No more Mooneyes show in Japan because of bikes?

[stratocaster]

I just read on the H.A.M.B. that loud bikes could stop the continuance of the Mooneyes show in Japan. The show has been given an ultimatum as surrounding hi rise apartment dwellers have had it with the bikers at the outdoor show with their loud pipes and rowdy behavior. There is talk of a plan to eliminate parking for any motorcycles in the vicinity the day of the show. No more bikes! I bet Japanese lawmakers will have some meetings very soon.

[Dr. Benway]

I understand those guys pay a lot to get those bikes registered there, but otherwise it appears that anything goes in terms of modifications, looooong front ends, pipes, etc.

This could turn all that around for them if this makes bikes show up on the radar and causes restrictive legislation come down.

[richbob]

loud pipes saves lives...

[old.wrench]

I'm not familiar with the situation surrounding the Mooneyes show, but I suppose that Japanese politics are not too different from American politics. When you consider that real estate is at a premium in Tokyo (very expensive), and generally, when you start pissing off the wealthy, the usual response is a crackdown by law enforcement.
I don't know if there is any organization similar to A.B.A.T.E. in Japan, but here in the U.S. we've had a lot of success over the years with pushing lawmakers to recognize us as a species. When you compare how motorcyclists are treated today versus 40 -45 years ago, the difference is like night and day.

Geo.

[geezer2]

They're f__ked!!

[CRAZYBEN]

Sounds pretty craptastic

[RidingHood]

My understanding is There is a special clause that allows bikes involved in the show to ride in on set up day and also leave on the close of show day .Some exhibitors Ride to the show on their bikes to display them.It is just no spectator bikes within what seems to be a very large area on the days in question .(shame really as half the fun was checking out the parking lot show)
Here from the mooneyes blog:
This year, we have included the tagline “Be Calm Not Loud” signifying our efforts to get everyone to work together and keep the noise level outside of the event area to a minimum. Over the years, the surrounding area of Pacifico Yokohama has developed into skyscraping condominiums in close proximity. Basically, any all types of noise bounces off the buildings and echos up. On any day of the week, there is a typical level of noise that travels throughout the neighborhood. Any “vehicle” related event tends to draw in “vehicle” related enthusiasts. So when residents hear, oddly enough, more noise than usual, they look towards the source of the noise. This has caused a lot of pressure on the convention hall. As a result, we have lost the basement parking area of the Pacifico Yokohama which as been a significant part for HCS goers over the years where hundreds of motorcycles would park. Initially, having an underground parking lot was the ideal place to keep the noise down outside but that didn’t work. So this year, we would like to make efforts to keep the noise pollution to a minimum. This year’s event will most likely affect next year (2015) so it all depends on us. Thank you for your support! Be Calm Not Loud.

[Daddy Boy]

Alarms would be better tuned these days I reckon.
I'm tellin' an old story about the time a a bro who was staying at the upstairs residence in Puckle St. Moonee Ponds Melb. We were riding home from the pub in the wee hrs and he says to me at the red light, "Lets drag!!" Thru the shops on each side of the road, all 2 storey.
We sat upstairs on the balcony with a beer and a J and laughed and listened to the shop alarms going off in the street below. Life was simple then, now everyone has a whinge for no reason. I bet most of the high rise dwellers would like to change places with those FREEDOM DUDES down below..even though they complain about 'em. Only the men would complain eh.
Anyway I'm fucked if I know. Move Mooneyes to outback Australia with Mick Taylor as MC, we wouldn't have anyone whingin' then. Just jokin.....

[Okie Pete]

Sounds like a land grab thing. They put enough pressure on events the building gets shut down , tore down , build more high rises .
The event is just for a few days , maybe they should invite the high rise dwellers with a few free passes . Educate them on what is happening during the show.

[old.wrench]

That piece that RidingHood posted up from the Mooneyes blog says it all.

If we don't work together and among ourselves to protect what we have (in this case parking rights for motorcycles) somebody else is going to want to take it away from us. Mooneyes sounds like a pretty cool show, and it's a shame to see any restrictions put on it, but if it's a problem of a few jack-offs revving their motors, maybe it's time to grab those jack-offs by the ear and explain the situation to them .

