Bridgestone Travzone as of today.


Folding Lever


Plate

Seat

6 Speed

Bridgestone Travzone Stand


Taiwan made LED rear flashing light mounted on a Cat Eye holder.

After months of storage I decided to use the Panasonic DX II and to my dismay I found out 2 spokes broke and had it replaced. This Panasonic DX II is very smooth to ride and gear shifting is very synchronize, as if I was riding a brand new bicycle. Wheels are size 27 and almost all metal parts are stainless or stainless steel. Uses Panasonic dynamo hub and Nexus IGH. Tires are brand new Million white side.

My folding bicycle size 24 as of today. With Panasonic Basket, Stainless Steel Rims / Spokes, New Million White Side Tires, Shimano 6-Speed, BP Headlight, and LED Flashing Lights. Paint Job by Wes Auto Shop. Bicycle Mechanic: Olan Valeriano


Panasonic Basket


Headlight


Shimano 6-Speed


(Sold as of Oct. 15, 2011)

A GMA 7 Television coverage - Japanese Bicycles in Malabon City.
The TV segment covered a few of my Japanese commuter bicycle collection. Taken last June.

Attachment 124047Attachment 124048Marfeel Updated - Size 20, changed the alloy rims to steel Tri Spoke, extended seat post, & mounted an OGK Child Carrier.

The Japanese are pretty sensible people. That is why they stick to the 26" and 27" wheelbases. I never understood the switch to 700 cm(?) in the USA except change for change sake to generate something new in the bicycle market in the USA. The Japanese don't have to go through all the gyrations of stocking a new size tire, spokes, rims, wheels, etc.

In other words, the Japanese didn't switch to 700 because it didn't provide any advantage to the overall industry.

I am glad to see used Japanese bicycles being put to good use in the Philippines. Whoever is doing it must be making a fortune selling them between $50 to $80 because they are probably being paid by the Japanese municipalities to take them away. That is great! Excellent international entreprenuership.

Disposed bicycles are something of a problem in Japan. Every week, every county in Japan collect an enormous mountain of old bicycles. Many neighborhoods have used bicycle collection areas and once per week, people bring their old bicycles or abandoned bicycles to a designated area to be disposed. I always wondered what happed to them and now, I know.

Some are rusty old things, but many are in really nice shape. First, Japan doesn't have much storage space, so the only way to buy a new bike is to get rid of the old one. Most people don't have space for two bicycles.

One thing I noticed about Japanese bicycle and Japanese after-market bicycle gadgets is that although they are made in China, they are of better quality than the Chinese bicycles and parts we get in the States. I think their specs must be tighter than the USA importers.

Japanese bikes and bike stuff has nice features that you don't notice at first glance like the little knobs on the rear carrier that makes putting on the one long bungie cord so easy or the frame welded brackets for adding light generators; just simple stuff, but sensible.

Mike, 700c is a series, not a measurement. There's 650a, 650b, 650c, 700a, 700b, 700c, etc. 700c became popular. It's not cm or mm or anything.

So Mang Boy, how are sales these days?

I don't know. Maybe ask one of the moderators? The owner is Tom Stormcrowe.

Only illegal when your bike shop doesn't feel like ordering them.

Hi mang boy,

is there going to be a 3rd malabon bike show ? And if so, please give details. Thanks.

I spoke with you on the phone a few months ago. I am the guy in makati .

I will try to post picture of my reporting to "our" headquarters-japan !

Hi , here are some pictures from the bicycle department of yodobashi store in akihabara, tokyo. It is such a big store with 9 floors. Tons of electronics and appliances and accessories. This store is so big you can easily spend half a day there.

I took the pictures with some indicated prices. The ones over jpy90,000 are electric assist. The ones in the jpy30000-45000 range are the better mamachari with gears- japan-made. 10,000-14,000+ price range are single speeds mostly china-made.

Cheers

Sorry no scheduled bicycle show for this year for the moment. Will just post if any would show up.
Nice pics.

here is a abandoned electric folding bike. I wanted to get it and bring it back to Manila, but I figure that may be a crime. Anyway, you can see the impound? yellow tag. My good son Pepe 8, in the foreground. Picture taken 2Nov'09. Asabu-East, Tokyo.

You were correct to guess that it would be illegal to "collect" that bike from the "wild".

The yellow tag is not an impound tag. It's just a warning that parking the bike in that area is not allowed, and that the bike may be confiscated and impounded (and then, exported to... the Philippines... or North Korea, or Viet Nam, or ...).

If you look closely at the photo, you can see the "bohan toroku" (bicycle registration) sticker on the front of the seat tube

yes, illegal also with the wife ! she will say we got too many of these surplus Japan bikes (5) . Just unloaded one yesterday. Now, .......what about putting more of these in the warehouse south of Manila and doing it as a business with website sales ? hhhmmm....... is this toyland for me ?

You are correct Mike, the quality level is high and I have never had any real issues, even if even if the bikes are used. These are commuting bikes, everyday bikes used to get to the train station, grocer, school, work; ie. substitute for car.

Great thread. First time I ever looked at it though. I live in Iwakuni Japan and several of the bikes in this thread are here in abundance. Seems like there are really only three or four types of bikes around here most noticeably Panasonic, and Bridgestone. Can't swing a dead cat without hitting a Bridgestone bike shop in Iwakuni.

The bikes must be bombproof workhorses as the Japanese are very practical. They're like the Model T of bicycles around here.

John

My new acquisition, a size 20 commuter bicycle. What attracted me on this bicycle is the long frame for this size 20 bike.
I installed a Nexus IGH 3-Speed, Nexus Dynamo Hub, new stainless steel spokes, new tires, chromed basket, Panasonic Hard Lock, Veto bottle holder, rear LED flashing light, and front sensored headlight.

And aluminum rims, too, right? That bike is well-outfitted. Do you expect it to sell quickly?

I just traded it with one of my folding bicycles and simply enjoyed restoring it with installations of hop-ups. The frame design is rare here and my first 20 x 1 3/8 wheel size. I don't expect it to be attractive to buyers due to the cost of the aaccessories I installed. Me and my son would probably first enjoy riding it.

Bicycle show coordinator just relayed that a bicycle show will be held by February next year.

Bridgestone Travzone
Before :


After (Dec. 4, 2009) : Chromed Frame, New Hubs / Stainless Steel Spokes / Pedals / Headset / Handlebar / Seat, Veto Bottle Holder, Vista Lite (Front), & Reflectors.


Boy Nepo "Mang Boy"

i copy sir. Hope to attend myself ! Pls update details when you have them. Thanks