All things Lambretta & Vespa
Clasic Japanese motorcycle
The history of the W1 can be traced back to 1960 and the early K1, a motorcycle developed by the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer Meguro. Meguro had first started producing motorcycles back in 1909 and had modeled the K1 on the English BSA A7 as a replacement for their single cylinder Meguro Z7. It was early days, and most Japanese motorcycle manufacturers at the time were basically building bikes copied from American and European models, particularly in the large displacement categories. For its day, the K1 was an advanced design and showcased modern-day manufacturing techniques with its Air-Cooled , 4-stroke, Twin OHV 496cc engine mounted in a double-cradle frame. In 1960, Meguro Works entered into a business relationship with Kawasaki Aircraft Company Ltd., leading to a full merger in 1963. Therefore, although the K1 was developed and produced by Meguro, selling it was left to Kawasaki Motor Sales Co., the forerunner of Kawasaki Motorcycle Co.,Ltd. At the time, the...
