Magazine guys: DC/Swap/GuyB - Updates on Japan

Tiki
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Tiki
Edited Date/Time 1/27/2012 5:23am
Can you guys update us with how production is going in Japan in relation to MX bikes? The mainstream news media is updating the manufacturers of Autos but nothing really in our interest, being MX and Off Road.

The world buys a lot of MX items that are manufactured in Japan. Clothing, equipment, bikes. I would feel this is a subject worth reporting on.
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FGR01
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FGR01 4/20/2011 8:58am
4/20/2011 8:58am
Clothing? It's all made in China. The only MX gear coming out of Japan is Shoei and Arai helmets. All aftermarket MX gear and equipment is made in China or USA and sold by US companies for the most part.
MBBadgers
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MBBadgers 4/20/2011 9:09am
4/20/2011 9:09am
We go to a japanese market, to buy all our green tea and the lady told us that because of the threat of nuclear contamination the tea will not be shipped anymore and maybe they will start harvesting it in November again? I know motorcycles aren't digestible, but with all the food Japan supplies to the US, I'd imagine they have to have something to ship over seas?? They need to keep people working etc. I already heard Honda & Toyota are in deep shit, though the cars are made here, the chips (brains of the car) are made in Japan only, they would not allow them to leave the country to be made and they aren't being made at all, so no cars are being built, which has the US manufacturers quite happy.
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ehr400 4/20/2011 9:17am
4/20/2011 9:17am
MBBadgers wrote:
We go to a japanese market, to buy all our green tea and the lady told us that because of the threat of nuclear contamination the...
We go to a japanese market, to buy all our green tea and the lady told us that because of the threat of nuclear contamination the tea will not be shipped anymore and maybe they will start harvesting it in November again? I know motorcycles aren't digestible, but with all the food Japan supplies to the US, I'd imagine they have to have something to ship over seas?? They need to keep people working etc. I already heard Honda & Toyota are in deep shit, though the cars are made here, the chips (brains of the car) are made in Japan only, they would not allow them to leave the country to be made and they aren't being made at all, so no cars are being built, which has the US manufacturers quite happy.
It isn't just jap cars, it is all the big three and some german manufacturers also. I know us here at Jeep are experiencing shortages and looking at some possible slow downs or layoffs.
MBBadgers
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MBBadgers 4/20/2011 9:23am
4/20/2011 9:23am
MBBadgers wrote:
We go to a japanese market, to buy all our green tea and the lady told us that because of the threat of nuclear contamination the...
We go to a japanese market, to buy all our green tea and the lady told us that because of the threat of nuclear contamination the tea will not be shipped anymore and maybe they will start harvesting it in November again? I know motorcycles aren't digestible, but with all the food Japan supplies to the US, I'd imagine they have to have something to ship over seas?? They need to keep people working etc. I already heard Honda & Toyota are in deep shit, though the cars are made here, the chips (brains of the car) are made in Japan only, they would not allow them to leave the country to be made and they aren't being made at all, so no cars are being built, which has the US manufacturers quite happy.
ehr400 wrote:
It isn't just jap cars, it is all the big three and some german manufacturers also. I know us here at Jeep are experiencing shortages and...
It isn't just jap cars, it is all the big three and some german manufacturers also. I know us here at Jeep are experiencing shortages and looking at some possible slow downs or layoffs.
Yeah I had talked to my buddy he had mentioned only Honda & Toyota, sorry to hear that about your company also.

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Moto East Mag
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Moto East Mag 4/20/2011 9:27am
4/20/2011 9:27am
Wasn't Dealernews or somebody reporting on this? I will see what I can find.
miedosoracing1 4/20/2011 9:27am
4/20/2011 9:27am Edited Date/Time 4/20/2011 9:39am
Seems to me, a perfect time for manufacturing investment, into the exact parts that aren't being made. Boggles me, why big OEM's like Chevy etc don't invest while they can and make those parts.
I've heard from a source that motorcycles are on the "not as important" list as cars. So we will be seeing the changes soon. I'm not going to be surprised to see very few 2012 models. Said they are trying to shift resources to the car side. Wonder how the 400 units rule is gonna work?

Edited: Just saw that KTM became the new MX series sponsor.
Tiki
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Tiki 4/20/2011 9:40am
4/20/2011 9:40am
Moto East Mag wrote:
Wasn't Dealernews or somebody reporting on this? I will see what I can find.
Thanks. I feel this should be top industry news. SX season is important, but if the largest contingency isnt able to produce for next year - Whoops? Mediso may just get his wish Smile

Two Strokes for Everyone!
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jasonv43 4/20/2011 9:51am
4/20/2011 9:51am Edited Date/Time 4/20/2011 10:02am
FGR01 wrote:
Clothing? It's all made in China. The only MX gear coming out of Japan is Shoei and Arai helmets. All aftermarket MX gear and equipment is...
Clothing? It's all made in China. The only MX gear coming out of Japan is Shoei and Arai helmets. All aftermarket MX gear and equipment is made in China or USA and sold by US companies for the most part.
I can tell you that Shoei is running on schedule with really no set backs at all. Not too sure about Arai but if I'm not mistaken, they are not located near where the Tsunami hit and are probably not affected either.
MBBadgers
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MBBadgers 4/20/2011 9:54am
4/20/2011 9:54am
jasonv43 wrote:
I can tell you that Shoei is running on schedule with really no set backs at all. Not too sure about Arai but if I'm not...
I can tell you that Shoei is running on schedule with really no set backs at all. Not too sure about Arai but if I'm not mistaken, they are not located near where the Tsunami hit and are probably not affected either.
Where the tsunami has hit has nothing to do with it. The whole country is on rolling black outs and limited power.
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jasonv43 4/20/2011 10:01am
4/20/2011 10:01am
jasonv43 wrote:
I can tell you that Shoei is running on schedule with really no set backs at all. Not too sure about Arai but if I'm not...
I can tell you that Shoei is running on schedule with really no set backs at all. Not too sure about Arai but if I'm not mistaken, they are not located near where the Tsunami hit and are probably not affected either.
MBBadgers wrote:
Where the tsunami has hit has nothing to do with it. The whole country is on rolling black outs and limited power.
I understand that, I meant there was no structure damage to either factory. From what I have heard they are running at full capacity and shipping is not a problem.

