Look up the standardised European test. It's not dissimilar albeit it lacks many of the (unnecessary?) obstacle elements. We also have to do a road test with an examiner. Most importantly we need to prove evasive manoeuvre skills and emergency braking.
in holland you need to do emergency braking, and slalomming between pylons. and there is a license for light motor cycles, and heavy motor cycles, very simular to japan. in every european country it is different. Regards.
in the netherlands we have to do training on a parking lot pas the test and then we are allowed to take lessons on the road yes you can ride from the driving school to the training place if you have a car licence but if you have not you have to wait until you pass the first test and there is a test on the road.edit i could not do the slow slalom good all the rest was easy for me
and they ride without a license anyway, always see people say shits like "have been riding for 10 years, finally got my license today" in youtube comment sections
Lifting the bike at the start like that is bad for your back, you should lift in the same manner but with you back up against the bike then you also get more leverage with your legs.
Well you arent supposed to lay your bike down every night and pick it up in the morning xD. Bikes can sleep while standing. Its so rare to pick them up that it shoulnt be a problem.
I also got my A license in Japan and they taught us to lift the bike in the same way as in this video. Some time ago a friend randomly told me that the correct way of lifting the bike was with your back up against the bike. That piece of advice saved my life a few weeks ago as I fell while motorcycling on bad uphill roads in Laos, I first tired with the Japanese school method and did not succeed, then I put by back up against it and voila, I lifted the bike back up in seconds.
Here in Brazil most of motorcycle courses/private schools required to get licence you only drive in a parking lot. The test to get the license you need just make 8 turn, and stop the bike in a sign, it takes 3 minutes. They just do like japan I guess. There are so many motorcycle accidents over here. I see one almost everyday and i pilot a motorcycle X.x
@@alexandreoliveira5712 não sei de onde é no Brasil, mas aqui em SP capital, tem a prancha, slalom, virar a esquina também. I don't know where it is in Brazil, but here in SP capital, there is a board, slalom, around the corner too.
Here in the US, my 20 year old son and my wife got their FULL motorcycle licence after only two, five hour sessions. They both can now legally drive anything from my scooter to my 1800cc Goldwing! Crazy considering they are simply not experienced enough to ride the bigger bikes. I wish we would have more stringent rules and tests in place her to keep things a bit tighter here.
You must also consider that these two people already had a motorcycle driving license; they were now just taking lessons and the exam to obtain the equivalent in Japan.
i guess many of your roads are larger, and the death toll isn't high enough to drive a restructuring of the system? Bikes sure are death traps compared to cars for sure though
In Poland the exam is pretty strict too for motorbikes. We do 7 tasks on the training yard and then leave for like a 30 minute city drive. 1. Taxing the motorcycle within bounds 2. Figure 8s (5 times) 3. Slow slalom (1st gear, 5 gates, 2 times) 4. Fast slalom (2 gates, 3 inline cones, minimum 30 kmph average) 5. Avoiding an obstacle (minimum 50 kmph at enterance gate, 2 times) 6. Emergency brake from at least 50 kmph 7. Starting uphiill Additionally you have to remember to do a life saver before starting each task, fortunately no course memorization.
Singapore's test is harder, we have these tests, and our emergency braking is on wet roads (more than a specified speed, less than a specified distance), uphill/downhill (clutch control), wall blind spot, and for our bumpy course, we have a time limit (have to go slower and go over the time, and if we roll out of the width, we fail immediately) as well as actual road riding segment. I took my Japanese bike license and the irritating thing was they did not tell you where you got your demerit points at, and they do not provide advice at all at the driving school which I went to. You simply went in, registered, took the assigned bike, go through the test course, wait for your results, and thats it, you dont speak to the instructor when you get your results, and there is no information on the test results, just how many demerit points you have and if you passed/failed. They dont mention anything like "at corner 12, failed to check left blind spot" etc. you had to guess everything by yourself. Every instructor focused on different things, so you had to pray really hard for the instructor to be kind and be in a good mood.
Thank you for this video. I live in Japan since 2015. Back in Germany, I got my regular car license as well as a license for trucks up to 40 tons. When I got here, they allowed me to carry over the car license without any tests at all, just a simple conversion. Now I want to get the bike license for up to 400cc and do what I wanted to do since I was 16. Of course, I'm soaking up all I need to know about the process of actually going to a driving school here in Japan and this video really helped. Even though you skipped on all the usual stuff you have to do during the course, indicator, mirror check, shoulder check and so on. But it really helped to get a first person view of you tackling the obstacles and, what's more important, how the training is done before you have to do the course. It gives me peace of mind to know that they let you ride the course countless times during the training days and really guide you to do it all correctly. Again, thank you for sharing this. I know there are plenty more videos like that. I watched Japanese people do it, as well as foreigners. But somehow, I felt this was a more indepth ride along. I'm super excited to enroll.
Good luck, and I hope you do it soon so that you can have more days, months and years to ride here in Japan. I have been riding my Honda 750 in Japan since 2021 and enjoy going out on rides just exploring this country...many daytrips and some overnighters.
Haben die japanischen Behörden nur eine Konvertierung des Autoführerscheins genehmigt oder darfst du auch LKWs fahren ? Weil meines Wissens nach ,werden alle Führerscheinklassen die in DE erworben wurden ,anerkannt .Interessant wäre ja ,was man genau fahren darf .Wenn man die frühere Klasse 3 hat ,kann man in DE 7.5 Tonner bewegen und die müsste man theoretisch auch in Japan fahren dürfen .Ich nehme an ,das Japan eine andere Unterscheidung vornimmt ,sieht man ja hier im Video beim Motorrad mit 400cc . Kannst du näheres erläutern ?
@@Maldek Die haben mir einen Führerschein 中型自 mit Limitierung für 5 Tonnen ausgestellt. Das hat zum Einen mit einer Gesetzesänderung zu tun, die hier diese Klasse neu eingeführt hat, und zum anderen damit, dass das am ehesten meiner C1 entspricht. Ich kann nur spekulieren, warum meine C1E und CE nicht anerkannt wurden, habe aber glaube ich einen möglichen Grund gefunden. Die deutsche CE Klasse erlaubt mir das Fahren von LKW bis 40 Tonnen. Für die Personenbeförderung von 20+ Personen braucht man Klasse D. Hier in Japan erlaubt die Oogata-Klasse, das nächste Äquivalent zur deutschen CE Klasse, das Fahren von Fahrzeugen mit mindestens 11 Tonnen, nach oben hin offen, und einer Personenzahl von 30+ Personen. Ist also ein Mischmasch aus CE und D. Ich vermute, weil mein Führerschein kein Training für die Personenbeförderung beinhaltet, kann der CE Schein nicht als Oogata anerkannt werden. Ist aber wie gesagt nur Spekulation.
@@oriandkaito-motoadventures well, I just went ahead and enrolled, got through the entrance ceremony today and will have my first lesson on the upcoming Friday. I assume the first lesson will be reserved for the simulator?
Here in Germany the test is 70 munutes long, most of it is riding in the city and on the highway, while the driving instructor follows you in a car. But we have comparable agily tests as you had in Japaj within these 70 minutes aswell. But to even qualify doing the test, you have to take so many driving lessons, both theoretical aswell as practical ones. Getting your licences will take you at least several months in Germany.
In Germany for the A1/A2/A license (125cc/48hp/unrestricted) you have 12hrs of mandatory theoretical lessons, 12 hrs of mandatory driving lessons on the road with the instructor following you in a car, with an intercom. And before those, all the practise hours you need until you are read for the 12 mandatory hours or driving. But those practise hours are also in normal traffic. You have mandatory highway lessons, and city driving, and night driving lessons. The theoretical lessons can be combined with a car license, since they are in general about traffic. Then its a theoretical exam. And if you succeed with this one, you get a practical one, with your instructor and a examiner driving in the car behind you, telling you where to go, and watching your every move while you do that. Including some lessons like this handling course in Japan on a secluded road somewhere on the edge of town. Slalom, slow driving, breaking etc. Often with city traffic, small highway section etc. In my practical lesson, after the part at the "obstacle course" my clutch cable snapped. But since we drove like 20 minutes to get there, they still let me pass. It costs about 1500 - 2000€ these days. 3000 if you also want to get a car license, since the mandatory practical hours and exam go extra in a car.
Same in Poland but we need to do 20 hrs and in practical exam before going to the city we need to drive on specialy prepared roads like turning your bike in T shape lot, do slow 8 like slalom in square and not leave outside of it, slow and fast slalom, emegrency break on signal, evade obstacle on road and start from uphill. After that we go to the city if you gonna do two the same mistakes then you fail. Yeah and aslo the fact probably in whole EU that A license u can start at age 24.
Thats it ? just some exercises in a parking lot? pretty much in all of Europe you actually have to go out and ride in city and highway for an hour after the lot tests.
Yeah, I got my licence in 2023 in Hungary. The course was different but basicaly the same level except there is a part when you have to go as fast as you can, brake very hard before you make a very hard left and right immitating an obstacle on the road when braking is not an option (that skill saved me a few weeks ago). Only around 1 out of 3 or 4 make it at first try on the test. Some just dont make it at all. After you pass you have to go for 12 hours (4x4 hours) on the street and then have to pass that too. We had to do it on Yamaha Fazers 600cc wich have around 100 hp.
There's closed circuit and road test with the examiner following behind you in UK when on the public road and they tell you which way to turn. Honestly the Japanese test is not too bad since they don't require you to go on public roads.
Nope. They are strict because they think it gives them high respectability. They feel they are « good » person if they are « strict ». It is a problem of ego.
@@tomekichiyamamoto2177 getting a bike license in the US is a problem of ego, as any moron with hands and feet can hop on any bike he wants and all he needs is an endorsement, not even proper testing and training.
Japan is filled to the hilt with some of the worst riders on two wheels you'll find. The crazy stupid crap they do and try to pull here proves "being strict" doesn't result in producing safe riders at all. The overwhelming majority are beyond highly unsafe. And of ALL of them, the scooter riders are the absolute WORST.
Thank you for the video. Very interesting. Here in the Netherlands, to get my A license, I had to take around 50 classes of 1.5 hrs each , that was like 75 hours of practical driving, both on the car park and road / highway . It was long process and expensive, but I am grateful for the lessons quality and practice I received before finally getting my A license.
