Sending my Norton to Japan

Well the time has come......my bike and most of our stuff is packed out and in the movers hands now.
The crate they brought for the Norton was about eight inches too short, so they took it to their warehouse like this. They repacked it the next day and I had a chance to stuff some more things into the crate (my new carb kit, the repair manuals, a box of photo albums,2 folding chairs for the kids, a cushion from the couch and some galoshes). That's my youngest son trying different ways of riding their furniture dolley.

And of course it had to rain on the truck and everything before it even left base housing.

If all goes well, it's set to arrive at the Yokohama terminal in late August.

Where are you going in japan? My brother in law just moved from Okinawa to lakenheath uk. They loved japan. I really enjoyed visiting there. The people are so friendly and helpful. Should be a great place to ride.

We're going to be south of Yokohama at first. I'm really looking forward to riding around Tokyo and all over really. There are some twisty roads around Mt. Fuji that attract a lot of bikes on the weekends too. Cj

i got kicked out of japan in 1969.
i was flying marine phantoms out of iwakuni ( 20 mi south of hiroshima) at the time.
so, on 7 december, '69 i thought it would be cool to key the mic and transmit,

"hiroshima tower, this is the enola gaye, i'd like to make a second pass, over."

none of my senior officers thought it was cool and 5 days later i'm dropping naphalm on little yellow people in vietnam.


reconstructed zero hangar and rebuilt zero at the marine corps air station, iwakuni

Konichiwa!

I was homeported on the USS Mobile Bay out of Yokosuka US Navy base. I assume that's where you're headed. The roads around the Northern Kanto plain suck! Japanese drivers are the most merciless you'll ever meet. Be very very careful, and get used to the other drivers there in a 4-wheeler before you get on two wheels. A good ride when you get your bearings is to go to Kamakura. I love that town and it's only about 15 miles away from Yokosuka. Better still... try to get a house out there with the family. It's one of the most beautiful cities in Japan, and there are two train lines you can use for commuting.

You're gonna have a great time!

Kevin
former Aegis FC1

Sounds like an exciting time ahead CJ,
You and your bike will be very popular I'd imagine.
Heed the warnings re Japanese drivers.

Goo, you mad bastard, you must have some Ozzy blood.

was there in '70 on R&R from vietnam..had a great time except i made the mistake of trying to outdrink you blokes.
also,vegimite is some foul stuff!

Hi CJ

Thats a big move for the family and talk about clocking up the miles on your Norton :lol: but I think you will have a good time, get to know what the locals are like on the road before you venture out on the bike, but I think they have some nice roads for bike riding, so have fun and hope your kids settle in quick.

All the best

Ashley

I go to Japan for business 4 - 6 times per year, mostly in Tokyo, Kumamoto and Sendai. Been there probably 60 times and have never seen a Norton. I've seen a few old Triumphs, but that's about it for old British iron. I'm sure that your Commando will get a lot of looks and you'll have a lot of questions wherever you go. Anything that is rare and unusual in Japan is very, very cool...you'll make a lot of new friends when you ride.

Most bikes over there are sub-250cc, I guess because of insurance cost and the difficulty of getting a license for a bigger bike. I've not taken the time to find out about the Brit Bike community in Tokyo (assuming there is one). If you find a Brit Bike club/community, please post about it.

That's a pretty funny story goo....I liked Iwakuni when I was there with HC-5 out of Guam. We deployed aboard the U.S.S. Essex (LHD-2). Our CH-46 pilots would fly starboard "D" off to the side of the ship during flight ops while we were out at sea, then when it would pull in to Sasebo we'd all fly off to Iwakuni and wrench on the birds at a hanger there. We'd go out to "the four corners" at night and have a real good time! It's all changed now though, the "by me drink "bars are closed up and cinderella liberty is in place the last I'd heard . At the first airshow my folks took us to (Ellington Field right outside of Houston) the Blue Angles flew a super sonic fly-by just off the deck at show center in F-4's! Man that was awesome, I'll remember that as long as I live, those jets zooming by in silence then boom! They don't do that these days though, too many regulations, too many residences near airports I guess.
I've seen the big budda at Kamakura, but can't really remember the town there L.A.kevin, I'll try and take my kids over to it.
Thanks AussieCombat I'll keep an eye out.
My bike only has 7,600 or so miles on it Ash, so I wish I could count those miles
Never been to Kumamoto or Sendai mgrant, and the only norton I ever saw in Japan was in a 3 story bike shop and it was tucked away on the top floor with some BMW's and a Guzzi. So I look forward to riding mine around, shoot maybe I'll start my own club and let some TRX 850's in and the new Meriden stuff too!! LOL

