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Meguro motorcycles

January 01, 1970

Meguro motorcycles were built by Meguro Manufacturing Co motorcycle works (目黒製作所), founded by Nobuji Murata and a high-ranking naval officer, Takaji Suzuki, in 1937. One of the first Japanese motorcycle companies, it became a partner of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd, and was eventually absorbed. Named after a district of Tokyo, Meguro had its roots in Murato Iron Works, which was established in 1924. Meguro Seisakusho, which had once developed a copy of a Harley-Davidson V-twin, was established to design and build gearboxes for the nascent Japanese motorcycle industry. Abe Industries, which had once produced its own motorcycle, merged with Meguro in 1931. The brand is being revived by Kawasaki with a new K3 model to be introduced in Japan on February 1, 2021.

Meguro Manufacturing Company
Company typeMotorcycle manufacturer
FoundedMeguro, Tokyo, Japan (1937 (1937))
DefunctOctober 1964 (1964-10) (merged into Kawasaki)
ProductsMotorcycles, gearboxes

Once a prestige brand, supplying the Japanese government with military and police motorcycles, and racing alongside Honda, Meguro (メグロ) became bankrupt after launching a range of lightweight motorcycles which sold poorly, and experiencing a yearlong labor strike. The Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, Inc. rates the Meguro Z97 model introduced in 1937 as one of their 240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology.[1]

History edit

 
Meguro MR twin-cylinder engine cutaway

Although the first motorcycle arrived in Japan in 1895, it was not until the 1930s that its own motorcycle industry started to develop.

After the Wall Street Crash, Meguro invested in Harley-Davidson and obtained drawings, tooling and important knowledge of metal heat treatments in order to make gearboxes. These were then used in their vehicles and those of another early Japanese company called Rikuo (literally "Road King"). The resulting transfer of American intellectual property taught the Japanese how to produce motorcycles in quantity. In 1935, Murato and Suzuki built a 500 cc single Z97 model based on a Swiss Motosacoche design but work was restricted due to the start of WW2,[2] during which it supplied aircraft parts. Meguro started full production again in 1948, the Z97 being joined by 125 cc, 250 cc and 350 cc overhead valve singles.

In the 1950s Meguro entered racing and built its first twin-cylinder design, the 651 cc (39.7 cu in) T1 "Senior" with a British design-inspired pre-unit parallel twin engine; and later the K-series "Stamina" model, a copy of the BSA A7, one of which Meguro had bought in 1953. Its quality and engineering was superior to the BSA[3] and it was described by Edward Turner, one of Britain's most talented motorcycle designers, as "too good to be true".[citation needed] For the first time, the Japanese motorcycle industry was seen as a threat.[4] Its other models designed in collaboration with Kawasaki were entirely of Japanese design.

 

Meguro raced the 500 cc overhead camshaft single cylinder model at the Asama Kazan speedway circuit in Tsumagoi, Gunma Prefecture.[5] For many years, the company was only outsold by Honda.[6]

In 1958 Meguro developed a range of 50 cc, 125 cc, 250 cc and 350 cc consumer products which failed in the market due to its being too expensive.[7]

In 1960, by which time it was Japan's longest running motorcycle company out of the hundreds that had once flourished producing copies of European models, the company became affiliated with the Kawasaki Aircraft company. It first changed its name in 1962 to Kawasaki-Meguro, which produced the successful B8 125 cc;[7] then in October 1964, seeing the commercial and marketing value of having a motorcycle producing division alongside its heavy industry services and particularly its already established sales outlets,[8] Kawasaki took full control of the company[9] having learnt all it needed to know.[7] Together they started produced "Kawasaki-Meguro Works" 125 cc, 175 cc and 250 cc single cylinder vehicles. The 500 cc K-series twin cylinder model was later enlarged and developed into the 625 cc Kawasaki W series. The latter model were used as official vehicles for government purposes.[10]