In the UK I booked a three days course, first day was a full day of training second day was half a day training followed by the first exam in a closed circuit and third day was a half day of training followed by the on road examination, I had some issues with my bike not going into neutral (SV650) on the third day so and I had to retake my on road test section but I did it on a different bike than I originally learned on (XJ6) but it was a good bike and I passed easily. the cost for the 4 days training felt like a lot to me at the time but it was worth it because I enjoy riding so much.
@@IsntThisAStupidName How long ago was your test? I did my UK test in 2019 and it seems closer to the Netherlands test than your description of the UK one.
Thanks for the video! The Japanese riding school looks very similar to the ones we have in Singapore - same course, same bikes, even the instructors’ outfits look the same! Enjoy your big bikes!
I read somewhere that the NC750X is used in driving schools in Japan and you just gave me the confirmation! As an owner of this model I can say that despite the weight its low speed handling is excellent due to the low center of gravity. All thanks to the gas tank below the seat and forward-tilted engine. Easy and fun to ride.
I beleive it's the 750S model, the X is the trail version and it has some extra faring and the beak up front. Nice bike, I have one myself ...a little heavy maybe but quirky and different.
I’ve not long passed my A Licence in the UK, so it was very interesting to see how this is done in Japan. As I was old enough, I did what they call the Direct Access Scheme: CBT (basic bike control on a car park in the morning, road ride in the afternoon) on a CB125F, then Theory/Hazard Perception tests (on a computer), then on to a CB650R for hours of lessons to sit Mod 1 (15 mins of manoeuvres on a fixed course), and Mod 2 (40 minute road ride). This looks like a more extensive version of Mod 1; the extra slow speed training would be beneficial here, in my opinion, and the slalom looks much tougher than ours. Saying that, I do feel that the UK test has equipped me pretty well for getting on the road and learning further; the only slightly sticky moments I’ve had so far have been some slow speed manoeuvres when faced with inclines or poor surfaces, and carrying too much speed into corners (getting better every week). No drops as yet, but there’s always tomorrow…
@@thepurplecat5975 Exaggerate much? The UK MOD 1 test doesn't do anything remotely as difficult as the balance beam/plank or the tight 90degree turns. MOD 1 doesn't even test you on hill starts which they do in Japan but they didn't show here.
@@izaakgray1718 emergency stops (go above 40km, and performance an emergecny stop at the appropriate line) are tested in Japan they just didn't show you in the video. 30mph swerves in one direction aren't a thing cos those are not only not hard but has almost no real world emergency application - rather a higher level of that skill is condensed in the slalom time attack course (there's no time limit in the UK slalom course, but as said in the video in Japan you have to do it QUICK in under 7 seconds) cos on the road when your swerve one way you almost immediately need to swerve the opposite way back to be back in safety ie imagine on a normal two way street you swevre to avoid an obstecle in your line, but that puts you in either a collison course from opposite traffic or you might run onto footpath and walls, which is why you immediately need to swerve back, and you'll have to do it multiple times since that's the most realistic real world scenario on roads as you almost never get a big patch of empty space after swevring - that's the mental state, skill and muscle memory they want you to have in the time attack slalom course in Japan, rather than just do a single swevre of the UK MOD 1 which is pretty useless in real life with all things considered, but something to make you do anyway as the most essential basic building block for higher skills.
@@nanaholic01 That balance beam thing is just the slow ride section of the Mod 1 if you put your foot down on that part its a fail we do figure 8s and again foot down its a fail and while we don't do the 90 degree corners you can still pick up Major/Minor faults for not correctly cornerering on a major to minor road and vise versa on the Mod 2 and while you can't technically fail it a lot of this is done on the CBT
This looks easier than in sweden. Here we have to go through so many tests and the last one is driving in traffic where the inspector is behind u the whole time.
Is it like the rest of Europe, A2 then A ? In that case, i found A2 to be easy, the technical exercises are simpler than the japanese ones. The road test is easy if you already have a B (car) liscence. The A conversion is just a joke tho, i obtened it in june, i legit spent 1 hour on the bike for the whole day (counting track & road/city riding), and 6 hours talking with the others candidate/examinator. PS : french btw, got my A2 liscence in winter by -5°C x)
Sweden is more seriously indeed. Highway and country road riding is quite different from car driving. The most difficult part is actually to find a good practical examination time slot.
Thanks for posting. I have seen this track with other Japanese rider on a busy day. The testing procedure is very strict there. It is interesting that the facility personnel are showing the EXACT way to injure your back when picking up a motorcycle. I was holding my hands over my eyes while that bit of the video was showing. Perhaps they have a deal going with a local orthopedic surgeon!
It was terrible. I thought they were going to show the both hands on the handlebar, feet both sides, bum down, deadlift. Then they transitioned smoothly into the exactly wrong way beginners use.
Leaving the strictness out of it, this course looks RAD and the best part you not only progressed by going over it - the progress itself was even evident in this video, which is remarkable! You went from barely doing the slalom "sig-sag" to doing it nearly consistently well and eventually passing the exam on it. Really cool! That being said, I've witnessed a similar exam in eastern Europe - Romania to be specific - and I was shocked to see how darn strict their exam system is also! The biggest issue there seems to be remembering the course and order of things, to the point where, to a trained individual, the execution becomes nearly secondary! Which is really strange considering their driver's license is much easier to get.
This brings back fond memories of when I got my first motorcycle license ever, in Japan in 1985. Not much has changed since that time in terms of the testing course and process.
I also got my first ever motorcycle license in Japan in 1985 when I bought a 400 cc bike. Now I am back living in Japan after all these years and just went back to a riding school 3 years ago to get the license for the big bikes. Now I am riding a Honda 750 and exploring Japan on 2 wheels whenever and as often as I can. So much fun !
Congrats! I've just got my extended license in Germany, the B-196 (aka A1), nothing fancy I know, and while watching your video I was getting as nervous as you did! what an experience. ¡Felicidades!
Thank you so much for sharing your class time and personal perspective/experience throughout the licensing process! -(9:59) Great dry run on the serpentine! -(12:10) I like that Japan gives you a procedure to go by when starting the bike, but all the memorization of testing courses and other info man! -(15:30) As many speed bumps there are in the USA I'm shocked there isn't a balance test as extensive as what you two have trained on. -(20:53) When Kaito-san got nervous as did I haha! -(21:27) Ya ta!!!! Congratulations!
Honestly, as someone who has taken their motorcycle license in Japan, the techniques being tested is not particularly difficult but the real killer is memorizing the courses. For absolutely no reason, they tell you to memorize two, sometimes three different courses and they announce which they will be testing on 30mins before the exam. There is no conceivable reason why they do it like this and honestly most of the fails I've seen is from the rider not being able to memorize a certain course and points being deducted for taking the wrong route or going to an obstacle out of order during their exam. It's like being told you will either have English, Science or Math exam tomorrow and you won't know which until you're at the exam hall on the day. Just anxiety inducing lol.
100% correct. Over 30 years ago in Osaka, they had 3 courses you had to memorize (A, B & C). They announced in the morning which of the three courses they would be using for the final test, and they gave time for the riders to actually walk the course if they wanted to do so. Now though, at least in Mie Prefecture, they have you memorize only 2 courses, but they still don`t tell you which one they will be using until just before the final test. Nerves on top of nerves.
Same, as I got it at the police test center directly, I’m not sure about driving school centers, but I believe that even if you do a mistake about the “route”, and if you manage to come back to the point where you mistakenly forked with doing any other “road mistake”, THEN they don’t blame you. However, in that case, the pressure get a lot higher thought
This is a lot easier in Germany. I mean the Testparts are almost the same... but on not high frequentet Roads. There you do the Basic tasks. The real Driving test is on normal Roads.
2:13 If you are weak watching how to lift the bike up use your legs and face away. Same placement on the hands on the bike handle and the pillion handle and lift it up. Note make sure your stand is up if it falls on the other side. For them still use your legs instead of your back. You can pull your back or bicep with that method.
Not just if you are weak. Lifting the bike as shown by the instructor is incredibly bad for your back. Maybe little bit less if someone helps you, but alone, definitly face away from the bike.
When I got my license in the US I had to do a short test on a computer then ride around some cones in a parking lot for about 15 minutes. That gets you a full license to ride any bike. The actual mc course is not even required in my state.
I have never seen anyone teach that way to upright a motorcycle. It is usually done with your back against the seat and with your legs bent. The driving part of this test actually looks very good and I think something that would be a good change here in the USA where it is maybe a bit too easy to get a license. This one here has many skill building steps and it seems like a lot more pressure and control. Congratulations to you both. Skill building is low speed maneuvers, evasive maneuvers, emergency braking, crossing rails at at angle and most importantly reading the road ahead and avoiding and endless presentation of hazards from other motorists, traffic and road conditions. Ride safe!
I went through the exact same strict riding school courses in Mie Prefecture. 18 classes for the 400 cc license, and then 12 more classes for all bikes over 400 cc. I hated the balance beam, and I know I went under 10 seconds on that for the final test...but I passed anyway because I was flawless on everything else. Now I enjoy exploring the whole country of Japan on my 750 cc Honda Shadow. I just love it !
You're maturing! I'm 62 and have been riding for 50yrs. Presently own a gen3 busa. I like the look of cruisers, but can't adjust to the mid and forward riding positions. In my younger days, all the bikes I owned were eventually ran to topend. That includes a heavily modified 1986 gsxr1100. In the 3yrs I've had the busa I think I reached 110mph. The desire to go extremely fast has subsided.
It could also be about the driving skills and habits of Japanese car drivers too of course. Most bikers get into accidents with car or truck drivers. Here in Thailand I would say that drivers are not aggressive (not road rage warriors) but many of them are extremely thoughtless. They just don't think and don't look. Drive out of side roads without looking or do U turns on busy highways without looking. These are the main dangers here.
@@ancientbiker trust me, in Japan people are very courteous and friendly, until they are in a vehicle. They jump red lights on many occasions, they ignore.motorcyclists, especially when merging into a main road, they just pull out if there is a motorcycle, the reason there are less fatalities is because, speed is slower and riders become aware of these issues very quickly. Just last month there was a head on collision on a bend between 2 motorcycles, I see a lot of accidents, but they are not what would make International news. So far, from experience, the United Kingdom has the best road signage, not road conditions, they are deteriorating, also people are a little bit more aware of motorcycles in UK. I am.writing from experience here, not hear say.
