If you obtain Regular Motorcycle license, you can also ride with someone on the bike. However, certain conditions must be met in order to ride with someone on the bike.

Basically, you can't ride with someone on the back for one year after getting Regular Motorcycle license. If you violate this rule, you will be penalized with points and fines, so be careful.

This article will explain in detail the laws and regulations related to riding two people on a motorcycle. We will also explain the precautions to take when riding two people on a motorcycle, so please follow the rules and ride safely.

[By case] Laws and regulations related to riding two people on a motorcycle

The conditions for riding two people on a motorcycle differ between ordinary roads and expressways. It is important to understand them in advance.

Conditions for two-seater	General road	highway
Driver's age	None	Over 20 years old
Years of experience	over 1 year	3+ years
displacement	Over 50cc	Over 125cc

In case of general road

On public roads such as national and prefectural roads, two-seaters are permitted on motorcycles with an engine displacement of 50cc or more, and if the driver has held a motorcycle license for more than one year. If two-seaters are to ride on a motorcycle, they must meet the conditions of both the number of years of driver experience and the engine displacement of the motorcycle.

[Driver] More than one year since obtaining license

Two-seaters on public roads are only allowed if the driver has had a motorcycle license for at least one year, or if more than one year has passed in total. A motorcycle license refers to Regular Motorcycle license, including small-size limited licenses, or Heavy Motorcycle license.

The number of years of experience is not limited to one motorcycle license, but it is fine as long as you have at least one year of other motorcycle licenses. For example, if you are riding two people on Heavy Motorcycle, if you have had Regular Motorcycle license for more than one year, you can ride two people on Heavy Motorcycle license.

If you violate this law, you will be charged with violating the riding rules for large motorcycles, etc., and will be subject to two violation points or a fine of 12,000 yen.

[Motorcycle] Engine displacement over 50cc

Two-seaters on public roads are limited to motorcycles with an engine displacement of 51cc or more. Therefore, two-seaters are not permitted on motorcycles with an engine displacement of 50cc or less that can be driven with a small motorcycle license or higher.

Type of license	The engine displacement of the motorcycle that can be driven
motorized bicycle	50cc or less
Small-sized motorcycle license	125cc or less
Regular Motorcycle license	400cc or less
Heavy Motorcycle license	401cc or more

On the other hand, a moped license only allows you to drive a bike with an engine displacement of 50cc or less, so you cannot ride with someone on the bike even if you have had the license for over a year. The Road Traffic Act stipulates that a moped can only carry one person, so riding with someone on the bike is prohibited in the first place.

If you violate this rule, you will be charged with riding over capacity and will be given one violation point or a fine of 6,000 yen.

On expressways

On motorways and expressways, tandem riding is permitted on motorcycles with an engine displacement of 125cc or more, if the driver has held a motorcycle license for more than three years and is over the age of 20. Please note that even if the driver has more than three years of driving experience on a motorcycle with an engine displacement of 125cc or more, if the driver is under the age of 20, tandem riding is not permitted.

[Driver] More than 3 years since obtaining a driver's license

On expressways and motorways, two-seater riding is permitted if the driver has had a motorcycle license for more than three years. However, the motorcycle license must be Regular Motorcycle license or Heavy Motorcycle license.

Therefore, even if you have had a moped license and a small-size motorcycle license for more than three years, you cannot ride double on a motorway or expressway. If you violate the rules, you will be charged with violating the riding method of large motor vehicles and motorcycles, and will be given two violation points or a fine of 12,000 yen.

[Driver] 20 years of age or older

On expressways and highways, passenger occupancy is prohibited unless the driver is 20 years of age or older.

Anyone over the age of 16 can obtain a motorcycle license other than Heavy Motorcycle license. However, even if it has been more than three years since you obtained a small-size motorcycle license or Regular Motorcycle license, you cannot ride double if you do not meet the age requirement.

If you violate the law, you will be charged with a violation of the riding rules for large motorcycles, etc., and will be penalized with two violation points or a fine of 12,000 yen. However, there is no age limit for passengers.

[Motorcycle] Displacement over 125cc

The only motorcycles that can carry two people on motor vehicles only or on expressways are those with an engine displacement of over 125cc and a passenger capacity of two. Therefore, it is not possible to carry two people on motor vehicles only or on expressways if the engine displacement is 125cc or less.

