Black Bear Brand JAPAN motorcycle ride 2022

After nearly 3 years... I'm back in Kyushu Japan to ride with my friends! It’s my 10th trip to Japan. I speak almost no Japanese... I travel alone. I remember my first trip with vivid clarity. I was so naive and didn't even think about the language barrier as I navigated this foreign place; my excitement and curiosity overpowered everything; I gave no shits in every awkward moment. I had a huge smile no matter what was happening. I said yes to everything. It changed me.

I arrived at Free Way Custom Motorcycles greeted by close friend and master bike builder Kenichi Mizutani. We caught up like family that hadn’t seen each other in years, joking, laughing; they asked about my new designs, jackets, boots, etc. I showed them everything that Black Bear Brand has coming and gave my ceremonial gifts to my friends. Following our greeting ritual, we walked the shop and talked about their current motorcycle projects and Kenichi presented me with a restored 1940 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead that would be my bike for the next two days. I couldn’t help but feel lucky to be here with Kenichi. I love motorcycles; I ride my motorcycle nearly every day, year-round. I’ve fallen in love with old motorcycles, they ignite my creativity and passion to explore. The craftsmanship found in Japan is second to none. The meticulous attention to craft found there is easy to fall in love with. What I design and produce is powered by these same specificities. The fabrics, leather work, food and of course motorcycles in Japan are a celebration of all the things I cherish!

While in Japan I'm in sensory overload; a collision of the unknown and beauty.
The day of our ride began at 7:30 a.m. About 15 of us met up at Free Way, some of my friends having traveled more than 400 km from Kobe. By 8 o’clock we were off. As a large group we roared through the city. The sound of 20 vintage Harley-Davidsons is powerful; it shakes your insides. The sight of us is intoxicating; folks on their daily morning routine stop from the sound and sight and wave as we ride by. I’m instantly lost in the moment as we put Oita behind us and enter the winding road into the countryside toward the mountains. My insides are smiling. I’m in heaven. It was like a dream to be taking in these sights on this 1940 Knucklehead.

This ride produced sensory overload in the best way, from every direction:
-- Shifting the 80-year-old transmission
-- Accelerating through lush nature and up into the mountains
-- Arriving at the coast where the pristine skyline goes on forever.

The countryside of Japan is heaven... this video provides a peek into the day! Join me as we ride...

Exploring is the ultimate tool in my quest to evolve. Kinship through the soulful history that is the essence of artful, vintage machines feeds my soul. Design is personal and should be uncompromising in its passion; what we design and make should be special. As this adventure concludes, and I begin my journey home, I smile; I’ve fallen in love again. As they say in Japan, I will see you again when I return.

video created in collaboration with by my pal: Peter ピーさんチャンネル
all the bikes built by: FreeWay Custom Cycles (Oita, Japan)