Anyone had or have right side gear change japanese bike ?

[jacksonracingcomau]

Google not helping me research the gear change pre ( very unfair ) 74 US legislation

Course I know my brit, euro, even hd I get, pre unit left, unit sportsters right
But in my memory some japanese were rhc or ambidextrous like 850T Guzzi, shaft right across allowing either

Any info from those with better memory ? pics would be icing on cake, disputed by friend
Thanks

[pete roper]

I believe early Bridgestone models were set up that way. My old Lilacs May also have done that but thank god they are in my past like a horrid nightmare!

[jacksonracingcomau]

Lilac could be ticket, ta
Bridges even easier to find
But could there be more ?

[pete roper]

Don't bother chasing a Lilac. They are truly hideous. Believe me. I used to own four of the wretched things!

[cliffrod]

I've had 3 Kawasaki W2 (derived from Meguro patterned pre-unit BSA A10). Always thought the pre-unit aspect of a Japanese built bike was novel.

[jas67]

Don't bother chasing a Lilac. They are truly hideous. Believe me. I used to own four of the wretched things!

Four?    Didn't learn after the first one or two?   

[stonelover]

I don't remember the brands, but I do recall seeing bikes manufactured with a through shaft for left or right foot shifting. I imagine that it was done to allow export to a variety of countries with different standards. In days gone by one would need to know the country of origin and the shift pattern (Up or down for low) in order to ride a particular bike. Thank goodness for standardization! Muscle memory comes into play when you're in a pinch.

Bill H in WV

[Roebling3]

I had a 350 Bridgestone with a through rod splined at both ends. You would need a right side foot lever, but the sequence was the same, as you can imagine.
Caveat, please? It was a long time ago.  R3~

[SED]

There's a couple of W1s in our club -

Here's a photo from the interwebs:





https://stevemckelvie.wordpress.com/2015/04/23/kawasaki-w1-an-early-british-themed-japanese-motorcycle/

Japanese copied lots of bikes (even Ariel singles) so suspect there were a lot of right-foot shift bikes made.

[Mike Harper]

I believe early Bridgestone models were set up that way. My old Lilacs May also have done that but thank god they are in my past like a horrid nightmare!

Hey Pete,   Just thought I would let you know I still have a nice Lilac project bike if your interested.

[LowRyter]

So much for the Lilacs, what about the Kaw BSA-copies?  Were those bikes any good?

I thought it was funny that the Kawasaki ads had all these two strokes + some 650 Brit clones.  I've actually heard stories with pros and cons (actually a lot of cons), so does anyone have some experience?

[pete roper]

Hey Pete,   Just thought I would let you know I still have a nice Lilac project bike if your interested.

I'd rather stick red hot pins in my penis!

[jacksonracingcomau]

https://live.staticflickr.com/7467/28103313496_9709d268f7_b.jpg

Thanks all
Appears Lilac was always LHC, 1960 version crystal, long time before Carcano’s ambidextrous v700
Kawa A10 the only absolute RHC road bike so far
Ambi Bridges perhaps unique from Japan but memory says more

Hailwoods Honda 6 the only Honda RHC I can find but must have been more
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcS1ww3Bc3Tma8VB3zgPO4K-R5PDyfPoAGF47iRGEuQ04g0vMd4n

Standardise ? Yeah maybe but vast majority were RHC, if for merkans, surely RHC made more sense, same side as car gearchange ( by then almost gone, left foot braking coming into fashion keeping the logic)

Changed motorcycling forever, forced out a lot of players, Guzzi one of few who could adapt quickly, longtidual gearbox has some advantages. Expected Lilac to be similar arrangement but no, shaft pops out of left side, engineered that way

[Sasquatch Jim]

 What about a 500 Marushu or how ever it was spelled.  I almost bought one in 65.

[gearman]

I am glad you clarafied your title.Your frst one said JAP and I thought you were asking about that brand.I had a friend who had one. Very quirky two stroke.

[Mike Harper]

I'd rather stick red hot pins in my penis!

I think that is a "NO" ??

Just funnin ya Pete

[LowRyter]

I'd rather stick red hot pins in my penis!

What you care to do in private is no concern of mine.   

[JACoH]

In the good old days, when I worked parts at Eastside Motorcycles in Springfield, Oregon.  The shop racer, Mark Williams (National # 70 at the time) raced a W2-650 Kawasaki in TT's on the west coast. (Sidewinders and Castle Rock). It actually was pretty reliable and fast, mainly because of Mark. We sold a few for street and I don't recall many problems with them.

[Guzzistajohn]

I have two Bultacos with right side shifter 

[jacksonracingcomau]

I have two Bultacos with right side shifter 

Yes, Spain, like rest of world (except Merika) had the world standard rh gearchange
The question was of Japanese motorcycles (of course JAP were British and rhc)

Looks like kawa A10 the only absolute certainty  (not including race bikes)
I’ve lost my bet, I think

But was all a little “insider trading” as I see it. Honda etc were geared up for new US legislation, at the expense of the entire motorcycle industry at time.

[Don G]

Early HD Sporsters had right hand shift, the LH shift thing was Japanese thing.  DonG

[Tom]

My '73 V7Sport is enough for the RH shift interest.

[moto-uno]

^^ The HD FL models all had LH Shiters .  Peter