Topic: Chinese CB500

[Ted Nomura]

By the time the Chinese need to find lower-wage workers, we will
have found life elsewhere in the universe....

That's funny but let's not forget India. They make 1950s type British models like Royal Enfield with better quality than the original. I'm still wondering if Russia can outdo their own Urals. Then there's Mexico. There's plenty of cheap labor to exploit and perhaps help their own economy and upgrade their lifestyle like China is doing now. I won't be surprised if someday there will be a quality motorcycle built in Africa. Then there will be cheap labor found in outer space!

[74cb750]

This just in: the Plutoians called, and they said the Mexicans will never be able
to build a good quality motorcycle because the weather does not vary enough.

Ever notice that most major industrial powers have  to deal with adverse cold weather?
No real powerful country survives for long in the tropics (sorry Raul).
You need cold weather to remind you that things can change overnite and
you must be ready to adapt quickly.

China, USA, Russia etc meets this criteria. Japan doesn't, hmmmm blows that theory outta the water.
Oh well. I'll have to work on this a bit.

Terry, you ARE cheap aren't you? Want to buy a nice little Hyosung GT650 v twin for cheap?
Give you a good deal...ha ah ha
peace,
michel

[bill440cars]

By the time the Chinese need to find lower-wage workers, we will
have found life elsewhere in the universe....

That's funny but let's not forget India. They make 1950s type British models like Royal Enfield with better quality than the original.

                    I wish India would try there hand on building an updated but, retro looking Intercepter
      750, 850 or whatever size. What am I saying, if they did do that, I couldn't afford one. 
                                    Later on, Bill

[Terry in Australia]

Terry, you ARE cheap aren't you? Want to buy a nice little Hyosung GT650 v twin for cheap?
Give you a good deal...ha ah ha
peace,
michel

Hey Michel, I am cheap (juste comme vous, mon ami gallique) but ride a Hyosung? I've still got some semblance of pride mate, ha ha! Cheers, Terry. 

[Raul CB750K1]

India is not interested in factories. They are already taking on the world of computing and programming. When you call Dell Computer's customer hotline, chances are that the representative you talk to sound like a relative of Apu Nahasamalapetilon, and he may be in Benares or Calcutta. They are also a big force in programming.

Raul

[Steve F]

Ever notice that most major industrial powers have  to deal with adverse cold weather?
No real powerful country survives for long in the tropics (sorry Raul).
You need cold weather to remind you that things can change overnite and
you must be ready to adapt quickly.

China, USA, Russia etc meets this criteria. Japan doesn't, hmmmm blows that theory outta the water.
Oh well. I'll have to work on this a bit.

Japan may not have the cold (read *COLD*) weather but they have those earthquaaaaaaakes!   

[Ted Nomura]

India is not interested in factories. They are already taking on the world of computing and programming. When you call Dell Computer's customer hotline, chances are that the representative you talk to sound like a relative of Apu Nahasamalapetilon, and he may be in Benares or Calcutta. They are also a big force in programming.

Raul

Yeah but after 9/11, the United States are reconsidering that arrangement and in some cases, the job went back to America because it was less hassle than talking to an India person named Abe Lincoln.
And not all Indians can be computer programmers, just like not all Japanese are manga artists or computer animators. I wish India or China or Mexico can advance enough to build a CB750 class motorcycle. China probably can do it now but they seem to be concentrating on cars, just like Mr. Honda was in 1967. If Mexico can produce early CB750 clones in quantity, I think that may ease our immigration program a bit. I think many Mexicans would prefer staying in Mexico if they can get a good job there. Building a wall only solves our problem temporary. Las Vegas is just as hot as Mexico but we have a booming economy, yet the price is more traffic and crime. I remember when I got my motorcycle license in 1972, it took only 20 minutes to drive across the city and never saw a car accident during my school years. Now it takes an hour and see fender bender everytime I drive.
I just hate seeing people risking so much for so little. Problem like that can haunt us later.

[Raul CB750K1]

When I lived in the US, I noticed that mexicans were majority in the cleaning, building and fast-food businesses. I sometimes chatted with some of them asking how their lives were -I was fortunate because my company was paying my expenses in full-. They all told me the same: we are saving so we can go back to Mexico in three or four years with enough money to buy a house and start a business.

