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Japan: 40 articles
Mizuho Auto Lease Signs Maintenance Contract with Honda Motorcycle Shinjuku, Covering Small EVs
Mizuho Auto Lease, a subsidiary of Mizuho Lease, has signed a comprehensive vehicle maintenance service contract with Honda Motorcycle Shinjuku. The deal covers inspection, maintenance and repair of leased vehicles, including small electric motorcycles. The company aims to strengthen ties with regional maintenance shops and build a sustainable service network.
レスポンス（Response.jp） · 8/7/2026
Royal Enfield's New Bullet 650 Lands in Japan on August 27, Starting at ¥980,100
Royal Enfield will launch the new Bullet 650 in Japan on August 27, powered by a 648cc air-cooled parallel-twin. It comes in Cannon Black and Battleship Blue, priced from ¥980,100 to ¥995,500, with pre-orders opening August 7 at authorized dealers nationwide.
Webike · 8/7/2026
Yanagawa, Kagayama and Haga Sit Down for a Roundtable on Their World Championship Racing Days
Former world championship riders Akira Yanagawa, Yukio Kagayama, and Noriyuki Haga appeared in the first installment of a roundtable interview. Yanagawa made his name winning the 1990 Suzuka 4-Hour, Kagayama won the 2007 Suzuka 8 Hours with Yoshimura, and Haga won the 1996 Suzuka 8 Hours alongside Colin Edwards before racking up 43 career WorldSBK wins. The three also revisited a 2006 crash in the Czech Republic.
Mr.Bike BG · 8/7/2026
MV Agusta opens Tokyo showcase with limited-run LXP Orioli adventure bike
Italian brand MV Agusta opened its "Motorcycle Art Gallery" exhibition on August 7 at Gateway Studio in Tokyo's Takanawa Gateway City. The event displays six models, including the world-limited 500-unit "LXP ORIOLI," and offers free demo rides on August 8-9. New importer Koshida Tech is launching full operations in the Japanese market.
BikeJIN WEB (培倶人) · 8/7/2026
Suzuki's GSX400E Proved a 4-Valve Twin Could Outlast the Four-Cylinder Wave
Suzuki's 1980-82 GSX400E paired a DOHC 4-valve air-cooled parallel twin with a TSCC-style combustion chamber, delivering 44ps at 9,500rpm and 3.7kgm at 8,000rpm from its 399cc engine. A 180-degree crank and balancer shaft let it spin smoothly to high revs. It was Suzuki's deliberate twin-cylinder answer in the 400cc class even as the GS750 and GS1000 pushed the brand toward four-cylinder engines.
RIDE HI · 8/7/2026
Ai Ogura: Ranked Second in MotoGP, but 'Still Far From the Ideal'
In an interview with Japan's Auto-by magazine, MotoGP sophomore Ai Ogura says he's still unsatisfied with his riding despite sitting second in the world championship. He's already scored his first podium, first pole and first win of the season — yet he spent his summer break lapping Okegawa Sports Land instead of resting.
オートバイ · 8/6/2026
Honda's Dax 125 Still Selling Out Six Months After Launch
Honda's Dax 125 remains a hot seller six months after launch, according to a Tokyo dealer. The new Pearl Horizon White colorway, priced at ¥495,000, has sold out at the shop with the next shipment not expected until September at the earliest, while the returning black colorway is ready for immediate delivery. The dealer says buyers split roughly evenly between men and women.
くるまのニュース · 8/6/2026
Honda's CB400 Super Four: The Fuel-Injected Final Run Riders Still Hunt For
Webike traced the long history of Honda's CB400 Super Four naked bike. First launched in 1992, it switched to PGM-FI fuel injection in 2008 to meet emissions rules and stayed in production through 2022. Used examples from that fuel-injected, HYPER VTEC-equipped final era are now hard to find on the resale market.
Webike · 8/6/2026
OGK Kabuto's Limited Carbon Adventure Helmet GEOSYS-R Lands in September
OGK Kabuto will launch a limited-run carbon adventure helmet, the GEOSYS-R, this September. Its A.C.T.-2+C carbon shell construction balances light weight and strength, paired with a 5-stage adjustable visor and a one-touch top vent. It's priced at 93,500 yen (tax included), spans sizes XS-XL, and meets Japan's JIS safety standard.
ForR · 8/6/2026
BMW's R1300R Boxer Twin Makes 145HP With ShiftCam Variable Valve Timing
Japanese outlet webオートバイ profiled the BMW R1300R in its imported-bike guide. The 1,300cc air/water-cooled boxer twin uses BMW's ShiftCam variable valve timing to produce 145hp, with a curb weight of 244kg. It comes in three trims: the base R1300R from 2,119,000 yen, the Touring version from 2,448,000 yen, and the Touring ASA from 2,571,000 yen.