Models edit

 
Meguro Kawasaki SG
  • Parallel 2-cylinder 650 cc
Meguro T1 Senior 1955-1960. OHV parallel twin-cylinder 650 cc which is said to have had a strongest influence on the Kawasaki W-series.[by whom?][citation needed]
Meguro T2 Senior 1957-1960. Variant of T1
Meguro-Kawasaki 650 X 1966. Prototype only, for the 12th 1966 Tokyo Motor Show
  • Single-cylinder 500 cc
Meguro Z97 1937–1938. The company's first model, a 500 cc OHV single cylinder.
Meguro Z98 1938–1941. Improved of the Z97, a OHV single cylinder 600 cc or 500 cc.
Meguro Z1 1947–1951. Similar to the pre-war Z98.
Meguro Z2 1951–1952. Meguro Z1 with hydraulic front fork.
Meguro Z3 1952–1953. Meguro Z2 with improvement to rear suspension.
Meguro Z5 1953–1955. Four-speed gearbox ("Z4" was not used because in Japanese its sounds like a taboo word, 4 meaning death).
Meguro Z6 1955–1956. Major engine improvements meaning it reached 20 horsepower and became the model adopted by the Japanese government.
Meguro Z7 "Stamina" 1956–1960. The last single cylinder Meguro.
  • Parallel 2-cylinder 500 cc
Meguro K "Stamina" 1960–1965. Exhibited at the 1960 Tokyo Motor Show. 39 horsepower.
Kawasaki 500/Meguro K2 1965–1966. Kawasaki Heavy Industries variant of Meguro K-series.
  • Single-cylinder 350 cc
Meguro Y "Rex" 1953–1956. Smaller and lighter model based on the 1956 Meguro Z. 346 cc (21.1 cu in) OHV single-cylinder engine producing 13 horsepower.
Meguro Y2 "Rex" 1957–1959. A steel framed variant of Meguro Y. Output increased to 16 horsepower.
  • Single-cylinder 325 cc
Meguro FY 1959–1962. Sports model.
Meguro YA "Argus" 1959–1962. Improved version of FY.
  • Single-cylinder 300 cc
Meguro J3/J3A "Junior" 1952–1956.
Meguro J-8 "Argus" 1963. Changes to exhaust system.
  • Single-cylinder 250 cc
Meguro J "Junior" 1950–1951. Japan's first 250 cc bike. Rigid rear suspension but with a hydraulic front fork.
Meguro J2 "Junior" 1951–1952. A variant of Meguro J. From 1952 the model is equipped with rear suspension. OHV pushrod engine.
Meguro S "Junior" 1953–1954. The Meguro J series was upgraded to 350 cc and so a new model name was established for the 250 cc class.
Meguro S2 "Junior" 1954–1956. A variant of Meguro S with the first[clarification needed] four speed gearbox.
Meguro S3 "Junior" 1956–1959. Best selling model in the 250 cc series.
Meguro F 1958–1960. OHC model.
Meguro S5 "Junior" 1959. OHV engine model introduced due to sluggish sales of the Meguro F.
Meguro S7 "Junior" 1960–1963. 12V electrical equipment with battery.
Meguro S-8 "Junior" 1962–1964. Last of the Meguro S series with rear suspension.
Meguro AT "Auto Track" 1962–1964. Based on Meguro S3.
Kawasaki-Meguro 250 SG 1964–1969. The last model sold with the brand name of Meguro. Inspired the Kawasaki Estrella model.[citation needed]

Influence on Kawasaki retro models edit

 
Kawasaki Estrella
 
Kawasaki W650

In 1999 Kawasaki launched the W650 675 cc parallel twin retro style motorcycle inspired by the W2[11] and a 250 cc single cylinder four stroke Estrella inspired by an early Meguro model. Kawasaki discontinued the W650 in 2007 but replaced it in 2011 with an enlarged version, the 773cc W800.

Revival of Brand edit

On December 8, 2020, Kawasaki announced the revival of the Meguro brand, with a new model available on February 1, 2021. The new model will be called the K3 and is based on the existing W800. Both bikes will be mechanically identical, but the K3 will be visually distinct and sell at a higher price point. [12]

References edit

  1. ^ "Megro Z97 Motorcycle". 240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology. Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, Inc. Retrieved 11 August 2013. This model was manufactured as the first luxury-class medium-sized motorcycle for personal use in Japan, and approximately 850 units were sold.
  2. ^ Popular Mechanics, Feb 1953
  3. ^ Pictorial History of Japanese Motorcycles. Cornelis Vandenheuvel. MBI Publishing Company, 18 July 1997
  4. ^ Edward Turner: The Man Behind the Motorcycles. Jeff Clew. Veloce Publishing Ltd, 1 February 2007
  5. ^ Mick Walker's Japanese Grand Prix Racing Motorcycle. Mick Walker. Redline Books, 1 November 2002
  6. ^ Japanese Production Racing Motorcycles. Mick Walker. Redline Books, 15 September 2004
  7. ^ a b c Japan's Motorcycle Wars: An Industry History. Jeffrey W. Alexander. UBC Press, 31 January 2009
  8. ^ The Guinness book of motorcycling facts and feats. L.J.K. Setright Guinness Superlatives, 1979
  9. ^ Economic Tsunami: China's Car Industry Will Sweep Away Western Car Makers. Kevin James Baker. Rosenberg Publishing, 2007
  10. ^ The Kawasaki Triples Bible: All Road Models 1968-1980, Plus H1r and H2r Racers in Profile. Alastair Walker. Veloce Publishing Ltd, 15 January 2011
  11. ^ Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader. July 2004 Dominion Enterprises
  12. ^ New Meguro K3 Revives Important Chapter In Kawasaki History

