i think pist"o" is pist"a". track bikes here are called pista bikes generally.

I have been to Japan for messenger races in 03,04,and 05! Tokyo is the real deal. The messengers are cool as all hell. A lot of them ride fix/no brake. Tokyo Mess companies that love you: Courier, Cycle X, T-Serv. Last time I was there I met a kid that was an ex-mess and now races Keirin.

Shout out to Tomity who always comes out to the messenger parties!

As for cost of living, like everywhere else I've been: Messengers know how to party on a budget.

Just like in NY you can pay $10 for a sandwich on 5th Ave. or $3 on 9th Ave.

There are street vendors too, usually near the parks and temples. They sell meat/fish on sticks and stuff like that.

Kyoto and Osaka have messengers as well. Check out Messenger Kaze.

Arigato Gozaimasu

Thats what I thought too at first, but the article says "Pisto remains the best selling bike" (Pisto with a capitol P). It sounds like they're talking about a specific brand/company.

Is that $2200 per month pretax?

Kyotoloco'd this past year?

In Japan, the word "pista" is pronounced "pisto"...like with an "o" at the end. It's not a specific brand of bicycle :)

Parking

i dunno, aren't messengers here also "supposed" to follow traffic regulations?

I had an exemption I used to carry in my wallet:p

Are these really chopped track bars? They look really long.
I want something like this so bad.

yeah looks like it.

im fixin to chop some in like 3 days after i make a quick trade

im fixin to chop some in like 3 days after i make a quick trade ill post pics

Doesn't matter really. Income tax is only 5%.

I HEART Tokyo messengers!

yoshi & gogo are the best!! the guys at courier and transmit are awesome. My handlebars (everyone is jealous!) came from HAL who works at transmit. I also got my keirin chains from them, when I was challenged with "if you can find the office.." streets in tokyo are crazy.

those guys are amazing. Tokyo couriers are fast, gorgeous and awesome. we look dirty and mean in compairison, but I guess, them's the cultureal differences.

techone, 2500 USD or 2500 pounds. Little bit of a difference there.

Also, I'm surprised Dubai or Abu Dhabi aren't on there.

Dubai is pretty expensive, I'm suprised too. I've seen a lot of Indians on bikes here (those old school british style single speeds), but never a messenger. To @#$# hot.

Actually, they take a pretty decent chunk out for the national pension system, too.