Harley Davidsons in Japan?
- Thread starter sabro
- Start date
bike bike bike!!!
I don't know if you can access this site.
http://goobike.com/cgi-bin/search/search4_summary.cgi
It's a search result for Harleys sold in Japan in Japanese. :sorry:
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oh wait, I found Harleys Japan.
http://www.harley-davidson.co.jp/index.html
I don't know if you can access this site.
http://goobike.com/cgi-bin/search/search4_summary.cgi
It's a search result for Harleys sold in Japan in Japanese. :sorry:
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oh wait, I found Harleys Japan.
http://www.harley-davidson.co.jp/index.html
- 15 Mar 2002
- 16,758
- 2,298
sabro said:
They sell for a pretty penny. There is quite a market for them. I have seen more Harleys on the streets in Japan than I ever saw in the US.
I don't know anything about importing them, other than to say that you'd have quite a bit of competition. You may already know that the primary limiting factor on large bike sales is the difficulty of obtaining a large bike license.
Moto
後輩
- 11 Jul 2003
- 4
- 3
I have been riding motorcycles for 15 years in Japan and the US.
I have Yamaha Royal Star (1300cc V4) now.
http://www.liveinusa.net/moto/bike.htm
Please let me reply.
When I got motorcycle drivers license in Japan, it was hard to pass test.
Getting driver's license for big bike is easier now, though.
So, many person is riding big bike more than 1000cc.
I think you can sell your custom-built choppers in Japan, but you have to think about their vehicle inspection.
Their law for vehicle is so restricted. For example, you cannot attach anything pointy, must meet their very strict emission regulation, noise level from exhaust pipe, etc.
Good luck!
I have Yamaha Royal Star (1300cc V4) now.
http://www.liveinusa.net/moto/bike.htm
Please let me reply.
When I got motorcycle drivers license in Japan, it was hard to pass test.
Getting driver's license for big bike is easier now, though.
So, many person is riding big bike more than 1000cc.
I think you can sell your custom-built choppers in Japan, but you have to think about their vehicle inspection.
Their law for vehicle is so restricted. For example, you cannot attach anything pointy, must meet their very strict emission regulation, noise level from exhaust pipe, etc.
Good luck!
Moto
後輩
- 11 Jul 2003
- 4
- 3
You can sell your bike and ship to Japan, but they cannot ride without passing vehicle inspection.
It's crazy that they cannot ride my bike in Japan.
Even though it's a Yamaha (Japanese bike), the Japanese motorcycle dealer cannnot make that bike meet the emission regulations.
It's crazy that they cannot ride my bike in Japan.
Even though it's a Yamaha (Japanese bike), the Japanese motorcycle dealer cannnot make that bike meet the emission regulations.
TwistedMac
後輩
- 4 Mar 2004
- 2,267
- 96
sabro said:
don't give up on it too quick.. who knows, you might become the "crazy gaijin workshop legend", stinking rich and with a reputation for the best custom bikes in Japan!
kirei_na_me
Where I'm Supposed to Be
- 31 Jan 2003
- 5,051
- 166
He's referring to Japan's emission regulations.
His Yamaha Royal Star can't be sold in Japan because it can't pass inspection.
Sorry, his English isn't perfect.
His Yamaha Royal Star can't be sold in Japan because it can't pass inspection.
Sorry, his English isn't perfect.
niku kudasai
後輩
- 29 Mar 2004
- 9
- 0
Sabro, you actually build custom choppers? That's awesome if you do, I actually just got into it myself. I live in Daytona Beach, Florida so we have no shortage of bikes of any kind. Have you ever been to Bike Week or Biketoberfest down here? I don't know about Japan, but if you're good there sure as heck is a good market down here.
- 15 Mar 2002
- 16,758
- 2,298
kirei_na_me said:
It wasn't his English that confused me, believe me. It's just that I never heard of Japanese emission standards or tests on bikes, while I know that US emission standards from the 80s pretty much killed 2-stroke bikes. May the RD-250 rest in peace.
DoctorP
先輩
- 3 Jun 2004
- 2,193
- 93
Sabro if your really good, why don't you run a website with some of your creations? Focus promoting your site in Japan and see what kind of feedback you get...if it works well, that may help you find a business partner here that will help you get a storefront set up! There are quite a few custom bikes here, but not quite like what you find in the States. These are usually smaller cc bikes dressed up like the choppers of the 70's! 
That, and I've seen a few trikes here too!
That, and I've seen a few trikes here too!
Elizabeth
先輩
- 22 Apr 2003
- 9,839
- 135
And a brief story from today's Asahi News about a Taiwanese gang just apprehended for theft of "high class" foreign-made bikes such as Harleys, and BMW's, in Japan. ☝openup said:
高級バイク窃盗団摘発 ハーレーなど100台超盗む
ハーレーダビッドソンなど高級バイクばかりを狙った台湾人窃盗団が、警視庁に逮捕されました。
捕まった埼玉県熊谷市の李志祥（リ・ジシャオ）容疑者（28）ら台湾人の男7人は、今月15日に東京・渋谷区の路上で、ハーレー1台を盗んだ疑いが持たれています。このグループは、ハーレーやBMWなど外国製の高級オートバイばかりを狙っていて、被害は100台を超える見込みです。熊谷市の資材置き場で分解して保管していて、その後、台湾にひそかに送っていたとみられています。
テレ朝news
sabro
後輩
- 23 Apr 2004
- 1,006
- 35
- Thread starter
- #16
I have to build the bikes first. I've just been tinkering with a couple of old hondas and and old suzuki- which I sold and now miss. I found that you can get a Buell fairly cheaply and buy a custom frame and tins to assemble into a classic looking chopper. I am a teacher and I have a few teacher friends. We do this kind of thing during our summer vacation.
Ewok85
先輩
- 14 Nov 2003
- 2,401
- 44
Shaken conditions for big bikes changed recently, theres still the sound restrictions (something like 95 decibels at 4000RPM), but also an emissions test for bikes newer than 2003. They are pretty picky about mods too, apparently engine mods and the sort are not allowed.
