biking in Japan

[k0no]

hey there.

i've been driving for a good while, and am currently near the end of my DAS bike test. going to get myself a Virago 535 to plod around on.

next year, i might be getting the opportunity to live and work in Japan! (i've applied for a graduate programme run by the Japanese govornment..... awaiting their reply! exciting!).

i've been to Japan before, so i'm aware that they ride on the same side of the road to us (actually it's pretty obvious.... japanese import cars are all right-hand-drive, lol).

how easy would it be for me to pick up a second-hand bike over there and ride around? would my license be valid there?

anyone with experience with this problem?


...... also, just to kill two birds with one stone...... lets say for the sake of argument that i absolutely fell in love with a motorbike (or maybe eve a car) while i was over there..... does anyone know how difficult it would be to get a bike shipped back to the UK, and how expensive it is to ship and to register vehicles from foreign countries?
____________________
purkle <~>

[rusty_bawz]

A guy I know was in the forces and he lived in germany for a while and upon coming home to the uk he call in a favour and got the bike put on a plane with his RAF buddies and as they were flying over the channel they got a call to dump everything and go somewhere else urgently........


guy never seen his bike since and nopayout from insurance either cause the bike shouldn't have been on the plane..
____________________
www.scottishbikerforum.myfreeforum.org
come in and say hello

[kawashima]

1)You have a valid licence.
2)You've lived in uk more than 3 months after you've got the licence
3)You are 16 or over for 400cc licence/ 18 or over for no limit licence
4)You are not in a revocation period

If you are ok for all above, you must do below
1) Question about licence carrier
2) Question about theory test (7 of 10 : pass)
3) Practical test(you ride in a test course. 70% or over : pass)

If your licence is of UK, above 2) and 3) are exempted.

Some examples
kanagawa
tokyo

You must check the link of the prefectural police you go for the detail.
A link to each prefectural police
____________________
own:2020 Serow 250
owned: 2012 YB125SP, 2008 TDM900, 2005 W650, 2002 LS125R, 2002 CB400SF, NS50F, C50 / Trip to UK(2009), Hokkaido touring(2013)

[Itchy]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Itchy - suspect the issue you would have with buying a bike then taking it straight out is to get insurance on it. Suspect there is no legal reason to prevent it, just so few people have done it that it would be a hell of a lot of hassle.

As to getting a bike and bringing it into the UK and registering it. Unless an old bike you would need to SVA test it, and that would likely require a fair few minor mods (eg, speedo must show mph and kmh), then get it insured on the chassis number (which they only do for a month at a time now it seems) and then get it registered with the DVLA (for which you will need proof of age, and the customs certificate show taxes paid, or presumeably proof that no tax is due). You would need to pay for the first tax disk and a first registration fee.

Last bike I registered was the YSR which is a 1988 bike so old enough to make things rather easier.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Itchy]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Fair enough then (although there are rules on riding an imported bike back from the port, so in theory you could ride a non UK plated bike back to your home), although that bit was more aimed at the original poster.

Might be worth having a word with one of the more specialised UK insurance companies who might be able to do something for you. Whether that would be acceptable for any rules in Japan on registering a bike in your name is another question.

At least with a UK insurance company you know the language (assuming you do not know Japanese).

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing