
IHT / The Asahi Shimbun: August 24, 2004
Expecting a jump in demand, motorcycle makers are preparing to market large models as a ban on tandem riding on expressways is about to be lifted.
...sometime before next June.... revisions allow for license holders aged 20 or older with at least three years' driving experience to ride motorcycles with engine capacities of over 125cc on expressways with a passenger....
The market for large motorbikes with engine capacities of over 400cc is expected to benefit the most from deregulation.
The segment has had a tough go of it lately. The number of new large-bike riders has remained relatively stable, but the number of bikes sold has been on the decline since 2001 due to their high prices and the availability of used bikes.
The gap between the number of newly granted driver's licenses for large bikes and the annual sales of new large bikes widened to 30,000 in 2003.