Author Archives: Dan Hsu
Honda Motocompo revived as Motocompacto electric foldable bike
Honda has revived its foldable Motocompo city bike for the modern era. It’s called the Motocompacto, as trademark filing in 2020 revealed, and it’s a little bike that folds into a tidy rectangle. This time around, it’s electric. The original … Continue reading
Yamaha launches retro-colored motocross bikes in honor of YZ250’s 50th anniversary
The Yamaha YZ250 is has been in production in one form or another for 50 years. That makes it among the longest production runs of any motorcycle ever built, and definitely the longest-running dirtbike. To celebrate this incredible streak, Yamaha … Continue reading
Happy Sevens Day from JNC
It’s easy to forget how dreary the mid- to late-1970s were. The oil shortage and new emissions regulations meant that cars with larger engines than their predecessors struggled to achieve the same performance. The Nissan Fairlady 240ZG was a benchmark … Continue reading
Happy 4th of July from JNC
The original Toyota 4Runner was known as the HiLux Surf in Japan and became quite popular during the 1980s boom in recreational vehicles. In its marketing materials the HiLux Surf was promoted as an “American Offroad Machine” and actually launched … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays
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Yamaha to end snow machine production after 55 years, closing the chapter on Japanese snowmobiles
Japan’s motorcycle companies have a long history of revolutionizing the powersports market, from motorcycles boat motors. Of the Japanese Big Four, however, only Yamaha has seen any success in snowmobiles. Not only that, but Yamaha managed to keep its highly … Continue reading
Happy 620 Day from JNC
Compact trucks like the Datsun 620 were one of the ways Japanese companies really made an impact with American customers. Post fuel crisis, they were well poised to save some dough at the pump. Nissan launched a whole campaign around … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays
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Happy S30 Day from JNC
The Nissan Fairlady Z is still the one. The original game-changer from the Land of the Rising Sun that set a new bar for sports cars in the 20th century. It’s beautiful from every angle, spanked not only the competition … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays
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See you at Toyotafest 2023!
We will be seeing you at Toyotafest 2023 this Saturday, May 20. Just look for the red JNC pop-up canopy or our tan Land Cruiser. Gates open from 9am to 3pm at Marina Green Park, 386 E. Shoreline Dr., Long … Continue reading
Happy 510 Day from JNC
Let’s celebrate the one of the most iconic Japanese cars ever built, the Nissan Bluebird 510. SSS stands for Super Sports Sedan, but perhaps one of those S could be sleeper, especially if you option it out in grandpa spec … Continue reading
Happy Open Car Day from JNC: Japan’s first convertible turns 90 years old
Put your tops down because today is Open Car Day in Japan. The holiday was created by the Japan Convertible Association, who judged April 5 to be the best day of the year for topless driving. Coincidentally, it’s also the … Continue reading
Honda Motocompo and Cub EZ90 revived by Chinese EV bike company
At the 2023 Tokyo Motorcycle Show this week a Chinese company showed off two new products that pay tribute to Honda designs. Manufactured by Felo, their styling appears to be modernized takes on the Honda Motocompo and Cub EZ90. They’re … Continue reading
Happy TE37 Day from JNC
We’ve spent the last few March sevenths honoring the Toyota Corolla TE37, but let’s not forget what is probably the most iconic wheel of the tuner age, the Volk Racing TE37. The instantly recognizable lightweight 6-spoke looks good on a … Continue reading
Happy R31 Day from JNC
It’s not easy having Godzilla as your younger brother, but the R31 Skyline is an interesting guy too. For example, it was released on August 31, 1985, during a time when Japan was undergoing an industry-wide transition from fender mirrors … Continue reading
Happy Presidents Day from JNC
As we all know from the Toyota Century, the most luxurious upholstery for your Japanese VIP sled is wool. The JG50 Nissan President also came standard with wool and silk fabrics slathering the interior, but if you really wanted, you … Continue reading
Happy B210 Day from JNC
The third-generation Nissan Sunny debuted in Japan in 1973, making this year the 50th anniversary of the B210. Nissan sold nearly 900,000 of these bad boys. A good portion of them were sold in the US, where it was called … Continue reading
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Happy TA22 Day from JNC
Please excuse this terrible angle of this shot, taken hastily in the parking lot of the 2011 New Year Meeting, back when that was still a thing. The key part of this Celica is the wild rear spoiler, anyway, which … Continue reading
Happy Sanitora Day from JNC
Fun fact: Did you know that there are some Sunny Trucks that did not have Hakosuka front ends? It’s true, and they actually look quite good that way. It’s okay not to follow trends on Instagram, people. So today, on … Continue reading
Honda debuts electric bike versions of iconic Cub, Dax and Ruckus
We’ve spilled much digital ink here at JNC singing the praises of Honda bikes. Now three of the most popular designs from the company’s two-wheeled history have been transformed into electric bicycles for a new generation of riders in the … Continue reading
Posted in Motorcycles
Tagged Cub e, dax, Dax e, honda, motorcycles, Ruckus, super cub, Zoomer e
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Happy Kenmeri Day from JNC
As cool as GT-R clones may be, there’s something pure and simple about a four-banger Kenmeri. Despite two fewer cylinders the Skyline GL evokes no less nostalgia than the flared S20 street machines. In fact these are technically more nostalgic, … Continue reading
