Bike ETC Unit

[Jav]

Have been using a Kei car etc unit for a year or so and now that there are cheaper units on auction.
will probably buy a bike unit or two. These JRM bike units are 21,000 new and 3150 to register to a
bike", so 24500 new. Anyone have one? Are they any good?

I did a google Japan search and they seem to be really popular with Japanese riders.

[Twinrider]

I had one and they work fine. The only real downside is that they're in plain sight and don't lock so you need to remove your ETC card every time you park in public.

Now though there are aftermarket covers for them that it appears you could put a lock through.
http://page21.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/j...882#enlargeimg

Same cover on rakuten.
http://item.rakuten.co.jp/ap-murase/nsme001/

The only other potential negative that comes to mind is that they'd be easier to damage in an accident or be vandalized compared to one tucked away under the seat or some other less exposed place.

[Fastbike]

out of sight under the seat is best... you would be pissed if somebody nicked with your card and have to pay the full tolls heading back to tokyo..

[Jav]

It is catch 22. If I go with the unit with remote antenna, I cannot change it between bikes, but as you say it is more secure ( unless the bike is stolen ).
If i go the above route, it is less secure but can transfer easily between bikes. I was going to get two and share them between 4 bikes.

[Fastbike]

you could wire that to fit in your pocket.. then you would only need one unit... worth a try to see if the toll gate will open..

or a very small 12volt battery then you need no wire's

[Twinrider]

I may be wrong but it seems that the disadvantages (50,000 yen cost for two, rigging up mounts for four bikes, wiring up portable power cables to the units, buying anti-theft covers) would outweigh the one advantage over a kei ETC unit: the visible green light.

[Jav]

Also, the Kei unit is not waterproof, which is a big headache trying to keep it away from the rain. I tried mounting it in the Givi box, but the Givi
power connector is not so good, so it often breaks and makes contact and that causes the ETC to crash and one time cause my card to fail.

[Twinrider]

That's true. I always kept mine in a tank bag.

Probably would be easy enough to rig up a waterproof case along the lines of this.



http://page2.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/b106813336

[Jav]

The tank bag would work for the 999 and Harley. So if I can find a buyer for the DRZ then, I could mount one on the KTM and be a happy camper.
Might strip the parts of the DRZ soon and sell them and the bike separate.

[G-Man]

The big advantage with a bike unit is being able to register for points. The refunds soon cover the cost of the unit.

I have one underseat bike unit and one movable kei-car unit which sits behind the screen on the KTM, or in my pocket on the Vespa. Although it's exposed on the KTM, it's no more bother to remove the card than take out the ignition key.

[Twinrider]

Maybe I'm just used to turning off the key and pulling it out in one smooth motion because it never even occured to me to compare it to the chore of having to remove and reinsert the ETC card every time I got off/on my GS. Of course, when I had a kei car unit stashed in my tank bag I didn't bother since it was basically hidden.

In any case, I recommend the underseat units, if only because it's one less thing taking up real estate on the handlebar (in addtion to a gps) and you can basically forget about it on rides. I see they're on Yahoo auction for as little as 25,000 now.

[Jav]

4 bikes and 3 cars..................... too many etc cards required.

[Twinrider]

Surely not for a man of your means...

[rdkng103]

4 bikes and 3 cars..................... too many etc cards required.

I've got it in both my cars and on both my bikes but when I asked JCB for a second ETC card they refused and said that if I wanted a second card I would have to open a separate (second) Credit Card Account to get it. I love Japan, I love Japn, I love Japan...........

[JamesK]

I remember reading as long ago as a couple of years back that the Kei ETC units on bikes would be illegal, I guess the authorities changed their mind since you guys are still using them.
Also curious, why bother with the fancy waterproof boxes, what's wrong with a simple Ziploc bag to keep the unit water proof.
Another thing i remember from a few years back is that many Kei car units supported an external antenna, surely using one of these units would address both issues, portability and and security?