Welcome to the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle
Club
Welcome to the VJMC, the UK’s premier club for
Japanese bikes fifteen years old and over. The club was founded in 1982 by a small group of
like minded enthusiasts..
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Welcome to the December edition of Tansha and festive greetings to one and all! Here’s to a
peaceful Yuletide, Happy New Year and hoping Santa will bring you those NOS spares and shiny
new tools you need.
This issue should appeal to our two stroke enthusiasts in general and the Kawasaki fans in
particular; those who are fascinated by engines should also be in for a treat as well. We’ve
been given unfettered access to the archives of Mortons Media who publish Classic Motorcycle
Mechanics along with other classic two wheeler magazines. Over the coming months we’ll be
running a series of CMM archive engine rebuild features covering motors from The Big Four. If
you look closely you may even spot the odd well-known VJMC face! We’re kicking off with one of
Kawasaki’s smaller triples along with front cover shot of the iconic S2 model. And to add a
touch of genuine, period, feel there’s also a comprehensive and incisive road test of an S2
written by the late John Robinson. For those who don’t know him John was a commensurate
journalist, analytical thinker and keen expert on all things two wheeled. His style was
accurate and informative, open and critical yet always entertaining. The S2 road test, from
1971 details just how different and impressive the bike was from virtually anything of
similar capacity and what an impact it made on JR at the time. Hopefully you’ll find it all an
enjoyable and entertaining addition to Tansha.
Elsewhere in the magazine you’ll find various show and event reports from around the country.
Three of our sections, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, have been at the Copdock show which has
traditionally been a British bike event. Over the years the VJMC’s presence has been variously
controversial, overlooked, ignored and derided but hopefully folk are becoming a little more
open minded at long last. Well done and thank you to all those involved who continue to fly the
VJMC flag at this event. Also featured in the December issue is coverage of the October
Stafford which is essentially a spectacular show case for those within the club who carry out
precise restorations then take the time out to display their hard work. Not everyone has the
opportunity or facilities to restore old bikes and no one surely thinks those that do are in it
for the money? If it wasn’t for the gallons of midnight oil burnt in numerous member’s shed,
garages and workshops there wouldn’t be a VJMC stand at the event. Thanks to all those who
bring their bikes to what many see as the premier event of the year and also to the Show Team
and all their helpers who work behind the scenes, before, during and after the event. And to
all of the sections and individuals who represent the club at events around the country thank
you for all your hard work.
Looking to whet your appetite for the coming year we should be featuring a rare and unusual
Japanese machine shortly and one that falls outside the remit of the usual major players. So on
that note is there anyone in the club who has bikes made by Tohatsu, Lilac, Pointer, Cabton
etc?
If so, please get in touch and let us know about the bikes from them, and other manufacturers
that seem to have fallen off the radar.
As we move into what’s referred to as ‘shed season’ I’m hoping to finish off the street
scrambler that’s still on the bench, sort out the loss of primary compression on one of my
stroker tiddlers and, hopefully, take delivery of another machine. Yes, I know it’s a stupid
thing to do when I’ve got others that need some TLC but you know how easy it is when you see
that ‘special’ bike? Or is it just me then? If you’re similarly afflicted by random bike
purchases, please share them with the members.
Have a cool Yule.
Thanks,
Steve Cooper
VJMC Editor
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