From Kaikado to Kyoto

 May 13, 2023

Kaikado Kustom

I interview Maseo about his shop and the motorcycles, models and sculptures he makes. As for the bikes he started the business 24 years ago, and has since then built about 100 motorcycles, mostly Kawasakis and (of course) Harleys. That is three a year, which is pretty good. Incidentally Ford hotrods are have become part of his business, witness the four worn looking ones inside and outside the workshop. Regular maintenance of bikes is also part of the work Kaikado Kustom performs, like the engine rebuild he is going to perform on an otherwise pristine stock Honda CB750 that just arrived.

Aside from the regular turnover, he has kept a number of bikes for himself, like a stock, last year Rikuo, a Harley copy built under license. A very rare Czechoslovakian four stroke 500 cc Jawa twin with a king cam stands next to it, and a 500 cc Kawasaki Mach III two stroke triple is part of the lineup too. And across from them one finds two Tsubasa competition singles, the less battered one a 250 cc version from 1954. Both use BSA gearboxes. The Tsubasa company morphed into Daihatsu, which today produces various mainly kei cars and kei vans.

The Honda CB750 chopper that once belonged to the musician Sly Stone, Masao bought from a customer who got it home from San Fransisco. It has an Amen frame with rear suspension, which was very common at the time, as were the gaudy tail lights and the twisted steel sissy bar and front fork. I forgot to ask about his plans with it, but should it be returned to its former glory, it better be rechromed and repainted.

Some seven years ago Masao started working on models for the odd sci fi model kit company 'Maschinen Krieger' (German for 'machine warrior'). A few of them adorn his workshop, as do a number of other sculptures and various sizes. Being old school, he forgoes computer aided design, even when entering this faraway future universe. His designs are copyrighted, some being sold to fans on Amazon, at a price set by Yokoyama, who started the whole Machinen Krieger thing.  https://www.facebook.com/MaschinenKrieger.TheArtAndInfluenceOfKowYokoyama/

When not busy working on motorcycles or sculptures, or getting first place at the annual Mooneyes custom bike show in Yokohama, Masao has organized four custom shows & swap meets in Nagoya, withe next one coming up September 30, if you happen to be in the neighborhood. Startsin the evening and goes on all night.

As we are about to leave I hand them the complimentary Danish chocolate, small rectangular pieces to be served on bread. Brought a number of those over, as the Japanese are big on such host gifts. We also reaffirm that they will come visit Denmark soon.

(Thanks to Jesse from my favorite car blog justacarguy.blogspot.com for finding it.)

Two Tsubasa competition bikes, the closest one a 1954 in actual running condition, appearance notwithstanding. Today Japan has but four motorcycle manufacturers, but back in the day there were hundreds.

Model of Machinen Krieger armored suit, the full sized version shown below.

Hana posing once again with her diminutive Mazda Carol, a 360 cc kei car from the 1960s.

Unusually nice CB750 in need of engine work.

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On to Kyoto

Nagoya being an industrial center, it takes a while to get out of town, parts of the ride up on an embankment protecting the city from whenever the Shonai river decides to overflow. The area between its two embankments, hundreds of meters apart, is enormous and being used for baseball fields and general recreation.

Finally, halfway to Kyoto, we enter the mountains, using the possibly smallest highway I've ever seen in Japan, aided by the map function on my phone. It is a shameful admission from this semi-luddite that I have succumbed to using such a tool, but JAF in Tokyo no longer prints the paper maps (in Japanese) that I once used. While being fascinated by new technology, I am wary of small black boxes like smartphones and such, that arguably are smarter than I am. On the other hand, they do get me where I want to go, cheerfully adding time to destination every time I don't quite get the message and make a detour.

I’ve been busted before, but not by 7-8 cops at the same time. I do the usual routine of showing them as many of my numerous documents as possible, to make them realize that dealing with me may be too much work. The guys and the gals here, however, seem more amused with the bike than anything else, and the issue of me not wearing a helmet never comes up. Earlier today we saw a Harley trike rider who didn't wear one either, so maybe it's only mandatory for those on two wheels.

Lunch break at the old highway. We're trying to get to Kyoto before nightfall, 

otherwise it would have been fun trying this one instead of the newer road.

Young shy lady with her bike, which is built in a style I first saw in 2006. Small engine, 

offroad-ish frame, long swing arm and donut shaped rear tire.

Truck of a sort being commandeered from the cabin of the crane..

Nice looking house built in traditional style, like most houses in the area. 

And with rice paddies just about everywhere.

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We find the small Miro Kyoto Nijo Hotel inside a labyrinth of tiny streets, and soon head out to find Taro Cafe, the even tinier place I once spent a week in, at $10/70 dkr. per night. We almost pass where it is, will go back tomorrow. No signal in Kyoto, so all computer business is dine with using the hotel's wifi.