2022.10.18

About Japan’s Favorite Japanese Motorcycle Apparel Makers

Kaoru Sugiura

As you probably know, there are many famous motorcycle manufacturers in Japan, including Honda and Yamaha.

In addition to motorcycle manufacturers, there are also many famous motorcycle-related apparel makers.

In this article, we would like to introduce three of these famous Japanese motorcycle manufacturers.

KUSHITANI

First, I would like to introduce a manufacturer called Kushitani.

Kushitani is a manufacturer of mature and high-quality motorcycle apparel and gloves.

They are mainly worn by people who ride classic and adventure bikes.

Kushitani is known as one of the most expensive motorcycle apparel makers and is highly coveted among riders.

Hyod

Hyod is the preferred manufacturer for sportbike riders.

It is characterized by its distinctive orange coloring.

They also sell general jackets and pants, but their most distinctive feature is probably their racing suits.

The orange coloring gives the impression that it is often worn by riders of KTM motorcycles.

Not surprisingly, Kushitani and Hyod are located in the same city of Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Incidentally, Hamamatsu City is where Suzuki is headquartered and where Honda’s founder, Soichiro Honda, was born.

Yamaha is located in Iwata City next to Hamamatsu City.

KOMINE

KOMINE is a motorcycle clothing manufacturer with a long history.

Until around the 1970s, the company sold motorcycle parts, but in recent years, it has become famous as a value-priced motorcycle apparel manufacturer.

While Kushitani and Hyod jackets cost around 40,000 yen (about $450), Komine’s jackets with built-in sturdy protectors can be purchased for as little as 15,000 yen ($170).

The protector built into Komine jackets has a reputation for its protective performance, and Amazon reviews and other reviews are lined with happy comments from people who have been in traffic accidents but escaped with only minor injuries.

For this reason, they are popular mainly among fathers raising children, beginners, and travelers whose clothing becomes a consumable item as they travel long distances.

Although it has improved over the past few years, Komine has long had a reputation for being cheap but poorly designed. It became popular to call a person who wears a jacket and is fully clothed in komine “KOMINE-MAN” because he looks like a Power Ranger.