Nostalgia light. And the future

It took some getting used to, but China has become a major motorcycle nation. Just like India, by the way. The Chinese built their future world power on crude copycat work and pure nostalgia. But they have definitely pushed through to a 'next level'.

We know this copycat behavior from previous 'takeovers'. The Japanese built their monopoly – to put it bluntly – on the DKW RT 125, a few other German models, and the Kawasaki W1-W3 twins that looked very much like BSAs, more than just a little bit. (But were better from day one.) The stream of copycat rumors stopped with the Yamaha XT500, about which 'The Connoisseurs' reported that the Japanese had bought the drawings from BSA. A headline from a British test from that time: The XT500 is the best bike BSA never built.

China was the country, and Asia and Africa were the continents of the countless small lightweight motorcycles that thus mobilized entire continents. Cheerful, the Chinese copied little Hondas, Suzukis, and Yamahas from the seventies and eighties. Often, a company would buy the production rights to 'obsolete' Japanese models. And a whole host of other manufacturers subsequently used those rights without compensation to the original makers.

But just as well, England produced CORRECTION: Japan CORRECTION: China millions of small motorcycles. Single-cylinder engines of around 100-125 cc. The parts for these soon found their way to America and Europe. And whole rows of enthusiasts bought such a 'plug-and-play' engine block—in the beginning costing less than two hundred euros—as the heart of all kinds of classic Hondas and Suzukis. The original engine block? That went into the cupboard, clean and greased.

In the meantime, the Japanese had discovered that there was a great deal of potential clientele in China and Africa. Consequently, the Japanese (and later Americans and Europeans) established serious connections with Chinese companies. Prices from China remained low, but the Japanese factories now officially had a foothold. To increase acceptance, the Chinese went on a purchasing spree and bought the barrier-reducing names and rights of notorious shadows from the past. AJS? A British name with Chinese motorcycles. Benelli? Italian, but Chinese ownership. Morini? Morbidelli?

Naturally, there is a real watershed between the engines that were originally European and their Chinese half-brothers.

But in the meantime, we can state that Chinese motorcycle manufacturers are the market and the brands of the future. But whereas the British, back when Honda entered the world, took arrogant pleasure in those weird Japanese with their weird little motorcycles, the market has long since been intertwined with those cunning Chinese. For brands like KTM, BMW, MV Agusta, Piaggio, and SWM are now linked to Chinese brands. Just like Husqvarna. And a lot of Harley stuff? That hasn't been made of Real American Steel for a long time. In fact: Harley's latest, umpteenth attempt to survive? That means lighter motorcycles 'Made in India'.

Does all that stuff just get old or will it eventually become an antique? Who knows? But I once bought a Ducati 750 GT for two thousand guilders. And one of those V-twins recently sold for 42.500 dollars… Okay, it was a bit shinier than mine, but still.

And my own Chinese takeaway from 2017? I bought that four years ago, practically new, for 1.250 euros.

AJSs wanted
So, Chinese AJSs. AMK reader Wouter is looking for the buyers of the three (or four) 'noodle-AJSs' sold in the Netherlands. Do you have one? Please let us know.