Well explained, Mr. Toda!
David "Rather have a classic bike than any collectible smog coffin" Feldman
> Doland wrote;
> <<BTW, what exactly is the obsession with Japanese collectors and
> French-style touring bikes? Is it a reliving their childhood type
thing?>>
>
> f you can imagine physical condition of Japan, having 5 to 6000 people in
> each SQ-mile, squeeze 120+ million people in island size of CA, OR, ans WA
> states, also 90 % is mountain. Touring bike is their classic car as US.
> There is no room for Autos
> to collect and store, and gas cost 4.50 to 5.00 per gallon.
>
> We American put perspective of transportation as automobles while Japanese
> have motor cycle or bicycle. I used to pay 250.00 to 300.00 per month to
> garage car in Japan, and you will not be able to BUY a car unless you have
a
> garage to store it.
>
> French raundnuer is Artistic Machine, while Motor cycle is regarded as
POWER
> thurst, mean people's trasportation, therefore; naturally, they put their
> BUCKs in touring bicycles. Price tags as 5K, 10K, 20K are very cheap
while a
> car collector
> has to pay 3 to 4000.00 year to store it. They can store bikes in their
> living room
> or hall way even though their home are usually high rise condu's.
>
> The fender/mud gurds also almost necessity. It rains a lot in Japan
avarage
> 50 inch+ per year, not like in California. Their street bikes are usually
> made of S/S or aluminum, moisture in general is very very high, rust will
eat
> up any older steel bikes.
>
> Hope you can visit Japan sometime to get see and fel those ideas I tried
to
> explain.
>
> Best Regards,
>
> KEN TODA, Record heat in North Carolina, 89' summer is here!