Motorcycles

In pictures: The 42nd Tokyo Motorcycle Show 2015

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Tokyo Motorcycle Show is very much a see and be seen event (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Every attendee to the show was greeted by this amazing creation by Zuun (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Zuun Kunamoto with his creations (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Unfortunately, neither the of these were driveable, let alone road legal (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The K 1600 GTL-based Ken's Factory Special on the BMW stand (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
These custom specials arre based on the K1600 GTL (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Ken's Factory Special created by Kenji Nagai (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The other Motorcycle in the Ignite 6 project was the Juggernaut (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Both these Custom Motorcycles are award winners (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The Juggernaut by Hot-Dock Custom-Cycles (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The K 1600 GTL-based Ken's Factory Special (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Two very popular Motorcycles that BMW said, when asked, would sadly remain only one off specials (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The Clubman Racer is one of the Motorcycles from the R nineT Custom Project. It was built by Shiro Nakajima of 46Works (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The Highway Fighter created by Kaichiro Kurosu (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The Clubman Racer is one of the Motorcycles from the R nineT Custom Project (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The Cyclone, built by Go Takamine as part of the the R nineT Custom Project (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Another view of the Cyclone from Brat Style (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
All four of the R nineT Custom Project are based on the BMW RnineT (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
BMW`s entry into the Big Scooter market in Japan is the C 650 GT (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The face of the BMW R1200 GS Adventure (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The BMW S1000 XR (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The BMW S1000 XR (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Race and Street versions of the BMW S 1000RR (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
This custom Kawasaki is made by a company called PMC.Inc (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
This custom Kawasaki is made by a company called PMC.Inc (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
On the Motorcycle Art stand was this customized HMC Ducati (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
39BOY is the mascot for the 42nd Tokyo Motorcycle show ... though he doesn't look too happy about it (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Rear view of the Vyrus 986 M2 Strada (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Vyrus 986 M2 Strada (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The amazing VYRUS 986 M2 Strada, was very much the center of attention on the Motorcycle Art stand (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
MV Agusta Stradale (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
MotoGuzzi V7 Sport (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
On the Sakuma Engineering stand was this Side car combination that uses a Honda PCX as the motive power (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Royal Enfield has been producing hand crafted Motorcycles since 1901 - this is the Continental GT (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
This the front face of the new AD Spyder by Adiva (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The AD Spyder features a retractable roof and is designed to keep the two riders relatively dry in the rain (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Wide stance and wild colors make the AD Spyder a imposing machine (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
In this rear view of the AD Spyder, we see the option of rear paniers (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The new Can-Am Spyder F3 from BRP (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Can-Am had a range of Spyder products on display from the new F3 to the RT (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
On the Kawasaki stand the Ninja was very much center stage – especially the H2 and H2R (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The Kawasaki Ninja H2R is powered by a 998cc Supercharged engine and will be available in Japan from July this year (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Both very imposing and powerful Motorcycles that GIZMAG is very interested in (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Based on the Honda CB1100EX, art meets fine engineering in this Cafe-Classic (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Based on the Honda CB1100EX, art meets fine engineering in this Cafe-Classic (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
This little creation is by Motor-Shiftup (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Called Estrella, this machine was built as part of 60th Anniversary celebrations by Japanese Custom parts company Hurricane (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Called Estrella, this machine was built as part of 60th Anniversary celebrations by Japanese Custom parts company Hurricane (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
SYM from Taipei showed a new entry for the mid-range Scooter market, the Joymaz 125i (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Harley-Davidson Street 750 (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
New for 2015, the retro-style Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Harley-Davidson Tri Glide Ultra and is powered by a 1700cc engine (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The little and large of the Tokyo Motorcycle show (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Honda VT 750 C2B Shadow Black Sprint, ridden by Ride Vendor from the Japanese TV series Kamen Rider (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