January 01, 1970
meguro, motorcycles, were, built, meguro, manufacturing, motorcycle, works, 目黒製作所, founded, nobuji, murata, high, ranking, naval, officer, takaji, suzuki, 1937, first, japanese, motorcycle, companies, became, partner, kawasaki, heavy, industries, eventually, a. Meguro motorcycles were built by Meguro Manufacturing Co motorcycle works 目黒製作所 founded by Nobuji Murata and a high ranking naval officer Takaji Suzuki in 1937 One of the first Japanese motorcycle companies it became a partner of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd and was eventually absorbed Named after a district of Tokyo Meguro had its roots in Murato Iron Works which was established in 1924 Meguro Seisakusho which had once developed a copy of a Harley Davidson V twin was established to design and build gearboxes for the nascent Japanese motorcycle industry Abe Industries which had once produced its own motorcycle merged with Meguro in 1931 The brand is being revived by Kawasaki with a new K3 model to be introduced in Japan on February 1 2021 Meguro Manufacturing CompanyCompany typeMotorcycle manufacturerFoundedMeguro Tokyo Japan 1937 1937 DefunctOctober 1964 1964 10 merged into Kawasaki ProductsMotorcycles gearboxes Once a prestige brand supplying the Japanese government with military and police motorcycles and racing alongside Honda Meguro メグロ became bankrupt after launching a range of lightweight motorcycles which sold poorly and experiencing a yearlong labor strike The Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan Inc rates the Meguro Z97 model introduced in 1937 as one of their 240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology 1 Contents 1 History 2 Models 3 Influence on Kawasaki retro models 4 Revival of Brand 5 ReferencesHistory edit nbsp Meguro MR twin cylinder engine cutaway Although the first motorcycle arrived in Japan in 1895 it was not until the 1930s that its own motorcycle industry started to develop After the Wall Street Crash Meguro invested in Harley Davidson and obtained drawings tooling and important knowledge of metal heat treatments in order to make gearboxes These were then used in their vehicles and those of another early Japanese company called Rikuo literally Road King The resulting transfer of American intellectual property taught the Japanese how to produce motorcycles in quantity In 1935 Murato and Suzuki built a 500 cc single Z97 model based on a Swiss Motosacoche design but work was restricted due to the start of WW2 2 during which it supplied aircraft parts Meguro started full production again in 1948 the Z97 being joined by 125 cc 250 cc and 350 cc overhead valve singles In the 1950s Meguro entered racing and built its first twin cylinder design the 651 cc 39 7 cu in T1 Senior with a British design inspired pre unit parallel twin engine and later the K series Stamina model a copy of the BSA A7 one of which Meguro had bought in 1953 Its quality and engineering was superior to the BSA 3 and it was described by Edward Turner one of Britain s most talented motorcycle designers as too good to be true citation needed For the first time the Japanese motorcycle industry was seen as a threat 4 Its other models designed in collaboration with Kawasaki were entirely of Japanese design nbsp Meguro raced the 500 cc overhead camshaft single cylinder model at the Asama Kazan speedway circuit in Tsumagoi Gunma Prefecture 5 For many years the company was only outsold by Honda 6 In 1958 Meguro developed a range of 50 cc 125 cc 250 cc and 350 cc consumer products which failed in the market due to its being too expensive 7 In 1960 by which time it was Japan s longest running motorcycle company out of the hundreds that had once flourished producing copies of European models the company became affiliated with the Kawasaki Aircraft company It first changed its name in 1962 to Kawasaki Meguro which produced the successful B8 125 cc 7 then in October 1964 seeing the commercial and marketing value of having a motorcycle producing division alongside its heavy industry services and particularly its already established sales outlets 8 Kawasaki took full control of the company 9 having learnt all it needed to know 7 Together they started produced Kawasaki Meguro Works 125 cc 175 cc and 250 cc single cylinder vehicles The 500 cc K series twin cylinder model was later enlarged and developed into the 625 cc Kawasaki W series The latter model were used as official vehicles for government purposes 10 Models edit nbsp Meguro Kawasaki SG Parallel 2 cylinder 650 cc Meguro T1 Senior 1955 1960 OHV parallel twin cylinder 650 cc which is said to