While searching for information on Japanese Shinkansen trains (bullet trains), I found a YouTube series on all things Japanese called Japanology. I think you will find this video of the history of Japanese motorcycles quite interesting.
Begin [url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4QM2iY2aheo]Japanology - Motorcycles
Thanks RockHop for sharing. Nice find =
The video is worth it for the story of Yoshimura alone.
Awesome RockHop and Thank You!!
Great vid, I enjoyed it, but it made it seem like Japan invented the four cylinder moto engine, when in fact it was the Belgians who did it first.
Belgian FN was an inline 4 (front to back making for a very long motor) Japanese CB 750 was a transverse 4 (side to side.. Making for a short but wide motor). Although both 4 cyls they were very different in execution. I can't remember anyone making a transverse 4 before Honda. At least not a production bike. Would have to comb thru my reference books for conformation though.
(05-25-2019, 12:14 PM)The ferret_imp Wrote: [ -> ]Belgian FN was an inline 4 (front to back making for a very long motor) Japanese CB 750 was a transverse 4 (side to side.. Making for a short but wide motor). Although both 4 cyls they were very different in execution. I can't remember anyone making a transverse 4 before Honda. At least not a production bike. Would have to comb thru my reference books for conformation though.
One thing for certain, Honda's implementation was reliable, low maintenance and fun.
While they were very limited production, the MV Agusta 600 and the Munch Mammoth both preceded the CB750. Maybe that stretches the definition of production a bit.
