Getting Motorcycle in Japan

[IparryU]

not for me... but a guy asked this online:
"I am thinking about getting a motorcycle here in Japan. I was wondering whether anybody has experience in the required procedure, permits, cost etc....
New motorbikes seem to be reasonably priced, but I've heart that it's quite tricky to get everything going, and that there are quite some costs involved (registration, insurance, etc.)."

Any tips on this one?

[wagyl]

I've never really understood this "ask a random stranger who is answering without any accountability online" thing.

This guy is looking to buy a brand new motorbike. He is therefore buying it from a dealer. A dealer who has a shitload of experience in the field and can answer his questions. If the guy is worried about the dealer diddling him, look for another dealer.

Probably not the answer the guy is looking for, but I don't know what answer he is expecting otherwise.

[Mike Oxlong]

Might also give a forum targeting fg biker types a try...

http://www.gaijinriders.com/forum.php

[IparryU]

Might also give a forum targeting fg biker types a try...

http://www.gaijinriders.com/forum.php

forgot about this place... ty MO

[Coligny]

Probably not the answer the guy is looking for, but I don't know what answer he is expecting otherwise.

[Wage Slave]

Probably not the answer the guy is looking for, but I don't know what answer he is expecting otherwise.

The answer being walk into your local friendly dealer and do as he says.

I have noticed as I wander through life that when I walk into a profit maximising business with no idea what the market rate is and no idea about what is and isn't necessary that they tend to start charging like wounded bulls and adding on unnecessary extras. I would also observe that although this phenomenon is well attested in other countries it is particularly noticeable in Japan.

So casting around widely for views and information would seem a very sensible move and even akin to due diligence.

Caveat emptor is a fundamental principle market capitalism works is it not?

I know little about bikes in Japan except that the main issue is the license, especially for bikes over 250cc. If buying second hand then I would imagine that Goo.net or an auction agent would be a lot cheaper than a local dealer. Just like with cars shaken/tax/registration/insurance shouldn't be any great obstacle but will cost a varying amount depending on who is doing it. But I could be wrong about that.

[Coligny]

Yup, plus on FG even for the most obscure question there is more than often someone with the proper experience able to answer...

[IparryU]

Yup, plus on FG even for the most obscure question there is more than often someone with the proper experience able to answer...

Aint that the whole point of FG?

[Taro Toporific]

...I know little about bikes in Japan except that the main issue is the license, especially for bikes over 250cc. If buying second hand then I would imagine that Goo.net or an auction agent would be a lot cheaper than a local dealer. Just like with cars shaken/tax/registration/insurance shouldn't be any great obstacle but will cost a varying amount depending on who is doing it...

Yep, getting the license for over 250cc is a real pain in the ass---Experienced gaijin riders often fail several times.

One additional problem is that in Tokyo-Yokohama area, over-50cc motorcycles must now be parked in official parking areas, which are expensive as well as few and far between. Before the parking crackdown, riding a motorcycle had a huge advantage in that you could just park off to the side on the sidewalk anywhere. Now, you have to look forever to find an official parking spot and then pay half the rate of the nasty parking fee for cars. Parking tickets for O-gata bikes run 20,000yen and the parking patrols love to give them out (and tow away motorcycles that are "obstructing" pedestrian walkways). I know several gaijin who stopped riding in downtown Tokyo because parking has become such a hassle.

[Mike Oxlong]

Yep, getting the license for over 250cc is a real pain in the ass---Experienced gaijin riders often fail several times.

One additional problem is that in Tokyo-Yokohama area, over-50cc motorcycles must now be parked in official parking areas, which are expensive as well as few and far between. Before the parking crackdown, riding a motorcycle had a huge advantage in that you could just park off to the side on the sidewalk anywhere. Now, you have to look forever to find an official parking spot and then pay half the rate of the nasty parking fee for cars. Parking tickets for O-gata bikes run 20,000yen and the parking patrols love to give them out (and tow away motorcycles that are "obstructing" pedestrian walkways). I know several gaijin who stopped riding in downtown Tokyo because parking has become such a hassle.

Meanwhile in Taiwan...

All-day parking at high speed rail station for less than $2.

[legion]

Yep, getting the license for over 250cc is a real pain in the ass---Experienced gaijin riders often fail several times.

