grand
became a recreational
Prix at Kristianstad.
machine for sport
Degner,an excellent
and leisure, a vehicle
engineer, immediately
for carefree youth,
joined Suzuki and
not
essential The Honda CB750 revolutionized motorcycle marketing and was
his
knowledge
transportation
for emblematic of Japanese dominance.
became their tech-
the mature family
nology springboard.
man or woman, and the Japanese were able to
produce modern designs more quickly, more
Harley-Davidson in the US at the time suffered
cheaply, and of better quality than their
from the same problems as the European firms,
competitors. Their motorbikes were more stylish
but its unique product range, American tariff laws
and more reliable, so the British manufacturers
and nationalism-driven customer loyalty allowed
fell behind as mass-market producers.
it to survive. One alleged flaw, however, was
retaining the characteristic Harley-Davidson 45°
Honda, which was officially founded in Japan
engine vee-angle, which causes excess vibration
on September 24, 1948, introduced their SOHC
as well as the loping Harley-Davidson sound.
inline-four engine CB750 in 1969, which was
inexpensive and immediately successful. It
A factory full fairing was introduced by BMW
established the across-the-frame-four engine
motorcycle in the R100RS of 1977, the first
configuration as a design with huge potential
factory fairing produced in quantity. In 1980,
for power and performance. Shortly after the
BMW stimulated the “adventure touring”
introduction
of
the
SOHC,
Kawasaki
category of motorcycling with its dual-sport
demonstrated the potential of the four-stroke
model, the R80G/S. In 1988, BMW was the first
70
Vol 4 | Issue 2 |Mar - Apr 2019