They were only small at first, but they helped many discover two-wheels…
The majority of a certain age owe our biking life to Japanese motorcycles, as they’re the ones that started us off. Before that, motorcycling was dominated by Triumph, BSA, Norton, and Royal Enfield. These makes were what the older brothers and dads were riding, but were often expensive, heavy, and sometimes unreliable for everyday use by a youngster with little sympathy. When the first Japanese models — particularly from Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki reached the UK, they were small capacity so insurable, offered affordability and reliability.
For many young riders, especially in postwar Britain, money was tight. Come the late ‘50s, Japanese bikes started to appear and later became the gateway into motorcycling thanks to their lower price and running costs. And crucially, they were often as quick as a larger Brit bike, like the Suzuki GT185 and Yamaha CS5, which for their time were howlingly quick.
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The new breed also had electric starters, oil-tight engines, and smooth four-stroke motors that were a stark contrast to the out-of-date, oily, temperamental machines the British management thought they could get away with offering. And the Japanese caught them out.
These new bikes changed biking for younger riders. Japanese bikes introduced a modern and futuristic image. The bikes were sleek, colourful, and came with new technology — the British makes had sat on their laurels for too long.
A key moment came in 1962 when Honda ran its famous “You meet the nicest people on a Honda” campaign. This helped motorcycling appeal for younger and more mainstream audiences including students, women, and new riders. The idea that motorcycling could be friendly and approachable rather than rough or rebellious radically changed perceptions in the UK.
By the ‘70s, Japanese bikes had redefined motorcycling in the UK. They offered youth a pathway into personal freedom, modern engineering, and affordable adventure. Those small Far Eastern bikes stuck with some, while others took to British bikes. But regardless where we have ended up, many have to be thankful to those colourful machines from Japan for holding their hand as a first step into motorcycling.