One additional problem is that in Tokyo-Yokohama area, over-50cc motorcycles must now be parked in official parking areas, which are expensive as well as few and far between. Before the parking crackdown, riding a motorcycle had a huge advantage in that you could just park off to the side on the sidewalk anywhere. Now, you have to look forever to find an official parking spot and then pay half the rate of the nasty parking fee for cars. Parking tickets for O-gata bikes run 20,000yen and the parking patrols love to give them out (and tow away motorcycles that are "obstructing" pedestrian walkways). I know several gaijin who stopped riding in downtown Tokyo because parking has become such a hassle.

It's the oogata license which is a pain, over 400cc

Over 250cc is where you start needing shaken

I stopped riding in Tokyo partly because of the parking, I also got sick of the traffic lights, start stop start stop start stop. These days I go out to the countryside and potter around the hills getting lost up tsukodome roads.

Riding a bike in Japan involves getting a Japanese bike license but you don't actually need one to buy a bike. To buy a bike you need to get a certificate from your shiyakusho so they know who to send the road tax bill to, the guy in the shop will tell you what you need to ask for.

However Japanese bike shops tend to be run by ganko ojisans, I've been going to the same shop for nearly 20 years now, so I no longer notice this, but they are quite intimidating even for Japanese people. However a small shop will give you great service once you are a kyakusan, and even though I now live out in the sticks I still use the same shop which is now miles away because I value this relationship.

Foreigners tend to get good treatment at Fukuda Motors, because they are usually expats buying big ticket import bikes which they are going to sell back to the shop two years later practically unridden.

[wagyl]

My understanding is that we are not supposed to go to a shop. Even if the original text refers to

New motorbikes

In an attempt to provide some value-added with this post, http://www.fukuda-motors.co.jp/
Not that we have any information as to the location in the original source text... Google has found it here, but not anywhere else online, so suppose that the original mystery site is blocked for crawler robots or less often visited than here.

[Sarutaro]

A guy I met yesterday arrived on a 100cc scooter. When I asked him if getting a license was difficult, he replied that a regular car license is enough. "Isn't that for bikes under 50cc?" I asked, but he insisted the rules changed a couple of years ago and it's now perfectly legal!


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[Taro Toporific]

A guy I met yesterday arrived on a 100cc scooter. When I asked him if getting a license was difficult, he replied that a regular car license is enough. "Isn't that for bikes under 50cc?" I asked, but he insisted the rules changed a couple of years ago and it's now perfectly legal!

Huh?
I thought a 100cc scooter requires a Japanese license for 50cc~150cc KOGATA JIDOU NIRINSHA/小型自動二輪車 .
I use a Super Cub C100 (the "original") in the boondocks of Shikoku but I always figured that I was setting myself up for the revocation of my Japanese automobile license* for the dread "無免許運転Driving without a license 25 Points" if I was ever caught.

ja.wikipedia.org
50cc超125cc以下の二輪車の運転免許は...1996年9月の免許制度の改正では「普通自動二輪免許（小型限定）」と名称が変更された。
{Since 1996, the Japanese licensing system renamed the category, "normal, automatic motorcycle license (small only)." }

*In the Real World, I drive a Piaggio 500cc and my
Colorado Commercial Drivers License is endorsed to drive most anything from
my 1962 Cadillac to a semi-tractor trailer for 6 horses.

[Russell]

Are horses even allowed on the roads here?

[Coligny]

Are horses even allowed on the roads here?

It's ok, your mom can still use the sidewalk...

(you did it on purpose did you ?)

[Russell]

Are horses even allowed on the roads here?

It's ok, your mom can still use the sidewalk...

(you did it on purpose did you ?)

You've been too long on the interwabs.

Time for your exercises...

[BigInJapan]

I thought a 100cc scooter requires a Japanese license for 50cc~150cc KOGATA JIDOU NIRINSHA/小型自動二輪車 .
I use a Super Cub C100 (the "original") in the boondocks of Shikoku but I always figured that I was setting myself up for the revocation of my Japanese automobile license* for the dread "無免許運転Driving without a license 25 Points" if I was ever caught.

ja.wikipedia.org
50cc超125cc以下の二輪車の運転免許は...1996年9月の免許制度の改正では「普通自動二輪免許（小型限定）」と名称が変更された。
{Since 1996, the Japanese licensing system renamed the category, "normal, automatic motorcycle license (small only)." }

The English Driving license in Japan page has a definitive breakdown of engines sizes by cc.

Heavy motorcycle 大型自動二輪車 Any motorcycle with engine displacement over 400 cc.
Ordinary motorcycle *普通自動二輪車 Any motorcycle with engine displacement over 50 cc.
Moped 原動機付自転車 Any motorcycle with engine displacement of 50 cc or less.

