What is the Japanese Motorcycle Heritage Foundation?

It is widely accepted that Japanese motorcycle exports began in 1959 when the Honda Motor Company under Soichiro Honda introduced the world to new line of 2-wheeled vehicles. While the rest of the world only started seeing Japanese machines starting in 1959, Japanese Motorcycles were first Manufactured in 1909. Between 1909 and 1959 there were over 140 different motorcycle makers in Japan.

The first decade of the 1900’s witnessed a flurry of motorcycle designs and production. Between 1901 and 1910 the world was introduced to the first motorcycles from Triumph, BSA, Indian, Rudge, Harley-Davidson, Norton, Brough, Husquvarna and dozens of others. While is should come as no surprise that inventers in Japan were doing the same things as others all over the world, the fact is that most riders today have little or no knowledge of the impact these early developers had on the motorcycles we ride today.

The Japanese Motorcycle Heritage Foundation (JMHF) is a nonprofit public benefit corporation. The specific purposes for which this corporation is organized are:

To increase public awareness of the contributions Japanese motorcycle manufacturing has made to motorcycle design, function and use world-wide.
To increase public awareness of the art and technology of Japanese motorcycle development.
To supply credible and relevant information on the restoration and operation of classic Japanese motorcycles.
To assist individuals in the restoration of classic Japanese motorcycles to prevent them from being discarded or destroyed.
To provide other organizations with skilled support in the exhibition, judging, appraisal and appreciation of classic Japanese motorcycles.

Want More Info?

This website is under construction and not yet fully activated. For more information contact the President of the Foundation, Allen Siekman, at allen@ebold.com or at 831 336-3621.