Small two-wheel motor vehicle (Japan)

A small two-wheel motor vehicle (小型自動二輪車, kogata jidō nirinsha), sometimes referred to as a small motorcycle, is one of the vehicle categories in the Road Traffic Act of Japan. Such vehicles (motorcycles) have a displacement of more than 50 cc but no more than 125 cc, or their rated output exceeds 0.6 kW but is no more than 1 kW.

In contrast, in the same act, such vehicle with a displacement of more than 50 cc but no more than 400 cc is called a standard two-wheel motor vehicle (普通自動二輪車, futsū jidō nirinsha), or ordinary motorcycle. Thus, a small motorcycle is a subcategory of an ordinary motorcycle.

Meanwhile, a motorcycle with a displacement of over 400 cc is called a large two-wheel motor vehicle (大型自動二輪車, ōgata jidō nirinsha) (heavy motorcycle).

Categories

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

NameJapaneseDescription
Moped原動機付自転車Any motorcycle with engine displacement of 50 cc or less.
Small motorcycle小型自動二輪車Any motorcycle with engine displacement over 50 cc but no more than 125 cc.
Ordinary motorcycle普通自動二輪車Any motorcycle with engine displacement over 50 cc but no more than 400 cc.
Heavy motorcycle大型自動二輪車Any motorcycle with engine displacement over 400 cc.
Front sticker
Rear sticker
Small motorcycles in Japan can display a white sticker on the front end of the vehicle, and a triangular sticker on the rear (optional).

License

A license to drive a small motorcycle can be obtained from the age of 16 onward.

Japanese driving licence sample with category for ordinary motorcycle (普自二) circled. In the license's remarks column, it says "Ordinary motorcycle, limited to AT (automatic transmission) small motorcycle"
Displacement 50 cc or less 125 cc or less 250 cc or less 400 cc or less Over 400 cc
Road Traffic Act Vehicle classification Moped Ordinary motorcycle (small motorcycle) Ordinary motorcycle Heavy motorcycle
Type of license Moped license Ordinary motorcycle license (limited to small motorcycle) Ordinary motorcycle license Heavy motorcycle license

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

References
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