have had a strongest influence on the Kawasaki W series by whom citation needed Meguro T2 Senior 1957 1960 Variant of T1 Meguro Kawasaki 650 X 1966 Prototype only for the 12th 1966 Tokyo Motor Show Single cylinder 500 cc Meguro Z97 1937 1938 The company s first model a 500 cc OHV single cylinder Meguro Z98 1938 1941 Improved of the Z97 a OHV single cylinder 600 cc or 500 cc Meguro Z1 1947 1951 Similar to the pre war Z98 Meguro Z2 1951 1952 Meguro Z1 with hydraulic front fork Meguro Z3 1952 1953 Meguro Z2 with improvement to rear suspension Meguro Z5 1953 1955 Four speed gearbox Z4 was not used because in Japanese its sounds like a taboo word 4 meaning death Meguro Z6 1955 1956 Major engine improvements meaning it reached 20 horsepower and became the model adopted by the Japanese government Meguro Z7 Stamina 1956 1960 The last single cylinder Meguro Parallel 2 cylinder 500 cc Meguro K Stamina 1960 1965 Exhibited at the 1960 Tokyo Motor Show 39 horsepower Kawasaki 500 Meguro K2 1965 1966 Kawasaki Heavy Industries variant of Meguro K series Single cylinder 350 cc Meguro Y Rex 1953 1956 Smaller and lighter model based on the 1956 Meguro Z 346 cc 21 1 cu in OHV single cylinder engine producing 13 horsepower Meguro Y2 Rex 1957 1959 A steel framed variant of Meguro Y Output increased to 16 horsepower Single cylinder 325 cc Meguro FY 1959 1962 Sports model Meguro YA Argus 1959 1962 Improved version of FY Single cylinder 300 cc Meguro J3 J3A Junior 1952 1956 Meguro J 8 Argus 1963 Changes to exhaust system Single cylinder 250 cc Meguro J Junior 1950 1951 Japan s first 250 cc bike Rigid rear suspension but with a hydraulic front fork Meguro J2 Junior 1951 1952 A variant of Meguro J From 1952 the model is equipped with rear suspension OHV pushrod engine Meguro S Junior 1953 1954 The Meguro J series was upgraded to 350 cc and so a new model name was established for the 250 cc class Meguro S2 Junior 1954 1956 A variant of Meguro S with the first clarification needed four speed gearbox Meguro S3 Junior 1956 1959 Best selling model in the 250 cc series Meguro F 1958 1960 OHC model Meguro S5 Junior 1959 OHV engine model introduced due to sluggish sales of the Meguro F Meguro S7 Junior 1960 1963 12V electrical equipment with battery Meguro S 8 Junior 1962 1964 Last of the Meguro S series with rear suspension Meguro AT Auto Track 1962 1964 Based on Meguro S3 Kawasaki Meguro 250 SG 1964 1969 The last model sold with the brand name of Meguro Inspired the Kawasaki Estrella model citation needed Influence on Kawasaki retro models edit nbsp Kawasaki Estrella nbsp Kawasaki W650 In 1999 Kawasaki launched the W650 675 cc parallel twin retro style motorcycle inspired by the W2 11 and a 250 cc single cylinder four stroke Estrella inspired by an early Meguro model Kawasaki discontinued the W650 in 2007 but replaced it in 2011 with an enlarged version the 773cc W800 Revival of Brand editOn December 8 2020 Kawasaki announced the revival of the Meguro brand with a new model available on February 1 2021 The new model will be called the K3 and is based on the existing W800 Both bikes will be mechanically identical but the K3 will be visually distinct and sell at a higher price point 12 References edit Megro Z97 Motorcycle 240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan Inc Retrieved 11 August 2013 This model was manufactured as the first luxury class medium sized motorcycle for personal use in Japan and approximately 850 units were sold Popular Mechanics Feb 1953 Pictorial History of Japanese Motorcycles Cornelis Vandenheuvel MBI Publishing Company 18 July 1997 Edward Turner The Man Behind the Motorcycles Jeff Clew Veloce Publishing Ltd 1 February 2007 Mick Walker s Japanese Grand Prix Racing Motorcycle Mick Walker Redline Books 1 November 2002 Japanese Production Racing Motorcycles Mick Walker Redline Books 15 September 2004 a b c Japan s Motorcycle Wars An Industry History Jeffrey W Alexander UBC Press 31 January 2009 The Guinness book of motorcycling facts and feats L J K Setright Guinness Superlatives 1979 Economic Tsunami China s Car Industry Will Sweep Away Western Car Makers Kevin James Baker Rosenberg Publishing 2007 The Kawasaki Triples Bible All Road Models 1968 1980 Plus H1r and H2r Racers in Profile Alastair Walker Veloce Publishing Ltd 15 January 2011 Walneck s Classic Cycle Trader July 2004 Dominion Enterprises New Meguro K3 Revives Important Chapter In Kawasaki History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Meguro motorcycles amp oldid 1155381435, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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