No matter where have you lived all your life, there will always be an invisible and unbreakable tie between you and the place where you were born and your ancestors are buried. Spaniards migrated by the thousands in the fifties after the civil war. Many to Switzerland and Germany, but also to Venezuela and Argentina. Just a few remained there; the rest returned to Spain sooner or later.

I believe I have just mentioned this before. A couple of years ago I called the Yellow Pages asking for a telephone located in "Puerta del Sol". To the non-spaniards, it's like being located in Trafalgar Square or Times Square. The other party, with south-american accent, asked me. In which city? Then it was when I realized I was talking to a south-american.... who was in south America. There is no way for anybody living in Spain not to know where is "Puerta del Sol".

Nothing wrong with it. That means less jobs in Spain, but it also means somebody will get a job in his/her home country and will not have to migrate here. Actually, if he does, he will only be able to get the same job as telephone operator, so why doing here when they can do it there....?


Raul

[Ted Nomura]

When I lived in the US, I noticed that mexicans were majority in the cleaning, building and fast-food businesses. I sometimes chatted with some of them asking how their lives were -I was fortunate because my company was paying my expenses in full-. They all told me the same: we are saving so we can go back to Mexico in three or four years with enough money to buy a house and start a business.

No matter where have you lived all your life, there will always be an invisible and unbreakable tie between you and the place where you were born and your ancestors are buried. Spaniards migrated by the thousands in the fifties after the civil war. Many to Switzerland and Germany, but also to Venezuela and Argentina. Just a few remained there; the rest returned to Spain sooner or later.

I believe I have just mentioned this before. A couple of years ago I called the Yellow Pages asking for a telephone located in "Puerta del Sol". To the non-spaniards, it's like being located in Trafalgar Square or Times Square. The other party, with south-american accent, asked me. In which city? Then it was when I realized I was talking to a south-american.... who was in south America. There is no way for anybody living in Spain not to know where is "Puerta del Sol".

Nothing wrong with it. That means less jobs in Spain, but it also means somebody will get a job in his/her home country and will not have to migrate here. Actually, if he does, he will only be able to get the same job as telephone operator, so why doing here when they can do it there....?


Raul

I agree, any country with political will can match or even exceed what we can do economically. Although in most cases, there are sacrifices. In Japan, they slapped protectionism that caused the domestic prices to soar and China, they are trying to do what Russia couldn't, make communism work in open market. Hopefully, someday we can buy a solar-hybrid electric commuter motorcycle manufactured in Africa!

[Ted Nomura]

This just in: the Plutoians called, and they said the Mexicans will never be able
to build a good quality motorcycle because the weather does not vary enough.

Ever notice that most major industrial powers have  to deal with adverse cold weather?
No real powerful country survives for long in the tropics (sorry Raul).
You need cold weather to remind you that things can change overnite and
you must be ready to adapt quickly.

China, USA, Russia etc meets this criteria. Japan doesn't, hmmmm blows that theory outta the water.
Oh well. I'll have to work on this a bit.

Terry, you ARE cheap aren't you? Want to buy a nice little Hyosung GT650 v twin for cheap?
Give you a good deal...ha ah ha
peace,
michel

Actually Japan have a similar climate like California, including earthquakes but no real typhoons. Russia is huge but most areas are too cold, just like Canada so their economy is limited compared to U.S. and China.
Build a huge air-conditioned factory and I'll bet Mexico can match in production output like China. It's better than picking fruits, something that Mexican and Chinese low-paid employees can understand. Many still suffer in country-side. It wasn't too long ago that Korea (south-side) and Taiwan was in a same situation, not to mention Japan and Germany immediately after the war. And now the latter two are economic powers and all now recruit other countries for cheap labor, although all suffered bumps along the way.

[bill440cars]

                 It may be different now but, I was stationed in Japan from Dec 67' to Dec 69" and they had snow from about Sept (or Oct) to about April or May. And yes, they do have earthquakes. I was there for 1 in May of 68'. It was either a 5 or 6 point something on the scale (I don't remember exactly. I just remember that it was quite an experience. Money rate was 360 yen to a dollar. I bought a 66' CB72, in 68', for about $250 (about 9,000 yen). My problem was a motorcycle club on the AFB put out the word that, "If Your Tire Can't Make Contact With The Road, You Don't Ride!"
They did have some pretty twisty roads that were fun to ride.  Also I saw some of those Japanese built Harleys. I think they were Rikuos (or something like that) The ones I saw looked like the engine was from the 40's and the rest of the bike was from the 50's. I also saw the Kawasaki 650 twins that looked like "pre-unit construction BSAs" (some say Triumphs, but I still say BSAs. ) Later on, Bill

[dusterdude]

damn bill,you are correct.rikuo is what they were called.h-d licensed the rikuo factory to build bikes before the war.

