Shimano - But what does it all actually mean ? If anything.

[IanS62]

It's not just Shimano though - most Japanese companies come up with weird names. It's because in Japan there is a trend for naming items with western words because they like the look and sound of the word, even though it's essentially meaningless.

There is/was a range of nice retro 70's style motorcycle jackets available in Japan. Nice leather, distressed look, Grand Prix stripes on the sleeves etc, all negated by the logo splashed across the back which read "Expeditionary Crusts".

You can't teach genius like that.

 

[hamster]

Typically the names are computer generated to avoid existing real words which are typically a trademark for somebody somewhere.
Hence all the silly French car names (Clio, Safrane etc) which sound cute or sleek but don't actually mean anything.

Alternatively use the Japanese motorbike forumula:
1 letter from the start of the alpabet
1 letter from the end
1 letter from the middle
three numbers
1 more letter randomly picked for decoration...

Mine's a BXR790T. Phwooooaaar!
...Or alternatively the registration of a 1979 Ford Escort... :roll:

 

[Chopper the ex Copper]

Still, feel sorry for Mitsubishi. In Spain Pajero means "wanker". Actually makes me want one.

Useless fact - the main reason German cars tend to have numbers instead of name's is historic. When you start a war, slaughter millions, then go on to lose its considered bad form to give your car's names that might be construed aggressive. The allies won the war, so it was fine for us to call ours Spitfire, Avenger, Scimitar, Interceptor, Javelin etc.

 

[hamster]

That's why it was launched as Shogun there too...but I'd heard it was Greece, must try shouting it out of a taxi next time I'm on holiday...

In fairness, the 1960's Japanese car names show why it's sense.

Honda Lovechild, Toyota PrettyBird anyone? AFAIK they never exported them under these names though.

 

[IanS62]

The legendary Honda FireBlade was named after a bad Japanese translation of "lightning bolt". I quite like it actually.

But in reply to the original question, Shimano is named after the founder. It's still a family-run business.

 

[Davichin]

Still, feel sorry for Mitsubishi. In Spain Pajero means "wanker". Actually makes me want one.

You beat me to that one!

In Spain they changed the name to Montero, which means something like "from the woods"...

 

[xerxes]

Re:

Still, feel sorry for Mitsubishi. In Spain Pajero means "wanker".

Much like Audi, BMW and Mercedes in England then.

 

[The History Man]

Still, feel sorry for Mitsubishi. In Spain Pajero means "wanker". Actually makes me want one.

Useless fact - the main reason German cars tend to have numbers instead of name's is historic. When you start a war, slaughter millions, then go on to lose its considered bad form to give your car's names that might be construed aggressive. The allies won the war, so it was fine for us to call ours Spitfire, Avenger, Scimitar, Interceptor, Javelin etc.

Fingers on buzzers..............

So what's triumph acclaim in German?

 

[Midlife]

Legend has it that the Colt car was meant to be the "Stalion" but when the importers were told the name the jap accent sounded like "Starion"..............and that's what it was called

 

[66 triumph daytona]

Re: Re:

Still, feel sorry for Mitsubishi. In Spain Pajero means "wanker".

Much like Audi, BMW and Mercedes in England then.

Indeed.....