"Elbow" <elbowcutthispartoutplease...@gol.com> wrote in message news:<2mmmq9Fo2qvbU1@uni-berlin.de>...
> Im in need of a motorbike for getting to work.

> Ive passed my test in the uk and I understand Im only allowed to ride up to
> 400cc, is this correct?

http://www.thejapanfaq.com/bikerfaq-classes.html

> Ive taken a liking to those big moped things but cant seem to find a website
> to let me know some prices in Yen, would it better to get a used one or just
> buy new?

New is expensive. Used is cheap. Given how many times I dropped my
bike in Japan, I'd say go used.

> Another point would I be able to buy it with a family members credit card
> issued in the UK. My mum is coming over and has offered to help me out using
> her credit card.

VISA/MC worked for me in Japan, though not at all shops.

> Are these bikes expensive?

There are plenty of bike shops on the web. Here's one:

http://www.scs-tokyo.co.jp/scs-keijiban/dspboard.cgi

goobike.com also seems like a pretty cool search tool...

> I know there is a very god street in Ueno so I may have to get my arse over
> there at some point, just wanted to know if anyone here has a bike like
> these and  if they think they are better than say getting a 'geared' bike.

Depends. If you are in a lot of traffic then an automatic is good
enough. If you're out in the sticks tho, I'd go for a real bike.
Though if you are in the city then maybe you should be taking the
train or bus instead, looking back on it I was lucky to survive my two
years of riding in Tokyo. The drivers are great but the chances for
getting into an accident are pretty immense.

The weather in Japan isn't really good for motorcycling though --
chances are it's going to be too hot, too cold, or too rainy to ride
enjoyably.  You may want to consider a crappy car instead.