オートバイ · 8/6/2026
Bike-O to Debut at Ni-Rinkan Matsuri East With CB750F Replica From Bari Bari Densetsu
Bike-O will make its first appearance at the "2026 Good Smile Meeting Ni-Rinkan Matsuri East" on August 22 at Fujiten Resort in Yamanashi, showing a CB750F built as a replica of the bike from the manga Bari Bari Densetsu. The event includes a raffle with prizes such as a 15,000-yen QUO card and a smart ride monitor, and Bike-O's official ambassador Saori Oku will appear to sell merchandise. Admission is free.
Mr.Bike BG · 8/6/2026
Technix Demo Day Report: Free Test Rides on Pro-Tuned Suspension, Next Session Sept 13
A report on Technix's "Technix Demo Day," a hands-on event the suspension specialist runs at its headquarters in Kasukabe, Saitama. Visitors can test-ride professionally tuned bikes for free with no reservation and learn setup goals directly from the pros. The next sessions run September 13 and November 15.
モトメガネ · 8/6/2026
Kumamoto Earthquake Forces Postponement of BIKE LOVE FORUM
The Reiwa 8 Kumamoto earthquake has forced the postponement of the 14th BIKE LOVE FORUM, which had been set for September 11 in Kumamoto's Ozu area. The related Kinasse! Kumamoto Touring Campaign (August 1-November 30) and a commemorative stage event on September 12 are also called off, with organizers targeting 2027 or later once recovery in the affected area allows it.
Webike · 8/6/2026
Ai Ogura Looks Back on His First MotoGP Win at the Dutch GP
MotoGP rider Ai Ogura reflected on his first career win at the Dutch GP in a short interview with Webike. Asked what he was thinking on the final lap, he answered candidly, 'I don't really remember much, so I probably wasn't thinking too hard,' and revealed the winner's trophy now sits in his own room. He continues training through the summer break ahead of the next round.
Webike · 8/6/2026
2rinkan and Naps Reveal June 2026 Best-Selling Motorcycle Boots Rankings
MotoMegane has published a June 2026 sales-based ranking of popular riding shoes and boots from Japan's two major motorcycle gear chains. 2rinkan's top pick was the Henly Begins DS-504, while Naps' was WILDWING's thick-sole Swallow boot. RS TAICHI landed four models on 2rinkan's list, with waterproof and BOA-fit function-focused models dominating the upper ranks.
モトメガネ · 8/6/2026
Upgarage Lets Riders Check Used-Gear Stock at All 283 Stores via Google Search
Motorcycle gear reuse chain Upgarage has rolled out a service letting customers check used inventory across all 283 of its Japanese stores directly through Google Search, Google Maps, and Google Shopping. Built on Kanry Inc.'s local inventory tool, the feature aims to cut phone inquiries and reduce the need to visit multiple stores hunting for stock.
BikeJIN WEB (培倶人) · 8/6/2026
Suzuki Refreshes Burgman 400 With E10 Compatibility and Cut Floorboard
Suzuki will launch the updated Burgman 400 on August 18, 2026, priced at 980,100 yen. The scooter now runs on E10 fuel with 10% bioethanol blend, and gains a cut-away floorboard alongside its 755mm seat height for better footing. Its 42-liter underseat trunk holds two full-face helmets, and the model comes in three body colors including new shades.
バイクのニュース · 8/6/2026
Yamaha's V4 125cc Racer Won Back-to-Back World Titles in the 1960s
Yamaha's water-cooled two-stroke V4, the RA31, took Bill Ivy to the 125cc world championship in 1967. Its successor, the RA31A, carried Phil Read to a second consecutive title in 1968. The machine produced 44hp and weighed just 91kg dry, but it became the last V4 in the 125cc class after the FIM restricted the category to two cylinders from 1970.
バイクのニュース · 8/6/2026
Honda Super Cub 110 Gets a 1/12-Scale Build-It-Yourself Puzzle Model
Toy maker Megahouse has opened pre-orders for a 1/12-scale Honda Super Cub 110 puzzle model under its 'KAITANICS' line, featuring 37 parts with a half-skeleton body across four colorways at ¥7,700 each. It launches in late December 2026, with a sticker giveaway campaign running through September 28.
