Ishmael
Practically Family
- Messages
- 546
- Location
- Tokyo, Japan
A lot of generalizations on here about "the Japanese".
A lot of generalizations on here about "the Japanese".
A lot of generalizations on here about "the Japanese".
Yeah, that's the part that I don't get, why obsessing over some biker stuff from the 50's, man, enough so to warrant spending thousands and thousands of dollars so much only to dress up and play pretend - possibly more, seeing how all that stuff seems to cost twice as much in Japan? I mistakenly called it a trend earlier, but it can't be something as simple as that since it's been going on for ages and considering that all the major players opened up subsidiaries there, selling Japan exclusive stuff, it doesn't look like it's gonna fade away any time soon. The fact that Aero, Vanson, LW, Schott, GW, etc. etc. pretty much rely on the Japanese market speaks for itself. Then there's Real McCoy... These ain't just a bunch of hipsters we're talking about, but rather, someone's gotta be buying enough of these $3000 jackets and boots to keep 'em in business. It's just strange... Kind of like when the 'western' world began obsessing over anime and consequently everything Japanese - or at least what was perceived as being Japanese to the rest of the world.
Truth be told, I would trade a japanese sword for a RMC jacket in an instant, if I had one...
What's the biker/motorcycle scene in Japan like? Perhaps there lies an explanation.
Then there's Real McCoy... These ain't just a bunch of hipsters we're talking about, but rather, someone's gotta be buying enough of these $3000 jackets and boots to keep 'em in business.
possibly more, seeing how all that stuff seems to cost twice as much in Japan?
Yeah, that's the part that I don't get, why obsessing over some biker stuff from the 50's, man, enough so to warrant spending thousands and thousands of dollars so much only to dress up and play pretend
What's the biker/motorcycle scene in Japan like? Perhaps there lies an explanation.
All pretty fair comments.
The biker scene kind of surprised me in the beginning- I expected to see a lot of sports bikes made by the big four Japanese companies, but the truth is that they went out with the 80's, Japanese sports bikes biggest markets are the US and the EU.
Most fashion conscious Japanese (and this will shock you) bikers ride scooters/mopeds. There is a huge aftermarket mods scene, and they can be ridden with the fashion of the day never being exposed to 'greasy bike parts'- everything is hidden under plastic fairings.
You see some Harley clone cruisers, but more often, real Harley's ridden by 40+ 'Hell's Salarymen'. Harleys cost about twice as much here as they do in the US. Harley riders generally dress like over the top Hells Angels- Perfecto clones, bandanas, that sort of thing.
There is a type of indigenous teenage/early 20's Japanese biker, usually found as part of a gang. They generally take style cues from kamikaze uniforms, ride low capacity Japanese 'muscle bikes' (what a contradiction), with over loud exhausts, at 2a.m. through residential areas. They have a reputation for violence, and are often touted as the teenage recruiting pool for the yakuza, but TBH, over the last 15 years they seem to have become a little old hat, and less popular- Japanese kids today can afford old Nissan Skylines and such, and prefer to go 'drifting' in the mountains, or in the rust belt at night.
Not sure why you conclude that the “stuff seems to cost twice as much in Japan.” RMC’s J-100 costs less than GW’s Californian Racer and Himel’s Kensington, and about the same as the Aero Café Racer made with the Italian HH. Likewise, RMC’s A2 is priced about the same as GW’s A2, and only a tick more than Eastman’s A2.
Isn't that what Americans and Europeans do as well? What percentage of people purchasing moto jackets in the US/Europe actually ride a motorcycle, and purchase the jacket for that purpose?
One word: passionate. They're just into it.
Thanks for the kind comments guys.
The Bank of Japan is going to keep printing yen until the PM's 2% inflation target is met, so the yen will only get cheaper from here. Add on top that next week we'll know if there will be a snap election to prevent a tax increase in December, which if that happens will make the yen even cheaper!
I'd say hold off on pulling the trigger on a Buzz Ricksons, or Real McCoys until after Christmas. At the rate the ¥/$ is going, you could have a nice little shopping trip to Japan next year