The Japanese Corner @ Manawatu Classic Motorcycle Clubs 30th.

From Manawatu Classic Bike club30th

From Manawatu Classic Bike club30th

From Manawatu Classic Bike club30th

From Manawatu Classic Bike club30th

There was a nice turnout of Japanese motorcycles at the rally and we were given our very own special corner. Bikes included Owen Morrisons Honda CX500, Mark Whites Suzuki GS1000, along with the Blue Haze contributions. Phil Wilson from Waitara was also in the our corner with his absolutely immaculate dark green Honda CB350 four.

The mighty little BSA Bantam

From Manawatu Classic Bike club30th

From Manawatu Classic Bike club30th

From Manawatu Classic Bike club30th

From Manawatu Classic Bike club30th

It was great to see a couple of these bikes on the run. They struggled a little bit up the hills and into the headwind, but got there in the end. Hard to believe that between 250 and 500 thousand of these things were built between 1948 and 1971. A great little bike that started the motorcycling lifestyle for a lot of New Zealanders. There is even Bantam racing in the UK. Cool.
http://www.bsabantamracing.com/.
I am assuming that the restored Bantam belongs to Ken Bain from Lower Hutt. The plunger rear suspension suggests it is a Pre 1958 model.

Comrade, A Russian Blue Haze !

From Manawatu Classic Bike club30th

From Manawatu Classic Bike club30th

From Manawatu Classic Bike club30th

One bike the members of the Blue Haze really enjoyed seeing and hearing during the Anniversary ride was Kerry Griffiths on the families 'last up worst dressed' bike, the mighty 1972 350cc Planeta. I am sure one could get 10 Razz scooters out of a recycled Planeta! The speedo is a hoot as you have a choice between km or Yacs per hour. Whatever they might be. It was a poignant reminder that had the cold war gone the other way we would all be restoring and waxing lyrical over such magnificent machines. Maybe Kerry and his family are viewing the Planeta as part of their retirement plan and hoping it gains cult status and value like the East German Trabant. For the 40th Anniversary I have found a couple of photos to help with the restoration. Either go original with a sidecar or the bobber path. Look forward to seeing the result.
Thanks guys for bringing along such a fun bike for us to enjoy.

From Manawatu Classic Bike club30th

From Manawatu Classic Bike club30th