JAPAUTO

1000 Endurance I 950 SS -1973

Star of the Bol dÂ’Or

The biggest Honda retailer in Europe, Christian Vilaseca was a great sports type, when he mounted his attack on the Bol d'Or in 1970. Not content to enter a Honda, Vilaseca wanted to run a bike bearing his business's name - Japauto. The famed 750 four had its displacement increased to 946cc, a second front brake disc was added downstream of the first and the whole was dad in a full fairing.

Biggest Was Best

In 1971, the japauto - the biggest displacement bike entered for the Bol d'Or - finished

no better than 20th, but Vilaseca achieved his goal in 1972, when the Japauto of Ruiz / Debrock won the famous race.

New Fairing

In 1973, the ]apauto sported a new wedge-shaped fairing designed by Motorcycle Sport Design, as voluminous as it was original and very aerodynamic. The comfort it gave – exceptional for an endurance bike - was greatly appreciated by Debrock and. Tchernine, who, despite bad weather, won a second victory in the 1973 Bol d'Or. In 1974, the Japauto adopted four-pad brake calipers and a frame built by PEM, following the Honda layout. Vileseca executed a more personally-designed frame for the 1975 version. Even before these successes in the Bol d'Or, Vilaseca placed a version of this bike on sale under the name "950 SS." In fact, it consisted of a kit including four sleeves and four pistons (made in France), plus a complete cylinder block, a second front disc brake and an iodine headlamp. In 1971, fitting the 950 SS kit added over 30 percent to the cost of a new 750 Honda.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 946cc (70x63mm) air-cooled fourcylinder four-stroke; dry-sump lubrication

Power Rating: 100 hp@ 8000 rpm

Valves: overhead-camshaft. 8 valves

Fuel System: four 31.5mm Keihin carburetors

Transmission: 5-speed, chain final drive

Suspension: telescopic forks (front); Swing arm (rear)

Brakes: rwin Brembo 11.8 inch discs (front);

Lockheed 1 1 .8 inch disc (rear)

Weight: 441 lb

Maximum Speed: 137 mph

Built to the old formula that "there's no substitute for cubic inches, "the Japauto was a gentle giant, both in its street version (photo) and in the Bol dÂ’Or.