Japan's Motorcycle Scene: Mind-Blowing Differences vs. Pinas!
Buckle up, mga paps, because the motorcycle scene in Japan is WILDLY different from our daily rides here in Pinas!
We all know the "Big 4" motorcycle brands ruling the Philippines hail from Japan: Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki. So, when we got the chance to experience Japan firsthand, we gazed at the roads with excitement!
But what did we find? Well, let us share what shocked us.
Where Did All the Bikes Go?! 🏍️💨
The biggest shocker? You barely see any motorcycles on the road! Yep, sobrang bibihira. Considering Japan births the very bikes we drool over back home, it was seriously ironic.
Throughout our time cruising through Tokyo and nearby cities, we could count the motorcycles we spotted on both hands... hindi lalampas sa sampu sa isang araw! Less than ten bikes a day? Seriously?! Where's the "Marilaque feels" in this country?!
Pedestrian Paradise: Crossing Like a Boss 😎🚶
Okay, this one blew our minds in the best way possible. Forget the split-second dashes across EDSA! In Japan, you can practically stroll onto a pedestrian crossing without even glancing at the oncoming traffic.
Seriously! Drivers will wait for you. Like, full-on stop-their-entire-world wait. No more heart-stopping sprints. Di kailangan magtatakbo na parang katapusan na ng mundo. Zero red light beating. It's like a pedestrian utopia! Imagine that kind of peace on our roads!
Small CC Squad... Where You At?! 🤔🛵
Another mystery? The lack of small displacement scooters that are EVERYWHERE in the Philippines. We got a chance to see a few: PCX, Dio, Giorno, and the quirky Gear. Even NMAX and the ever-popular for Gen Z and millenials Fazzio were MIA! Mga paisa-isa lang.
Apparently, the few smaller CC bikes they do have are mostly used for food deliveries. Where's the "porma" and the "daily hustle" small bike?!
Wallet Shock: That Licensing Life! 💸🤯
With barely any bikes on the road, you might think having a solo ride there would be super cool and unique. Think again! Before you even dream of feeling like the coolest one on two wheels, search for the licensing costs.
Magkano nga ba magpalisensya sa Japan? Getting your motorcycle license in Japan can set you back around PHP 120,000! Walang palakasan ng kapit at diskarte – no "connections" or fixers there! Grabe! Suddenly, madali lang pala palisensya ng legit sa Pinas!
No Excuses: Violations are SERIOUS! 👮♂️🚫
Walang areglo. Walang “pag-usapan na tin, boss.” Get into an accident in Japan, and the cops are ON. YOU. INSTANTLY. We're talking massive fines, license revocation, or even jail time.
No wonder you practically never see car accidents! And naturally, the concepts of "kamote riders" or "Oscar drivers"? Non-existent. Can you imagine the Philippines without those?!
Japan's motorcycle culture is definitely a different beast compared to our vibrant and jam-packed roads.
What surprised you the most? Let us know on our Facebook page!