Moto Guzzi Ballabio among Tokyo traffic

Moto Guzzi Ballabio V11 and Tokyo morning traffic.
Video taken with Nokia N93.

There are lots of scooters and bikes in Tokyo, and the traffic is "good" for biking. You can see bike curiers everywhere. Yet it took some years before I finally started riding in Tokyo. Almost 20 years break in motorbike riding:-)
So far done with no crash, no accident. Wish me luck:-) I try to ride every day. That helps me to keep the right attitude, not to make stunts.

In Japan scooters have sometimes their own line next to the car lanes, and at the traffic light there is often space in front of the cars for 2-wheeled vehicles. So when the car traffic stops on those streets, scooters and bikes may pass by the cars and wait the traffic lights to leave first. Much faster to go by bike than by car.

By car this trip has taken 45 minutes some moring, though early Sunday mornig just 15 minutes. By train and on foot, 30 minutes, by bike, after learing to take the right traffic lights, it is just 15 minutes (+ the dressing:-).
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Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• moto
• guzzi
• motoguzzi
• ballabio
• v11
• sport
• motorcycle
• tokyo
• matti
• naskali
• モト
• グッチ
• グッツィ
• 東京
• オートバイ
• バイク
• adventure
• cityscape
• cruise

[elena824]

Is the last scene Meguro Gajoen?

[mnaskali]

yes, it is Gajoen.

[teddyinjapan]

It's good that you can shave some time off the trip. I know most riders do weave through the traffic. I don't agree with it. I think it is dangerous for the rider and the drivers of the cars. But it's their choice if they do it or not. I'm not one to stop bike riders.

though i have one question. Was the time shaved off because you could bypass the traffic, or were you going above the speed limit? Just wondering.

And yeah, it was exciting to watch your ride!

[mnaskali]

When there is no traffic, car and motorbike are the same, about 15 minutes. Once it took 45 minutes by car. When the cars are standing in line, and if there is the narrow bike/bicycle line aside, then it makes a big difference.

I guess most of the people commute by scooter because there is no car park available. Car park lot in the office area Tokyo costs about 50000JPY, $500 a month. Car is not an option. Taxi, train, a 2-wheel vehicle, those are the options.

[Akibatai00]

Fantastic video, thank you for the upload!

[awc222]

I lived in japan for 13 years and loved riding all over the country. From the north of Hokkaido to Kumamoto--long before GPS. Although I lived in Nagano (which my favorite area for riding) and Fukushima, I did spend a lot time traveling in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. It is not nearly as crazy as Bangkok where there are so many more bikes and you stop five times for the sam traffic light.

Japan's roads are in extremely good condition and traffic is orderly albeit massive. Thanks for the video

[mnaskali]

@Zakiuz101 We really can ride year through in Tokyo. Winter time need to have was overall, summer time the heat is problem and frequent rain in June. Today the bike thermometer showed 33 centigrade, still little below fever level:-)

Winter time it snows once a twice, but it melts immediately away. Grip heaters are good for winter, but it is really a perfect riding time in Tokyo. Especially when compared to Finland. Or Canada. Mountains might be dangerous in winter time and some roads are closed.

[mnaskali]

@Zakiuz101

Thansk

[chemicalvalleysessio]

who cares. ur putting people at risk just by driving anyways. at least bikers are WAY more cautious and pay much more attention than you blabbling on ur cell phone driving with one hand.

[ivanlunaelizarraras]

is not love and is not hate. i am just saying what i think (i dislike people who drive like this) and if u want to take it as "hate" then go ahead, take it however u want.

yea i saw that lane, i think on this vid or somewhere. but this guy is going from lane to lane, he's not just staying in his lane.

but whatever man, i dont feel like fighting with u anymore, my opinion is still the same and like i told u take how ever u want.

i

[yakitoriPB]

also, if you research on motobikes in Japan, there is a small narrow lane for 50-100cc engine motorbikes on the left side...its not like he is just passing there because its open....its designated for bikes.

[yakitoriPB]

ya.....when you use the word HATE....its easily confused your point of view comes off as oh.....I dont know.....LOVE I guess?!

[ivanlunaelizarraras]

well, i didnt know they were going that slow. but what i mean that someone driving like that and going somewhat faster could be dangerous.

u think my point of view is hate?? how hilarious :0

dumbass!!

[yakitoriPB]

youre a dumbass because you dismiss the facts. and you hate people for doing something that isnt as dangerous as you exaggerate.

Lets examine facts.

1. higher percentage of vehicles in japan are 2 wheeled vehicles

2. Japan has a lower 2 wheel fatality rate than the US

3. The speed limit is 50 km/h in the vid, which is 31mph. Highly unlikely that a fatality will result from a crash at that low speed.

4. Your point of view is HATE....

1+2+3+4= dumbass.