prmorey Posted November 14, 2012 Report Share Posted November 14, 2012 so from columbus in the active duty air force and they just put me on mainland japan, a perfect spot to learn how to ride. there are so many bikes here, but i'm looking for something that i can't get anywhere else. i'm just learning so i'm trying to get ahold of a good starter bike. i've got a guy who goes to auctions who tells me he can get me whatever i want. so i figure this is a good spot to pose this question: what kind of cool bikes are there that you know of, that are exclusive to japan? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted November 14, 2012 Report Share Posted November 14, 2012 Here is some info you might want to take a look at. Its a tourist inquiring about how to buy a bike to tour on in Japan. Would you be considered a resident or an alien?http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+5133 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted November 14, 2012 Report Share Posted November 14, 2012 Look for one of these!Japanese plumbing company Toto has brought to market a motorcycle that runs on human waste. The waste sits under the driver's seat and is converted into a biofuel that powers the three-wheeled bike. Y'all gross as hell, Japan. Y'all gross. It features a toilet seat for a, well, seat. But it's not like you're actually excreting the bikes' fuel as you ride around, it's a PURELY DECORATIVE toilet seat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
optimoprime Posted November 14, 2012 Report Share Posted November 14, 2012 i thought they had the same bikes we get but they are all underpowered due to some restriction there. on my r1 forum guys on there are trying to get the EU or US versions imports back to japan so they get a full spec bike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted November 14, 2012 Report Share Posted November 14, 2012 Do they have restrictions? Like you can only start on a 125 then move up to a 250 after a certain time frame? Make sure you find that stuff out before you buy anything.If not, I'd start with a 250. I'm pretty sure they have had a Honda CBR 250 there for quite a while. They just started selling them here. I know there are some special Japan only CBR600's but I cant seem to find any info about them on the internets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cOoTeR Posted November 14, 2012 Report Share Posted November 14, 2012 I think they have some radioactive bikes there after the nuclear plant blew up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
standout Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 (edited) Located in Japan asking questions about Japanese bikes on an Ohio based forum and its his first post. I'm calling it SPAM.Just re-read post saying he's from Columbus......still not sure if spam. Edited November 15, 2012 by standout Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReconRat Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 (edited) Take hi-vis vests with you. (90 square inches of reflective material.) Contrasting shirt or jacket. It's a pain when you can't find one. You have to have one. Take documentation of MSF with you. It's sometimes impossible to take the course over there. You'll wait forever.PACAF tightens motorcycle ruleshttp://home.earthlink.net/~cycleschool/military_training/id25.htmldisplacement rule resindedbtw, joining the gaijinriders.com forum or a similar one is a good idea.http://yokotamc.org/I don't know which base you'll be on, but PAC rules are close to all the same.You need to search for motorcycle info of the specific base you'll be stationed at.Sad to say it's much tougher rules than the 1970's when I rode Okinawa.I was Army, but all I knew about Kadena was never ever speed on base.Misawahttp://www.misawa.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=14428http://www.cnic.navy.mil/Misawa/OperationsAndManagement/Safety/FAQs/index.htmYokotahttp://www.yokota.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123299191http://www.yokota.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-110705-002.pdfhttp://erowebs.net/yokotamc/forum/viewforum.php?f=23Kadenahttp://www.afforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36144http://www.kadena.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10510btw, I'd just buy one over there. They are cheap and it's easier. I just hacked around looking at used bikes till I had cash saved up to buy one. The speed limit on Okinawa was pretty much max 25-30mph everywhere. I settled for a CL350 in case I wanted some of the dirt roads around. Seldom rode on the mountain dirt roads, but it was a thought. Okinawa was a bit primitive back then... Edited November 15, 2012 by ReconRat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongDogRacing Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 see if you can find a CBR400RR ('88-'94 or so). i believe it was a japanese market only release. i think they look awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obesityrules Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 Pick up an nsr250, when you get ready to pcs just tear it down and ship it with your