Japan by Motorcycle

[Mike Cash]

and yes it is true that the kawa is a 600cc bike and considered a "large" bike which you need a large license for. But the "large" is define in bhp/weight ratio and they can be limited so they are nolonger defined "large" but "small" which means it can be drivin with a license for small bikes.

That may be true where you live, but I thought we were talking about riding it in Japan. Did you miss the part where I pointed out that horsepower is irrelevant to license class in Japan and that the only determining factor is engine displacement?

 

[Japholic]

Did you miss the part where I pointed out that horsepower is irrelevant

yes

 

[Mike Cash]

I don't mean to toot my own horn here, but usually in a thread where I am trying to be helpful and informative it will behoove you to carefully read everything I say, as I tend to try to limit it to the factual and useful, with no fluff thrown in.

 

[Ewok85]

The OP is going to face alot of resistance to his plan.

First, an international drivers licence with motorcycle added on translates to a Japanese Chugata motorcycle licence - 400CC and under. To be able to ride anything higher you need to go to the licence center for your prefecture and take the exam.

Which is issue #2, you need ID. As a foreigner that means an Alien Card which takes a month to be processed.

Issue #3 is that being 18 you are a MINOR in Japan and need someone who is over 20 years old to sign a permission form for you if you rent.
(窶懌?毒?Yﾆ椎槌停?愴耽ﾆ停?ｹﾅｽﾃ氾ｧq窶堙ｰ窶ｰ^窶彎窶堙??堋ｫ窶堙ｩﾂ、窶ｰ^窶彎窶禿??ｹ窶督湘倪?堙ｰ窶猫窶堋ｷ窶堙ｩﾅｽﾃ陳。窶督｢ﾂ青ｬ窶扼ﾅｽﾃ停?堙個湘ｪﾂ坂?｡ﾂ、ﾂ親ﾅ陳?ﾅｽﾃ停?堙個渉ｳ窶佚ｸ窶堙ｰ窶慊ｾ窶堙ｧ窶堙ｪ窶堙ｩ窶堋ｱ窶堙?。)

There was some other things but I forgot, as it just turned 12 and I'm hungry

 

[Mike Cash]

Issue #3 is that being 18 you are a MINOR in Japan and need someone who is over 20 years old to sign a permission form for you if you rent.
(窶懌?毒?Yﾆ椎槌停?愴耽ﾆ停?ｹﾅｽﾃ氾ｧq窶堙ｰ窶ｰ^窶彎窶堙??堋ｫ窶堙ｩﾂ、窶ｰ^窶彎窶禿??ｹ窶督湘倪?堙ｰ窶猫窶堋ｷ窶堙ｩﾅｽﾃ陳。窶督｢ﾂ青ｬ窶扼ﾅｽﾃ停?堙個湘ｪﾂ坂?｡ﾂ、ﾂ親ﾅ陳?ﾅｽﾃ停?堙個渉ｳ窶佚ｸ窶堙ｰ窶慊ｾ窶堙ｧ窶堙ｪ窶堙ｩ窶堋ｱ窶堙?。)

I thought about that point at work today and meant to post it as soon as I came home. I am pleased to see that another wise fellow beat me to it.

He might want to look into that purchase-and-sell option after all.

There was some other things but I forgot, as it just turned 12 and I'm hungry

I need to get my eyes checked. When I first saw that last part I thought it said "I just turned 12 and I'm horny"

 

[RockLee]

When I first saw that last part I thought it said "I just turned 12 and I'm horny"

This is scary, I read the same thing. Either it means we both are perverts, or have serious eyeproblems

 

[Harvey]

This guy did the around the country bike tour thing.

Japan by Motorcycle '99

 

[Mike Cash]

I just discovered this link: http://www.gaijinriders.com/phpBB/index.php

which should be a far better source of practical info for the OP than we have been thus far.

