BMW K 1600 B Bagger

Japanese motorcycles are among the best-kept in the world.

In Japan a motorcycle must pass the shaken (車検) every two years, a mandatory inspection that goes far beyond the Dutch APK. Brakes, frame, play, leaks, exhaust, lights and more than 100 points in total are thoroughly checked one by one; without a pass, the bike is not allowed on the road. The inspection is costly too, so deferred maintenance simply does not exist: Japanese owners keep their machines in meticulous shape and ride them sparingly. The result: low mileage, complete history and hardware still the way the factory intended.

In Japan a bike cannot simply be parked on the street either, so it is almost always stored under cover. That is why Japanese motorcycles are generally far cleaner than European ones, without rust or corrosion.