Rest assured, a full trip report will be forthcoming, even though this particular trip hasn’t been a true motorbike trip.
Today, we’re in Sendai, and I rented a Honda Super Cub 110 for a few hours from Rental819 here in Sendai. An online reservation system (in English, even!) made the process really easy from our living room in Portland, a quick trip to AAA for international driving permits, and we were set.
Compared to my big BMW, at first the Super Cub was more than a little terrifying. Tiny wheels! Narrow tires! And not nearly the acceleration or braking power I’m accustomed to. For the first couple blocks, I had that Vietnam Top Gear episode in my head. The part where Jeremy Clarkson couldn’t pass his scooter test. Fortunately, the Super Cub is really, really easy to get used to. Before too long, I was zipping around, riding past the local university and a local driving school (which was really cool – we stopped to watch as both motorbikers and car drivers learned how to negotiate traffic on a closed course…together!) like a pro. I may have yelled ‘Woo hooooooo!’ as I crossed a bridge. And even better, I remembered to stay on the correct side of the road the entire time.
If you find yourself in Japan, and you fancy a motorbike or scooter ride, I highly recommend Rental819, and the Super Cub. I might have to get my hands on one, especially if the Cross Cub (in olive, please!) makes it to the states.
