Battery Bikes are common in Japan
The bicycle is probably the most common form of transportation in Japan. There are so many bicycles that finding a parking place for a bike can be a real problem. In some cases you may have to pay a fee to park a bike or walk a considerable distance after parking your bike.
Regular bikes are pretty cheap and a good one can be had for about $100.00 US. Battery bikes run about $600.00 and up. They are available in MANY places.
I chose the National Panasonic bike, because it looked sturdy and was not so expensive. I opted for the NiMH battery against advice that Lithium was the "only way to go". I have been quite satisfied with the NiMH battery, although you must completely discharge it before you can recharge. That is not a problem if you plan ahead.
It is so much fun to ride...not like a motorcycle, because you must still pedal. The battery "boosts" the energy provided by pedaling. You can climb a pretty steep hilll while sitting down and without beaking a sweat. You can go faster and further than an ordinary bike. There is still exercise value in it, just not as tiring.
Japan is a wonderful place for bikes, because of the traffic laws favoring bikers and ample room for bikes. Downtown you have to manouver through a sea of people, but you learn to do that pretty gracefully and people are pretty good about moving over especially if you sound a warning bell or horn.
The worst thing about the bike is that they tried to save money by using aluminum spokes. Most Japanese people are small and the bikes are built for them, not for us McDonaldized Americans. I wish I could get stainless steel spokes. The aluminum ones have broken twice and instead of simply replacing them, they send the whole bicycle to Osaka! It takes at least a month to get it repaired and back into my hands. Cost of repair? The first time was free, under warranty, but I don't know the final cost of this current repair...I won't get the bike back until mid-January. Phooey!
