All riders who want to make their SR400 the coolest in the world!

Hello! I'm Yu Nakamoto, a filmmaker who loves motorcycles. This is the third installment of my SR400 custom project! In this final installment, I interviewed MOTOR GARAGE GOODS, who cooperated fully with me, about the secret story behind the production of the custom parts and the history of the brand! In the previous articles, I have brought you the completed bike and driving impressions, but this time, I would like to introduce the behind-the-scenes of the project! This is going to be a bit of an austere content for the purist uncle who loves Japanese custom culture, but we wanted to show you the other side of the craftsmanship, so we hope you will read this article to the end!

It started as an "ordinary custom shop" where motorcycle enthusiasts gathered!

Why are GOODS' parts so highly finished? To find out the secret, we visited the head office in Hyogo, Japan. (Of course, I had to pay for the trip from Tokyo on my own. ) Mr. Hori, the vice president of GOODS, and Mr. Yamashita, the managing director, made time for us. We quickly asked them about their story and found out a surprising fact.

"In the beginning, we were just a regular custom store," laughs Hori. In the beginning, we were just an ordinary bike shop, tinkering with local riders' bikes. Then, we decided to make parts that we wanted, and started making our own original parts. The number of parts he made grew and grew, and before he knew it, he was known as a parts manufacturer even overseas. It was the story of a real success story. Mr. Hori and Mr. Yamashita have been working together for 20 years, and about 15 years ago they started importing and selling Taiwanese parts brands, and now they also handle overseas parts. Mr. Hori: "We now have a global website, and we are now doing full-scale marketing to overseas customers. The SR is popular in Thailand, and chopper culture has taken root there. We are especially selling SR mufflers." From a downtown custom store in the Kansai region to now expanding overseas! You should make a documentary about your company! Nakamoto felt that "GOODS is on the level where they should make a documentary about their company!

What is "manufacturing today" created by 3D scanners and printers?

The first thing that surprised me at the GOODS development site was all the latest equipment. Mr. Yamashita: "Right now, we are 3D scanning vehicles and converting them into data. I had an image that motorcycle customization was something that was done by stubborn craftsmen! Yamashita "In the beginning, we were like that too (laughs)." A new Honda GB350 was actually purchased by the company and first fully scanned using a 3D scanner. We designed custom parts on the computer based on the data of the car body, and output the prototype with a 3D printer. The prototype was then matched to the actual car body, and fine-tuning was repeated. Yamashita: "In the past, we made prototypes by hand. We cut, welded, and shaved the steel. Now we can output the prototype in 3D and check it on the actual vehicle while matching it to the body. Nakamoto: "Wow, it's an amazing time. Incidentally, this 3D scanner is said to be extremely expensive. Even so, he decided to install the scanner because he wants to make parts that are truly easy for users to use. Mr. Hori: "Right now, we make prototypes in Japan and convert them to data, and mass production is done at an overseas factory. This global production system is one of GOODS' strengths. This global production system is one of GOODS' strengths, but Mr. Hori is adamant. Mr. Hori: "But we are only making products for Japanese customizers! Nakamoto: "Thank you very much! I will follow you for the rest of my life...!

GOODS parts are the best because they are made with the feeling of a motorcycle rider!

The GOODS staff are all motorcycle riders. And they ride them hard. They go touring and commute to work. That's why we always develop parts from both the user's perspective and the craftsman's sense. Mr. Yamashita: "Some parts are better made by touching the bike, while others need to be refined down to the millimeter on the data sheet! I see! Listening to him, I felt like a hybrid between a science engineer and a custom craftsman. Mr. Yamashita: "In the past, we used to do things by "intuition and experience," but now we can reproduce them with 3D data. When we started, it was unthinkable (laugh)." Nakamoto: "When you work with human hands, there is a fine margin of error. Mr. Yamashita "We are working on the parts for Mr. Nakamoto's SR400 in the same way! It was obvious from the fitting accuracy of the muffler and tank! As expected, this is the reason why the bolt-ons are so tight!

Mufflers have always been very popular!

Lastly, we asked about the products currently being produced and sold. Mr. Hori: " Mufflers for various models have always been popular, and this one for the GB350 is very interesting. The end part is interchangeable, so you can change the sound."

Nakamoto: "Really! This is convenient! Is this one made of resin?" Mr. Hori: "Yes, it's a prototype outputted by 3D printing." I enjoyed the feeling of taking a field trip to see how prototypes are made in this way.

We deliver realistic custom parts produced in a realistic setting!

Mr. Hori: "I have been tinkering with motorcycles since 2001, so I have realistic know-how. That's why I want to make custom bikes that anyone can enjoy." Mr. Hori talks coolly, but in fact, on this day, he was suffering from an unexpected back injury. We saw the true spirit of craftsmanship in the way he talked about the future of GOODS with a smile while rubbing his back. Thank you very much, Mr. Hori and Mr. Yamashita!

This is the final installment of our three-part series on the SR400 Custom Project. How was it? We hope this article will interest you not only in the fascination of SR400 but also in the craftsmen who are working at the forefront of Japanese custom culture! By the way, the newly produced bolt-on parts for SR are scheduled to be mass-produced if the response is strong! Oh, I feel like tinkering with SR again. My credit card bill for next month is going to be a mess.... See you later!

MOTOR GARAGE GOODS

Based in Hyogo, Kansai, GOODS produces many neo-classic custom parts for the SR400 and other models, and originally had its roots as an "ordinary custom store" where local motorcyclists gathered. However, GOODS started developing original parts at an early stage because they wanted to make parts that they themselves really wanted to use. The lineup has grown to several hundred items, and the brand is now loved by riders in Japan and abroad! Custom parts for a wide range of models, including SR, W, GB, and Harley, are all born from the senses of "real riders. Because all of our development staff are motorcycle riders, we are able to create parts that "not only look good, but actually feel good to use". In recent years, the company has introduced 3D scanners and printers, further evolving the fusion of digital and craftsmanship. Based on the data developed in the Hyogo workshop, prototypes are made in Japan and mass-produced at an overseas factory. The company delivers Japan-quality custom culture to SR riders all over the world. They are fun to look at, to ride, and to touch! If you are looking for such a custom bike, check out GOODS first!

Early model SR400 narrow tank that can be installed on FI vehicles is hot!

Last but not least, GOODS is planning to release a new tank that faithfully reproduces the narrow tank of the early SR400. Using a 3D scanner to measure data from the actual vehicle, the lines and curves of the tank are reproduced millimeter by millimeter. According to Mr. Hori, "We've been getting a lot of inquiries about this product, as if people have been waiting for something like this for a long time.

The classic proportions of the tank are different from the current tank, and are exactly like the SR of that era, making it a must-have for riders who love the SR model. Moreover, the tank is currently available for pre-order with a 10% discount! Please check it out!

Go to  (21)