In aus.motorcycles on Sun, 15 Aug 2004 17:46:26 +1200
James <funngums DeleteThis @XXXyahoo.com> wrote:
>
> never be able to compete with honestly. Remember (if you are old enough)
> how in the late 50's many said the Japanese bikes would never survive
> against the british. The truth is now history. Time now for the Korean and
> Chinese made bikes huh?
There is a massive difference in the two situations.
By the mid 60s, which is when the Japanese started to make inroads, the
Brit industry hadn't done any innovation for some years.
Their bikes were the same, in some cases, as their pre-war models,
just with telescopic forks. You had to pay extra for just about
everything - speedo, indicators, centrestand.
And unless you paid top dollar, what you got was old and slow. There was
a massive aftermarket for a reason! The Brits got complacent because
they were selling all they could make in the 50s, and the booking 60s
caught them on the hop. They had no idea what to do about the scooter
boom, they were only just catching onto the 250 learner limit, they were
saddled with old factories and machinery and blinkered boards who thought
the punters would buy heavy singles and twins till the end of time.
Then along came the Japanese...
You could buy a 125 Suzuki Stinger, with a 5 (6?) speed box, that would
beat the fastest Brit 250 in both top speed and quartermile, had all the
extras like indicators and tacho and speedo, *and* was cheaper.
The Japs had horsepower and smart new designs.
Sure, in the early 70s their motors had well outstripped their chassis,
but those who reckon a mid 70s Bonneville was a better bike than a mnid
70s Honda or Kawasaki 4 probably haven't ridden one... The Europeans
had faster better handling bikes, but they cost the earth[1]
The Japanese did have design and quality control problems in the
beginning. They were working most of it out from scratch after all.
But their innovative engineers, their willingness to use new materials
and new designs, and crucially their new factories and manufacturing
methods[2] meant they could produce amazing machines quickly and cheaply.
There's no comparison to now. THen the Brits were using old designs,
old factories, and were utterly unable to change. Now the Japanese are
at the top in damn near everything, still innovating, still making fast,
cheap, top quality gear that the punters are buying heaps of.
THe Koreans have a much much harder row to hoe. THey are now where
the Japs where when the Japs were making copies of BSAs and Triumphs.
Pure copying while they learn what to do. But their rivals aren't a
moribund industry handicapped by clueless boards[3] and ancient factories
and work practices.
They will be a threat to the Japanese in the low to middle market, the
place they aimed at with things like the small Hyundais. The price
concious consumer who isn't all that interested in paying a premium
for tech or top speed, but wants a cheaper bike that will do prettty
well for those who aren't super fast riders. That looks quite nice,
does the job more or less.
But you can't say they'll *really* threaten the Japs till they are
bringing out not SV650 copies but GSXR750 beaters.
Cos it won't be till then that they can make a decent profit margin and
be seen as good in their own right, not just a cheap bike that's mostly
OK.
Zebee
[1] as an example, the V7 sport was faster and a better handler than
pretty well anything made by the Japanese... but not that much faster,
although considerably better handling. And in 1972 it cost A$2200, the
Honda 4 cost *half* that.
[2] the Brits were still hearth brazing frames...
[3] the story of the Vetter Triumph is instructive....<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
>> Stay informed about: Hyosung GT650 vs Suzuki SV650 
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