RIKUO

750 RX - 1960

Harley's rising sun

Before it developed its own identity during the 1950s and began to export, Japan concentrated on slavish copies of European and American machines. After World War II, probably the best known of these foreign marques in Japan was Harley-Davidson, even though the bulk of a Harley was scarcely ideal for the narrow roads of Japan's cities.

Bikes for the Chrysanthemum Throne

But the first Harley-Davidson agency in Japan had been founded as early as 1923 by Alfred R. Child, and these prestigious machines were soon equipping the army, the police and even Hirohito's imperial escort. Finally, in 1936 Child founded the Rikuo Airstone company ("Rikuo" = "King of the Road") to build Harley-Davidsons under license in Japan. Scarcely was the ink dry on the agreement when Japan armed itself and invaded China. Child was repatriated under military escort. However, Rikuo continued production until 1962.

Copies of BMW Too

Alongside the close copies of the 750, 1000 and 1200cc side-valve Barleys, it also built 350cc shaft-drive singles based on the BMW, and in 1956 launched a 125 two-stroke. The Rikuos were far and away the biggest bikes built in japan for many years, when other marques restricted themselves to 500cc. The first overhead valve Rikuo, the RX succeeded the archaic side-valve RT II, a copy of the famous wartime Harley WL 45.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 747cc (70x97mm) air-cooled 45-degree V-twin four-stroke

Valves: overhead

Fuel System: carburetor

Transmission: 4-speed; chain final drive

Suspension: telescopic forks (front); swinging fork (rear)

Brakes: drum (front & rear)

Wheels: 5.00x16 inch (front & rear)

Weight: 507 lb

Maximum Speed: approx. 80 mph

This rare 1960 prototype was the swan song of Rikuo, for Japan, already starting its invasion of America, had left its doors ajar for the genuine Harley-Davidsons.