Topic: New Honda CB750 rumoured

[TwoTired]

@ Tower,
See:  http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa032.html

The tariffs for "heavyweight" motorcycles were implemented in 1983 in the US.  I'm not aware of any restrictions in the 60's.  Perhaps you can post a reference?

"On April 1, 1983, President Reagan adopted the ITC recommendation, with minor alterations. Appended were provisions to lessen the impact of the federal relief on small foreign suppliers. The order allows 5,000 West German motorcycles each year to come in without duty increases, with the allowance rising to 6,000 in the second year, 7,000 in the third year, 8,500 in the fourth year, and 10,000 in the fifth year. It also allows 4,000 units from Britain and Italy to come in at the old rate (increasing by 1,000 units annually for five years). Japan is to be permitted to send 6,000 units (increasing by 1,000 units annually) to the United States at the old duty. In 1982, 80 percent of the imported heavyweight motorcycles were Japanese. With the provisions that were added to the ITC plan, the tariff affects trade with the Japanese companies almost exclusively."

Cheers,

[754]

I dont remember size restriction in Noth America.

Where the tarrifs on all the Japanese or just over a certain size. As I seem to recall the excess inventories of unsold bikes were part of what set that off.. think Yamaha 400 twins.. that sort of thing..

[Tower]

Yes, @754, I think you've got.  In the USA it was a tariff on anything over 750cc a.k.a. "heavyweight" motorcycles.

As usual, leave it to governments to stick it to the individuals. In this case, The Japanese did their thing in retaliation (or perhaps it was the other way around).  They required anyone in Japan who wanted to ride a "heavyweight" motorcycle to take a special "safety" test.  The test was absurd, and almost no one passed it.  i.e. it was just a clever way to avoid saying "tariff" or "import restriction". 

Interestingly enough, in Canada, up to the late 50s there wasn't even a license requirement for motorcycles.  As "heavyweight" became an issue, licensing became mandatory (first it was only a census measure yah right)

edit: TT was that the 1980s..man time flies.  Could've swore tariffs happened earlier.
edit: rode my first motorcycle in 1956.

[TwoTired]

The US import tariff of 1983 placed extra duties on bikes of 700cc in displacement and larger.  That's why my 84 (or is it 85?) CB700SC is 697ccs.

Elsewhere in the world (like Canada) you could buy the same bike with 750cc (or nearly so), though it did have different transmission ratios.

I always wondered if Honda sold many oversize pistons in the US for the 700 sized bikes.    The thing is pretty danged fast as it is.  I'm not sure where you'd need the extra displacement except at the track.

Cheers,

[BobbyR]

Kawasaki built a Motorcycle plant in Lincoln Nebraska in 1974. They have just ceased building bikes there and now it does all thier other sport powercraft and their Railcar plant. The trarrifs were put in place to protect Harley. Harley was a very sick puppy.

When NY in the late 1960s established the Motorcycle as a seperaste endorsement on your Drivers License they also instituted the Helmet Law. There were plans to only License you up to the engine displacement and weight bike you were tested on. That never happened, today you could road test on a 125cc and ride a Hyabusa.

[Gordon]

There were plans to only License you up to the engine displacement and weight bike you were tested on. That never happened, today you could road test on a 125cc and ride a Hyabusa.

Well, at least they're consistent.

To me that's not much different than getting a driver's license in a Toyota and then going out and driving a Porsche.  Or what scares me even more is the fact that any person with a regular license can go rent a 35' box truck and drive it around the city!

[merc2dogs]

Well, at least they're consistent.

To me that's not much different than getting a driver's license in a Toyota and then going out and driving a Porsche.  Or what scares me even more is the fact that any person with a regular license can go rent a 35' box truck and drive it around the city!

 If that scares you, there's a FEDERAL law that says you as a licensed driver do not have to hold a CDL or any other special license to operate an 18 wheeler on the road so long as you are not using it 'for hire' Federal law means that states can not circumvent it.  You can't hire it out to haul anything, but there's nothing at all to stop you from delivering something you've sold for a set amount.

  Found out about that law when I got curious after seeing 'not for hire' painted on a lot of  privately  owned trucks.

Ken.

[Gordon]

 If that scares you, there's a FEDERAL law that says you as a licensed driver do not have to hold a CDL or any other special license to operate an 18 wheeler on the road so long as you are not using it 'for hire'

Nice!  I'm off to buy me a Big Rig then!  

[Ecosse]

I've always wondered about the relevance of the 'not for hire' on the side of trucks. Now I'll know to steer clear of those!

[nickjtc]

I've always wondered about the relevance of the 'not for hire' on the side of trucks. Now I'll know to steer clear of those!

Don't know about there, but a person is smart to keep clear of any big rig hereabouts. Especially if you are on a motorcycle.

[Ecosse]

I've always wondered about the relevance of the 'not for hire' on the side of trucks. Now I'll know to steer clear of those!

Don't know about there, but a person is smart to keep clear of any big rig hereabouts. Especially if you are on a motorcycle.

Good point, elsewhere (can't remember) there's a video documenting  a riders experience after some jerk clipped his mirror. He was dragged by a big rig and sustained serious injuries. They'll give anyone with a pulse a license to drive.

[nickjtc]

They'll give anyone with a pulse a license to drive.

Speaking as a driver/rider examiner, I can assure you that we will not give anyone with a pulse a drivers licence. Maybe our minimum standard is higher than thereabouts??

[Ecosse]

I've a friend who is 24 years old; they didn't know the Passing lane was for just that, passing, and not a cruising lane. A lot of people do not follow the rules of the road and the cops around here focus on writing tickets for speeders primarily.

I think it come down to bad attitude more than lack of skills (my friend excepted) but back when I went for my bike permit almost all the questions were about drinking and driving and amounts of fines, etc... rather than rules of the road. That's Massachusetts.

[BobbyR]

I've always wondered about the relevance of the 'not for hire' on the side of trucks. Now I'll know to steer clear of those!

Don't know about there, but a person is smart to keep clear of any big rig hereabouts. Especially if you are on a motorcycle.

I have had my worst expriences with big rigs. I mind my own business on the road. Some of these guys are nuts. One almost got himself shot. 

[754]

Nick might know about this,

Here in BC as far as I know you do need an airbrake endorsement to run anything that has them. Also dont think you can run an 18 wheeler with a car license.

I should ask my BIL about Alberta, he was a driving tester for City of Calgary, and was a trucker for a long time before that in Alberta  & Ontario.

[nickjtc]

Here in BC as far as I know you do need an airbrake endorsement to run anything that has them. Also dont think you can run an 18 wheeler with a car license.

Yup and yup. Here in BC the air brake endorsement (restriction 15) has to be added to your licence if you want to operate any vehicle that has airbrakes. The only 'large' vehicle that you can operate with a car licence, which has airbrakes, is a single axle truck. Your car licence is the first stepping stone to get your higher class licence. So after you get a learners licence for whatever bigger truck you are hoping to drive you can then drive that truck as long as you are under supervision and learning. You have to pass the two-part test to get the higher class licence to be able to drive the bigger truck by yourself.

It's actually simpler than I have described it!!