Just passed full A in Estonia. You've got to do: slow driving between lines; figure 8; zig-zag; swerve at 30 and 50 km/h; brake both before and on top of a box at 50 km/h; and finally reversing the bike into the parking space on foot. Followed by 35 minutes of urban, suburban, and highway driving. Not the hardest, but prepares you quite well.
Here in Europe, we have to start the same way. I have my Spanish motoblike , and my US, so i was able when i was restricted, to ride a bigmotor bike. I have being riding since I was 13. You guys should do a video on how, Ori, which i think she is from Colombia, ended uo in Japan. Also, if a foreing rider can visit japan with there own motor bike. This would be intresting, just like you guys dis in S.A Congrats on the upgrade
Hi, I stumbled across your channel today and happy I did. I am what Japanese call a "return rider" rode as a teenager in the US and just got my basic license (400 & under) late 2022 after not riding for 30+ years. Now I want to get the unlimited (ogata) license but I'm opting for not going to a school this time and just go take and fail the test until I pass. This video is spot on in so many ways and brings back some not so distant memories. Looking forward to it but not looking forward to it. 😀
thanks for this good video, you earned a new Subscriber :D ! for most people who do not have much experience in motorcycles, some of these training / tests may appear useless, but after several years of experience I can tell you that I have never seen such a well thought training for riding a motorcycle, the tests are very well chosen, and allow you to make good and quick decisions.
When I got residency for the first time, I simply just brought all my previous drivers' licenses I had with me to Futamatagawa and gave them to them. I had licenses from over 20 years ago (because I never throw them away), from Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Germany even. I had my ADR/RID certificate, an expired international DL, three different SOFA licenses, and all my past military vehicle operator's permits (everything from motorcycles to semi-trucks). More than 30 cards and papers or so. All my regular civilian drivers' licenses had "motorcycle" on them, and I own a Harley Heritage Softail and a KTM 1290 Super Adventure S. Both are indeed here in Japan, and both are not small bike by any means, well over 1,000cc's. All I did was give them my DL"s and my new resident card, and they told me to wait. I waited for over 6 hours, all day (presumably while they tried to translate everything), then a guy came out holding a piece of paper and said, "You qualify for everything from 'A' through 'F', but if you pick 'A', you have to do a written test (multiple choice) and it's all in Japanese." I asked, "What about 'B'?", and he replied, "Nothing." I said I would take "B" then. He made me do the stupid candle eye test, then I waited for another hour, and finally got called up to a window and got my new license. Turns out, those were all commercial DL categories, and I have had a Japanese class B commercial DL with unrestricted motorcycle on it ever since. I ride my bikes all over Japan to this day. 🤷♂😂
Come to Singapore! Multiple courses, stipulated timing, technique and many many bunch of possible chances to failed immediately in the circuit. After which you proceed to the road section carrying along the demerits points you earned in the circuit. Months later and a full day at the training centre when you pass you can finally ride up to 200cc. A year later you come back again for up to 400cc. Another year later come back for all classes of bikes 🥲 Good thing is that the road section is no longer needed for tests up to 400cc and all classes.
It's kind of the same process in France, we call this part the plateau. After the plateau we have a circulation course, so it's a 2-part exam. It's kinda hard, but you are way more skilled and confident once you have your licence, and I almost never see a rider on the road without full protective gear. Also we can't drive a bike above 35kW or 47hp (roughly a 500cc) for 2 years, it requires a one day course to lift the limit. And a car driver licence only allows you to drive 125cc or lower 😅
Interesting to see these tests! They are similar to what we have in europe, or atleast here in Norway, but also very very different at the same time. We also have the motorcycle license divided into two categories, A (the full license) and A2 (restricted, meaning you can only ride up to 48 horsepower bikes).
I'm in Japan under SOFA, we just had to do the MSF basic rider course on the CC bike in the category we wanted to ride. Used a friends 1800cc Harley and now I can ride any size bike I want here in Japan. The MSF test does have a bit more to it than what you guys did. Being SOFA makes it way easier to do these things. To be able to drive a car here, as long as you have a valid US drivers license, you just have to take a written test.
Interesting how different countries test riding and safety skills. I get the slow riding, not the mini speed bumps unless you have that type of road surface? Don’t think that’s particularly hard. Try the U.K.
They did in a school which is less strict, if you fo to the test center probably you are going to fail many times, also the S shape they did was way easier that what i got to do when i got my license, between, you cant ride big motorcycles unless one year have passed using a medium one, you cant ride on highways and also cant carry passengers, i cant remember how much time needs to pass before you can but for sure you cant at first. Not counting the written test.
@@oriandkaito-motoadventures you didnt even check your surrounds before jumping on the bike x), after that you jump in and then check mirrors, etc. So yeah, way less strict.
I wouldn't call the Norwegian test strict, but it is thorough and hard. I particularly struggled with the physics part of the exam, where we had to calculate the vraking distance based on the speed, weather, road, etc. I have never been good at math, so without a calculator I doubt I would have passed. I wish it was all practical.
Pretty similar to what we have here in France. We have one more spot : avoidance. Enter an L shape at 30 km/h and escape the L shape without touching cones. This simulate a car door open just in front of you.
In Victoria, Australia we did this exact same set of courses run by Honda Australia Rider Training, split over two days of 4 x 1.5hr sessions each for the Learner Permit and a later 2 sessions when I got my license. They've now split the license part in two so as to provide a further coaching session to improve your riding before going for the actual license assessment. HART basically set the gold standard for rider training here.
I am surprised this test looks somewhat simple in comparison to the French one, I'll try out the exercises of the Japanese test with my bike this weekend if I have the time. Congrats to the both of you! I find it amazing how much your instructor is happy for you and kind, here in France, my instructor wasn't as pleasant, and I was told there's even worse... As a comparison, I had a total of 36 hours of practice before getting my motorcycle license, and note that I already have my car license!
in Australia It works like this. Buy a Bike, do a Knowledge test, followed by a 1 day workshop, then take your bike out and ride away with L plates by yourself and come back when ready for road test
In Sweden it's alot more stringent than the US as well. You have to pass a maneuvering test track at slow and high speed. The second part is a regular driving test out in traffic. My main gripe with it is the pricing lol.
this is very cool... in Poland we also have strict tests and easy to fail on. 20h of riding school is mandatory before you are allowed to participate in riding exam You hop on MT-07 (or quinquevalent for full license) and first you have to answer questions about motorcycle (question lottery), and prepare to ride then do 7 tests on manoeuvring square and if you pass that then it's city riding for like 45 min.
Looks easier/on par with the requierments in Poland. In terms of getting a license for the "biggest" bikes, it's more strict in the whole EU too. Theres A1 (up to 125cm^3), A2 (up to 40kW) and only then A (no limit). How is it "the strictest country"?
In Hungary these maneuvers not in the basic training, but after you got your license, you can learn exactly these in the Honda Safety Hungary training. It is essential that they teach you how to get on the bike properly. It may seem funny, especially to people who have "I been riding motorcycles for 30 years" attitude, but I have come across several cases where the motorcyclist dropped the bike before start due to improper mounts.
In Vietnam, the country with the most motorcycles in the world, you just have to do a figure of 8, some slaloms, then the straight line. I drove with no license for many months. Figure 8 was the hardest.
I did my first test in Russia and for full A category. But there is only exercises in exam with some theory. In Germany I had only prove my license - pass the exam, and it's completely different approach - some basic exercises with cones and then city driving in different scenarios for about 40 min. Passed it from first attempt, but it was quite exciting )
This test is no joke! Riding standards are pretty rigorous here in the UK, at least compared to many other countries (I also have an Indian motorcycle licence), but this is on another level. A proper obstacle course that really tests your skills. Definite upgrade to training on a car park! You can get your full category A licence in the UK (over the age of 24) with just three days of training - one day of CBT (compulsory basic training) and two days of big bike training (training skills for module one, which are the maneuvers, and module two, which is the on-road test). I don't understand why they make you memorise courses in Japan though. There doesn't seem to be any point in that. Also, very strange that there's no on-road portion of the motorcycle test in Japan. Surely that's the most important bit to see how you adapt to real-world conditions, which aren't predictable like a circuit?
In Austria, if you're 25+, you can get the full "open" license. From 18 to 25, your 2 years have to be on a 400cc max, then 600cc until you're 25 years old
in germany if you make your licence for motorcycle early @ the age of 18. you pay around 3-4k€ for the first licence. same for the first and second upgrade. so you are @ around 9-12k € if you want to ride a big motorcycle someday. or you wait untill you are 25 and only do the " big version" of the licence... for compare. the big truck licence " for private use only" costs around 6k€
I used to just renew my learners every year (up to 250) in Australia. one year I let the time elapse and had to do the test again and on the time to familiarize ourselves on the bikes the instructor sent us out and some of the blokes were poppin' wheelies while he wasn't looking. haha! True story.
In britain its too easy for cars pass and drive whatever you want for bikes up to three tests and yet 3/4 s of all bike so called accidents are caused by other road users. 23:10
to get a driver license for a normal car, there are two formal ways. the method 1 is you apply directly official drivers license examination/issurance center. the 47 prefectures have at least one center, tokyo has 3 centers. its quite difficult to pass because the examination bar is too strict. this is due to a problem of lower cost to take exam compared to via a drivers license school. the method 2 is you pay jp400,000yen to a drivers license school in your local area. you have to attend classroom lectures and practical lectures to collect predetermined units. if you can graduate the drivers license school, you only have to go to the official drivers license examination/issurance center to take the final examination to get a license card. in the country, 35 % of all of the road are narrow. and any driver is required to have at least k-turn, three point turn, pararrel parking.
8:58 you said "not good at all" but it wasn't that bad. When I was getting licensed in Canada, there were about 28 other students, and I think around 9 or 10 of them kept falling on turns not even half as difficult as that... and worse yet, they were all passed on the third day examinations. I remember getting my certificate and didn't really feel very special for passing.