 

[Kinsao]

To throw something in here...
While you're figuring out the practical aspects of your plan, read as many books as you can written by people who've done motorbike touring - it doesn't matter whether it was in Japan or not.
About Japan, you can learn facts from the internet, books etc., like people have been assisting with here.
About the actual touring itself - research it and learn from other people's experiences.
Personally, I have never done motorbike touring. However, I have toured a lot on a pedal-bike. I clearly remember making the preparations for my first 'expedition'. ^^ It's surprising how much you can learn at 'second-hand'.
I hope you go with your second feeling and choose a bike designed for touring. They are designed that way for a reason.
Also, it's a bad idea to carry all your luggage on your back. It's hella uncomfortable! It's bad enough on a pedal-bike, where the handlebars allow you to shift position slightly - I can't imagine how bad it must feel on a motorbike, when you can't change your angle, and you need to use more strength to steer. So it's better to find other ways to carry your stuff!

I'll shut up now.
Good luck!

 

[Japholic]

hmm all very good info. Maybe I should wait till I turn 20, I will get my large license the same year. Then i can eliminate the license problem and the age problem.. I have been looking into touring bikes and im considering a newer Suzuki SV650S which is the one I am riding now. It's fairly comfortable and you can have two bags on each side and still be able to ride well, Cloth isn't really that heavy.

Japan by Motorcycle '99
I have seen that site before, looks really good even though it is 7 years old so a bit outdated maybe.

about the purchase-and-sell option.. What if something happens? crash or the thing breaks, the trip would be ruined.

 

[RockLee]

about the purchase-and-sell option.. What if something happens? crash or the thing breaks, the trip would be ruined.

Same thing with a rental bike, unless you think you can only crash with a bought one I think what you said about waiting 'till you're older is a good idea. Who knows, maybe by then I'll have my licence and we can go together

 

[Japholic]

Same thing with a rental bike, unless you think you can only crash with a bought one I think what you said about waiting 'till you're older is a good idea. Who knows, maybe by then I'll have my licence and we can go together

Rentals are insured i guess so if you crash it isn't your problem. Anyways till then lets see what happens, you can tag along if you want.

 

[Ewok85]

I need to get my eyes checked. When I first saw that last part I thought it said "I just turned 12 and I'm horny"

Haha, I've heard you say that sort of thing a few times lately!

Gaijinriders is a great site for information, with some very experienced people.

hmm all very good info. Maybe I should wait till I turn 20, I will get my large license the same year.

You can only ride up to 400cc unless you sit the large bike exam in Japan. I can't stress this enough! It doesn't matter what licence you have, how long you have had it, you are restricted to 400cc.

Don't use a backpack, its dangerous and on a sports bike puts too much pressure on your back. Buy a tankbag, they are cheap, and some saddlebags or a rack/bag setup is also very useful.

 

[Japholic]

Hmm well then I just have to rent a 400cc bike.. Nothing else to do but I was looking into what kind of police cars they have.. seems like they all drive older bmw's and they have Mitsubishi GTO patrol cars no way I would try to outrun those kind of police cars even though it is possible on a 1000cc without license. Not like outruning a ford mondeo they drive here.. thats just easy.

But i was wondering maybe if you go and get the large license license the first time you visit, then you would have a valid license the next time you visit the country.

 

[Ewok85]

The large licence requires that you live in Japan (have an address) and hold an alien card, and already hold the chugata licence. The two ways to get the licence is either to go to a driving school (would take 2 weeks, cost approx 80,000 yen) or take the exam again and again until you pass (depending on location, 8,000yen/shot) - it is very hard but luckily there is a guide on the internet about it!
http://homepage3.nifty.com/andojournal/license.htm

 

[AKoji]

I'd like to know how you get on. Good luck with it. Once I get some money and some jobs, i'd love to buy a bike. Bangkok, in my opinion is the best place for bikes and riding-almost complete freedom, bikes are dirt cheap, there is no proper speed limit, no need to get a real licence or registration and if you are stopped by the police- by either commiting an offence or other, the worst will happen is you'll have to pay a maximum 1000 baht (maybe about 2000 yen fine). I learned to ride and owned two! 400cc bikes there. I dont have a real motorbike licence though- is this hard or expensive to get?

 

[Taiko666]

IDL & big bikes

First, an international drivers licence with motorcycle added on translates to a Japanese Chugata motorcycle licence - 400CC and under.

I really don't think this is the case. Sorry if I've missed a link to the relevant information, but my understanding, based on links such as this, was that if you have an IDL with motorcycle entitlement you can ride anything. However, if you wish obtain a Japanese big bike license, you must take the >400cc test.