Standard two-wheel motor vehicle (Japan)

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).

Overview

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.

License
Japanese driving licence sample with category for ordinary motorcycle (普自二) circled.

A license to ride an ordinary motorcycle can be obtained from the age of 16 onward.

Categories

Some of the vehicle categories under Japanese law are as follows:

NameJapaneseDescription
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.

Other details
License typeMinimum ageDisplacementLoading capacityLegal speed limit (general roads)Expressway ridingPillion ridingBus lane riding
Moped16Up to 50 cc30 kg (66 lb)30 km/h (19 mph)NoNoYes
Small motorcycle (incl. AT)16Up to 125 cc60 kg (130 lb)60 km/h (37 mph)NoYes (1 year after license acquisition)No
Ordinary motorcycle (incl. AT)16Up to 400 cc60 kg (130 lb)60 km/h (37 mph)YesYes (1 year after license acquisition)No
Heavy motorcycle (incl. AT)18No limit60 kg (130 lb)60 km/h (37 mph)YesYes (1 year after license acquisition)No

See also

References
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