The S2 is the first in a long production run of Meguro S-series 250 cc singles.
It is a 250 cc 4-stroke machine that carries the lines of the popular British machines of the day.
It is not a light machine tipping the scales at nearly 425 lbs.
It has a standard telescoping front fork and a plunger style rear suspension.
It sports a 3 speed transmission, shifting on the right side. The engine produces 14 HP.
This machine has a great history. It was found in Japan, leaning against the side of a small Japanese hardware store in 1972. The bike had been used as a delivery vehicle for most of its life and ended up abandoned after falling into disrepair.
Richard Wickham, a young US Marine who was stationed in Japan at the time, purchased the bike. Shipping a complete motorcycle was an expensive proposition so Richard disassembled the S2 and shipped it home in a variety of small and large boxes. On his return to his home in Stockton, CA, he pressed forward on the task of getting it restored and back together.
The goal at the time was to get it running and have it serve as an interesting rider. For this reason, the top priority for the restoration was functional, not cosmetic. The restoration project for an early and rare machine like the Meguro S2 is not an easy task due to lack of readily available parts. A great deal of engine machining work was done, cosmetics were upgraded, and the bike was well on the way to being back on the road, when other things in life interfered. The bike sat, in a clean and dry environment from the mid 70s’ till 2005 when Honda Renaissance purchased it.
Meguro History
Meguro motorcycles were not exported from Japan until after its acquisition by Kawasaki Heavy Industries
in 1960/61. The brand is one of the oldest in Japan starting in the late 1920’s and continuing until
purchased by Kawasaki. Meguro was the first Japanese motorcycle manufacturer to produce every component
of a complete motorcycle. The other early manufacturers purchased component parts from Japan and abroad
and assembled machines.
There is a rumor that Meguro had entered into an license agreement with BSA to produce this and other models, but to date we have not been able to verify the existence of such an agreement. We do know that the Meguro shares virtually no interchangeable parts with British machines of the era even though there are striking design elements that look British in origin.
This Machine is scheduled for complete restoration.