Believe me I feel for all of those people over there and know that it affects us more than just within our little industry. I just saw another video the other day and it's just crazy what they went through and will be going through.

Check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8vZR0Rq1Rfw
TokioMX
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TokioMX 4/20/2011 10:06am
4/20/2011 10:06am
This is what I know from reading Japanese newspaper and internet.

Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki weren't affected by the earthquake, since they are all in West side of Japan. Yamaha has Sugo Road/Motocross track in Miyazaki was hit hard, and they will re-open in May.

All Honda's motorcycles made in Japan are manufactured in Kumamoto factory, which is the big island even far West of the country, East of Okinawa, and fine.

Two of Honda's auto plants in Tochigi and Saitama were affected, but they are up running now maybe at 50%. A few of Japan build Honda cars for US market was manufactured at Saitama factory. Honda has 2&4 development facility in Motegi in Tochigi and had some damage, so not sure how that will affect upcoming models.


As of Japanese grean tea, MBBadgers, it harvest in April and May which is now. Large amount of green tea is produced in Shizuoka where Yamaha and Suzuki is, and Kyushu island where Honda's Kumamoto factory is. I don't think there will be a problem, because Shisuoka is about 300miles away from Fukushima, and maybe more than double that to Kyushu. Unless US ban agricultural goods imported from all of Japan, you'll get your tea fine.
miedosoracing1 4/20/2011 10:10am
4/20/2011 10:10am
Moto East Mag wrote:
Wasn't Dealernews or somebody reporting on this? I will see what I can find.
Tiki wrote:
Thanks. I feel this should be top industry news. SX season is important, but if the largest contingency isnt able to produce for next year -...
Thanks. I feel this should be top industry news. SX season is important, but if the largest contingency isnt able to produce for next year - Whoops? Mediso may just get his wish Smile

Two Strokes for Everyone!
My wish is fair rules and 50/50 2 and 4 strokes. I will always agree there are 4 stroke lovers and 2 stroke lovers. I do give the 4 stroke side a lot of grief, but I should actually thank them. They provide me donors. Like my CRF150R that is getting a CR250 motor input. :-) I'm never happy about any doom of any country. Japan is bad, but my fear because I am a earthquake watcher, I think they have only seen the beginning. This big one, let loose the hold they were in. They are moving right now. They are having 6.0+'s almost daily. Edgar Cayce said Japan will fall into the ocean, and it seems his visions come true alot. So I hope they have some kind of warning, to get out of dodge, before hand.
MBBadgers
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MBBadgers 4/20/2011 10:13am
4/20/2011 10:13am Edited Date/Time 4/20/2011 10:13am
TokioMX wrote:
This is what I know from reading Japanese newspaper and internet. Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki weren't affected by the earthquake, since they are all in West side...
This is what I know from reading Japanese newspaper and internet.

Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki weren't affected by the earthquake, since they are all in West side of Japan. Yamaha has Sugo Road/Motocross track in Miyazaki was hit hard, and they will re-open in May.

All Honda's motorcycles made in Japan are manufactured in Kumamoto factory, which is the big island even far West of the country, East of Okinawa, and fine.

Two of Honda's auto plants in Tochigi and Saitama were affected, but they are up running now maybe at 50%. A few of Japan build Honda cars for US market was manufactured at Saitama factory. Honda has 2&4 development facility in Motegi in Tochigi and had some damage, so not sure how that will affect upcoming models.


As of Japanese grean tea, MBBadgers, it harvest in April and May which is now. Large amount of green tea is produced in Shizuoka where Yamaha and Suzuki is, and Kyushu island where Honda's Kumamoto factory is. I don't think there will be a problem, because Shisuoka is about 300miles away from Fukushima, and maybe more than double that to Kyushu. Unless US ban agricultural goods imported from all of Japan, you'll get your tea fine.
Maybe a ploy to bump up the price like fuel right? Wink good to know.
queen of spodes 4/20/2011 10:20am
4/20/2011 10:20am
miedosoracing1 wrote:
Seems to me, a perfect time for manufacturing investment, into the exact parts that aren't being made. Boggles me, why big OEM's like Chevy etc don't...
Seems to me, a perfect time for manufacturing investment, into the exact parts that aren't being made. Boggles me, why big OEM's like Chevy etc don't invest while they can and make those parts.
I've heard from a source that motorcycles are on the "not as important" list as cars. So we will be seeing the changes soon. I'm not going to be surprised to see very few 2012 models. Said they are trying to shift resources to the car side. Wonder how the 400 units rule is gonna work?

Edited: Just saw that KTM became the new MX series sponsor.
"Seems to me, a perfect time for manufacturing investment, into the exact parts that aren't being made. Boggles me, why big OEM's like Chevy etc don't invest while they can and make those parts. "

x2

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