You'd better let the Guzzi's in as well, when I was in Mandello last year the security guy just told me they'd shipped a few containers of V7 Cafe's over to Japan, I reckon you should have taken a container load of Commando's over, potential big market there me thinks

That it then Gino, Guzzi's are in!! And if Laverda too...then what should I do about Ducati??

cjandme:

I lived in Japan in the early 80's - went to graduate school there. I bought a bike when I was there, a 400cc Honda "Silverwing" and rode it all over the place. Yes, there are some good roads, but I certainly wouldn't say any of them are in or around Tokyo.

I lived in Fujinomiya, in Shizuoka prefecture, on the slopes of Mt Fuji. I found some great roads in the "Japan Alps" area - nice twisties, not too much traffic, but on the major roads I have to say it was not a calm leisurely experience.

Japanese drivers (most of them great drivers who follow the rules of the road) tend to bunch together very closely when driving. I used to get really pissed off when riding to look in the mirror to find a car about 5 feet off my rear fender. I would wave them away, give them the finger, anything to get some space. Good luck with that.

Did you research the requirements to put your bike on the road when you are there? When I lived there the rules were very strict - very few bikes were over 400 cc because a whole different set of rules applied to license those vehicles - so tough apparently that I would say a fraction of 1% of the bikes were over 400cc - a rare sight now that i remember.

Anyway, study the maps carefully to find some off-the-beaten path roads and enjoy! or as they say "Ganbatte!"

Keith

Thanks for the reply pkiethkelly, fortunately for me the regulations don't apply on a pre 1999 bike. However if it were '99 or newer it would have to comply with all current rules and regs --smog / brakes etc. The insurance on a bike over 400cc is more and that's the main reason there are more smaller bikes. The other thing holding those local folks back was the drivers license itself. from 80cc-400cc was one license, 400cc-800cc was anoter (both fairly easy and inexpensive) then 800cc & up was the most involved and expensive to get. This is part of what hurt Harley sales over there or so I'm told. My wife had the 80-400 license and used to ride a Honda scooter before I met her.

ashman said:

Hi CJ

... get to know what the locals are like on the road before you venture out on the bike, but I think they have some nice roads for bike riding, so have fun and hope your kids settle in quick.

All the best

Ashley

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Dude! They drive on the wrong side of the road! Takes some gettin' used to...

Russ

The bike shifts and brakes on the wrong side, all should be normal there :lol:

Our son served in the US Navy stright out of high school. He spent the entire 6 years in as an electronic warfare tech on the USS Curts out of Yukosaka. He's married to a Japanese gal and, after about 10 years in Washington State, they now live in Chiba-Shi. He works for Dassault Systemes.

We in Australia ride/drive on the left side of the road, to us you guys in the USA drive on the wrong side of the road, so wouldn't be any problems for us if we went to Japan, there have been a few accerdents here in Aus with American tourest having head on's, usealy with big trucks and you know who wins out of that one

Ashley

Whoa, whoa,,,what do you mean the bike shifts and brakes on the wrong side bwolfie....I'm taking my MKIII and it shifts and brakes on the CORRECT side. LOL Well I am retiring from the Navy frankdamp but I'm still gonna have to find work maybe I'll need to hit your son up over at Dassualt....on second thought it probable wouldn't work as my training was as an aircraft structural mechanic and your son's was in the electronic side of the house. My wife is bound and determined to get me working as soon as I step off the airliner.

ashman said:

We in Australia ride/drive on the left side of the road, to us you guys in the USA drive on the wrong side of the road, so wouldn't be any problems for us if we went to Japan, there have been a few accerdents here in Aus with American tourest having head on's, usealy with big trucks and you know who wins out of that one

Ashley

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I totalled a friend's car in NZ. It wasn't a head on, but when I discovered that the car in front of me wasn't moving (no lights) my escape route to the right was filled with oncoming traffic! By the time I figured out I could go around him to the left it was too late. It is weird the shit that gets you. You tell yourself that you're not programmed, but I guess I am. After one trip I came home and found myself on the left side of the two-lane going into town! Sheesh. Actually I have a harder time as a pedestrian...I keep looking the wrong way before stepping of the curb. Some of us are just doomed.

Russ