When Ride Vendor needs to go off-road he uses this mechine (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Custom motorcycle by Bagus! based on a Kawasaki ZEPH YR 750 (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Two DUCATI Corse`s under the Super-bike banner (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Ducati Urban Enduro (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Ducati Icon (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
DUCATI had a very interesting series of stands where they depicted each model in a setting that it is designed to live in (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Ducati Classic (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
In 2014 Honda created a storm with the NM4 (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Honda made a commotion with the a concept model called the Bulldog (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The Bulldog has front and rear carriers as well as storage areas next to the fuel tank (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
With a seat height of only 730mm and wide 15 inch tires, the Bulldog has both a low center of gravity and solid stance (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
This is the SFA (Small Fun Advanced Motorcycle (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
A 4 stroke DOHC of unknown size was slated as the potential power unit in the concept SFA (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Honda True Adventure concept (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The RC213V -S shares its main mechanics with the RC213V MotoGP works machine (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Honda likes you to love Bikes and love it`s Bikes (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Honda's RC213V MotoGP works machine (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Honda's RC213V MotoGP works machine (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Not on the Honda stand but in the show were these machines. These are Honda Motocompo`s and were folding scooters sold from 1981-1983 (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The main news on the Suzuki stand was the return to MotoGP (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Another draw on the Suzuki stand was the GSR 250F (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The main news on the Suzuki stand was the return to MotoGP (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Yamaha's Bolt-C - a racing version of its new Bolt Cafe (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Yamaha's Bolt-C - a racing version of its new Bolt Cafe (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Yamaha's Bolt-C - a racing version of its new Bolt Cafe (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The Bolt-C was shown below a very large photo of the Bolt Cafe on which it is based (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The MT-07 from Yamaha (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
With the MT-09 Tracer aims to bridge the gap between the road and trail (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
These are Yamaha SEROW 250`s ...again in a natural setting (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Yamaha's Tmax 530 is aimed at the luxury end of the Big scooter market (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Another Yamaha Bolt, this time customized by Zero Design Works – the Bolt R-Spec (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Triumph Motorcycles' customized motorcycle based on the America model (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Next to the Royal Bad Style Joker was the Royal Bad style ACE with the collaboration the ACE CAFE London (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Triumph Scrambler 800 (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Triumph Rocket III Roadster (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Powering the Rocket III Roadster is a 2294cc Triple (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
This is the TRIUMPH Street Triple R. In the background is the DAYTONA 675 (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Triumph had a brace of Tigers on display - the XRx on the left and the XCx on the right (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Zero Engineering is one of the largest names in the motorcycle industry in Japan (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Zero Engineering had many customized models on display (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Zero Engineering had many customized models on display (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
KTM premiered two new models (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
This is the KTM RC 250 mid-range Sports Bike (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The KTM 250 Duke mid-range Naked street Bike (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The KTM conference was well attended by many of the journalist at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The Yamaha TriCity (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Two models of the Yamaha TriCity were shown on the stand, either with or without ABS (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
In this rear view we can see the degree of lean the TriCity can achieve (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The Roadmaster from Indian (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The Roadmaster from Indian (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The rides of some of the 28,400 visitors that attended the show on the first day (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Made in Germany the Bike Box 24, offeres a safe and secure place to keep your valuable Motorcycle (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Press Kogyo's Moto-Cellar, an indoor or outdoor hideaway for your motorcycle (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
At the press of button the window glass becomes transparent (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Access to the Moto-Cellar is through this top hinged rear door (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
The theme of this years 42nd Tokyo Motorcycle show was “Personal Motorcycle Lifestyles”,See you next year at the 43rd show (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
Tokyo Motorcycle Show is very much a see and be seen event (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)
View gallery - 113 images

