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Yoshimura legend since 1954:
Since "Yoshimura Motors" founded in Fukuoka, Japan in 1954, Pop Yoshimura
started engine tuning in his own way. There was no information of engine
tuning at that time, and he tuned many engines all by himself with his
inspiration and knowledge in engineering. Soon later he became famous for
tuning among American armies, and he started to be called "God Hand." He
challenged everything to overcome problems and improve tuning ability by
himself and his continuous challenges made many racers win.
His years of experience made the name "Yoshimura" famous for the quality and
the performance. Still more, the reputation has been created from various
racing victories around the world. And they were the result of his
unremitting effort.
The company Yoshimura has done an expansion abroad in 1973 and Yoshimura
companies (Yoshimura Japan Co., Ltd. and Yoshimura Research & Development of
America, inc.) have been both started to grow dealing with motorcycle
performance products.
One of the main reason that Yoshimura exists today is our passion for
racing. As we participated in races, we researched and developed engines and
engine tuning, and .
Pop became a man of legend with his achievement. And his son, Fujio, who
inherited the spirit and the concept has been leading further growth of
motor sports under the name of "Yoshimura". The revolutionary design of
Duplex exhaust system, MJN carburetor and Tri-Oval silencer were created
from his idea and the technologies of the products have been achieving
victories in races. His unflagging energy, the effort and the talent of
creativity has been making Yoshimura name more firmly.
Yoshimura History:
Yoshimura keeps challenging from its
establishment 1954. Since then the sprits live in all the Yoshimura products
and the quality and the performance are the proof of it.
Hideo "Pops" Yoshimura started the company back in 1954. Yoshimura had a
humble beginning. From the original shop in Japan, however, a seed was
planted and it started to grow.
The reputation of Yoshimura grew quickly. The motorcycle and racecar engines
Pops built were very quick. Soon he had a following of diehard racers. In
the seventies, Pops came to America and started up the American division of
his company.
Yoshimura R&D of America was born and places like Daytona, Loudon, and
Brainerd haven't been the same since. The Yoshimura approach to racing
proved very successful. The attention to detail and passion for perfection
was instilled in every employee from day one. The products were clearly a
cut above the competition and the business grew.
The formula was then, and is now, very simple really, "Concentrate on
nothing but performance, quality, and fit... the business will come."
Yoshimura today has the same basic formula. While companies come and go
trying all sorts of clever marketing plans and developing inferior products,
Yoshimura just keeps growing. Our customers know that there will never be
compromise with our products. They also know that our knowledge comes
straight from the racetrack to our customer.
Pops knew product and he knew racing. In the world of Yoshimura, that's all
that counts. Pops' son Fujio took over the business here in the USA and Pops
returned to Japan to concentrate on the market there.
When Pops decided it was time to take it a little easy, Fujio went back to
Japan to oversee the overall Yoshimura operations.
Suehiro "Nabe" Watanabe took over the reigns of Yoshimura R&D of America and
Don Sakakura was promoted to race team manager.
Nabe came up through the ranks at Yoshimura. He started out as a race
mechanic and now runs the largest sportbike pipe manufacturing business in
the world.
Nabe was blessed with a fundamental understanding of the manufacturing
process and has innovated numerous techniques in manufacturing, production,
and racing exhaust design. The sum of these innovations is leadership in one
of the most competitive segments of the aftermarket.
Don Sakakura is spending more and more time in the day-to-day operations of
the company. While still managing the team to three straight Superbike
titles, he is heavily involved in the overall management role of the
company.
The faces may change at Yoshimura but one thing remains constant, a devotion
to racing and building products capable of winning. Yoshimura puts racing
first, business second. As it turns out, this philosophy has insured our
business success.
YOSHIMURA TIMELINE:
1954 Hideo
Yoshimura (Pop Yoshimura) established "YOSHIMURA MOTORS" in
Fukuoka.
1964 Champion in SUZUKA 18 hours endurance race.
1965 YOSHIMURA moved to Fussa, Tokyo. The
company was renamed to "YOSHIMURA
COMPETITION MOTORS".
Yoshimura started tuning of S600.
1971 The first prototype muffler was invented and tried on CB750 in
Ontario 250.
1970 Yoshimura started to sell the first exhaust system in the
world.
1973 Yoshimura expanded the business to U.S.A.. and established
"YOSHIMURA
RACING".
1974 "YOSHIMURA PARTS SHOP KATO" was established in Atsugi,
Kanagawa.
1975 "YOSHIMURA RACING" was changed to" YOSHIMURA R&D OF AMERICA"..
1976 "YOSHIMURA PARTS SHOP KATO" was moved to Motomachi, Atsugi.
1978 "YOSHIMURA PARTS SHOP KATO" was moved to Yamagiwa, Atsugi.
1979 "YOSHIMURA PARTS SHOP KATO" was changed to "YOSHIMURA PARTS OF
JAPAN".
1980 "YOSHIMURA PARTS OF JAPAN" was moved to Aikawa, Aiko, Kanagawa.
1984 The company was renamed to Yoshimura Japan. Yoshimura started
to sell first
new
cyclone designed to overcome street noise regulation.
1986 Invention of Duplex Cyclone which was improved from cyclone
exhaust system.
1987 Invention and manufacturing of Sanper, single muffler.
1989 Hideo Yoshimura became the chairman.
Fujio Yoshimura became the president.
1990 Manufacturing of Yoshimura MCL Road Star (Mazda Eunos Road
Star). Muffler
material
was changed to all stainless.
JMCA, Japan Motorcycle Association was founded.
1991 Muffler manufacturing factory completed.
1992 Fujio Yoshimura invented MJN carburetor. Cyclone muffler for
street was made of
titanium
and carbon.
1993 Chassis dynamometer was set next to the company.
1995 Yoshimura Cyclone muffler with one year warranty.
Mass production of titanium full
system
was started.
Hideo Yoshimura passed away.
1996 Production of titanium cyclone and hand bent titan cyclone for
Super 7 started.
1997 Previous one year warranty on Cyclone muffler extended for two
years.
1998 Production of new designed cyclone "Tri-Oval cyclone" started.
1999 Muffler repair service "Yoshimura's care, Yoshimura warranty"
started.
2000 Complete machine Yoshimura Hayabusa X-1 were released to the
market. (Base
machine
GSX1300R / 100 machines limited)
2001 Complete machine Katana 1135R were released to the market.
(Base machine
GSX1100S
/ 5 machines limited)
Production of Catalyzed cyclone started.
2002 Complete machine Yoshimura Tornado S-1 were released to the
market. (Base
machine
GSX-R1000 / 100 machines limited)
Production of new designed cyclone "Mega Tri-Oval cyclone" started.
2003 Authorization of ISO9001. Complete
machine M450R released to the market.
(Base
machine DR-Z400 / Order made)
Production of new designed cyclone "Tri-Cone cyclone" started.
2004 50th Anniversary of the foundation.
New office building completed.
Complete machine Zero-50 were
released to the market. (Base machine GSX-
R1000 / 5 machines limited)
Production of EEC Approved Slip-On started.
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