Original Article:
Motorcycling in Tokyo
I lived in Tokyo during from 1992 until 1998 and used a 1992 ZZR 400 Kawasaki (like ZX-6E in USA with smaller bore/stroke) as a daily runner there for commuting to work and for travel outside Tokyo. The 250 cc and 400 cc sizes are related to levels of driving licenses and taxes. Travel in Tokyo by two wheels, whether by scooter or bike, is the by far fastest way to go from A to B. There is a space at the front for motorcycles at red lights. It is legal to split lanes and move to the front at a red light. As a result, bikes outrun cars by a great deal of time saved in a morning commute. The Ueno district is fun on a Saturday when all the shops are full of bikers. There are other areas as well with lots of bike shops.
Gasoline is very expensive there, as you might guess. It is over $5.00 a gallon now.
The 250 cc sport bikes are screamers. I had a 1989 250 cc ZXR 250 Kawasaki 4 cylinder water cooled four stroke that was fantastic to ride. It was light and had about 45 horsepower. What was the red line, you ask? 19,000 rpm. Yes, really. But peak output was 16,500 so going higher was a waste of time. The ZZR 400 was 14,000 for red line. I owned a Meriden TSS 8 valve Triumph, a BSA 441 Victor and Norton Mk III Commando bikes before I moved to Tokyo. I had to learn to rev the bike to allow for lower torque than the Brit bikes had. Once I became accustomed to that I had a blast riding in Tokyo traffic. Renting a bike is possible and I highly recommend it, if you have a valid international drivers license. In the USA you get these from AAA. Red Baron dealers rent used motorcycles and are all over Japan. A 400 cc bike is fast enough and has plenty of power to tour Japan. It is a small area, after all, and the whole of it is about the size of California. I was all over the eatern half of the main island, Honshu on the ZZR 400. I sometimes had a girlfriend as a passenger for this. The toll ways did not allow passengers, as you mention, but all the smaller highways allowed two up riding and the sights in Japan are fantastic to see from a bike. The back roads are frequently passing older small towns with traditional houses and farms. The roads are twisty and hilly and a blast to ride if you are careful.
Good memories, good article...