Some motorcycles, even if they have an engine displacement of over 125cc, have a rider capacity of only one person, so if you plan to ride with someone else, you must check in advance. If you violate this rule, you will be charged with a road ban and will be penalized with two violation points or a fine of 6,000 yen.

Motorcycle riding skills based on the characteristics of two-seaters

It is said that riding a motorcycle with someone on it is more difficult than riding alone, and if you lose balance and fall, there is a risk of a serious accident. Therefore, when riding with someone on it, it is important to acquire driving skills that take into account the characteristics of the motorcycle.

When riding a motorcycle with someone else, the passenger's weight is added, so care must be taken to keep the center of gravity as close to the center as possible and to operate the accelerator gently. Here are some points to keep in mind when riding a motorcycle with someone else safely:

• Step on the step and then straddle
• Press the accelerator and brake gently
• Slow down properly before entering a curve
• Take frequent breaks, etc.

When riding with someone on top of you, there are some things that both the driver and the passenger need to be careful about. For example, when sitting in the pillion seat, the passenger needs to keep their posture constant so as not to interfere with the driver's driving, and when approaching a curve, they need to adjust their posture according to the driver's movements.

Let's enjoy tandem touring by sharing a riding style that takes into account the characteristics of two-seater riding between the driver and the passenger.

Can I ride a bike with my child?

There are no restrictions on whether the passenger has a driver's license, age, or weight, so it is possible to ride with a child on a motorcycle. However, the Road Traffic Act requires that passengers, whether adults or children, wear motorcycle helmets.

Furthermore, when riding with someone on top of you, it is considered safe to be able to place your feet on the pillion step. The passenger on the motorcycle must sit correctly on the pillion seat.

Children are also prohibited from riding in front of the driver or on the driver's back, as there is a risk of them falling asleep and falling off the bike. Also, small children who cannot wear helmets cannot fulfill the above obligations, so it would be difficult to ride two people on a motorcycle.

Things to be aware of when riding double on a motorcycle

In addition to driving skills, there are a few other things you need to be careful of when riding with someone. Always wear a helmet in case of an accident, and choose clothing that exposes as little as possible.

Always wear a helmet

The Road Traffic Act requires that you wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle. Furthermore, the helmet you wear must meet the standards set out in the Road Traffic Act. The helmet standards are as follows:

• Having sufficient visibility to the left, right, top and bottom
• The eaves must not droop due to wind pressure and obstruct visibility.
• The structure must not significantly impair hearing.
• The helmet has shock absorption properties and is penetration resistant.
• Have a chin strap that can be fixed so that it does not come off easily due to impact
• Weight is less than 2 kilograms
• The structure must not be such that it could cause injury to the human body.

As long as it meets the above standards, half-type helmets, so-called "half helmets," are okay. Also, although the Road Traffic Act requires shock absorption and penetration resistance, no specific values are given.

Therefore, be sure to check the product in person and choose a safer helmet.

*Source: Road Traffic Act Enforcement Regulations "Chapter 2, Section 3: Obligations of Drivers of Motor Vehicles, etc."

There are some sections that are impassable.

Be careful, there are some sections of roads where riding two people on the same bike is prohibited. For example, on the Metropolitan Expressway, riding two people on a bike is prohibited on the entire central Tokyo Circular Route and on some sections of Route 1 Haneda Line.

Be sure to check the signs posted before or at the start of areas where double riding is prohibited. If you violate the rules, you will be charged with a no-entry violation and will be given two violation points or a fine of 6,000 yen. You may also be subject to criminal penalties of up to 100,000 yen.

Choose less revealing clothing

The Road Traffic Act does not specify rules regarding clothing when riding with a passenger. However, in case of an accident, you should wear long sleeves, long trousers, gloves, etc. to reduce exposed skin as much as possible.

Another option is to wear protective gear to protect your body from impacts in the event of a fall. There are many different types of protective gear available, so be sure to choose one that is suitable for you and your passengers.

Once you get Regular Motorcycle license, you can enjoy riding with someone while following the laws.

Immediately after obtaining Regular Motorcycle license, you may not be allowed to ride with someone on your bike. Violating the rules will result in penalty points and fines, so it is important to check the conditions before riding with someone on your bike. The conditions for riding with someone on your bike differ between regular roads and expressways.

Also, because more weight is placed on the bike when riding with someone else than when riding alone, you need to have the proper riding skills to ride safely. Follow the rules for riding with someone else and enjoy tandem touring.