Cool Classic Scooters of Japan

Sometimes you come across a vehicle, whether on the road or online, that blows your mind. Over the past century, you can see the creativity of scooter designers increasing as new models are produced, each more wonderful than the one. But, it feels incomplete when we talk about motorized vehicles (in this case a scooter) if we don't include Japan in them.

1968 Fuji Rabbit S-301, a vintage Japanese scooter with 125cc displacement. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2nKnJKf)

Yes, Japan is one of the countries in East Asia which since the beginning of the 20th century has also been known as one of the world's giant automotive industry countries. And apparently, Japan has also produced many classic scooters that can be said to be cool in their hey days.

After in a number of articles we have discussed the row of classic scooters produced by countries in Europe and America, then on this occasion will be discussed about the cool classic scooters that have been produced by Japan.

1. Fuji Rabbit S-1 Series

By looking at the world's automotive history, before Piaggio and Innocenti produced their first scooter there were already several similar scooter products made by other companies. One of them is the Fuji Rabbit S-1 Series.

1946 Fuji Rabbit Superflow S-1 series uses a 135cc engine. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2ncfBld)

Initially, the scooter-making company was a fighter-making company during the 2nd World War named Nakajima Aircraft Co. which produced various types of military aircrafts. And since 1945, the company was dissolved and reformed as Fuji Sangyo Co., which only concentrated on producing all the needs of civil transportation.

1960 Fuji Rabbit Superflow S601 with 200cc displacement. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2ncfBld)

And in 1946 was born the company's first scooter given the name of Fuji Rabbit S-1 Series. Yes, six months before the Italian companies Piaggio and Innocenti began their first 'Vespa' and Lambretta scooter productions, the Japanese company had produced their scooters.

Fuji Rabbit S-1 Series scooter was inspired by this US-made scooter named 1938 Powell Streamliner. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2ncfBld)

The Fuji Rabbit scooter design was inspired by the Powell scooter model made by the Southern California-based automotive company named Powell Manufacturing Company (PMC).

1960 Fuji Rabbit Superflow S601 sold only in North America market. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2ncfBld)

Fuji Rabiit S-1 Series uses a 135cc engine. Uniquely, this scooter was not sold in the Asian automotive market at the time, but was more famous in the North America countries. The Fuji Rabbit began to enter the American market in 1957 with the Fuji Rabbit Superflow S601 series that carrying the 200 cc engine and around 74,694 units sold at the time.

1960 Fuji Rabbit Superflow S601. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2ncfBld)

Unfortunately, this Japanese scooter trip did not last long. After running 22 years, the Japanese company ceased the scooter production in 1968. Then, under the named of Fuji Heavy Industries after reformed in 1953 and the company succeeded to create its first car product named Subaru 1500 a year later and continued in penetrating the world's automotive market and successfully survived to date.

2. Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon C-10

After the 2nd World War ended, it could be said the scooters usually are used to help reconstruct the country which have been devastated by the war. Yes, long before it was known as the world's famous car manufacturer, Mitsubishi also made the scooters.

1946 Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon C-10 powered by a 112cc 4-stroke side-valve air-cooled single-cylinder engine developing 1.5 PS. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2n63p5C)

In fact, the scooter once had a chance to reap success for more than 10 years. In fact, this scooter is one of the 240 original Japanese vehicles released by The Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan. Even one of the Silver Pigeon scooters has been dedicated to the Emperor of Japan in 1948.

The first version of the Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon C-10 scooter imported directly from the United States by an engineer at General Motors named Kojiro Maruyama. He had bought a scooter back with him from America. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was so impressed, then invited him to join and start work on a Japanese-made scooter version. The Mitsubishi scooter production start from 1946 and was finally ceased in 1963.

1955 Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon C70 with 125cc two-stroke engine. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2m0Up1D)

For 17 years, there are at least 17 scooter models offered. However, that does not mean the company release a facelift version of the scooter once a year. Hence, in 1960, there were 5 new variants released, namely C-111, C-200, C-300, C76, and C110. Still in the same year, again the company was presented a new variant of the C-300.

1962 Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon C110 with 175cc four-stroke engine developing 8.3 hp. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2ncUxLn)

Thus, the type of engines were offered also varies, ranging from 112cc, 125cc, 143cc, 175cc 2-stroke, 175cc 4-stroke, 192cc 2-stroke, 192cc 4-stroke, up to 200cc. In fact, the biggest engine ever made reaches 210cc with 2-stroke and 4-stroke configurations.
Of the various models circulating over 17 years, there were 463 thousand units of Mitsubishi's scooters have been sold. And as the best-selling variant is the 1960 Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon C-200 scooter with the sales figures reaching 38,000 units.

3. Honda Juno K

Honda debuted its first scooter named Honda Juno K in January 1954. At that time, in Japan's domestic scooter market was dominated by 2 other famous scooter products, namely Fuji Rabbit and Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon. Although coming up as a challenger, Honda did not want half measures in developing its first scooter.

1954 Honda Juno K has been provided with some pretty good details, name it the self-starter, height windscreen and the turn signal positioned near the windscreen. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2n4OCZ4)

By design, the Honda Juno K is often referred to as a "future" scooter figure. Why? Because the Honda's scooter has been provided with some pretty good details, name it the self-starter, height windscreen that able to protect the rider from the wind exposure and its turn signal positioned near the windscreen. And when examined, Juno actually looks like a Tourer-Scooter.

1954 Honda Juno K is the second vehicle in the world to apply the Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) bodykit after the 1953 Chevy Corvette applied it a year earlier. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2m1F1SI)

Besides that, the Honda Juno K was the first scooter to apply the Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) bodykit, the newest vehicle body material at that time. And the Honda Juno K is the second vehicles in the world to use this unique body material, having been applied for the first time in the 1953 Chevy Corvette or a year earlier.

1954 Honda Juno K used a single cylinder 4-stroke OHV engine with a capacity of 189 cc, and coupled with the 3-speed transmission system. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2nblz5S)

In the engine sector, the Honda Juno K is also no less classy than other Japanese scooters. In fact, the scooter has the most qualified power among the scooters at the time. This Honda's first scooter used a single cylinder 4-stroke OHV engine with a capacity of 189 cc, and coupled with the 3-speed transmission system. The power amount reaching of 9.0 horse power at 5,500 rpm and capable of running up to the top speed of 70 kph.

Well . . One thing to note. Although the Honda Juno K carries various advantages that even exceed its time. The scooter actually failed to gain success in the Japanese scooter market. Yes, the Honda's first scooter was considered too expensive, the engine often overheat quickly and the weight is relatively hefty compared to the scooters in general at that time. (Wanna see the French-made classic scooters.)

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of two-wheeled monster and stay alive with the true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CATAWIKI]

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