Interesting how licensing / testing is so different from country to country. In Canada…many many years ago (LOL) I challenged the Canada Safety Council program in Nova Scotia. It’s was a fantastic program and lots of fun! We started by walking with our bikes to gain a better sense of weight and progressed to more on machine skills and practice. I think it was a six or eight week program. We watched video to reinforce skills and how to ride safely. I now ride off road on a KTM 300 XCW (62 Years Old now) and loving every minute on the bike! Interesting video. Thanks for posting.
One reason turning a tight right corner is harder is that the throttle is controlled by twisting your right hand, so the closer your hand gets to your body the harder it gets to twist the wrist. Bit different in UK we have CBT compulsory basic training. 1/2 day in an enclosed space like a car park then the rest of the day on the road. The you can ride under and L learner plate.
In europe, there is an age limit to get full category - 24yo and we have to do extensive lecture course and 10 hours practise riding not only for obstacles but also city riding. then the exam has all 3 parts - theory exam, obstacle riding and city riding for up to 1 hour. a lot can be done during this time.
The guy said the bike is like a scooter, in fact the nc750x and nss750 Forza are essentially the same bike with different style bodies. The bike version is available as manual or automatic and scooter version is automatic only.
years ago we belonged to a riding club called Star 297, out of Ft. Lauderdale Florida. before you could go on rides with them. you had to come to a training course with the, learn slow turning, and riding formations, and all the hand signals. be tested out with a Shepeard (watched how you rode your bike) to see, if you rode safe enough, to ride with the club) once cleared, you rode with the newbies. we always rode in groups of 10's with over 139 members. we even had a group for those who pulled trailers.
@@oriandkaito-motoadventures not only was it about being safe with the riding club, but we also had precision riders in our group. That would do what they call rodeos. I like riding through cones and figure eights and tight turns and circles. But when we rode, we always rode, staggered and we always rode professionally. The road, captain the shepherds and the tail gunners where on intercom systems talking to each other.
Hi! Me too, passed my bigger bike test a week ago. Only I took the test without a motorcycle school because I don't know Japanese and there are no motorcycle schools with English speaking instructors in our area. I had to get a motorcycle license for a bigger bike because my original license didn't fit (original license is only 400cc). I passed the test without practice, with 7 times (so this type of test is a good result).
this is kinda similar to here in aus when you first get your license your restricted to an approved bike. these bikes are under 660cc and under a certain power output which you must keep for a minimum of 2 years before going back again and get tested on a higher output bike. to get your restricted license you need to complete 2 days of classes to get your learners hold that for 91 days then pass annother day of classes
Well done, I felt your nerves. I'm 62, i passed my UK bike test when i was 17, moved to Canada had to take their test in the summer, geez I was nervous. Funny how countries do it differently. In Canada (Alberta), no obstacles but all on the road with a driver following and telling you where to turn, etc. Hill start. May be a combo would be best but hey
thats so much easier than what we have in finland. thats so nice to have dedicated track for learning and doing the test in same track. i did it in a parking lot with a very short and not straight acceleration zone. so it was accelerate very hard and then brake hard or stear hard depending on the test. also we had slow crawle. stop. and then doing slow figure 8 in small space between cones. straight breaking with abs bike are the easiest because you just full break with front break and you can stop in a half of the distance that is required.
I guess what you mean is your licenses need to be ugraded from medium size bike (up to 400cc) licenses to big bike licenses. You can just convert licenses from most countries with an official translation. You are lucky, since up until a year or two ago, big bike licenses were almost impossible to get without at least 3 or 4 failures. My friend failed 10 times. They have made it easier to try and boost sales.
I appreciate the attention to detail with regards to motorcycle control but I think the MOD2 in the UK better equipped me with road positioning and observations.
that lift form and absoutely insane and quick tug destroyed my back just looking at it. Please take care and excersice proper form when lifting from the ground....
Singapore is as strict if not stricter. Matter of fact, Singapore’s riding training syllabus is modelled after Japan’s. There are 8 practical tests and 1 Official test before you get a licence to ride upo 200cc 😂😂….. hard life 😅
Whow. Glad to find you guys here. I have lived in Japan (Nagano, Matsumoto) for what seems like for ever. I used to ride when I was young (Ducati Pantah) and am going to get back on two wheels once my wife will allow it (i.e. Kids get old enough). I will have to get a license again, so this hands on talk is most informative. Many thanks. Hope to see you on the road some day.
I suppose that the choice of Honda NC750's as exam bikes might be due to the fact that they must have good low-speed torque, and thus can be ridden slowly without stalling.
Nach, sorry, that aint the strictest country exam. Only hard part might be the 7s zig-zag, but given practice it aint that bad. Where I live, we have to pass slow zig, high speed zig and figure 8. Slow zig looks a lot of like 7s you have shown, the difference is distance between cones is way smaller, so you have to strain slow speed with counter stearing. High speed means 30kph mean speed across obstacle, so it has to be ~50 at the starting gate( this is scary for newbies). Figure 8 is PITA, but managable once you get a grip and helps with other two.
Very nice video, I heard since so long about this Japanese test ! Surprised that there is not any road test, but ok, little bit like in France finally.
Very interesting video, it is interesting to see the importance placed on Machine Control rather than straight road riding. I would very much like to try the course you took. Unfortunately i doubt i will be in Japan again until my daughter is grown up 😢
In Singapore is even stricter than Japan, the first level license is 2B which allows you only to ride 200cc and below, than you have to wait a year to take test for class 2A license if you pass you can ride 400cc and below and you have to wait for another year to take test for the final class 2 license which allows you to ride any cc
Yeah bro. They are lucky not needing to pick up a sand filled tank nighthawk 750 before the class 2 TP 😅. That’s enough to wreck anyone’s nerves. Another difference i’ve noticed is the dry ebrake course. Shiok.
this looks awesome, a proper design test centre, as opposed to in UK 🇬🇧 just a car park and confusing cone layout. no figure of eight or u turn either . nerves are the same though i guess. great video. would be awesome to see each country and how they do it
Really interesting how different Countries handle your Motorcycle License. In Germany for my A-License (any motorcycle with no restrictions on power or engine capacity or top speed) I had to be at least 24 years old (did it at 28), had to have my car-license for a certain amount of years. Than you have 12 or 13 (I don't remember exactly) hours of theory-lessons and doing a test in the end with only a very limited amount of errors. In terms of driving there is no amount x of hours you have to do, only 12 mandatory practical driving hours which are 6 "overland" (B-roads but often done consecutivly so you have to stay on the bike for a longer time) 3 at night and 3 on the Autobahn (depending on the driving school you will be encouraged to go speeds in excess of 200km/h). At the end you have to do a on-hour practice-exam which includes just driving beeing observed by a special-trained examiner (we call them TÜV-Prüfer) and special exam-tasks which are "stop-and-go" you have to start with looking over your shoulder and indicating and than stop and go 6 times, 3 on your left leg and 3 on your right (both feet down or alternating out of "panic" is a failure). Than a slalom at around 40-50km/h. Than a narrow slalom at walking pace. Than an evasive maneuver at 40-50km/h. Than emergency braking to stand still and a second emergency braking into an evasive maneuver. You usually have 2 trys but not 2 trys on each task. This is all from memory so if things changed or i misquoted numbers, please do correct me.
Look up the standardised European test. It's not dissimilar albeit it lacks many of the (unnecessary?) obstacle elements. We also have to do a road test with an examiner.
Most importantly we need to prove evasive manoeuvre skills and emergency braking.
in holland you need to do emergency braking, and slalomming between pylons. and there is a license for light motor cycles, and heavy motor cycles, very simular to japan. in every european country it is different. Regards.
in the netherlands we have to do training on a parking lot pas the test and then we are allowed to take lessons on the road yes you can ride from the driving school to the training place if you have a car licence but if you have not you have to wait until you pass the first test and there is a test on the road.edit i could not do the slow slalom good all the rest was easy for me
In the US, if we had this type of test, there would only be a few thousand riders in the entire country.
probably a good thing
and they ride without a license anyway, always see people say shits like "have been riding for 10 years, finally got my license today" in youtube comment sections
And they probably ride better than those with licenses
@@MUSHIN_888 they THINK they do, but no
The US is like the third world, they’d ride without one anyway
Lifting the bike at the start like that is bad for your back, you should lift in the same manner but with you back up against the bike then you also get more leverage with your legs.
Also pre-tension beforehand
You’re right! It’s safer that way!
Also extend the kickstand if it's on the high side. Then if the bike gets away from you the other way, the stand can catch it.
Well you arent supposed to lay your bike down every night and pick it up in the morning xD. Bikes can sleep while standing. Its so rare to pick them up that it shoulnt be a problem.
I also got my A license in Japan and they taught us to lift the bike in the same way as in this video. Some time ago a friend randomly told me that the correct way of lifting the bike was with your back up against the bike. That piece of advice saved my life a few weeks ago as I fell while motorcycling on bad uphill roads in Laos, I first tired with the Japanese school method and did not succeed, then I put by back up against it and voila, I lifted the bike back up in seconds.
Come to India no test required. Apparently when your life is always in danger you learn to drive safely on your own.
😂
Natural selection
Here in Brazil most of motorcycle courses/private schools required to get licence you only drive in a parking lot. The test to get the license you need just make 8 turn, and stop the bike in a sign, it takes 3 minutes. They just do like japan I guess. There are so many motorcycle accidents over here. I see one almost everyday and i pilot a motorcycle X.x
Safely? Your death on the road numbers are a horror!
@@alexandreoliveira5712 não sei de onde é no Brasil, mas aqui em SP capital, tem a prancha, slalom, virar a esquina também.
I don't know where it is in Brazil, but here in SP capital, there is a board, slalom, around the corner too.
Here in the US, my 20 year old son and my wife got their FULL motorcycle licence after only two, five hour sessions. They both can now legally drive anything from my scooter to my 1800cc Goldwing! Crazy considering they are simply not experienced enough to ride the bigger bikes. I wish we would have more stringent rules and tests in place her to keep things a bit tighter here.
freedom is more important than safety mfer
Most people in the US have the good sense to start small
Usa is the wild west
You must also consider that these two people already had a motorcycle driving license; they were now just taking lessons and the exam to obtain the equivalent in Japan.
i guess many of your roads are larger, and the death toll isn't high enough to drive a restructuring of the system? Bikes sure are death traps compared to cars for sure though
In Poland the exam is pretty strict too for motorbikes. We do 7 tasks on the training yard and then leave for like a 30 minute city drive.
