Honda VTR250

This little V-Twin is a pretty popular commuter here and in Australia. The styling takes more than a few cues from the Ducati Monster, including the trellis frame, the V-Twin engine, the overall shape of the tank and seat, and the headlight. It wouldn't be unfair to say the styling is a blatant rip-off.

This one caught my eye because of the unusual colour scheme. Looks like a pretty well used commuter.

Harley Davidson cafe-racer custom

Harley Davidson cafe-racer custom

I've never been into Harleys, but when I rode past this cafe racer out the front of Shelby's No. 20 in Machida, I had to do a lap of the block and come back for a look.

Harleys are quite popular in Japan. There are plenty of custom Harley shops, but mostly they do the same black and chrome choppers or brat-style bikes. After I saw this bike, I did a double-take when I saw the logo on the tank.

I didn't hear it running, but I'm sure those Supertrapp pipes sound great. Who doesn't love the sound of a V-twin? Also unlike your average highly-polished Harley, it was a little rough around the edges. The little dings and scrapes go to show that it probably gets ridden every day.

Honda CN250

Honda CN250

These "big scooters" as they're called here are typically black, and fitted with a 4 inch diameter steel tube in place of a muffler. They're usually ridden by young guys wearing a helmet smaller and flimsier than a plastic mixing bowl, with the chinstrap either not done up, or so loose that it hangs off their back like a koopa troopa shell. Often there's a cigarette glowing brightly in the wind, dangling out the side of their mouth as they tailgate, lane split and weave their way through traffic.

I didn't meet the owner of this example parked in Ueno, but I doubt they fit that mould. I somehow can't imagine one of those guys riding this, between the bright bronze paint job, the Exile Tribe sticker, and the lines of diamond-shaped plastic beads. They also want us to know that they are Gentle, and Convey True Love.

This is the ubiquitious Honda CN250 (marketed as Helix in the US). First manufactured in 1986, it had a 20 year production run with almost no design changes apart from emission controls. In that sense it's a bit like the SR400 of the scooter world.

Suzuki GSX250S (Katana)

Suzuki GSX250S (Katana)

This bike has been sitting underneath Route 246 for at least four years. It was there when I first came to Japan, and was mostly intact at that time. As you can see, since then some bits have gone missing. It's a bit sad every time I pass by. I'm surprised it hasn't been shifted by thieves or the local authorities.

This is the 250 cc model of the iconic Katana. This model was built for two years only, and was sold only in Japan. Apparently it sold very well, despite being released ten years after the original 1100 cc German designed classic. Suzuki claimed the inline four was capable of 29 kW at 13,500 RPM.