Lot details
Registration No: N/A
Frame No: T.B.A.
Engine No: BAB-1009
cc: 125
MOT Expiry Date: N/A

Tokyo Hatsudoki Co. Ltd., a company formed in 1939, emerged from the Second World War with the majority of its manufacturing facilities intact but its largest client, the Japanese armed forces, disbanded. Like many of its rivals it turned to motorcycle production concentrating on lightweight two stroke machines. By the early sixties the company accounted for 3% of the indigenous market and sought to expand into overseas markets using competition as a springboard. Their first road racing model was a 50cc followed rapidly by a 125cc twin, however neither model proved to be truly competitive and were followed in 1962 by a twin cylinder 50cc racer and a heavily revised 125cc twin. Success followed for the firm with Dave Simmonds achieving a large degree of success, however, just as the company was set to establish a works team, it was declared bankrupt. Production stopped and the remaining stocks of parts, jigs and tools were sold to the Japan Racing Motorcycles Company. Dave Simmonds continued to campaign the machines with success until 1966 when he switched to Kawasaki and in the same year a small number of 125cc racers were imported by Wallingford dealer Jim Pink selling for £550. Essentially 1964 specification machines they continued to meet with success at National level.
The machine offered, a 125cc Twin has a known history from its despatch from the factory in Japan to the present day. It was collected from Tilbury Docks by its first owner, Pete Casey, who subsequently sold it Dennis Ritchins, before it passed to Rod Skivier. Mr Skivier removed the Tohatsu engine and installed a race kitted Yamaha AS1 engine with which he had great success attaining a top ten finish in a John Player racer at Silverstone in the early seventies.
The machine was purchased by the present owner from Rod Skivier, still with the Yamaha power plant, racing it for a while before selling it on. Approximately 4 years later the vendor once again acquired the motorcycle and set about sourcing a Tohatsu engine to return the machine to original specification. His search eventually succeeded, with an engine being located, which, when he went to collect it, was informed, had come out of Rod Skivier's Tohatsu, a happy coincidence that saw the machine returned to an unexpected level of originality!
The engine was completely rebuilt, with new bearings, seal, connecting rods and pistons being fitted and has only been run for 2 to 3 minutes since being reunited with the cycle parts which are described as being ibn good condition. The vendor reports that the engine has excellent compression and that the only non-original items fitted are the rear shock absorbers.