Suzuki Motorcycles - From Fine Loom Manufacturers to Major Motorcycle Company

Started in a small warehouse by Michio Suzuki back inChampionship.By the late 60s, the company had
1909, Suzuki aimed at making better looms for thebecome known and respected in the American and
Japanese silk industry. It was only thirty years afterEuropean motorbike world. One of their best-selling
its existence that the company started thinking ofmachines during this time period was the Suzuki X-6
diversifying into cars, motorcycles and relatedHustler, which was the fastest Japanese 250cc for
machinery. In fact, it was only after the collapse ofthat time.Suzuki Motorcycles also gained fame in the
the cotton market in 1951, that Suzuki seriously gotmotocross world. In the 60s and 70s, motocross
into the motorcycle and car industry.One of the firstracing was largely dominated by European motorcycle
two-wheeled innovations by Suzuki was a motorizedmanufacturers. Japanese motorcycles did not have
bicycle called the "Power Free". This bicycle was somuch of a presence or respect in this arena, but
ingeniously designed that the government of Japanduring this time, Suzuki Motorcycles won the World
gave Suzuki a subsidy in order to continue theirChampionship several times between 1971 and 1976
research in motorcycle and car innovation. As timein the 500cc MX race. In addition to this, the
progressed, the company started to build better andcompany also won every 125cc world championship
better motorcycles. And by 1962, Suzuki Motorcyclesfrom 1975 to 1984.
had won their first 50cc Grand Prix World