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CARS & BIKES ARCHIVE: 499: Environmental charge The futuristic electric-and-gasoline hybrid Toyota Alphard aims to take the financial strain out of owning a large van, while reducing emissions to boot. Justin Gardiner takes one for a cruise. 497: Thrills and spills The next two weekends feature Japan's two biggest Grand Prix races, the Pacific Moto GP, and the final round of the Formula 1 Championship. Justin Gardiner gets pole position. 495: Time warp It was christened the Japanese Ferrari when it was launched way back in 1991. Justin Gardiner reckons the intended compliment still doesn't do justice to Honda's NSX. 493: Point to point Just how much faster is a 1,000cc superbike than a 50cc scooter in our sprawling megalopolis? Justin Gardiner borrowed a few Aprilia bikes to find out. 491: Future classic The Audi TT Roadster has become the archetypal convertible of the decade, with good looks matched by great handling. Justin Gardiner gets behind the wheel. 489: Name value Toyota's Lexus is one of the most respected brands in the West, but almost unheard of in its home country. Justin Gardiner wonders why. 487: Revolutionary ride Mazda proudly proclaims that its RX-8 is peerless, and for once the claim is more than marketing hype. Justin Gardiner revs it up. 485: Thinking big What’s behind the astonishing popularity of oversized scooters on Tokyo’s roads? Justin Gardiner and three veteran motorcyclists aim to find out. 483: Off the beaten path Honda’s Element harks back to the days when a 4x4’s interior could be washed down with a hose. Justin Gardiner goes for a spin. 481: Track days Tokyo offers amateur racers the chance to prove that they’re the next Michael Schumacher. Justin Gardiner hits the speedways. 479: My Fairlady The Datsun 240Z changed the fortunes of Nissan Motors back in 1969. This year, the new 350Z heads up their international line-up for the 21st century. Justin Gardiner reports. 477: Small is better Justin Gardiner gets the scoop on scooters to fit every taste and budget. 475: Two for the price of one Justin Gardiner drives two cars that can fit into a single parking space, the Smart K and the Suzuki Twin. 473: Multiple personality In a world of nigh-on-identical minivans, Fiat’s Multipla dares to be different. Justin Gardiner drives the distinctive import. 471: Days at the races Honda, the traditional Japanese champions of motorsports in Japan, are facing a tough challenge on their home turf. Justin Gardiner looks forward to what promises to be a bumper year for racing enthusiasts. 469: The ride stuff Just in time for spring, Don Morton tells you how and where to choose the perfect bike. 467: Most impressive Justin Gardiner tools around in Subaru's Impreza, the automotive equivalent of a mild-mannered bloke who turns unruly after a few pints. 465: Outside the box Justin Gardiner mourns the passing of the Toyota HiACE, a campsite favorite and the best of a dying breed. 463: Cyber Cypha Justin Gardiner finds that Toyota's latest super-mini not only takes you out to dinner, but helps you decide where to go. 461: Award magnet Mazda's new mid-size Atenza is attracting accolades the world over. Paul Thompson zoom-zoomed along to find out why. 459: Down the road After a year of cute cars, 2003 promises more power, pace and raw sex appeal. Justin Gardiner peers into his crystal ball. 453: Fleet of foot Japan's convoy of quirky emergency vehicles includes everything from mopeds to the country's fastest cars 451: Truck and treat Paul Thompson tracked down the latest automotive trends from the 36th Tokyo Motor Show ISSUES 500+ ISSUES 499- ISSUES 449- ISSUES 399- ISSUES 349- ISSUES 299-

Small is better

Justin Gardiner gets the scoop on scooters to fit every taste and budget.

What can you get for ¥60,000? Well, if you’re a frugal Tokyoite, how about a high-spec PC in Akihabara, a month of budget accommodation, a flight back home—or a brand new 50cc scooter?

Yes, anyone with a regular driver’s license, Japanese or international, can pony up six man and wave goodbye to Tokyo’s convenient but crowded trains and buses. Until recently you’d need at least ¥100,000 for the privilege, but in March Suzuki launched the Choi Nori, a back-to-basics model that can be yours for ¥59,800. Suzuki’s new brand is part of a trend that sees Tokyo’s favorite mode of transportation, beloved of obasan and bosozoku alike, making a grab for the budget-conscious, while at the same time remaining true to its anything-goes roots.

Bare bones
The Choi Nori lacks “extras” such as an electric starter motor, battery, light switch, fuel gauge and helmet storage, but it has all the other essentials. Boot the kick start, and the head- and taillights spring to life courtesy of the all-new four-stroke engine. Blinkers are available for those few riders who want to warn drivers of their intentions, and a red lamp warns when the speedometer has crawled three quarters of the way to the maximum 40km/hr.

If you want a little more power and greater convenience, it’ll come at a cost, typically between ¥100,000 and ¥150,000 for a new, nondescript offering from three of the big four domestic manufacturers: Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki—Kawasaki not being interested in the 50cc market. How anyone can choose between the nigh-on-identical Yamaha Jog, Honda Lead and Suzuki Let’s is a mystery, but vendors report that brand loyalty is a strong trait in dyed-in-the-wool scooterists. All of the above have electric starter motors, reasonable storage under the seat and, possibly most important, increased security, courtesy of locking kickstands and fancy closable ignition key slots.

The no-frills Choi Nori

Getting gaudy
While bosozoku and others are prone to doll up stolen scooters (see sidebar), many a legitimate owner customizes their own bike with stickers, spray paint, or in the case of one local nightclub owner, hundreds of mirror shards. However, individuality is also available to style-conscious riders who have less time and patience—but who do have deep pockets—in the form of special-edition brands or off-road scooters. A Ducati Course bike in racing colors will set you back ¥265,000, while a Suzuki Street Magic II trials-style machine costs an almost-as-cool-as-its-looks ¥224,000.

The ultimate kakoi baby scooter is, of course, the venerable Vespa. With prices for new ones ranging from ¥235,000 to ¥345,000, the Piaggio’s not cheap, but what they lack in convenience—not even a hook for conbini bags—they make up in style. In the 50 years since a Vespa carried Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn on their Roman holiday, Marlon Brando, Charleton Heston, John Wayne and U2’s Bono have all owned one.

Never embarrassed to mimic another’s success, domestic makers have their own interpretations of the classic, all with suitably Italian sounding names: the Giorno (Honda), Vino (Yamaha) and Verde (Suzuki), and suspiciously similar prices, all a smidgen under ¥200,000.

In a bit of bad news, the other classic European moped, the Solex, will not be available for much longer on these shores. Basically a shopping bike with a motor perched on the front wheel, the Solex is a victim of Japan’s new environmental protection standards, which outlaw two-stroke engines. Conforming to these regulations would require the French manufacturer to make their first major design change in over 60 years—an unlikely prospect. Now facing stiff competition from quieter and smoother electrically powered bikes, and at over double the cost of the Choi Nori, the 0.6-hp import may be a wise investment nonetheless, as a collector’s item rather than cheap transportation.

Thanks to Marutomi Autobikes of Yokohama for the test bikes. To arrange a test ride yourself, call Mr Ibuki, in English at 045-481-5500.

Photos by Justin Gardiner