Hi, I’m moving to Japan for a year and wanted to know if it’s better for me to buy a motorcycle or rent a motorcycle for the duration of my stay. Would it be better to buy a motorcycle and sell it when I’m due to leave?
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**I’m moving to Japan for a year and would like to ride a motorcycle**
Hi, I’m moving to Japan for a year and wanted to know if it’s better for me to buy a motorcycle or rent a motorcycle for the duration of my stay. Would it be better to buy a motorcycle and sell it when I’m due to leave?
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It’s difficult to say which is the better option, as it depends on several factors.
Firstly, will you have a Japanese license? or do you plan on getting by with the International Driving Permit? While the latter is good for 1 year, it could bring up some complications with regards to registering/insuring a motorcycle you purchase, so converting your license to a Japanese one (if possible) or passing the driving test here is preferable.
Secondly, where will you be living? If you’re going to be in Tokyo or any other large city, do you have parking for your motorcycle? If you’re planning on living in a sharehouse, the chances of having on-site parking are quite low. Many apartments will not have dedicated parking for motorcycles, and places that use a lift system for parking will not allow you to use them. Some may allow you to park with the bicycles, but there’s a strong possibility your bike will get dinged/scratched.
Thirdly, what’s your budget and what size bike are you considering? As I’m sure you’re aware, motorcycles require more frequent maintenance than cars. Bikes below 250cc aren’t allowed on expressways, and bikes 250cc and above require inspection. Speed limits are also a lot lower than many Western countries, so take engine heat into account if purchasing (yes, splitting and filtering help with this, but it still gets hot when you’re in a tunnel or underground for an extended period of time).
Lastly, how often are you planning on riding? Multiple times a week? More cost effective to buy. A few times a month? Renting is for you. Keep in mind that riding in summer here is unpleasant and often dangerous due to the heat and humidity. If you’re unable to ride for 2+ months of your stay, are you still okay with buying?
I have a friend that rides 2-3 times a month for longer day trips, and they just rent a motorcycle. Costs about ¥15,000 per day for a 250cc bike, not including fuel or tolls.
Best of luck with whatever you decide.
I’ve got a lot of good advice on abFacebook group called “Gaijin Riders”. You might want to ask there too. Good luck.
3 comments
This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.
—
**I’m moving to Japan for a year and would like to ride a motorcycle**
Hi, I’m moving to Japan for a year and wanted to know if it’s better for me to buy a motorcycle or rent a motorcycle for the duration of my stay.
Would it be better to buy a motorcycle and sell it when I’m due to leave?
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/movingtojapan) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It’s difficult to say which is the better option, as it depends on several factors.
Firstly, will you have a Japanese license? or do you plan on getting by with the International Driving Permit? While the latter is good for 1 year, it could bring up some complications with regards to registering/insuring a motorcycle you purchase, so converting your license to a Japanese one (if possible) or passing the driving test here is preferable.
Secondly, where will you be living? If you’re going to be in Tokyo or any other large city, do you have parking for your motorcycle? If you’re planning on living in a sharehouse, the chances of having on-site parking are quite low. Many apartments will not have dedicated parking for motorcycles, and places that use a lift system for parking will not allow you to use them. Some may allow you to park with the bicycles, but there’s a strong possibility your bike will get dinged/scratched.
Thirdly, what’s your budget and what size bike are you considering? As I’m sure you’re aware, motorcycles require more frequent maintenance than cars. Bikes below 250cc aren’t allowed on expressways, and bikes 250cc and above require inspection. Speed limits are also a lot lower than many Western countries, so take engine heat into account if purchasing (yes, splitting and filtering help with this, but it still gets hot when you’re in a tunnel or underground for an extended period of time).
Lastly, how often are you planning on riding? Multiple times a week? More cost effective to buy. A few times a month? Renting is for you. Keep in mind that riding in summer here is unpleasant and often dangerous due to the heat and humidity. If you’re unable to ride for 2+ months of your stay, are you still okay with buying?
I have a friend that rides 2-3 times a month for longer day trips, and they just rent a motorcycle. Costs about ¥15,000 per day for a 250cc bike, not including fuel or tolls.
Best of luck with whatever you decide.
I’ve got a lot of good advice on abFacebook group called “Gaijin Riders”. You might want to ask there too. Good luck.