*The English Wiki page uses the phrase 普通自動二輪車, and according to the Japanese Wiki, 小型二輪車 (kogata) is an abbreviation.

[wuchan]

I thought a 100cc scooter requires a Japanese license for 50cc~150cc KOGATA JIDOU NIRINSHA/小型自動二輪車 .
I use a Super Cub C100 (the "original") in the boondocks of Shikoku but I always figured that I was setting myself up for the revocation of my Japanese automobile license* for the dread "無免許運転Driving without a license 25 Points" if I was ever caught.

ja.wikipedia.org
50cc超125cc以下の二輪車の運転免許は...1996年9月の免許制度の改正では「普通自動二輪免許（小型限定）」と名称が変更された。
{Since 1996, the Japanese licensing system renamed the category, "normal, automatic motorcycle license (small only)." }

The English Driving license in Japan page has a definitive breakdown of engines sizes by cc.

Heavy motorcycle 大型自動二輪車 Any motorcycle with engine displacement over 400 cc.
Ordinary motorcycle *普通自動二輪車 Any motorcycle with engine displacement over 50 cc.
Moped 原動機付自転車 Any motorcycle with engine displacement of 50 cc or less.

*The English Wiki page uses the phrase 普通自動二輪車, and according to the Japanese Wiki, 小型二輪車 (kogata) is an abbreviation.

I learned something recently about the under 50cc bikes. I met a guy with a super cub bobber, I know I was like WTF? too. He told me that they were taking 50cc supercubs and putting race spec big bore parts on them which ups the cc to 80-120 and the rpms from 9k to 12k. If done correctly you can probably get around 20hp out of it. It would cost in the neighborhood of $3k plust the cost of the bike but it's totally possible.

[Coligny]

Is the chassis really designed to cope with the driving that would come with the power increase ?

Those are the Post Office delivery bikes aint'it ?

I mean, you can also put a 2l on a Daihatsu Midget...

image.jpg

That's not going to give you a sub 8 minutes on the Nurburgring...

[GargoyleTS]

Any word on updated definitions of the license stuff for the new all-electric motorcycles coming out this year? Technically they have a displacement of 0...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ1eMYdL ... page#t=164

(embedding not allowed, sorry)

Where can I park that?

[legion]

I thought a 100cc scooter requires a Japanese license for 50cc~150cc KOGATA JIDOU NIRINSHA/小型自動二輪車 .
I use a Super Cub C100 (the "original") in the boondocks of Shikoku but I always figured that I was setting myself up for the revocation of my Japanese automobile license* for the dread "無免許運転Driving without a license 25 Points" if I was ever caught.

ja.wikipedia.org
50cc超125cc以下の二輪車の運転免許は...1996年9月の免許制度の改正では「普通自動二輪免許（小型限定）」と名称が変更された。
{Since 1996, the Japanese licensing system renamed the category, "normal, automatic motorcycle license (small only)." }

The English Driving license in Japan page has a definitive breakdown of engines sizes by cc.

Heavy motorcycle 大型自動二輪車 Any motorcycle with engine displacement over 400 cc.
Ordinary motorcycle *普通自動二輪車 Any motorcycle with engine displacement over 50 cc.
Moped 原動機付自転車 Any motorcycle with engine displacement of 50 cc or less.

*The English Wiki page uses the phrase 普通自動二輪車, and according to the Japanese Wiki, 小型二輪車 (kogata) is an abbreviation.

Bike size division is for tax

[wagyl]

Are horses even allowed on the roads here?

Horses are officially 軽車両 so I do not advise being drunk while you are sitting on the horse as it takes you home. You might get a ticket for driving under the influence.

[Russell]

Are horses even allowed on the roads here?

Horses are officially 軽車両...

I am actually surprised by that, because when my daughter did some horse riding, I was told that it was not allowed to get on a public road in that city. Maybe some local regulations?

[Coligny]

Did your daughter have her driver license ?

[Russell]

A driver license is not needed for a horse, since it is apparently considered on par with a bicycle, if I understand the Wikipedia page correctly.

[wagyl]

Are horses even allowed on the roads here?

Horses are officially 軽車両...

I am actually surprised by that, because when my daughter did some horse riding, I was told that it was not allowed to get on a public road in that city. Maybe some local regulations?

Maybe more likely that the horse riding school or club or whatever did not have insurance to cover accidents on a public road.