Mr.Bike BG · 8/6/2026
Test Ride: Lowering the WR125R's Seat Height by 70mm With Aftermarket Parts
A test ride evaluated dropping the Yamaha WR125R's 875mm seat height to 805mm using a lowering seat and lowering link kit together. Two testers at 172cm and 156cm both reported a big boost in flat-footed confidence. However, the altered link ratio reduces rear suspension stroke, making the bike feel firmer and closer to bottoming out over bumps.
Webike · 8/6/2026
Suzuki Burgman 400 Updated for E10 Gasoline, Launching August 18
Suzuki has updated the Burgman 400 ABS to run on E10 gasoline, which contains 10% bioethanol, with the new AN400AM6 model going on sale August 18, 2026. Priced at 980,100 yen including tax, it comes in three colors. Equipment and styling are unchanged, with fuel compatibility the sole update.
Mr.Bike BG · 8/6/2026
Insurance Agency Cancellations Surge at Bike Shops in Aftermath of Big Motor Scandal
Following the 2023 Big Motor fraud scandal, Japan's Financial Services Agency tightened oversight, leading to a revised Insurance Business Act in June 2026. Insurers, citing cost cuts, are now imposing tough sales quotas and staffing requirements on small agencies, driving a wave of contract terminations. The number of agencies fell 7.0% year-on-year in fiscal 2024, a drop of 10,514 outlets — the steepest decline in a decade.
Webike · 8/5/2026
'SDG Masters 50' Sees Five Legendary 50-Something Riders Race Alongside Young Talent
At the All Japan Road Race Championship held at Tsukuba Circuit on June 21, a new initiative called 'SDG Masters 50' put five legendary riders in their fifties — Akira Yanagawa, Noriyuki Haga, Naritsugu Kagayama, Kenichiro Kikuchi and Masayoshi Kobayashi — on the same grid as younger racers, with special prize money going to top finishers aged 22 and under. Haga finished second and Kagayama seventh.
バイクのニュース · 8/5/2026
SHOEI's New Z-9 Helmet Boosts Airflow 1.9x, Cuts Lift by 13%
SHOEI has unveiled its new full-face helmet, the Z-9, due out this autumn. Airflow through the ventilation system is up roughly 1.9x, while lift that pulls the helmet upward at highway speed is cut by about 13%. It keeps the brand's compact shape while also chasing quieter cabin noise and a wider field of view, built for everything from city riding to touring.
MonoMax web · 8/5/2026
Ai Ogura's Breakout Season Gets International Commentators Buzzing in Official MotoGP Recap
A video outlet spotlighted an official MotoGP recap of Ai Ogura's first-half season, noting that international commentators reacting to the footage were genuinely fired up. Through 11 of 22 rounds, the compilation covers a run that includes three straight premier-class podiums, a surge nobody predicted at the start of the year.
動画ライダー · 8/5/2026
Suzuki's Bandit 250 LTD and Its 'Rocket Cowl' Blend of Retro and 90s Style
Webike revisited Suzuki's 1990s Bandit 250 LTD. Following the bare-naked Bandit 250 launched in 1989, the LTD arrived a year later with a retro half-fairing nicknamed the 'rocket cowl,' a design the outlet says skillfully mixed nostalgia with contemporary 90s styling.
Webike · 8/5/2026
Ai Ogura's First MotoGP Win Gets a Studio Special on Nitele Jsports
A studio special titled 'It's August. Ai Ogura Won His First MotoGP Race.' airs on Nitele Jsports on August 6 at 9 p.m., featuring Ogura himself. His victory at the Dutch GP marked the first premier-class win by a Japanese rider since Makoto Tamada in 2004, 22 years earlier.
オートバイ · 8/5/2026
Is an EV Motorcycle Worth Buying? Part 3: A ¥480,000 Cap Doesn't Make Electric Cheaper
Tokyo's EV motorcycle subsidy caps out at ¥480,000. But read the formula closely and you'll see the program isn't designed to make electric bikes cheap — it's designed to erase the price gap with gasoline models. Here's when the numbers actually favor buying.
MotoBook編集部 · 8/5/2026
Japan Winding-Road Journal, Part 3: The November 30 Deadline, and the Road You Can't Ride
Motorcycle expressway discounts have an end date. Here's how to plan an autumn ride by working backward from those deadlines — the Touring Plan and the flat-rate discount — and about the road waiting past Shirakawa-go that you simply can't ride on two wheels.
MotoBook編集部 · 8/5/2026
KTM Japan Offers Up to ¥430,000 in Purchase Support for the 990 Duke and 1390 Super Duke R EVO
KTM Japan is running a campaign through October 31 offering up to ¥430,000 in purchase support alongside special low-interest financing (0.9% for up to 60 months or 1.9% for up to 84 months) on the 990 Duke and 1390 Super Duke R EVO. Buyers also receive KTM's premium manufacturer warranty, extended to four years at no extra cost.