household goods as parts. They make sweet track bikes when you get back conus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 Located in Japan asking questions about Japanese bikes on an Ohio based forum and its his first post. I'm calling it SPAM.Just re-read post saying he's from Columbus......still not sure if spam.Definitely not spam. I was in a Suburban with him that got into an accident on the way to the bar last time he was in town on leave. I won't mention who was driving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2fat2fly Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 If you're into Yamahas I'd suggest a tzr250. Kawasakis? I'd look at the zxr400. Honda? The already mentioned 250 or any 2 stroke sportbike from any manufacturer. Suzuki Gamma?.... oh yeah! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 Located in Japan asking questions about Japanese bikes on an Ohio based forum and its his first post. I'm calling it SPAM.Just re-read post saying he's from Columbus......still not sure if spam.He's my cousin. He's legit.Definitely not spam. I was in a Suburban with him that got into an accident on the way to the bar last time he was in town on leave. I won't mention who was driving. Fucker! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fizzer Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 Can't help but hope things are going well for you over there Ryan! -Hinzey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prmorey Posted November 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 When we get our license we test into a certain class 1, 2, or 3. What ever. Class of bike we use to test determines what we can ride. I think it's: 1=400cc 2=up to 600cc, and 3 would allow me to ride anything over 900. The course isn't too hard to get into nowadays, but it is a two day class a few hours from where I'm at (Yokota). But they're pretty strict about riding on base here, as far as safety, gear, and speed limits go. Now I've just got to figure out what I can import and what I can't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 Bring back something badass. Old Gammas are cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YSR_Racer_99 Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 This is a link I used to use when importing. Search Honda bikes on on Yahoo Japan by CCs (see upper left corner). http://tinyurl.com/d95lfkqLots of cool exotic stuff that we didn't get, mostly below 400cc. Lots of cool scooters and two strokes. VERY hard to get stuff through Customs now, and virtually impossible to get it titled here in Ohio, no matter what you do. The flood of Chinese bikes and scooters caused the DMV here to crack-down big time. Enjoy your deployment. Great (but expensive) place to be. Where are you stationed? We were at Yokota... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wantahertzdonut Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 Do they have restrictions? Like you can only start on a 125 then move up to a 250 after a certain time frame? Make sure you find that stuff out before you buy anything.If not, I'd start with a 250. I'm pretty sure they have had a Honda CBR 250 there for quite a while. They just started selling them here. I know there are some special Japan only CBR600's but I cant seem to find any info about them on the internets.The old Honda CBR250RR is nothing like the heap we are getting now. The RR had an inline 4 that put out 45hp with a 19,000rpm redline. Japan/Australia only with some that made their way to Europe.There's also the GSX-250R, FZR250, and the ZX-2. All similar output, engine configuration, and performance specs. Dual disc brake front/single disc rear, full fairings, mid-300lb weight. MUCH better than our 250's. All made in the late 80's to mid 90's.If he can find one, buy it and bring it back. He can turn a serious profit if nothing else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 I believe he is at Yokota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YSR_Racer_99 Posted November 15, 2012 Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 (edited) Re: Any other motorcyclists going or there? by Crowbeak » Tue Jan 31, 2012 3:35 pm Japanese law has a 3-tiered system for motorcycle licenses, based on engine size. An international driving permit for a US citizen allows us to drive any size machine, but my supervisor wants me to get a car instead of a motorcycle (since I'm in rural Hokkaido and winter is long), so he is unwilling to look into how exactly my license will convert here just yet. So I can't tell you if you can hop straight to a tier 3 or not. If you can't, then be warned... it's a couple thousand dollars per tier and my understanding is that you have to have one tier's license for a while before you can take the classes to move up. If I remember correctly, the tier breaks are at 250cc or lower, 400cc or lower, and everything else.<<NOTE: Something else I read stated that its only a two-tier with "little bikes" and "big bikes" separated at 400cc.>> Edited November 15, 2012 by YSR_Racer_99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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