Rikuo Motorcycle
1957 Rikuo RQ750
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| Manufacturer | Rikuo Nainenki |
|---|---|
| Assembly | Hiroshima, Japan |
| Predecessor | 750RS |
| Class | Standard |
| Engine | 747 cc (45.6 cu in) Air Cooled, Side Valve V-Twin |
| Top speed | 97 km/h (60 mph) |
| Power | 22 hp (16 kW) @ 4250 rpm |
| Torque | 4 kg·m (39 N·m; 29 lbf·ft) @ 3000 rpm |
| Transmission | 3 Forward, 1 Reverse |
| Weight | 230 kg (510 lb) (dry) |
Rikuo Internal Combustion Company 陸王 (Rikuō Nainenki Kabushiki kaisha?) was one of the first motorcycle manufacturing companies in Japan. In the early 1930s Rikuo operated under the license and name of Harley-Davidson, using their tooling, and later under the name Rikuo until 1958. Harley-Davidson themselves did not publicize this Japanese connection because the Japanese were helped in developing mass-production techniques by the introduction of this factory into Japan just prior to the Second World War. The (Japanese) rates the 1935 Rikuoh Large Motorcycle as one of their 240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology.
The production of the Harley-Davidson in Japan resulted in large part from the United Kingdom's McKenna Tariffs modification of 1921. In 1921 the Safeguarding of Industries act placed duties of 33.3 percent on 6500 items. The tariffs were put into place to protect UK industry and levied a steep import duty against the American brands which were seen as damaging the UK motorcycle industry. This had the effect of denying Harley-Davidson one of their largest markets (Australia). At this time there are dozens of Japanese Motorcycle companies which are small shops spread all throughout Japan.
The Japanese government also was alarmed by the damage being done to their economy by Harley-Davidson. In 1924 the Military Subsidy law allowed the government to subsidize certain industries in order to encourage domestic production. Motorcycle production that had been conducted in small shops was now immediately being performed in large factories. Major Japanese industries were now manufacturing motorcycles. Both Murata Iron works and Toyo Kogyo, later called Mazda, tried to copy the Harley-Davidson motorcycle and failed.
During the Great Depression of 1929 Harley-Davidson was on the verge of bankruptcy. Having lost much of their overseas sales to the British Commonwealth nations, Harley-Davidson looked to Japan to make up for their losses.
Rikuo, a licensed copy of the Harley-Davidson, started production in 1929. In 1931 Dabittoson Harley Motorcycle Co., Ltd. was established in Japan. Dabittoson started domestic production of the Harley-Davidson Road King Motorcycle. The 4-cycle, 1200 cc, side-valve V-twin engine produces 28 horsepower for a top speed of 97 km per hour.
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