Hi all, I had a brief flurry into trail ridding over here, Japan is mostly forest and there are tracks leading off here and there but whilst there are no laws stopping you riding wherever you like, there is one, very big natural obstacle. I have had to learn the Japanese characters for bear and it would seem they are everywhere. I doubt even my rendition of Belafonte would kill ones appetite if I were to hurt myself in a fall.
Will take part in a big bike ride next month so will get an insight into bike culture then and make contact with a Tokyo bike dealer. There are a lot of bikes over here that didnt make it to the UK, the Japanese are a nation of fair weather riders so most bikes are in remarkable condition but they are also very difficult to buy as there is no private market over here and everything goes through dealers. Have a look at yahoo actions japan english version if theres anything that takes you eye.
A little known bit of war history, Japan is still occupied by the USA. This week they have also changed their constitution to alow their army to fight abroad for the 1st time since 1945 bowing to US presser and are building a new military base for the Americans in Okinoua. But don't get me started.
I have done a fair bit of riding in Japan, as my in laws live in Tsukuba. I even keep a bike at their place for when i visit, a MK3 CRM250 (250 and below aren't subject to the Japanese MOT's)
I Love riding the Rindo Roads out there, but all of the long ones i go out of my way to reach seemed to have nasty landslides on them, my last trip was after the big quakes tho.
I got over this one only to find the way back wasn't quite so easy, so you need to take care with them on your own. This was the return journey:
I very nearly spent the night stuck there
I think the CRM set me back 180,000 yen, which was £900 odd at the time. It was from a small garage i found through the GooBike website
Definitely check out the Gaijinriders.com forums, some of those guys are into trail bikes and will show you around if local, you might find a bike for sale on there too.
Ha, that really confused me until i realised that the forum had censored the first part of fu-kashima, funny stuff.
Tsukuba is over in Ibaraki prefecture so not too far from you at all. Im not over there at the moment but generally visit twice a year, and spend my time either in Tsukuba or Nagoya.
We have a baby due in about a month and will likley be back as soon as she is old enough to travel so no too long, im definitely up for an Asia TRF ride out if you have a bike sorted by then
When i was there last a regular of that gaijinriders forum was running a bike import business, buying up bikes cheap from tokyo trade auctions. He often posted up his stock for the members to peruse. Might be a good source of a reasonable priced bike?
Hi, yes I have just noticed that my address as been censored, funny. Thanks for the forum address, I'll check it out. I spent a long time looking for private bikes before resigning myself to buying from a dealer, I understand that the paperwork is complex but a good tip about 250cc and under,　I have spent a few weeks in the country near Ibaraki, nice place. I'll take a ride down to the Japan sea coast next week to have a look around.
Hay Nick have you considered a road trip in Japan, You might get stuck on another moped in Vietnam! Japan doesn't have the same other worldly image but Im told the north is very remote , close to Siberia.
It's very possible for me to take 2 weeks and head north with a tent, I'm very much a shoestring traveller as I never have much money but that doesn't stop some from booking into a hotel occasionally whilst others camp. I don't know much about japan yet and have only explore my local region, I'm told the north is quiet, Albert will know much more than me. You need to live here to own a bike but there my be alternatives.
My bikes technically belong to my father in law, and are stored at his place when im away. He's a biker (brit bikes, ironically) and so doesn't mind a bit of dirt bike bling decorating his garage.
Japan is a fantastic place to visit. All the other worldlyness of Asia, with no worries about being a loaded foreigner attracting the wrong attention etc. I always found the Japanese to be very welcoming and unguarded, which makes for a great place to travel around in the unplanned and clueless way that I tend to.
Japan also has a totally different cultural outlook, and seems to have none of the landowner dominance, ill conceived laws and nimbyism that conspire to prevent people enjoying our own countryside. Which add up to make it a great place to potter about on a dirt bike camping as you go.
The lorry drivers are nuts tho, and can use all lanes on the motorway
by the way, if you haven't watched Austin Vince's Terra Circa film those guys smuggle their DR350's into Japan marked as freight and tour around a bit while circumnavigating. Well worth a watch.