1. Taxing the motorcycle within bounds
2. Figure 8s (5 times)
3. Slow slalom (1st gear, 5 gates, 2 times)
4. Fast slalom (2 gates, 3 inline cones, minimum 30 kmph average)
5. Avoiding an obstacle (minimum 50 kmph at enterance gate, 2 times)
6. Emergency brake from at least 50 kmph
7. Starting uphiill
Additionally you have to remember to do a life saver before starting each task, fortunately no course memorization.
Standard EU test, nothing special.
In America they ask you if you know where the brakes are and smack you in the ass and give you a license as they push you out the door 😆
hahah also straight up 1000cc
that all should be what all countries do you only live once the stupid safety laws are ridiculous
Finally! a test i can actually ace!
That`s so true. It`s also sad and embarrassing at the same time.
😅🙈
Singapore's test is harder, we have these tests, and our emergency braking is on wet roads (more than a specified speed, less than a specified distance), uphill/downhill (clutch control), wall blind spot, and for our bumpy course, we have a time limit (have to go slower and go over the time, and if we roll out of the width, we fail immediately) as well as actual road riding segment.
I took my Japanese bike license and the irritating thing was they did not tell you where you got your demerit points at, and they do not provide advice at all at the driving school which I went to. You simply went in, registered, took the assigned bike, go through the test course, wait for your results, and thats it, you dont speak to the instructor when you get your results, and there is no information on the test results, just how many demerit points you have and if you passed/failed. They dont mention anything like "at corner 12, failed to check left blind spot" etc. you had to guess everything by yourself. Every instructor focused on different things, so you had to pray really hard for the instructor to be kind and be in a good mood.
Thank you for this video. I live in Japan since 2015. Back in Germany, I got my regular car license as well as a license for trucks up to 40 tons. When I got here, they allowed me to carry over the car license without any tests at all, just a simple conversion. Now I want to get the bike license for up to 400cc and do what I wanted to do since I was 16.
Of course, I'm soaking up all I need to know about the process of actually going to a driving school here in Japan and this video really helped. Even though you skipped on all the usual stuff you have to do during the course, indicator, mirror check, shoulder check and so on. But it really helped to get a first person view of you tackling the obstacles and, what's more important, how the training is done before you have to do the course.
It gives me peace of mind to know that they let you ride the course countless times during the training days and really guide you to do it all correctly.
Again, thank you for sharing this. I know there are plenty more videos like that. I watched Japanese people do it, as well as foreigners. But somehow, I felt this was a more indepth ride along.
I'm super excited to enroll.
Good luck, and I hope you do it soon so that you can have more days, months and years to ride here in Japan. I have been riding my Honda 750 in Japan since 2021 and enjoy going out on rides just exploring this country...many daytrips and some overnighters.
Haben die japanischen Behörden nur eine Konvertierung des Autoführerscheins genehmigt oder darfst du auch LKWs fahren ? Weil meines Wissens nach ,werden alle Führerscheinklassen die in DE erworben wurden ,anerkannt .Interessant wäre ja ,was man genau fahren darf .Wenn man die frühere Klasse 3 hat ,kann man in DE 7.5 Tonner bewegen und die müsste man theoretisch auch in Japan fahren dürfen .Ich nehme an ,das Japan eine andere Unterscheidung vornimmt ,sieht man ja hier im Video beim Motorrad mit 400cc . Kannst du näheres erläutern ?
Glad to know this video will be of help. The best of luck getting your license and if you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out 👌🏽
@@Maldek Die haben mir einen Führerschein 中型自 mit Limitierung für 5 Tonnen ausgestellt. Das hat zum Einen mit einer Gesetzesänderung zu tun, die hier diese Klasse neu eingeführt hat, und zum anderen damit, dass das am ehesten meiner C1 entspricht.
Ich kann nur spekulieren, warum meine C1E und CE nicht anerkannt wurden, habe aber glaube ich einen möglichen Grund gefunden.
Die deutsche CE Klasse erlaubt mir das Fahren von LKW bis 40 Tonnen. Für die Personenbeförderung von 20+ Personen braucht man Klasse D. Hier in Japan erlaubt die Oogata-Klasse, das nächste Äquivalent zur deutschen CE Klasse, das Fahren von Fahrzeugen mit mindestens 11 Tonnen, nach oben hin offen, und einer Personenzahl von 30+ Personen. Ist also ein Mischmasch aus CE und D. Ich vermute, weil mein Führerschein kein Training für die Personenbeförderung beinhaltet, kann der CE Schein nicht als Oogata anerkannt werden. Ist aber wie gesagt nur Spekulation.
@@oriandkaito-motoadventures well, I just went ahead and enrolled, got through the entrance ceremony today and will have my first lesson on the upcoming Friday.
I assume the first lesson will be reserved for the simulator?
Here in Germany the test is 70 munutes long, most of it is riding in the city and on the highway, while the driving instructor follows you in a car. But we have comparable agily tests as you had in Japaj within these 70 minutes aswell.
But to even qualify doing the test, you have to take so many driving lessons, both theoretical aswell as practical ones. Getting your licences will take you at least several months in Germany.
In Germany for the A1/A2/A license (125cc/48hp/unrestricted) you have 12hrs of mandatory theoretical lessons, 12 hrs of mandatory driving lessons on the road with the instructor following you in a car, with an intercom. And before those, all the practise hours you need until you are read for the 12 mandatory hours or driving. But those practise hours are also in normal traffic. You have mandatory highway lessons, and city driving, and night driving lessons. The theoretical lessons can be combined with a car license, since they are in general about traffic.
Then its a theoretical exam. And if you succeed with this one, you get a practical one, with your instructor and a examiner driving in the car behind you, telling you where to go, and watching your every move while you do that. Including some lessons like this handling course in Japan on a secluded road somewhere on the edge of town. Slalom, slow driving, breaking etc. Often with city traffic, small highway section etc.
In my practical lesson, after the part at the "obstacle course" my clutch cable snapped. But since we drove like 20 minutes to get there, they still let me pass.
It costs about 1500 - 2000€ these days. 3000 if you also want to get a car license, since the mandatory practical hours and exam go extra in a car.
Same in Poland but we need to do 20 hrs and in practical exam before going to the city we need to drive on specialy prepared roads like turning your bike in T shape lot, do slow 8 like slalom in square and not leave outside of it, slow and fast slalom, emegrency break on signal, evade obstacle on road and start from uphill. After that we go to the city if you gonna do two the same mistakes then you fail. Yeah and aslo the fact probably in whole EU that A license u can start at age 24.
Thats it ? just some exercises in a parking lot? pretty much in all of Europe you actually have to go out and ride in city and highway for an hour after the lot tests.
Yeah, I got my licence in 2023 in Hungary. The course was different but basicaly the same level except there is a part when you have to go as fast as you can, brake very hard before you make a very hard left and right immitating an obstacle on the road when braking is not an option (that skill saved me a few weeks ago). Only around 1 out of 3 or 4 make it at first try on the test. Some just dont make it at all. After you pass you have to go for 12 hours (4x4 hours) on the street and then have to pass that too. We had to do it on Yamaha Fazers 600cc wich have around 100 hp.
No riding on the road here in Japan. They say it’s just for security reasons 🤷🏽♀️ They do test you on the road for the car license
There's closed circuit and road test with the examiner following behind you in UK when on the public road and they tell you which way to turn.
Honestly the Japanese test is not too bad since they don't require you to go on public roads.
It's strict because they want you to be safe. It shouldn't be too easy.
Nope.
They are strict because they think it gives them high respectability.
They feel they are « good » person if they are « strict ».
It is a problem of ego.
@@tomekichiyamamoto2177 getting a bike license in the US is a problem of ego, as any moron with hands and feet can hop on any bike he wants and all he needs is an endorsement, not even proper testing and training.
Japan is filled to the hilt with some of the worst riders on two wheels you'll find. The crazy stupid crap they do and try to pull here proves "being strict" doesn't result in producing safe riders at all. The overwhelming majority are beyond highly unsafe. And of ALL of them, the scooter riders are the absolute WORST.
@@orwellianyoutube8978 yes, it is world wide famous that US license are a big joke.
@@tomekichiyamamoto2177 so damned if you do and damned if you don't?
Thank you for the video. Very interesting.
Here in the Netherlands, to get my A license, I had to take around 50 classes of 1.5 hrs each , that was like 75 hours of practical driving, both on the car park and road / highway .
It was long process and expensive, but I am grateful for the lessons quality and practice I received before finally getting my A license.
In the UK I booked a three days course, first day was a full day of training second day was half a day training followed by the first exam in a closed circuit and third day was a half day of training followed by the on road examination, I had some issues with my bike not going into neutral (SV650) on the third day so and I had to retake my on road test section but I did it on a different bike than I originally learned on (XJ6) but it was a good bike and I passed easily. the cost for the 4 days training felt like a lot to me at the time but it was worth it because I enjoy riding so much.
It seems to be pretty serious in the Netherlands. It’d be nice for Japan to implement some driving on the road with real traffic
That amount is just ridiculous?! In Germany we need 10 double hours (2x 45 min each) and I find it to be perfect.
Damn, Netherlands is rough, if feels like it's gate keep only for the rich lol, can't imagine how much it costs to do 50 hours damn.
@@IsntThisAStupidName How long ago was your test? I did my UK test in 2019 and it seems closer to the Netherlands test than your description of the UK one.
Thanks for the video! The Japanese riding school looks very similar to the ones we have in Singapore - same course, same bikes, even the instructors’ outfits look the same! Enjoy your big bikes!
Just not as crowded as in SG ;-)
Yes! Singapore way more crowded, even to book the lesson take months.
@@ab-studio they are just lucky to live in a place where it isn't crowded. In Tokyo the riding schools are very hard to get into as well.
the instructors in Japan are far better than in Singapore.
@nanaholic01 Exactly! 👍🏽 but even in Yamaguchi we had to wait for an opening. Schools are very busy from Feb to April
Fantastic video. I knew it was hard to get a motorcycle licence in Japan; but i didn't realize how long the process would take. Thanks from Seattle.