[6adan]

Payed 370800 yen for my 70 CB750 in Japan.Dannie

[bill440cars]

Payed 370800 yen for my 70 CB750 in Japan.Dannie

                                  Where were in Japan? I was stationed at Misawa AFB from Dec 67'- Dec 68'
           w/almost 2 yrs total TDY (temp. duty) in Korea (Kunsan & Taegu)  Later on, Bill

[Ted Nomura]

damn bill,you are correct.rikuo is what they were called.h-d licensed the rikuo factory to build bikes before the war.

They were also built after the war because Japanese cops loved them.

[Ted Nomura]

When I lived in the US, I noticed that mexicans were majority in the cleaning, building and fast-food businesses. I sometimes chatted with some of them asking how their lives were -I was fortunate because my company was paying my expenses in full-. They all told me the same: we are saving so we can go back to Mexico in three or four years with enough money to buy a house and start a business.

No matter where have you lived all your life, there will always be an invisible and unbreakable tie between you and the place where you were born and your ancestors are buried. Spaniards migrated by the thousands in the fifties after the civil war. Many to Switzerland and Germany, but also to Venezuela and Argentina. Just a few remained there; the rest returned to Spain sooner or later.

I believe I have just mentioned this before. A couple of years ago I called the Yellow Pages asking for a telephone located in "Puerta del Sol". To the non-spaniards, it's like being located in Trafalgar Square or Times Square. The other party, with south-american accent, asked me. In which city? Then it was when I realized I was talking to a south-american.... who was in south America. There is no way for anybody living in Spain not to know where is "Puerta del Sol".

Nothing wrong with it. That means less jobs in Spain, but it also means somebody will get a job in his/her home country and will not have to migrate here. Actually, if he does, he will only be able to get the same job as telephone operator, so why doing here when they can do it there....?


Raul

I remember when I was assigned at Kunsan AB, South Korea, during 1981-1982, we had a Korean "houseboy" in each dorm, cleaning and taking care of each room for what ever the amount of money we can afford. The guy in my dorm was nearly twice my age, old enough to remember the Korean War and once asked me why I treated him better than others. I said "this is your country". His response was that it's ironic that Japanese like me treated him more like a person than average Americans when he remember the time of Japanese occupation when each Japanese addressed each Korean as "Baka Ichi, Baka Ni, etc." (Idiot One, Idiot Two, etc), and he never forggotten it and finally felt better after meeting me. It's important that we don't make the same mistake Japanese made before and during the war.
Interestingly I met an fellow engineer who was a boy in Guam during the war and told me that Japanese occupiers treated him nicely, often inviting him for a baseball game and treating him with food rations but when Americans re-occupied it, the G.I.s treated him badly.

[bill440cars]

          Hey Ted

                    There seems to be somewhat of a connectionbetweenyou and me. I was stationed in 
         the northern part of Japan, at Misawa Air Force Base, from Dec 67' - Dec 69' and I spent about
         2 years total TDY time  in Korea at Taegu and Kunsan. It was definitely an experience. I was a
         crew chief on the F4C Phantom then and later, at Hamilton AFB, California w/ the F106 Delta
         Dart. I met some very nice people in Japan and Korea. Later on, Bill

[Ted Nomura]

          Hey Ted

                    There seems to be somewhat of a connectionbetweenyou and me. I was stationed in 
         the northern part of Japan, at Misawa Air Force Base, from Dec 67' - Dec 69' and I spent about
         2 years total TDY time  in Korea at Taegu and Kunsan. It was definitely an experience. I was a
         crew chief on the F4C Phantom then and later, at Hamilton AFB, California w/ the F106 Delta
         Dart. I met some very nice people in Japan and Korea. Later on, Bill

Misawa AB is up north, must've been cold. Surprised that they tested H1 prototype there but then maybe they were worried about overheating the center cylinder.