In 1932 the company of Sankyo Seiyaku sent its representative to the city of Miwaukee to take up the license and the factory manufacturing 1,200-cc motorcycle of VL series. The license which was paid by the Sankyo Seiyaku was for a period of 4 years. The local production was kick-started and soon the motorcycles began to be sold as Japanese and they got the brand mark “Rikuo” – “The King of the Roads”. The Rikuo was such a success that in 1936 it was decided to change the name of the subsidiary company Sankyo Seiyaku for Rikuo Nainenki КК (Rikuo Internal Engine Co., Inc.).
In parallel with the successful mastering the manufacture in Rikuo Nainenki КК a special military version was developed without further delay on the ground of the basic 1,200-cc motorcycle model provided with a sidecar (located on the left) with a drive to the sidecar wheel. It was made taking into consideration the specific muddy terrains of the combat theater in China and Manchukuo, where beginning from 1933 the Japanese unleashed military expansion. The motorcycle for the army was famous under the name Rikuo Туре 97. It was a motorcycle of VL series with a 2-cylinder, V-shaped, 1,200-cc engine. It became the main motor carrier vehicle for the Army of Japanese Empire and was produced by several local companies till the end of World War II. Different sources agree to a ball-park figure in 18,000 pieces of that motorcycle cumulative production.

Curb weight, kg – 500
Length, mm – 2,591
Width, mm – 1,820
Height, mm – 1,168
Cylinder number - 2
Displacement, l – 1.274
Power, hp - 24
Speed, km/h - 96