TW 200
Since driving is considered a privilege in Japan,( and not a right, like here in the states), it is pretty expensive to get a license to drive.They also seem to have some sort of common sense, and so ,they don’t hand out licenses to anybody with $35.00. Most importantly,they also regulate motorcycle licenses, and have very difficult tests that get progressively more difficult as you get into bikes with more horsepower. It is fairly easy to get a license for any bike 200cc or under, so, the majority of bikes that you see on the streets of Tokyo fall into this catagory. One of the bikes that stand apart with style, and, variation, is the TW 200. Sold stock as a dual purpose dirt cruiser, in Japan it has taken on a cult status and has an abundance of plug and play aftermarket parts.
If you wanna look like a bad ass, who is in the know, I suggest you Get yourself a stock one from the Yamaha shop, then take your ass to a neighborhood in Tokyo, called Ueno, find a strip thats full of old time greaser bozusoku ( a biker gand of sorts) and chat them up about which parts you can pull right off a Harley sportster and slap on that bad boy. Then get you the underframe exhaust, Street slicks, an extended swing arm, and a pretty little girl to ride on the back. Then you can fly back home put on your Dirty Jeans,and your half helmet with your aviator goggles, and drive by your neighborhood coffee shop. EVERYONE will see you, and they will have plenty of time to see that is is in fact you, because it will take really quite a long time to get by them when you are topping it out at a cool 25 miles per hour. But hey, for that person who is fully engaged in living the “Life of Leisure” ………
Intruguing… could a guy put a basket on the handlebars?
After going to Japan I liked this bike so much I bought one here in the states and tricked it out Japanese style. I’ve own many bikes but this is my favorite. Also, it gets about 75 mpg and top speed is about the same 75 mph.
Here’s a like if you want to check it out.
http://tw200forum.com/forums/24003/ShowPost.aspx
How is it as a cheat thru traffic machine? Does it have enough juice as to not get you killed?
I live to love this bike in tokyo. it gets me where I need to go, cheats traffic all the way, and parks on any sidewalk we damn please. I got the stock 98 model with square headlights/blinkers. oh and its black so the dirt don`t show easy.
my first bike in japan 6 years ago was a tw200…cool bike..I customised it totally.
definitely the best way to get around in tokyo ( or osaka, where I moved to ) is a bike.
its much safer than riding back in the UK, just dont drink and ride ( and get caught! )… you can speed or break most rules and get away with it ( watashi wa…..nihon..go…. no good ) but drinking and riding… no exceptions
I ride a honda cbr600rr now and for me, every time i get on my bike, i feel excited.
I have a car too, but that is just transport
all the best
mike mckenna, discosicence, dj/ producer and rider!
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