I don't know a stinking thing about this motorsickle! A fan of Tiddlerosis sent me this brochure photo and I thought it was worth posting. The styling of this tiddler is unusual, to say the least. I might call it misguided ugliness! It looks very little like any other Tohatsu I have seen, and particularly different from the more common Runpet Sport. Notice that even Tohatsu cannot decide what to call this little squirt of early Japanese production: it says Newbirdy at the top and New Birdy at the bottom. I assume they meant to make up a new compound word.
There are many styling miscues on this machine that catch and repulse my eyes. Let's begin with that horridly oversized and angular side cover. Take it off, please! The solo seat hanging your butt out into space at the posterior end just looks stupid, as does that big piece of trim on the front fender. I have never seen a luggage rack mounted in that manner, and from the other side, I bet that massive, squarish chain enclosure was probably supposed to match the massive side cover; however, two wrongs don't make a right. I think the frame is pressed steel, but it is difficult to tell from this dark photo. Note how far forward the rear shocks are mounted. Both fenders look as if they are headed for the nearest mud bog, but I doubt that trail riders would appreciate the leading link front suspension. I can easily see why the much sportier Runpets sold better. The New Birdy featured an electric starter and an automatic transmission! I guess they figured some people were just too stupid or lazy to shift a Honda 50 with its automatic clutch.
A hat tip to Skungheeney for his contribution to Tiddlerosis.
See also: Tohatsu Runpet Sport
2 comments:
Cool bike! I collected Tohatsu's for many years and never saw a New birdy 90, only in photo's. they made a even weirder new birdie 50cc earlier on. it was much different than this model. the gas tank was below the handlebars and it was a open frame type of bike. with a upright cylinder and strange looking frame. these bikes were never shipped here. if you do find one it probably was brought here by a servicemen. they were stationed over in Japan and just threw the bike on the plane or ship and brought it home with them? I had a later 1964 Tohatsu 90 but it looked much different than this model. mine had cool side covers that became carb covers and had fins on them! Tohatsu had some great bikes. We only got a hand full of what they made in Japan...
This New Birdie is a 1960 or so. as by 1964 they had changed a lot. I may have said about the chain guards and rear swing arms of black framed Tohatsu's before. but like your photo all have battle ship gray swing arms and chain cases. and many domestic model Japanese bikes I have had have the triangle on the rear fender and the white painted edge on the front fenders?
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