Just twenty years after the Second World War, Japan again invaded America... but this time they were welcomed with open arms and wide-open wallets. So began an era of cheap but technologically advanced Japanese motorcycles. Suddenly everyone was on a motorcycle – even the nicest people.

Since its inception, Nation's Cycle Center was a manufacturer of accessories for Harleys, Indians and British bikes. With the birth of the Japanese Bike Boom, Gordon Willey saw a great opportunity to expand his market.

That market expanded beyond everyone's expectations, and many of Nation's Cycle Center's greatest innovations were on the near horizon.

Barry Willey, future president of National Cycle, tests the limits on his new Bridgestone GT.

Barry gets a little air on his Bridgestone.

A new Bar Clamp Mirror was introduced by Nation’s Cycle Center in 1973.

The big news was the Big Mirror™, also introduced in 1973. This style of mirror influenced the design of mirrors found on Japanese sport bikes for years to come.

The cover of Nation’s Cycle Center 1973 Catalog. The company’s new Viking Windshield/Z-Bar combo appears on the new Kawasaki Mach III.

The Nation’s Cycle Center Beaded Windshield was introduced with handlebar mounts for Japanese bikes, here seen on a Honda CB350.

The same Beaded Windshield seen on a Honda CB750. Note how the bent uprights allow for almost unlimited fitments.

Side view of the Beaded Windshield on a CB750.

Nation’s Cycle Center made spoon-style highways pegs in earlier years, and this was the style introduced in their 1973 Catalog. They were popular with dresser riders as well as chopper builders.

The Viking/Z-Bar combo appeared in the 1973 Catalog.

The Kawasaki Mach III poses with the new Viking/Z-Bar combo.

The company’s chopper, built in the 1970s from an early Panhead, a wishbone frame, and a lot of 70s-era chopper parts, shows the new Viking Windshield/Z-Bar combo.