When I wanted to fix a bike I had on loan in Tokyo, paying $50+ for repairs (new tire+tube, lamp and general straightening and greasing), the lady in charge of the bike protested saying that with such money one could go ahead an buy a new one. Indeed department store bikes ran for $140+. I still went ahead with the repairs and the repair costs because I hate a bike that could ride many years go to waste and work deserves to be paid for. For most Japanese, though, a bike turns out to be a commodity not worthy of much fuss.