In the context of the modern bike market, the name Meguro may not mean much to everyone.
But as it turns out, Meguro was in some way responsible for much of what motorcycles are today. The company’s roots go back to Japan, where it was founded in 1924 and was one of the first motorcycle companies.
Now, a century later, Kawasaki (which absorbed the Meguro brand in the 1960s) is reinventing itself as a historic Japanese brand with the release of the Meguro S1, a small-displacement, single-cylinder-powered neo-retro roadster based on the W230. It shows respect. , similar retro style bicycles. For now, this model is exclusive to the Thai market and is the perfect stylish all-round commuter for riders who want to stand out in a crowd of boring scooters and commuters.
On paper, Metro S1 is very simple. Equipped with an air-cooled, fuel-injected thumper, it is powerful enough to meet modern emissions standards. But clearly, it’s not the technology or performance that makes the Metro S1 shine. It’s in its style and tradition.
Both the Meguro S1 and the W230 on which it is based pay homage to the classic style of the 50s and 60s. Round headlights, teardrop fuel tanks, spoked wheels: they’re pretty much how motorcycles have been imagined for decades.
And in true Kawasaki fashion, we couldn’t come up with a halfway retro-looking machine. The Meguro S1 and W230 are all classic inspired, with traditional dual analog gauge clusters, fork gaiters, and bodywork designed to match a 1964 Kawasaki Meguro SG to a tee .
The only evidence that these bikes are modern machines is the multifunction LCD screen in the left-hand gauge pod that displays the trip meter, odometer, and clock. Other than that, these bikes are as analog as possible.
With so many new bikes flooding the market focused on technology and features, it’s clear that the Kawasaki Meguro S1 and W230 are a rare breed. These are classic-feeling products with products that confirm their heritage and paint a good picture of what motorcycles were, and perhaps should be, in the past.
Do you want to ride a retro machine like the Kawasaki Meguro S1 or W230 on your daily commute? We know you do.
