I'm moving to Hokkaido, Japan in 2 weeks and I am weighing a decision about whether to ship a bicycle. I understand that there are airline fees for shipping bicycles and I am not sure if it's worth paying the fee ($80-$200 USD). My concern is the availability of bikes in Japan with a frame size that will comfortably fit a 6 foot 4 inch (193 cm) male (62 cm road/ 21.5 inch mountain bike frames). My cycling needs are mostly basic daily transit and maybe a little adventure or fitness, but a basic recreational road bike or even a cheap folding bike would do. Are there specific brands/ companies that I should look to for extended sizes? What are the chances of finding something used? I am open to advice, suggestions, and stories of experience.

Thank you.
Aric

I live in Japan right now and I can tell you that you'll have a hard time finding a bike that will fit. I brought a bike with me from that states and I paid $145 to have it as a checked piece of luggage with American Airlines. A lot of local bike shops will order a bike out a catalog for free if they don't have something that will fit you in stock but even their catalogs don't have many large sizes.

In my case I went to the bike shop and said "Hey, I want a bike!" and they had me try out a few and then finally told me that they would nothing they had was tall enough for me. By the way, you have a about 4 inches in height on me. Anyways, they should me some catalogs of bikes they could order and there were some that came in the larger sizes but not others. It seemed to me that I was going to have to spend at least $700 for a bike my size. I made a few phone calls and found that I could get the type I wanted in my size for a lot less in the states than here. Last January I bought a 2009 model GT Traffic for $400 and then paid $145 to bring it here. The same exact model was in the catalog at the bike shop in Japan for about $500 and they could only get it in the "M" size and not the "L" that I needed.

All that to say this: It will be a lot easier, and maybe even cheaper, to buy a bike in the States and bring it to Japan if you are an exceptionally tall person.

Finding a large frame in Japan will be difficult. Of course you can get a custom made frame in Japan, I have a 63 cm Nagasawa, but they will be expensive.
Why not only ship a frame, and build it up in Japan? I could bring the Nagasawa frame for free on the plane.

Thank you Tarkin and paulkal. Your experience and suggestion are appreciated. It sounds like the easiest and most economical approach it to ship the frame and some miscellaneous hardware in a box and acquire the missing pieces there. Looking forward to it.

Thanks again,

Aric

paulkal, where or how did you get a custom made frame in Japan. i live in tokyo and have been looking at rock lobster and curtlo bikes but i would rather be able to walk in to a place and talk to them. do you have a good web sight or contact so i could contract a bike over here? DOMO!

Ryan,

I got the frame In Osaka, directly from Nagasawa. It only took one week to build the frame.
There are several builders in Tokyo, I also visited Level bikes.
How is Tokyo for cycling? Next year we are going to Japan and then I want to do some cycle touring over there.
doitachimaste

Paul,

I'll check it out. if you want to hang out with some GI's and X'pats there is https://yokotacyclingclub.com/ we are all down to ride the big hills to the west of tokyo. some of the guys have tours they go on. It's worth a look.