Absolutely, I can recommend the place wholeheartedly: https://rb-fullthrottle.com/english/rental-index.html

Communication in English over email was quite fine. The owner doesn't really speak English but is very happy to make it work with a translation app. The shop is actually one stop down the north Shikoku train line, but they have a deal with a parking garage in downtown Takamatsu, happened to be very close to my hotel. He was there to deliver the bike at the prearranged time and go over the paperwork etc., and said I could just drop off the bike any time I wanted on the last day and give the keys to the parking attendant.

I'd rented a Kawa Z900RS Cafe Racer a few days earlier in Tokyo for a trip to the Izu peninsula with a local friend, and it was quite funny that the word in Japanese for the best grade of petrol is "hai-occu" - high octane - but it sounds like "hayaku" - hurry up! - so it felt quite rude to just say that to the gas station attendants when we stopped to fill up! Luckily the 250 took regular.

EDIT: Might as well mention my route, which I think is a fine two-day itinerary. I started south on route 438 to the Mount Tsurugi chairlift - about three hours, starting on calm country roads and then getting into some twisties - took the chairlift up and hiked to the peak of the mountain, took the back path down. Then headed west to Oku-Iya vine bridge - there is an entrance fee, and you can ride a wooden cart suspended across the river, although it was closed for repairs when I was there. So I continued to the Scarecrow Village - you can see most of it from the road, but I think there are a few accessible buildings including the old school - then on to Ochiai Village (aim for the observatory on the small road south of the river, rather than the main road or the village itself). Then went on to Iya Kankyo Ryokan - very reasonable rates for a Japanese-style single room and breakfast, big parking lot right across, and it was within walking distance of the Higashi-Iya Vine Bridge. It was closed by the time I got there, it was starting to get dark, so I just walked around the area without crossing the old bridge itself - glad I got to do it earlier with the other bridge!

Next day I went a bit further south down the Oboke Gorge to a place called Happyraft for some whitewater rafting. It was very fun and we absolutely did flip the raft on some rapids. Afterwards I went back up via the Old Route 32, the slowest national highway in all of Japan, past the Statue of the Peeing Boy - definitely worth stopping for a photo! - and then a late lunch in a grandma-run home cafe. That left me just enough time to rejoin the main road 319 back up to Takamatsu, drop off the bike, pick up my luggage and catch the next-to-last train west to Matsuyama.

I also have to say that Takamatsu town itself is very much worth a visit! It has one of Japan's top three public gardens (very affordable and infinitely less crowded than the other ones in touristy cities!) and Yashima mountain just east of the city center, an awesome hilltop plateau with an important place in Japanese medieval history. I would have definitely liked to stay in and around Takamatsu longer if I'd had the time.

I remember your trip now.

The ADV150 is highly underated IMO. I had a very abused one in Java and loved it.

October / November are good times for southern Honshu/Shikoku/Kyushu I reckon.

I didnt know about full throttle rentals ( https://rb-fullthrottle.com/english/rental-index.html )

Damn good value.

AnTyx,

Thanks for the info. I have bookmarked the shop for my future use.

Japan is indeed a great place to tour on a bike.

So many places still to visit in Japan that I have hardly scratched the surface. However it is on the expensive side for me for the accommodation and bike rental as I am from a developing country and currency is weak.

I have considered buying a bike in Japan and keeping it at my brother's place to save the bike rental cost over the long term but his home is so tiny that it barely fits his mini car and I don't want to inconvenience him.
And I have not even taken into account the insurance and other legalities to keep the bike on the road. So even if i could keep the bike in Japan I have not done the sum to determine if it is worthwhile.

HomersGSA,

Yes, I agree. Bloody good bike it is the Honda ADV150!
I did have a small annoying thing with the ADV150. Whenever I let go of my hands from the handlebar, it would wobble like it had a tank slapper.

I texted the bike rental and was told that they said it is happens on the ADV150 for some reason. They have 2 units and both have this wobble. Just told me to not to ride hands free. LOL

Yes, October/November is a good time for Honshu region with very pleasant weather but I will need to make sure I layer up enough and will need a true winter glove. I only used a Astars mid season WP glove and I wish I had heated grips and/or a handguard to block the wind!

I was wondering when someone was going to mention Long Way Round in this thread. Surprisingly, it took a while.

I think Long Way Around turned out to be one of those marketing events that returned a million percent on what BMW invested. The R1200gs turned into the most sold big bike in its segment in North American, Europe, Asia, and South America.

Since the 1950's I think motorcyclist's have been addicted to getting the next year's edition bike with 50 cc more displacement. I think that trend continued up until 1200 cc's. In my opinion BMW sold R1200's to everyone who wanted one. That customer might have bought up to 2 R1200's but like other's have mentioned, the R1200 is a great bike on the highway, or a great 2 up bike, but isn't really suitable for off road other than riding off the highway and onto the dirt to get to your tent spot. I think a lot of R1200 guy's decided to downsize in cc's because they are getting older and the R1200 is a heavy and tall bike.

Another factor is declining economic opportunities in Western societies. I think the West kind of shot itself in the foot with allowing capitalism to run away with itself. The erosion of the middle class is changing discretionary income purchases like 1200cc motorcycles. Most people who own 1200cc motorcycles hardly ever put any miles on them anyway.

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http://www.journeyrider.net Latin America blog (07-8)

If we are talking about the UK most people don't put many miles on their bikes full stop regardless of the cc . Manufacturers repeatably put more and more tech on their bike........most riders either don't use it or have no idea what it does . If I got a tenner for every tft dash I've set up for customers i could retire . This pushes up the bikes price........obviously . It got to the point that traders wouldn't take in the V4 Mutleys.......no one could insure them . Bikes are in truth an expensive hobby......as much as I love them , mine would b the first to go if things got tight .

Couple of things.

Pick the correct tool for the job. Here in Australia 60% of our roads are dirt, which is over 550’000 kms ….. (like 300k miles?)

And most of your big cc bikes, GS, AT, Vstrom, super tenere etc are usually sold with reasonably high mileage. Simply because for touring here they make sense.

Like my low mileage GSA

Which I sold, for the very reason you suggest - too heavy with a knee replacement. But gosh darn i miss it.

@Homers GSA,

I miss my Tiger 800. Tiger 800 are top heavy and with my back bad I had to get a lighter bike.
And lighter means smaller cc too.

And I do all my long distances touring overseas where I fly and ride. All all the bike rentals are smaller bikes anyway.

I think the R1200 is a neat bike to experience owning. I had 3 R1200 gsa's back when they came out, but I only bought them to flip. If I had the money to have more than 1 bike than I would probably buy one. I got to ride one of them through the Rocky Mountains on the highway and it was a memorable experience. But, it only gets 40 mpg, is a tall bike, weighs over 230 kilos, has the final drive reliability issue, probably is hard to ride 2 up with how tall it is, I have knee problems too and don't think I would buy another one because of that.

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http://www.journeyrider.net Latin America blog (07-8)