Standard two-wheel motor vehicle (Japan)

A standard two-wheel motor vehicle (普通自動二輪車, futsū jidō nirinsha), sometimes referred to as an ordinary motorcycle, is one of the vehicle categories in the Road Traffic Act of Japan. Such vehicles 🚗 (motorcycles) have a displacement of more than 50 cc but no more than 400 cc.

In contrast, in the same act, such vehicle with a displacement of 125 cc or less is called a small two-wheel motor vehicle (小型二輪車, kogata nirinsha) (small motorcycle), and is a subcategory of a standard two-wheel motor vehicle. Meanwhile, one with a displacement of over 400 cc is called a large two-wheel motor vehicle (大型自動二輪車, ōgata jidō nirinsha) (heavy motorcycle).

A standard two-wheel motor vehicle can be operated with an ordinary motorcycle license or a heavy motorcycle license. It is defined in the Road Traffic Act's Enforcement Regulations as a "two-wheeled vehicle (including one with a side car) other than a large special vehicle, heavy motorcycle and small special vehicle".

Three-wheeled vehicles are treated as ordinary vehicles, and are not classed as motorcycles. However, the safety standard for motorcycles is applied to a three-wheeled vehicle that has coaxial wheels with a width of less than 46 cm, where the body or wheels incline when turning.

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

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

• Example of a moped (49 cc) (Honda Super Cub C50)
• Example of a small motorcycle (124 cc) (Honda CB125)
• Example of an ordinary motorcycle (249 cc) (Yamaha XT250)
• Example of a heavy motorcycle (998 cc) (Honda CBR1000F)

• Bōsōzoku

• (in Japanese) Information about acquiring a license (Japan Motorcycle Promotion & Safety Association)