Considering that Tokyo’s yearly motorcycle show is the home field for four of the biggest OEMs, it's no surprise that it’s the scene for some wild new concepts – it's all a part of the competitive one-upsmanship typical of the Japanese corporate culture.
For this year's show, Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha all had new concepts to wow the crowd, with machines ranging from futuristic engineering exercises (built as an excuse for each manufacturer to show their superior technological capabilities) to prototypes that look ready to roll off the production line and onto the street any day now. And make sure you also take a look at the accompanying photo gallery for more pics of these cool bikes.
Yamaha has taken the retro path as well, though not quite as sportily as Honda. The first of their concepts is called the Sakura, and it's a beautiful upright-style 'standard' powered by an extremely retro-looking 1000cc V-Twin. The cylinder heads have a classic shape that reminds me of older British machines, and the dual rear shocks, tubular steel frame, and wire-spoke wheels continue the theme. Yamaha claims the machine is lightweight and easy to handle, with a low seat height - which makes sense, as retro models like these are probably popular among those getting back in motorcycling after a long absence, and the Sakura should have a nice, torquey powerband matched with conservative handling, perfect for a relaxed ride through the countryside.
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2007 Tokyo Motor Show on Motorcycle.com
2007 Tokyo Motor Show
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