The new Tokaimushi STZ 1300 xs

We met the Tokaimushi truck at Brands Hatch, as the mist was lifting off a damp track, at 0700hours one chilly Sunday morn in November. Mr Haduku and his team bowed, and while Mr Haduku and I went to our caravan for a spot of breakfast, his team and our guys unloaded the new road going superstar that has hit Britain with a snarling vengance.

Tok's last offering, the 750cc FTZ xs, was a slightly disapointing machine at handling. The suberb ,silk smooth powerplant, delivered it's power effortlessly, but it was choppy on the bends, and due to the short wheelbase, hard to deliver to the tarmac. As we munched our crumpets, and sipped tea, Mr Haduku gave a wry smile, when I asked if this STZ was a more 'sorted' beast.

"Our best designers and engineers have colaberated with the top Yalamadi team riders to deliver a very exceptional motor cycle. You will not be dissapointed Max, That is certain."

Well that remained to be seen. The sun had peeked out from behind the grey sludgy sky, and the track looked like a heavy smoker at a drinks party, as the moisture rose into the air.The new STZ 1300xs was parked on the track side. This bike had been kept under wraps for the last year of developement, and all the worlds bike press were gasping with awe and admiration. I could see why too. Wow! It was pretty! Low slung, long wheelbase with a semi-naked middle and a faired front.Twin oval healamps were mounted behind a plexi glass fairing.It has a heads-up disply and all the guages can be either projected up at your visor, or you can look down at everything without losing control. Fork mounted mirrors were a smart touch, but the handlebars were a bit busy, as this is a high tech peice of magic .It is only meant as a solo bike, but there are some stumps of underdeveloped foot pegs for a pillion, if it was a small child or girl weighing only 4 stone, they could maybe travel for as much as 5 miles without needind orthapaedic surgery.

I mounted the bike and quickly settled into it's comfort zone.On low throttle openings, the acceleration was sharp, and the handling tidy. Pull on that throttle, and baby, you'll need some gut's to keep it there! The torque was massive, and would pull all the way from 25 MPH to over a 130 without so much as a shudder.Keeping the front wheel down was hard. Even though the weight distribution was brilliant, there was just awsome power.On the track, It reached 190mph in alomost no tim at all, and was begging for more!

At the end of the day, I asked Mr Hakudu to sell me one. Man was I impressed. This is the most exciting Chinese bike ever made, and is putting the Japs to shame. Keep it up, it's good for your adrenaline. Max