Bringing stuff back from Japan, Bike shops. NJS track frame?!

tokyo fixed gear?

http://www.londonfgss.com/post36665-39.html.

A new on that had opened since my last visit was Dreamworks

1F Eden Bldg. 11-11 shinsencho Shibuya-ku Tokyo
Tel 03-6416-1050

Small place but the guy (Kazu Adachi) is modding parts and making some unique stuff.

xsheepx, get your self out to koenji and to Inkrat tattoo while you are there. i swear Hata is the best tattooist. jump on the chuo line and head a couple of stops out from nakano. do it.

xsheepx, get your self out to koenji and to Inkrat tattoo while you are there. i swear Hata is the best tattooist. jump on the chuo line and head a couple of stops out from nakano. do it.

Dude I am currently being anihilated by hata right now. Words of advice: never ever get you ribs done. I am in so much pain I can't sit still.

Thanks for the links, will check them out!

say hi to hata from me. he's doing me (ooer) at the london convention. so stoked. i squirmed like a little girl when he did my upper back. i'll take your advice on the rib though i reckon. :)

Will do! He mentioned he's coming over soon... Trying to convince him to find me a bike & take me out riding...

Will do! He mentioned he's coming over soon... Trying to convince him to find me a bike & take me out riding...

sheep as in HAT?

tokyo fixed gear?

You'd have a job, it's in London

Do you suppose there's a 'london-fixed-gear' in Tokyo then?? ;)

sheep as in HAT?

as in honour among thieves? then yes, that would be me.

Am currently travelling through Japan and am hoping to pick up a frame in Osaka before I fly out - any recents tips are appreciated.

I have a grasp of the language which hopefully will come in handy. On the train from the airport I was chatting to the person next to me and he said his friend runs a skate and fixed gear shop called Taz Tokyo in Tokyo of course. Will let you know how it is.

Go and see Gabe (NJS Export).

if you can you should pick up the new edition of loop magazine, it currently features the recommended shops in tokyo and osaka, you can also see rene at gira gira chariya or tracksupermarket

Only managed to make it to Blue Lug and Carnival in Tokyo. Had a look at all the frames but it was pretty much all foreign frames. Did try to visit Punch but alas it was closed on a Monday. I had tried to go the day before but got distracted by a Japanese ceremony at Asakusa where they offered me drinks that turned out be very alcoholic.

Fingers crossed I can get something in Osaka, mind you I think it will take me over my luggage allowance. Will UK customs also hit me up when I get back?

All back from travels and thought I'd give an update on what I found.

Went to loads of shops in Tokyo and the only one I went to that was open at the time and had ex-Keirin frames was Dreamworks (see http://prollyisnotprobably.com/2009/10/tokyo_bike_shop_dreamworks.php). The frames were £550 upwards, a tad more than I planned to spend so I gave it a miss given my luggage was nearly at limit already.

The rest of the shops I went in Tokyo had mostly European and US frames, costing much more than over here. Even saw some Shop 14 frames at Geek Garage going for almost £1000. As others have mentioned perhaps the best strategy is to bring a European frame over to Japan and do a trade.

At Osaka I only went to Gira Gira, which had two frames in my size but they were even more at around £750+. Spoke to the Australian guy there and he said the days of cheap frames were over, even on Yahoo Auctions.

Whilst in Osaka, I traveled to Kishiwada to see the keirin races. Interesting experience as I was the only foreigner and the only person not gambling. Dirt cheap to get in but not the best view of the riders as there is a wire fence around the track.

How much is a 14 frame? £400-500.
If you can nigh on double your money on that then you could easy pick a keiren frame and have some beer money left over..

Definitely though lining up the trade wouldn't be easy unless you could speak some Japanese.

if it was me going back i'd bring a uk frame bob jackson, mercian or some vintage british frame and do a swap with someone over there. like someone says foreign = exotic.

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Was there in october, both Osaka and Tokyo for just over a month. Everywhere ( big name shops) were full of crashed and really rusty frames, all asking at least 40000Y. The only bargains seemed to be in buying used parts- njs stems, Pedals, bars
ect. Onenight I went to a CustomStar night in Osaka (kind of 'vote for the nicest / most expensive ride' competition / clubnight. There was someone there with a fairly ordinary 80s bob Jackson conversion, and everyone was going nuts for it.

Soooo, apart from Gira Gira, are there any other bike shops worth visiting in Osaka?

in Osaka? nope. There are two other shops i know of, in the Shinsaibashi/Amemura area.

A lovely shop in Kyoto though.. hard to explain how to get there though.

When are you coming? I live in Kobe

Hello all,

I have the possibility to go to japan for a few weeks next month and was thinking of bringing some stuff back with the intention off flogging it to help cover the cost of the trip :D

Was wondering if anyone had any up to date information about the current situation with Japanese bike stuff and its demand over here.. I know there was a point a while back when njs track frames where selling over there for a few hundred quid and over here for more like £500

This doesn't seem to be the case any more? was wondering if there are other things people desire from japan?

Also any bike shop recommendations or similar information would much appreciated

Thanks,

Dude search for Tokyo bike shops on here, there's a thread by build which lists some Tokyo shops, you won't find any great bargains out there, exchange currently is in their favor and you have to know people to get good stuff for less than Market value.

Good luck

http://tracksupermarket.com/
this is a really good shop that ive ordered loads of stuff from before, and its still cheaper than over here after shipping and tax. the website has the address and i assume they speak english from the emails ive received from them before. also great selection of entirely japanese made parts, loads of them njs.

There is a japanese magazine called "LOOP".

http://www.loopmagazine.jp/

This has articles about all the bike shops that specialize in different areas of the bike market.Go into a decent magazine shop in Tokyo and you should be able to buy/look at back issues with specific bicyle shop details.

All the main bike shops in Tokyo are small affairs but they might be good for picking
up their own custom made items.

RE - Track supermarket is in Osaka.

You could source a used frame from an online retailer and then collect instore-
Send me a PM if you need some direction on that.

James