Geo.

[Dr. Benway]

Well, wanting to play the part of a badass outlaw biker plays into this as well. It's all fun until you start getting treated like one, suddenly it's not so appealing anymore.

Thumbing your nose at the Man or whatever is one thing, but once you get a few hundred guys doing it, you become a target.

[kickstarts]

Move the venue?

[lilbill]

Originally Posted by Dr. Benway

Well, wanting to play the part of a badass outlaw biker plays into this as well. It's all fun until you start getting treated like one, suddenly it's not so appealing anymore.

Thumbing your nose at the Man or whatever is one thing, but once you get a few hundred guys doing it, you become a target.

big 10-4 on that doc. guys that grew up in the new "bikers welcome" society that blasts around town with their bad boy costumes on full skull have no concept of the iron boot that is waiting in the wings to return.

barney fife was bad enough back in the day, now you got storm troopers with drones and assault weapons with a sprinkling of ptsd and 'roid rage thrown in. strut your shit too strong and they'll send you home in a tomato can.

[twistedtee]

I agree, the good doctor and lil'Bill are spot on with their points. Like Bob Dylan sang, "how does it feel "
Jerry
Rhode Island

[JAWS]

Meh,

Live and learn. Can't relay something in history to someone who can't relate.

Like the reliance of handwritten notes and letters to current generation. They know about it and get it in theory.

[AusAndrew]

Dammit. Booked flights last week, was nearly looking forward to the car park the most.

[RidingHood]

AusAndrew,
Mate you will be so blown away by the show ,so dont be getting too anxious ,there is so much to see and absorb that I usually go for a walk to a shopping mall just to clear the head at lunch time. Last year there were 650 bikes on display .Spend a minute looking at each bike thats a day gone by and you havent done the cars ,the art , the trade displays etc .

Here is a bit explaining more of the situation by the boss of Mooneyes, from a mooneyes newsletter (the last paragraph explaining it in Cultural terms is probably the best statement of what is going down ,Japan is not So Cal):

finally received an “approval with conditions” (details below) from the convention hall side (Pacifico Yokohama) for the date of December 7, 2014 (Sunday). Now we can officially announce the date along with the conditions we need to meet. The conditions we have to meet for holding the event seem more like high school regulations. However, the convention hall has been dealing with complaints from around the area for a long time and we were told it has reached its limit. The question now is how much longer it can go on and this year they gave us the ultimatum, “If there are complaints this year, next year will not be possible” which is our final warning.

We have made every effort to make things happen but the final result is that “motorcycles will not be allowed to drive to the convention hall on that day and there will not be any parking available for bikes”. We checked with other parking lots nearby and none of them are available.
Perhaps we planted this seed and over time the results is “If this year’s show is too loud, it’s over” but it still feels like returning to high school.
It’s now up to us, as the organizer of this event, whether we are able to continue next year or not. The decision also hangs on the spectators that will attend the show.
The continuation (after this year) of our show is on the line and we are all standing on this edge together.
MOONEYES can only to so much to make it happen but in reality it will come down to how conscious participants and spectators are about the situation and about the future of the show. We ask that everyone spread the word and hope we can all make it happen together.
Thank you for all your support.

Consider the general public for a moment that don’t know about this custom culture and lifestyle we live in. To them, modifying or customizing cars and bikes is illegal. Therefore it’s related to outlaw behavior. They most likely don’t want the show/event to take place. For us, these shows and events are mandatory. This is part of our culture and lifestyle. If there is something fun (for one group), there will always be outside pressure (from another group) to shut it down. We must look for the right way to continue our fun and what we believe in.

Shige Suganuma

Postscript:
This is not an isolated incident in Japan. It happens all over the world.
Let’s do our part to handle the situation.

#mooneyes #hcs2014 #becalmnotloud

[richbob]

Originally Posted by kickstarts

Move the venue?

exactly

[Neo Dutch]

Do a bikes only show elsewhere.