A standard two-wheel motor vehicle (普通自動二輪車, futsū jidō nirinsha), sometimes referred to as an ordinary motorcycle, is one of the vehicle categories in the Road Traffic Act of Japan. Such vehicles ( motorcycles) have a displacement of more than 50 cc but no more than 400 cc.
In contrast, in the same act, such vehicle with a displacement of 125 cc or less is called a small two-wheel motor vehicle (小型二輪車, kogata nirinsha) (small motorcycle), and is a subcategory of a standard two-wheel motor vehicle. Meanwhile, one with a displacement of over 400 cc is called a large two-wheel motor vehicle (大型自動二輪車, ōgata jidō nirinsha) (heavy motorcycle).
A standard two-wheel motor vehicle can be operated with an ordinary motorcycle license or a heavy motorcycle license. It is defined in the Road Traffic Act's Enforcement Regulations as a "two-wheeled vehicle (including one with a side car) other than a large special vehicle, heavy motorcycle and small special vehicle".
Three-wheeled vehicles are treated as ordinary vehicles, and are not classed as motorcycles. However, the safety standard for motorcycles is applied to a three-wheeled vehicle that has coaxial wheels with a width of less than 46 cm, where the body or wheels incline when turning.
A license to ride an ordinary motorcycle can be obtained from the age of 16 onward.
Some of the vehicle categories under Japanese law are as follows:
Name | Japanese | Description |
---|---|---|
Moped | 原動機付自転車 | Any motorcycle with engine displacement of 50 cc or less. |
Small motorcycle | 小型自動二輪車 | Any motorcycle with engine displacement over 50 cc but no more than 125 cc. |
Ordinary motorcycle | 普通自動二輪車 | Any motorcycle with engine displacement over 50 cc but no more than 400 cc. |
Heavy motorcycle | 大型自動二輪車 | Any motorcycle with engine displacement over 400 cc. |
License type | Minimum age | Displacement | Loading capacity | Legal speed limit (general roads) | Expressway riding | Pillion riding | Bus lane riding |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Moped | 16 | Up to 50 cc | 30 kg (66 lb) | 30 km/h (19 mph) | No | No | Yes |
Small motorcycle (incl. AT) | 16 | Up to 125 cc | 60 kg (130 lb) | 60 km/h (37 mph) | No | Yes (1 year after license acquisition) | No |
Ordinary motorcycle (incl. AT) | 16 | Up to 400 cc | 60 kg (130 lb) | 60 km/h (37 mph) | Yes | Yes (1 year after license acquisition) | No |
Heavy motorcycle (incl. AT) | 18 | No limit | 60 kg (130 lb) | 60 km/h (37 mph) | Yes | Yes (1 year after license acquisition) | No |
A standard two-wheel motor vehicle (普通自動二輪車, futsū jidō nirinsha), sometimes referred to as an ordinary motorcycle, is one of the vehicle categories in the Road Traffic Act of Japan. Such vehicles ( motorcycles) have a displacement of more than 50 cc but no more than 400 cc.
In contrast, in the same act, such vehicle with a displacement of 125 cc or less is called a small two-wheel motor vehicle (小型二輪車, kogata nirinsha) (small motorcycle), and is a subcategory of a standard two-wheel motor vehicle. Meanwhile, one with a displacement of over 400 cc is called a large two-wheel motor vehicle (大型自動二輪車, ōgata jidō nirinsha) (heavy motorcycle).
A standard two-wheel motor vehicle can be operated with an ordinary motorcycle license or a heavy motorcycle license. It is defined in the Road Traffic Act's Enforcement Regulations as a "two-wheeled vehicle (including one with a side car) other than a large special vehicle, heavy motorcycle and small special vehicle".
Three-wheeled vehicles are treated as ordinary vehicles, and are not classed as motorcycles. However, the safety standard for motorcycles is applied to a three-wheeled vehicle that has coaxial wheels with a width of less than 46 cm, where the body or wheels incline when turning.
A license to ride an ordinary motorcycle can be obtained from the age of 16 onward.
Some of the vehicle categories under Japanese law are as follows:
Name | Japanese | Description |
---|---|---|
Moped | 原動機付自転車 | Any motorcycle with engine displacement of 50 cc or less. |
Small motorcycle | 小型自動二輪車 | Any motorcycle with engine displacement over 50 cc but no more than 125 cc. |
Ordinary motorcycle | 普通自動二輪車 | Any motorcycle with engine displacement over 50 cc but no more than 400 cc. |
Heavy motorcycle | 大型自動二輪車 | Any motorcycle with engine displacement over 400 cc. |
License type | Minimum age | Displacement | Loading capacity | Legal speed limit (general roads) | Expressway riding | Pillion riding | Bus lane riding |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Moped | 16 | Up to 50 cc | 30 kg (66 lb) | 30 km/h (19 mph) | No | No | Yes |
Small motorcycle (incl. AT) | 16 | Up to 125 cc | 60 kg (130 lb) | 60 km/h (37 mph) | No | Yes (1 year after license acquisition) | No |
Ordinary motorcycle (incl. AT) | 16 | Up to 400 cc | 60 kg (130 lb) | 60 km/h (37 mph) | Yes | Yes (1 year after license acquisition) | No |
Heavy motorcycle (incl. AT) | 18 | No limit | 60 kg (130 lb) | 60 km/h (37 mph) | Yes | Yes (1 year after license acquisition) | No |