Rikuo, produced in Japan from 1929 to 1959, was one of the country’s earliest motorcycle manufacturers and became famous for building licensed Harley-Davidson based motorcycles using American tooling and designs. The brand produced heavyweight V-twin models such as the Type 97, RQ750, RT750, and VLE1200, many of which were used by the Japanese military and police during and after World War II. Characterized by large-displacement side-valve engines, rugged construction, and strong Harley-Davidson influence, Rikuo played an important role in the early development of the Japanese motorcycle industry before disappearing in the early 1960s.