This year's 42nd Tokyo Motorcycle Show saw the big Japanese four of Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki with an array of production and concept models on display. Gizmag joined the crowds at Tokyo Big Sight to check out the scores of cafe racers, cruisers, trikes, scooters and superbikes on show.

For the five million or so motorcyclists that roam Japan, the Tokyo Motorcycle Show is very much a see and be seen event. These riders were also a welcome sight for the many manufacturers at this year's show as motorcycle sales in Japan have recently slowed, dropping 0.6 percent last year compared to 2013 (416,723 units down from 419,398 units). The majority of these sales are in the under 50cc category, but sales of bikes over 125 cc are on the rise. This could in part be due to the growing trend of middle-aged "return riders" looking to revisit their misspent youth of the 60s and 70s on suitably retro-styled machines – a trend reflected in the many 1960'- 70's style machines on the show floor.

In terms of motorcycle production within Japan, the big four produced almost 600,000 motorcycles in 2014 (Yamaha 222, 297, Suzuki 150,985, Honda 142,388 and Kawasaki 80,532 and all brought their wares to Tokyo along with an wide assortment of international and boutique producers.

Honda

Honda had the biggest presence on the floor with its chunky Bulldog Concept grabbing plenty of attention. This so called "Lovable Touring Partner" sits on 15-inch tires and has a seat height of 730mm, creating both a low center of gravity and a solid stance. Power comes from a liquid-cooled 4-stroke DOHC inline 2-cylinder 400 cc engine driven through a 6 speed transmission. For camping and touring, the concept is equipped with front and rear carriers and accessory storage on both sides of the fuel tank.

Honda made a commotion with the a concept model called the Bulldog (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)

Other concept/prototype Motorcycles from Honda included the CRF250 Rally, an adventure model based on the CRF250L with styling inspired by the CRF450 Rally; the SFA (Small Fun Advanced), a Street-fighter style light-weight motorcycle with a single cylinder engine mounted on a trellis frame; the RC213V-S road-bike, which shares design features with the RC213V MotoGP works machine; and the True Adventure off-road tourer.

A 4 stroke DOHC of unknown size was slated as the potential power unit in the concept SFA (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)

The RC213V -S shares its main mechanics with the RC213V MotoGP works machine (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)

Honda True Adventure concept (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)

Yamaha

On the Yamaha stand, production machines took center stage. Unfortunately its recent concepts were not there – perhaps we'll get a chance to see them in the flesh at the Tokyo Motor Show later this year. What was new was the 950 cc Bolt Café racer along with a racing version of the same machine, the Bolt C.

Yamaha's Bolt-C - a racing version of its new Bolt Cafe (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)

Other notable machines included the new MT-09 Tracer, an 850 cc rally version of the normal MT-09; the new TMAX 530 Big Scooter and the 3-wheeled TriCity.

With the MT-09 Tracer aims to bridge the gap between the road and trail (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)

Suzuki

The buzz around the Suzuki stand was the news of its return to racing MotoGP as the Suzuki Ecstar team. The GSR 250 F and a face-lifted GSX 1300R Hayabusa were also on show.

The main news on the Suzuki stand was the return to MotoGP (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)

Kawasaki

On the Kawasaki stand, the main focus was on its Ninja range, with the Ninja H2 and Ninja H2R occupying center stage.

On the Kawasaki stand the Ninja was very much center stage – especially the H2 and H2R (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)

Best of the rest

KTM used the Tokyo Motorcycle Show to debut its new compact sports bikes – the Duke 250 and the RC 250.

KTM premiered two new models (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)

On the BMW stand, two very interesting custom creations the crowd – the Juggernaut and Ken's Factory Special. Both of these machines used the mechanics of the K 1600GTL and were created to celebrate the straight six under the banner of Ignite Straight Six. There was also a range of radical customizations bikes from the R nine T Custom project on display.

Another view of the Cyclone from Brat Style (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)

This year also saw the launch of the ADseries from a Adiva, while Harley-Davidson's Tri Glide Ultra trike also drew the crowds.

Wide stance and wild colors make the AD Spyder a imposing machine (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)

Harley-Davidson Tri Glide Ultra and is powered by a 1700cc engine (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)

Our final mention goes to two creations by Zuun Kumamoto from Junk Art Studio – Kazama and the Big Bike. Unfortunately, these machines don't run, but they certainly made a serious impact on visitors arriving at the show.

Every attendee to the show was greeted by this amazing creation by Zuun (Photo: Stephen Clemenger/Gizmag.com)

Check out all the highlights in our 2015 Tokyo Motorcycle Show photo gallery.

View gallery - 113 images
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1 comment
Daishi
I was expecting to see Suzuki throw their hat into the ring in the 250/300 sport/supersport class but a GSX-R 300 would have been more interesting than a GSR 250F.
The 600cc supersports are popular but make more power than necessary for public roads (or new riders). Out of the R3, 300 Ninja, CBR300R, and KTM RC390 the Honda is the cheapest and slowest and the GSR 250F will probably land solidly behind that.
It's an important threshold because the CBR300R seems to start to struggle above 80 MPH so I'm not sure if going with something any slower than that would be worth the compromise because you are mostly stuck needing to replace it with something faster once you learn how to ride.
The other bikes seem like a better choice because they are still new rider friendly and you can choose to keep them once you get the hang of things. The Honda is listed at 77 MPG but the gap probably closes between it and the others at 75-80 MPH instead where you would need to leave it almost pinned.
Some of the bikes in that segment are listed and dyno'd here: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/2015-yamaha-r3-dyno-run-video-and-power-comparison-dyno-test