1956 Meguro (Kawasaki) 250 S3 Junior
Formerly, Meguro was one of Japan's oldest
motorcycle manufacturers, specializing in four stroke machines. In the rarely
fifties, they produced a whole series of single cylinder machines from 125cc to
500cc, whose very English lines revealed their inspiration. However, these
bikes were more than simple copies like the first Japanese motorcycles; they
were original machines.
Successful Manufacturer
Meguro was
indisputably the most successful of the early Japanese makers. Its first
machine, a 500cc single, had appeared in 1937. In 1964, Meguro was absorbed by
the Kawasaki Heavy Industries Group, which had been involved with motorcycles
since 1949 and had produced tow stroke models under its own name since 1961.
The first Kawasaki four stokes were just renamed Meguros
Faithful
Replica
The 250 S3 Meguro, built between 1953 and 1957, was a faithful
replica of the company's 350cc and 500cc machines and had many parts in common
with the larger bikes. That of course made it on the heavy side ofr a 250 - it
weighted 400 lbs. Ready for the road, against t445 lbs for the 500. Oddly
enough, all three Meguros had the gear selector pedal on the right like British
and French machines, no on the left like the German bikes that were widely
copied by the Japanese (and which would become the standard). In 1958, the 250
S3 was replaced by the 250 F, with an overhead cam engine - and left foot
gearshift.