Thanks for watching! 🙌🏽
I read somewhere that the NC750X is used in driving schools in Japan and you just gave me the confirmation! As an owner of this model I can say that despite the weight its low speed handling is excellent due to the low center of gravity. All thanks to the gas tank below the seat and forward-tilted engine. Easy and fun to ride.
I beleive it's the 750S model, the X is the trail version and it has some extra faring and the beak up front.
Nice bike, I have one myself ...a little heavy maybe but quirky and different.
I absolutely loved this video. You're a natural you tube personality. Keep up the smiles and you will grow your channel. 😊
Thank you so much!! This means a lot ☺️🙌🏽
I’ve not long passed my A Licence in the UK, so it was very interesting to see how this is done in Japan. As I was old enough, I did what they call the Direct Access Scheme: CBT (basic bike control on a car park in the morning, road ride in the afternoon) on a CB125F, then Theory/Hazard Perception tests (on a computer), then on to a CB650R for hours of lessons to sit Mod 1 (15 mins of manoeuvres on a fixed course), and Mod 2 (40 minute road ride). This looks like a more extensive version of Mod 1; the extra slow speed training would be beneficial here, in my opinion, and the slalom looks much tougher than ours. Saying that, I do feel that the UK test has equipped me pretty well for getting on the road and learning further; the only slightly sticky moments I’ve had so far have been some slow speed manoeuvres when faced with inclines or poor surfaces, and carrying too much speed into corners (getting better every week). No drops as yet, but there’s always tomorrow…
UK regime is way harder than Japanese one from this video. They did MOD 1 style stuff only.
@@thepurplecat5975 Exaggerate much? The UK MOD 1 test doesn't do anything remotely as difficult as the balance beam/plank or the tight 90degree turns. MOD 1 doesn't even test you on hill starts which they do in Japan but they didn't show here.
I also didn't see any 30 mph swerves or emergency stops.
@@izaakgray1718 emergency stops (go above 40km, and performance an emergecny stop at the appropriate line) are tested in Japan they just didn't show you in the video. 30mph swerves in one direction aren't a thing cos those are not only not hard but has almost no real world emergency application - rather a higher level of that skill is condensed in the slalom time attack course (there's no time limit in the UK slalom course, but as said in the video in Japan you have to do it QUICK in under 7 seconds) cos on the road when your swerve one way you almost immediately need to swerve the opposite way back to be back in safety ie imagine on a normal two way street you swevre to avoid an obstecle in your line, but that puts you in either a collison course from opposite traffic or you might run onto footpath and walls, which is why you immediately need to swerve back, and you'll have to do it multiple times since that's the most realistic real world scenario on roads as you almost never get a big patch of empty space after swevring - that's the mental state, skill and muscle memory they want you to have in the time attack slalom course in Japan, rather than just do a single swevre of the UK MOD 1 which is pretty useless in real life with all things considered, but something to make you do anyway as the most essential basic building block for higher skills.
@@nanaholic01 That balance beam thing is just the slow ride section of the Mod 1 if you put your foot down on that part its a fail we do figure 8s and again foot down its a fail and while we don't do the 90 degree corners you can still pick up Major/Minor faults for not correctly cornerering on a major to minor road and vise versa on the Mod 2 and while you can't technically fail it a lot of this is done on the CBT
This looks easier than in sweden. Here we have to go through so many tests and the last one is driving in traffic where the inspector is behind u the whole time.
Is it like the rest of Europe, A2 then A ? In that case, i found A2 to be easy, the technical exercises are simpler than the japanese ones. The road test is easy if you already have a B (car) liscence.
The A conversion is just a joke tho, i obtened it in june, i legit spent 1 hour on the bike for the whole day (counting track & road/city riding), and 6 hours talking with the others candidate/examinator.
PS : french btw, got my A2 liscence in winter by -5°C x)
Sweden is more seriously indeed. Highway and country road riding is quite different from car driving. The most difficult part is actually to find a good practical examination time slot.
Most Europe has similar testing standards, although EU riders are usually good bikers so I guess it makes a difference in the tests being difficult.
Thanks for posting. I have seen this track with other Japanese rider on a busy day. The testing procedure is very strict there. It is interesting that the facility personnel are showing the EXACT way to injure your back when picking up a motorcycle. I was holding my hands over my eyes while that bit of the video was showing. Perhaps they have a deal going with a local orthopedic surgeon!
I was wondering the same thing. They taught me to lift the other way around. Like a deadlift but holding weight from behind.
It was terrible.
I thought they were going to show the both hands on the handlebar, feet both sides, bum down, deadlift. Then they transitioned smoothly into the exactly wrong way beginners use.
Thanks for the info! 👌🏽 Gotta practice the right way!
Leaving the strictness out of it, this course looks RAD and the best part you not only progressed by going over it - the progress itself was even evident in this video, which is remarkable! You went from barely doing the slalom "sig-sag" to doing it nearly consistently well and eventually passing the exam on it. Really cool!
That being said, I've witnessed a similar exam in eastern Europe - Romania to be specific - and I was shocked to see how darn strict their exam system is also! The biggest issue there seems to be remembering the course and order of things, to the point where, to a trained individual, the execution becomes nearly secondary! Which is really strange considering their driver's license is much easier to get.
This brings back fond memories of when I got my first motorcycle license ever, in Japan in 1985. Not much has changed since that time in terms of the testing course and process.
I also got my first ever motorcycle license in Japan in 1985 when I bought a 400 cc bike. Now I am back living in Japan after all these years and just went back to a riding school 3 years ago to get the license for the big bikes. Now I am riding a Honda 750 and exploring Japan on 2 wheels whenever and as often as I can. So much fun !
Congrats! I've just got my extended license in Germany, the B-196 (aka A1), nothing fancy I know, and while watching your video I was getting as nervous as you did! what an experience. ¡Felicidades!
Congratulations to you too! 🏍️🙌🏽
Thank you so much for sharing your class time and personal perspective/experience throughout the licensing process!
-(9:59) Great dry run on the serpentine!
-(12:10) I like that Japan gives you a procedure to go by when starting the bike, but all the memorization of testing courses and other info man!
-(15:30) As many speed bumps there are in the USA I'm shocked there isn't a balance test as extensive as what you two have trained on.
-(20:53) When Kaito-san got nervous as did I haha!
-(21:27) Ya ta!!!! Congratulations!
This was so cool. Congrats to you both!
Thank you! 🙌🏽
Honestly, as someone who has taken their motorcycle license in Japan, the techniques being tested is not particularly difficult but the real killer is memorizing the courses. For absolutely no reason, they tell you to memorize two, sometimes three different courses and they announce which they will be testing on 30mins before the exam. There is no conceivable reason why they do it like this and honestly most of the fails I've seen is from the rider not being able to memorize a certain course and points being deducted for taking the wrong route or going to an obstacle out of order during their exam. It's like being told you will either have English, Science or Math exam tomorrow and you won't know which until you're at the exam hall on the day. Just anxiety inducing lol.
100% correct. Over 30 years ago in Osaka, they had 3 courses you had to memorize (A, B & C). They announced in the morning which of the three courses they would be using for the final test, and they gave time for the riders to actually walk the course if they wanted to do so. Now though, at least in Mie Prefecture, they have you memorize only 2 courses, but they still don`t tell you which one they will be using until just before the final test. Nerves on top of nerves.
Same, as I got it at the police test center directly, I’m not sure about driving school centers, but I believe that even if you do a mistake about the “route”, and if you manage to come back to the point where you mistakenly forked with doing any other “road mistake”, THEN they don’t blame you.
However, in that case, the pressure get a lot higher thought
This is SO true!!! The anxiety of not knowing which course you’ll be getting is insane 😅 As if the nerves weren’t enough already!
This is a lot easier in Germany. I mean the Testparts are almost the same... but on not high frequentet Roads. There you do the Basic tasks. The real Driving test is on normal Roads.
@@Matzak here, in Japan, I did no test on real road, instead, this bullshit crazy strict test on a idiot circuit.
2:13 If you are weak watching how to lift the bike up use your legs and face away. Same placement on the hands on the bike handle and the pillion handle and lift it up. Note make sure your stand is up if it falls on the other side. For them still use your legs instead of your back. You can pull your back or bicep with that method.
Not just if you are weak. Lifting the bike as shown by the instructor is incredibly bad for your back. Maybe little bit less if someone helps you, but alone, definitly face away from the bike.
When I got my license in the US I had to do a short test on a computer then ride around some cones in a parking lot for about 15 minutes. That gets you a full license to ride any bike. The actual mc course is not even required in my state.
Wow
I have never seen anyone teach that way to upright a motorcycle. It is usually done with your back against the seat and with your legs bent. The driving part of this test actually looks very good and I think something that would be a good change here in the USA where it is maybe a bit too easy to get a license. This one here has many skill building steps and it seems like a lot more pressure and control. Congratulations to you both. Skill building is low speed maneuvers, evasive maneuvers, emergency braking, crossing rails at at angle and most importantly reading the road ahead and avoiding and endless presentation of hazards from other motorists, traffic and road conditions. Ride safe!
I went through the exact same strict riding school courses in Mie Prefecture. 18 classes for the 400 cc license, and then 12 more classes for all bikes over 400 cc. I hated the balance beam, and I know I went under 10 seconds on that for the final test...but I passed anyway because I was flawless on everything else. Now I enjoy exploring the whole country of Japan on my 750 cc Honda Shadow. I just love it !
You're maturing! I'm 62 and have been riding for 50yrs. Presently own a gen3 busa. I like the look of cruisers, but can't adjust to the mid and forward riding positions.
In my younger days, all the bikes I owned were eventually ran to topend. That includes a heavily modified 1986 gsxr1100. In the 3yrs I've had the busa I think I reached 110mph. The desire to go extremely fast has subsided.
They focus on pure skill with the bike and that explains why Japans fatality motorbike rate is low.
It could also be about the driving skills and habits of Japanese car drivers too of course. Most bikers get into accidents with car or truck drivers. Here in Thailand I would say that drivers are not aggressive (not road rage warriors) but many of them are extremely thoughtless. They just don't think and don't look. Drive out of side roads without looking or do U turns on busy highways without looking. These are the main dangers here.
Thing u don’t c and u don’t hear doesn’t not mean not happening in japan.
Alot of it is distracted driving of cars or people driving when on stuff. Japan overall has more respect for others.
