Something to ponder.

[Earl Svorks]

 I was just reading a bit elsewhere on site , an FJ owner talking about the various virtues inherent in the FJ. One of the obvious traits, and first on his list ,the perimeter frame, or "Lateral frame concept" in Yamaha's terms. The implication
being that it was Yamaha's creation. Perhaps not. Take a look at the Nimbus, do you see a perimeter frame? OK, we can argue that Yamaha went all the way around the steering neck, and that is quite true. Another classic example of the Japanese engineer looking at something good and making it better.
  So, all this buildup, and now the point of the issue. The question I ask is,,, what can you think of, or what can you name as an example of something motorcycle specific that the Japanese did or made or even conceived before any other maker.
  Personally, I can only think of two, but I'm all ears!

[redwolf50]

Bmw had shaft drive in the late 30's is all that come to mind here

[TexasDave]

I don't know if the Yamaha invented the Autolube system but they did successfully develop and apply it to their 2 stroke bikes. Break in from Yamaha it was set up to pump more oil. On return to the dealership they were supposed to remove one of the shims to reduce the stroke of the pump thus the oil volume. I don't think this was done in some cases resulting in fouled plugs and exhausts. Still owning 2 stroke Yamahas it works surprisingly well.  Dave

[JPaganel]

There is a very nifty list of things Yamaha did here:

http://transgarp.dyndns.org/motorcycle/pdf/History_Yamaha.pdf

Although, in some cases they mean "first for Yamaha".

[FJ111200]

The question I ask is,,, what can you think of, or what can you name as an example of something motorcycle specific that the Japanese did

Made bikes, as well as a multitude of other things, more reliable.

 

And look at Japanese antiques.    For the day they were miles ahead of anyone else.

[fj johnnie]

At the moment Yamaha and Honda have the absolute best traction control systems on the planet. Don't beleive me? Watch a couple Motogp races. Nothing anyone else has is close.
  They will show a close up of Marquez at full lean , in slow motion and his rear tire is spinning noticeably faster than the front. AT FULL LEAN!.
This is why they are forcing the crappy Magneti Marelli system on everyone. To level the playing field.

[airheadPete]

Be very careful asking who did what first. That's a minefield for those who aren't historians.
That said, what did the Japanese do first? Make well-engineered, reliable motorcycles.
Some think that being a polished copy-cat is a slur. But they did so much more than that. They made well-made bikes that simply WORKED, and you didn't have to make (British) excuses for.
Great ideas are no excuse for half-assed execution, which is what drove the British to extinction.
(There's an entire Ph.D thesis available here to someone...)
Excellence in engineering is the Japanese calling card. 

[Earl Svorks]

There is a very nifty list of things Yamaha did here:

http://transgarp.dyndns.org/motorcycle/pdf/History_Yamaha.pdf

Although, in some cases they mean "first for Yamaha".

  Thanks for the link, lots to look at there. Of the two firsts I am thinking of, one of them was on that long list. That
being,,,self cancelling turn signals.
  The other thing on my short list, found ,to my knowledge first and still only on the early Honda CB 450 twin DOHC
  Their use of ,,,Torsion bar valve springs.

[Burns]

I was just reading a bit elsewhere on site , an FJ owner talking about the various virtues inherent in the FJ. One of the obvious traits, and first on his list ,the perimeter frame, or "Lateral frame concept" in Yamaha's terms. The implication
being that it was Yamaha's creation. Perhaps not. Take a look at the Nimbus, do you see a perimeter frame? OK, we can argue that Yamaha went all the way around the steering neck, and that is quite true. Another classic example of the Japanese engineer looking at something good and making it better.
  So, all this buildup, and now the point of the issue. The question I ask is,,, what can you think of, or what can you name as an example of something motorcycle specific that the Japanese did or made or even conceived before any other maker.
  Personally, I can only think of two, but I'm all ears!

I'm pretty sure it as Italian engineers who get the credit. Bimoto designed the frame if memory serves.