Mr.Bike BG · 8/5/2026
Motorcycle Tolls to Drop to 'Half of Cars': LDP Panel Chief Ooka on His 4 Proposals
LDP two-wheeler panel chair Toshitaka Ooka outlined four proposals in an exclusive interview. They include splitting motorcycle expressway tolls from the kei-car bracket and setting them at 0.5x car rates, wider use of 'except motorcycles' parking signs, a probe into insurance agency contract terminations, and shifting license classes to a European-style 35kW output standard.
Webike · 8/5/2026
Red Baron on Why It Invests in Technician Training and 600,000 Parts in Stock
Red Baron, which runs over 300 stores nationwide in Japan, detailed its post-purchase support system. Its Technical Center, opened in 1999, trains new hires, over 70% of whom start with no maintenance experience, through a three-month, roughly 500-hour program. The company stocks 600,000 parts across about 3,700 models and dismantles 3,000 vehicles a year to recover reusable parts.
モトメガネ · 8/5/2026
Webike Owner Feature: The Super Cub 110 Feels Surprisingly Like a 'Real Motorcycle'
In Webike's owner-bike feature, commuter Shinobu Sagi's Super Cub 110 impresses with a hydraulic front brake that stops 'several times better than expected' and cast wheels that smooth out the ride. Its longer-stroke engine lets it accelerate naturally without full throttle up to 60 km/h. Riding it 50 km each way to work daily, Sagi says the 110 delivers plenty for the price difference.
Webike · 8/5/2026
Suzuki Updates Burgman 400 ABS for E10 Fuel, Price Held at ¥980,100
Suzuki will launch an E10-compatible version of its Burgman 400 ABS maxi-scooter on August 18, adapting the 399cc single-cylinder, 29-hp model to run on bioethanol-blended fuel. The price stays unchanged at ¥980,100, and all three existing colors carry over.
モーサイ · 8/5/2026
Suzuki's 2027 Burgman 400 ABS Ships August 18, Price Held Steady
Suzuki will launch the 2027 Burgman 400 ABS on August 18. The headline change is compatibility with E10 (10% ethanol-blend) gasoline, while the 399cc single-cylinder engine, 21kW/35N·m output and 218kg curb weight all carry over unchanged. Pricing stays flat at ¥980,100.
Webike · 8/5/2026
Kawasaki Unveils New Ninja 400, Priced at ¥814,000 for a September 5 Launch
Kawasaki has revealed the new Ninja 400, going on sale September 5 for ¥814,000 (tax included). It pairs a 398cc parallel-twin engine with an assist-and-slipper clutch and lightweight trellis frame, with a 310mm semi-floating front disc. It comes in a single Metallic Carbon Gray x Ebony colorway.
くるまのニュース · 8/5/2026
Honda's V3R 900 May Spawn a Family of Derivatives, Including a Naturally Aspirated V3
Speculation is building around Honda's turbocharged V3R 900 E-Compressor, with reports pointing to several derivative models in the works: a neo-retro replica evoking the NS400R, a dirt-tracker-styled variant, and cafe racer and scrambler versions running a naturally aspirated V3. The renderings in the report are the outlet's own speculative illustrations, not an official Honda announcement.
Webike · 8/5/2026
Kawasaki's 2027 Ninja 400 Gets a New Color, Launches September 5
Kawasaki will launch the 2027 model-year Ninja 400 on September 5, adding a new Metallic Carbon Gray and Ebony color scheme priced at 814,000 yen including tax. The 398cc parallel-twin comes with an assist-and-slipper clutch and a low seat height, keeping the bike approachable for beginners while staying capable for veteran riders.
バイクのニュース · 8/5/2026
Honda X-ADV Holds No. 1 Resale Value Spot for Sixth Straight Ranking
Bike-O & Company's research arm has released its 57th resale-value ranking, with Honda's X-ADV taking first place for the sixth consecutive time with a score of 139.5. The Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES DCT placed second and the NC750X DCT third, with Honda models filling 8 of the top 10 spots overall.
BikeJIN WEB (培倶人) · 8/5/2026
Yamaha Design Filing Reveals New Center-Motor Electric Scooter
A Japanese design registration has revealed Yamaha is developing a new electric scooter with a center-mounted motor driving the rear wheel via belt, a departure from its previous hub-motor scooters. Sized for the 125cc commuter class, it would compete with Honda's UC3 and CUV e:, and appears to use a swappable battery under the seat. The filing is currently registered only in Japan.
Motorrad und Reisen · 8/5/2026