@@ancientbiker trust me, in Japan people are very courteous and friendly, until they are in a vehicle. They jump red lights on many occasions, they ignore.motorcyclists, especially when merging into a main road, they just pull out if there is a motorcycle, the reason there are less fatalities is because, speed is slower and riders become aware of these issues very quickly. Just last month there was a head on collision on a bend between 2 motorcycles, I see a lot of accidents, but they are not what would make International news. So far, from experience, the United Kingdom has the best road signage, not road conditions, they are deteriorating, also people are a little bit more aware of motorcycles in UK. I am.writing from experience here, not hear say.
@@ancientbiker Nope!
Just passed full A in Estonia. You've got to do: slow driving between lines; figure 8; zig-zag; swerve at 30 and 50 km/h; brake both before and on top of a box at 50 km/h; and finally reversing the bike into the parking space on foot. Followed by 35 minutes of urban, suburban, and highway driving. Not the hardest, but prepares you quite well.
It does seem like a strict test! Better that way, tho!
Congrats on your license!
Here in Europe, we have to start the same way.
I have my Spanish motoblike , and my US, so i was able when i was restricted, to ride a bigmotor bike.
I have being riding since I was 13.
You guys should do a video on how, Ori, which i think she is from Colombia, ended uo in Japan.
Also, if a foreing rider can visit japan with there own motor bike.
This would be intresting, just like you guys dis in S.A
Congrats on the upgrade
Thanks for watching!
Those are good ideas for videos. We’ll keep them in mind 👌🏽☺️
Hi, I stumbled across your channel today and happy I did. I am what Japanese call a "return rider" rode as a teenager in the US and just got my basic license (400 & under) late 2022 after not riding for 30+ years. Now I want to get the unlimited (ogata) license but I'm opting for not going to a school this time and just go take and fail the test until I pass. This video is spot on in so many ways and brings back some not so distant memories. Looking forward to it but not looking forward to it. 😀
thanks for this good video, you earned a new Subscriber :D !
for most people who do not have much experience in motorcycles, some of these training / tests may appear useless, but after several years of experience I can tell you that I have never seen such a well thought training for riding a motorcycle, the tests are very well chosen, and allow you to make good and quick decisions.
When I got residency for the first time, I simply just brought all my previous drivers' licenses I had with me to Futamatagawa and gave them to them. I had licenses from over 20 years ago (because I never throw them away), from Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Germany even. I had my ADR/RID certificate, an expired international DL, three different SOFA licenses, and all my past military vehicle operator's permits (everything from motorcycles to semi-trucks). More than 30 cards and papers or so. All my regular civilian drivers' licenses had "motorcycle" on them, and I own a Harley Heritage Softail and a KTM 1290 Super Adventure S. Both are indeed here in Japan, and both are not small bike by any means, well over 1,000cc's. All I did was give them my DL"s and my new resident card, and they told me to wait. I waited for over 6 hours, all day (presumably while they tried to translate everything), then a guy came out holding a piece of paper and said, "You qualify for everything from 'A' through 'F', but if you pick 'A', you have to do a written test (multiple choice) and it's all in Japanese." I asked, "What about 'B'?", and he replied, "Nothing." I said I would take "B" then. He made me do the stupid candle eye test, then I waited for another hour, and finally got called up to a window and got my new license. Turns out, those were all commercial DL categories, and I have had a Japanese class B commercial DL with unrestricted motorcycle on it ever since. I ride my bikes all over Japan to this day. 🤷♂😂
Come to Singapore! Multiple courses, stipulated timing, technique and many many bunch of possible chances to failed immediately in the circuit. After which you proceed to the road section carrying along the demerits points you earned in the circuit.
Months later and a full day at the training centre when you pass you can finally ride up to 200cc. A year later you come back again for up to 400cc. Another year later come back for all classes of bikes 🥲
Good thing is that the road section is no longer needed for tests up to 400cc and all classes.
Nice heart pounding music before the test 😂😂😂
Enjoyed learning about Japanese standards for motorcycle licensing. Thx. 🙏🏽
Thanks for watching! 🙌🏽
It's kind of the same process in France, we call this part the plateau. After the plateau we have a circulation course, so it's a 2-part exam. It's kinda hard, but you are way more skilled and confident once you have your licence, and I almost never see a rider on the road without full protective gear.
Also we can't drive a bike above 35kW or 47hp (roughly a 500cc) for 2 years, it requires a one day course to lift the limit. And a car driver licence only allows you to drive 125cc or lower 😅
Interesting to see these tests! They are similar to what we have in europe, or atleast here in Norway, but also very very different at the same time. We also have the motorcycle license divided into two categories, A (the full license) and A2 (restricted, meaning you can only ride up to 48 horsepower bikes).
Great video - really interesting 👍🏻 I took my test in Hong Kong where they’re equally specific about how things need to be done.
I'm in Japan under SOFA, we just had to do the MSF basic rider course on the CC bike in the category we wanted to ride. Used a friends 1800cc Harley and now I can ride any size bike I want here in Japan. The MSF test does have a bit more to it than what you guys did. Being SOFA makes it way easier to do these things. To be able to drive a car here, as long as you have a valid US drivers license, you just have to take a written test.
Interesting how different countries test riding and safety skills.
I get the slow riding, not the mini speed bumps unless you have that type of road surface?
Don’t think that’s particularly hard. Try the U.K.
i'd love to take a course like this, seems like a lot of fun and learning
The procedure for getting motorcycle licenses in Japan seems sound and normal. It's similar to what what we have here. Why do you think it is strict?
They did in a school which is less strict, if you fo to the test center probably you are going to fail many times, also the S shape they did was way easier that what i got to do when i got my license, between, you cant ride big motorcycles unless one year have passed using a medium one, you cant ride on highways and also cant carry passengers, i cant remember how much time needs to pass before you can but for sure you cant at first. Not counting the written test.
Things have to be done in a very particular order or else you’ll start losing points.
@@oriandkaito-motoadventures you didnt even check your surrounds before jumping on the bike x), after that you jump in and then check mirrors, etc. So yeah, way less strict.
I wouldn't call the Norwegian test strict, but it is thorough and hard. I particularly struggled with the physics part of the exam, where we had to calculate the vraking distance based on the speed, weather, road, etc. I have never been good at math, so without a calculator I doubt I would have passed.
I wish it was all practical.
The Netherlands is also pretty strict about who can drive what and at what age. They made a whole Excel sheet about it on their website.
Pretty similar to what we have here in France.
We have one more spot : avoidance. Enter an L shape at 30 km/h and escape the L shape without touching cones. This simulate a car door open just in front of you.
In Victoria, Australia we did this exact same set of courses run by Honda Australia Rider Training, split over two days of 4 x 1.5hr sessions each for the Learner Permit and a later 2 sessions when I got my license. They've now split the license part in two so as to provide a further coaching session to improve your riding before going for the actual license assessment. HART basically set the gold standard for rider training here.
I am surprised this test looks somewhat simple in comparison to the French one, I'll try out the exercises of the Japanese test with my bike this weekend if I have the time. Congrats to the both of you! I find it amazing how much your instructor is happy for you and kind, here in France, my instructor wasn't as pleasant, and I was told there's even worse...
As a comparison, I had a total of 36 hours of practice before getting my motorcycle license, and note that I already have my car license!
Looks like fun. Remember taking a motorcycle training course . I learned so much about riding and myself. Gained so much more confidence as a rider.😊
in Australia It works like this.
Buy a Bike, do a Knowledge test, followed by a 1 day workshop, then take your bike out and ride away with L plates by yourself and come back when ready for road test
Congratulations you two, you made me nervous just watching you guys go through the course. They need to implement that testing in the us.
In Sweden it's alot more stringent than the US as well. You have to pass a maneuvering test track at slow and high speed. The second part is a regular driving test out in traffic. My main gripe with it is the pricing lol.
this is very cool... in Poland we also have strict tests and easy to fail on. 20h of riding school is mandatory before you are allowed to participate in riding exam
You hop on MT-07 (or quinquevalent for full license) and first you have to answer questions about motorcycle (question lottery), and prepare to ride then do 7 tests on manoeuvring square and if you pass that then it's city riding for like 45 min.
Looks easier/on par with the requierments in Poland. In terms of getting a license for the "biggest" bikes, it's more strict in the whole EU too. Theres A1 (up to 125cm^3), A2 (up to 40kW) and only then A (no limit). How is it "the strictest country"?
In Hungary these maneuvers not in the basic training, but after you got your license, you can learn exactly these in the Honda Safety Hungary training.
It is essential that they teach you how to get on the bike properly. It may seem funny, especially to people who have "I been riding motorcycles for 30 years" attitude, but I have come across several cases where the motorcyclist dropped the bike before start due to improper mounts.
In Vietnam, the country with the most motorcycles in the world, you just have to do a figure of 8, some slaloms, then the straight line. I drove with no license for many months. Figure 8 was the hardest.
In Singapore, we have to pass 3 tests in order to ride all CCs of bikes... Class 2B for
I did my first test in Russia and for full A category. But there is only exercises in exam with some theory. In Germany I had only prove my license - pass the exam, and it's completely different approach - some basic exercises with cones and then city driving in different scenarios for about 40 min. Passed it from first attempt, but it was quite exciting )
This test is no joke! Riding standards are pretty rigorous here in the UK, at least compared to many other countries (I also have an Indian motorcycle licence), but this is on another level. A proper obstacle course that really tests your skills. Definite upgrade to training on a car park! You can get your full category A licence in the UK (over the age of 24) with just three days of training - one day of CBT (compulsory basic training) and two days of big bike training (training skills for module one, which are the maneuvers, and module two, which is the on-road test). I don't understand why they make you memorise courses in Japan though. There doesn't seem to be any point in that. Also, very strange that there's no on-road portion of the motorcycle test in Japan. Surely that's the most important bit to see how you adapt to real-world conditions, which aren't predictable like a circuit?
