Category: Twistybutt

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Thanks to all those who registered and sent messages wanting to do the autumn/fall Chubu C2C. Sorry we can’t do it.

Unfortunately, we are too few. So, let’s try again next year and hopefully we’ll get the numbers to get this great ride rolling again.

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What is a Twistybutt Ride?

A Twistybutt is an endurance-style motorcycle event designed specifically for spirited riders who want to hone their cornering skills, build long-distance stamina, get to know their bikes intimately, and experience the best backroads Japan has to offer.
Unlike traditional long-distance endurance rides that focus on grinding out flat highway kilometers, a Twistybutt is all about technical riding. It tests a rider’s physical and mental endurance by stringing together endless technical mountain passes (touge), sharp hairpins, elevation shifts, and flowy secondary roads—with zero highway miles.

Origins & The Annual Tradition

  • Where It Began: The original concept was born in the spring of 2011 as a continuous, single-day transit across the main island of Honshu—starting on the Pacific Ocean at sunrise and ending at the Sea of Japan by sunset.
  • The Spring Coast to Coast Twistybutt: To commemorate where it all started, Touge Express hosts its flagship annual event: “The Spring Coast to Coast Twistybutt“. This classic run spans 500+ km from Kanagawa’s Sagami Bay up to the coast of Niigata, crossing through some of Japan’s highest paved mountain roads.
  • Beyond Coast-to-Coast: While the C2C remains the benchmark, Twistybutt events are not limited to coast-to-coast paths. The same core spirit is applied to deep regional mountain loops, multi-prefecture traverses, and inland high-elevation routes.

Core Principles

  • The Ultimate Saddle Challenge: It earns the “butt” in its name through sheer hours in the saddle—typically 10 to 14+ hours of non-stop shifting, leaning, and weight transfer through thousands of corners rather than passive cruising.
  • Independent & Self-Reliant: A Twistybutt is not a parade, a race, or a follow-the-leader pack ride. Riders navigate at their own pace, handle their own stops, and take 100% responsibility for their own safety, machine, and pacing.
  • A Community Event, Not a Competition: While riders travel independently or in small pairings, everyone shares the same journey. The day finishes with riders gathering at the end destination to share route stories, grab local food, soak in an onsen, and celebrate a hard day’s ride.

Collectibles, Gear & Fueling the Legacy

  • Unique Event Stickers: Every ride features popular, custom-designed event stickers that participants proudly collect and display on their bikes, helmets, and gear as badges of honor.
  • T-Shirts & Apparel: Occasional event t-shirt sales give riders a chance to wear the spirit of the ride off the bike.
  • Supporting the Mission: Proceeds from apparel and gear sales directly fund the ongoing mission: scouting new terrain, formulating unique technical routes, and continuing the legendary ride tradition that first began in 2011.

General Expectations for Participants

  1. Self-Sufficiency & Safety: Bike must be 100% prepped (fresh fluids, solid tire tread, full tank at start). Riders must manage their own limits and weather gear for drastic elevation/temperature changes.
  2. Leave Excuses at Home: A positive, resilient attitude is mandatory—twisty endurance riding demands focus and adaptability.
  3. Respect the Road: Ride your own ride, respect local communities, and support fellow participants along the way.

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Izu is an old favourite riding zone for many a Kantonian. At colder times of the year, and when the higher altitude roads are closed or less than ideal, it becomes a winter refuge of great riding.

What better place to host the last Twistybutt for 2026 and another new ride for this year?

See below for the details…

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Gaging responses to this event. We had a good run last year over great roads but a small turnout. It was the beginning of a demoralising trend as the event organiser.
After the no-show that was the Fuji 500, the encouragement to put in the effort again is running low. Last year’s Autumn Chubu C2C had 22 signed up but only 8 turned up. The Fuji 500 had 21 signed up and only 2 attended.
As these events are for bringing out riders to improve their riding confidence, venture to places they normally wouldn’t and create new ride friendships through epic riding adventures, putting in the time and effort and sharing experience and routes is a great trade off for me. However, if people are just signing up for routes and ‘maybe’ attending, it’s not worth the time and effort and eroding my confidence in the integrity of riders. I hope that you can appreciate my position.
So, if there is enough interest, 20+ riders guaranteed to attend, I’ll set it up. If not, we’ll convene again for the Izu-Loop Twistybutt to close out the general riding season in November. And 20+ confirmed means that if you sign up, you’re going to fire-up and follow through. Have enough rubber, have fresh oil, tell your families that you’ll be out riding in advance, don’t go drinking the night before, be prepared for a peppering of rain (that comes with the 0-2250 metre altitude range and so do the views and twisties), or whatever other lame excuse for not being bothered. This is an awesome ride that deserves your effort. The long weekend is a national holiday for sports day as it is typically the best weather window for autumn events. Your bike deserves the run and your soul needs the release! Fire up Twistybutts!

Fill in your details below and you’ll be signed up for further details.


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Thank you for your response. ✨

For example: Roger J
For example: 2020 Suzuki Katana

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The Weather Gods endless show of inconsistency from Wednesday’s typhoon to Saturday night was not real confidence inspiring. So much so that MighTy10 and I were the only earlybird for this year’s Fuji 500. Joining us and the chirping dawn birds in anticipation of the sunrise were a couple of dozen teens that had partied through the night and a sole male enka singer somewhere off in the bushes. At least we weren’t lonely.

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