In Austria, if you're 25+, you can get the full "open" license. From 18 to 25, your 2 years have to be on a 400cc max, then 600cc until you're 25 years old
in germany if you make your licence for motorcycle early @ the age of 18. you pay around 3-4k€ for the first licence. same for the first and second upgrade. so you are @ around 9-12k € if you want to ride a big motorcycle someday. or you wait untill you are 25 and only do the " big version" of the licence... for compare. the big truck licence " for private use only" costs around 6k€
I used to just renew my learners every year (up to 250) in Australia. one year I let the time elapse and had to do the test again and on the time to familiarize ourselves on the bikes the instructor sent us out and some of the blokes were poppin' wheelies while he wasn't looking. haha! True story.
In britain its too easy for cars pass and drive whatever you want for bikes up to three tests and yet 3/4 s of all bike so called accidents are caused by other road users. 23:10
to get a driver license for a normal car, there are two formal ways. the method 1 is you apply directly official drivers license examination/issurance center. the 47 prefectures have at least one center, tokyo has 3 centers. its quite difficult to pass because the examination bar is too strict. this is due to a problem of lower cost to take exam compared to via a drivers license school. the method 2 is you pay jp400,000yen to a drivers license school in your local area. you have to attend classroom lectures and practical lectures to collect predetermined units. if you can graduate the drivers license school, you only have to go to the official drivers license examination/issurance center to take the final examination to get a license card. in the country, 35 % of all of the road are narrow. and any driver is required to have at least k-turn, three point turn, pararrel parking.
8:58 you said "not good at all" but it wasn't that bad. When I was getting licensed in Canada, there were about 28 other students, and I think around 9 or 10 of them kept falling on turns not even half as difficult as that... and worse yet, they were all passed on the third day examinations. I remember getting my certificate and didn't really feel very special for passing.
I enjoyed this. It’s cool seeing how other countries do it.
Thanks for watching !
Interesting how licensing / testing is so different from country to country. In Canada…many many years ago (LOL) I challenged the Canada Safety Council program in Nova Scotia. It’s was a fantastic program and lots of fun! We started by walking with our bikes to gain a better sense of weight and progressed to more on machine skills and practice. I think it was a six or eight week program. We watched video to reinforce skills and how to ride safely. I now ride off road on a KTM 300 XCW (62 Years Old now) and loving every minute on the bike! Interesting video. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for watching and ride safe 🙌🏽🔥
Great video ! I love it down Poole its a great vibe and great to see all the bikes , I'm down again on Tuesday, 2min 36s was my blue Cbr 1000rr 😁
One reason turning a tight right corner is harder is that the throttle is controlled by twisting your right hand, so the closer your hand gets to your body the harder it gets to twist the wrist. Bit different in UK we have CBT compulsory basic training. 1/2 day in an enclosed space like a car park then the rest of the day on the road. The you can ride under and L learner plate.
It’d be nice for Japanese to implement riding on the road. If not on the test at least during practice.
In europe, there is an age limit to get full category - 24yo
and we have to do extensive lecture course and 10 hours practise riding not only for obstacles but also city riding. then the exam has all 3 parts - theory exam, obstacle riding and city riding for up to 1 hour. a lot can be done during this time.
I got my motorcycle license in Canada and luckily it could be converted. It was VERY easy to get fully licensed in Canada.
The guy said the bike is like a scooter, in fact the nc750x and nss750 Forza are essentially the same bike with different style bodies. The bike version is available as manual or automatic and scooter version is automatic only.
years ago we belonged to a riding club called Star 297, out of Ft. Lauderdale Florida. before you could go on rides with them. you had to come to a training course with the, learn slow turning, and riding formations, and all the hand signals. be tested out with a Shepeard (watched how you rode your bike) to see, if you rode safe enough, to ride with the club) once cleared, you rode with the newbies. we always rode in groups of 10's with over 139 members. we even had a group for those who pulled trailers.
It seems it’s harder to get to ride with the club than it is to get your license 🙈
@@oriandkaito-motoadventures not only was it about being safe with the riding club, but we also had precision riders in our group. That would do what they call rodeos. I like riding through cones and figure eights and tight turns and circles. But when we rode, we always rode, staggered and we always rode professionally. The road, captain the shepherds and the tail gunners where on intercom systems talking to each other.
Hi!
Me too, passed my bigger bike test a week ago. Only I took the test without a motorcycle school because I don't know Japanese and there are no motorcycle schools with English speaking instructors in our area. I had to get a motorcycle license for a bigger bike because my original license didn't fit (original license is only 400cc). I passed the test without practice, with 7 times (so this type of test is a good result).
Congrats on your upgraded license! 🔥
this is kinda similar to here in aus when you first get your license your restricted to an approved bike. these bikes are under 660cc and under a certain power output which you must keep for a minimum of 2 years before going back again and get tested on a higher output bike. to get your restricted license you need to complete 2 days of classes to get your learners hold that for 91 days then pass annother day of classes
Well done, I felt your nerves. I'm 62, i passed my UK bike test when i was 17, moved to Canada had to take their test in the summer, geez I was nervous. Funny how countries do it differently. In Canada (Alberta), no obstacles but all on the road with a driver following and telling you where to turn, etc. Hill start. May be a combo would be best but hey
Agree! Japan should get learners out on the road 👌🏽
thats so much easier than what we have in finland. thats so nice to have dedicated track for learning and doing the test in same track. i did it in a parking lot with a very short and not straight acceleration zone. so it was accelerate very hard and then brake hard or stear hard depending on the test. also we had slow crawle. stop. and then doing slow figure 8 in small space between cones. straight breaking with abs bike are the easiest because you just full break with front break and you can stop in a half of the distance that is required.
Thank you for sharing your experience of getting a driver's licence in a great country like Japan. I love watching your channel. Stay connected
Glad you enjoy it! Thanks for watching 🙌🏽🤩
I guess what you mean is your licenses need to be ugraded from medium size bike (up to 400cc) licenses to big bike licenses. You can just convert licenses from most countries with an official translation. You are lucky, since up until a year or two ago, big bike licenses were almost impossible to get without at least 3 or 4 failures. My friend failed 10 times. They have made it easier to try and boost sales.
I appreciate the attention to detail with regards to motorcycle control but I think the MOD2 in the UK better equipped me with road positioning and observations.
that lift form and absoutely insane and quick tug destroyed my back just looking at it. Please take care and excersice proper form when lifting from the ground....
Singapore is as strict if not stricter. Matter of fact, Singapore’s riding training syllabus is modelled after Japan’s. There are 8 practical tests and 1 Official test before you get a licence to ride upo 200cc 😂😂….. hard life 😅
Europe has the toughest tests
Whow. Glad to find you guys here. I have lived in Japan (Nagano, Matsumoto) for what seems like for ever. I used to ride when I was young (Ducati Pantah) and am going to get back on two wheels once my wife will allow it (i.e. Kids get old enough). I will have to get a license again, so this hands on talk is most informative. Many thanks. Hope to see you on the road some day.
Hope you get to ride your bike soon! Japan is an awesome country to discover on two wheels ✌🏽🙌🏽
In Norway it's way harder than in Japan. This looked like a walk in the park a sunny Sunday afternoon 😂
I suppose that the choice of Honda NC750's as exam bikes might be due to the fact that they must have good low-speed torque, and thus can be ridden slowly without stalling.
The Japan exam is supper easy ... you should try the EU one
Nach, sorry, that aint the strictest country exam. Only hard part might be the 7s zig-zag, but given practice it aint that bad. Where I live, we have to pass slow zig, high speed zig and figure 8.
Slow zig looks a lot of like 7s you have shown, the difference is distance between cones is way smaller, so you have to strain slow speed with counter stearing. High speed means 30kph mean speed across obstacle, so it has to be ~50 at the starting gate( this is scary for newbies). Figure 8 is PITA, but managable once you get a grip and helps with other two.
Very nice video, I heard since so long about this Japanese test ! Surprised that there is not any road test, but ok, little bit like in France finally.
Very interesting video, it is interesting to see the importance placed on Machine Control rather than straight road riding. I would very much like to try the course you took. Unfortunately i doubt i will be in Japan again until my daughter is grown up 😢
I get on highside so i be in trouble day one. And put your back to the bike when lifting the bike up way easier to lift it.
In Singapore is even stricter than Japan, the first level license is 2B which allows you only to ride 200cc and below, than you have to wait a year to take test for class 2A license if you pass you can ride 400cc and below and you have to wait for another year to take test for the final class 2 license which allows you to ride any cc
Yeah bro. They are lucky not needing to pick up a sand filled tank nighthawk 750 before the class 2 TP 😅. That’s enough to wreck anyone’s nerves. Another difference i’ve noticed is the dry ebrake course. Shiok.
this looks awesome, a proper design test centre, as opposed to in UK 🇬🇧 just a car park and confusing cone layout. no figure of eight or u turn either . nerves are the same though i guess. great video. would be awesome to see each country and how they do it
Really interesting how different Countries handle your Motorcycle License.
In Germany for my A-License (any motorcycle with no restrictions on power or engine capacity or top speed) I had to be at least 24 years old (did it at 28), had to have my car-license for a certain amount of years. Than you have 12 or 13 (I don't remember exactly) hours of theory-lessons and doing a test in the end with only a very limited amount of errors. In terms of driving there is no amount x of hours you have to do, only 12 mandatory practical driving hours which are 6 "overland" (B-roads but often done consecutivly so you have to stay on the bike for a longer time) 3 at night and 3 on the Autobahn (depending on the driving school you will be encouraged to go speeds in excess of 200km/h).
At the end you have to do a on-hour practice-exam which includes just driving beeing observed by a special-trained examiner (we call them TÜV-Prüfer) and special exam-tasks which are "stop-and-go" you have to start with looking over your shoulder and indicating and than stop and go 6 times, 3 on your left leg and 3 on your right (both feet down or alternating out of "panic" is a failure). Than a slalom at around 40-50km/h. Than a narrow slalom at walking pace. Than an evasive maneuver at 40-50km/h. Than emergency braking to stand still and a second emergency braking into an evasive maneuver. You usually have 2 trys but not 2 trys on each task.
This is all from memory so if things changed or i misquoted numbers, please do correct me.
Singapore ones are event more strict and challenging with 3 tiers of license (400CC)
Looks easier than polish test, but much much more practical
I had to come off the Ipponbashi to the bump de bump to am immediate left 90 merge into the crank. Fun stuff!
All EU contry's is the same you get a A1 for motorcycles up to 125 CC(15PS Maximum) A2 motorcycles up to 48PS and A above 48PS