How to do "Oni-Handle" and "Kamahan" on a bicycle! Is Oni-Handle popular in Northern Kanto?

Even if you want to customize your bicycle with "Oni-Handle" (demon handle) or "Kama-Handle" (mantis handle), it seems difficult and you might not know how to do it. However, it's actually surprisingly easy to modify.

So, we've investigated how to make an Oni-Handle or Kama-Handle, whether Oni-Handle and Kama-Handle are actually popular in the Northern Kanto region, and even social media opinions on Oni-Handles.

How to make an Oni-Handle for your bicycle! It's surprisingly easy to turn it into a custom bike.

Source: https://www.pakutaso.com/20181040302post-18261.html

For those who have just learned the term "Oni-Handle," you might be wondering what it stands for.

Source: https://livedoor.blogimg.jp/byby_bicycle007/imgs/9/b/9b13e845.jpg

"Oni-Handle" is an abbreviation for "Oni Handle," named because the bicycle's handlebars are shaped like the horns of a demon, pointing upwards.

Source: https://img-www5.hp-ez.com/img/kitenma/a_216104_0.jpg

A term often used alongside "Oni-Handle" is "Kama-Handle," which is an abbreviation for "Kamakiri Handle" (mantis handle), named because it bends at a right angle like a mantis's leg.

Both Oni-Handle and Kama-Handle are common terms used for modified bicycle handlebars, but the difference is that if the handlebars point upwards, it's an Oni-Handle, and if the grip position is high and angled towards the center, it's a Kama-Handle.

The biggest advantage of an Oni-Handle bicycle is that it's "cool"!

Regular bicycles all have a consistent shape, lacking excitement and individuality. Junior and senior high school students, disliking this ordinariness, customized their bikes to resemble Harley-Davidson motorcycles, leading to the Oni-Handle.

The biggest advantage is the "unconventional" handlebar shape, which was considered "cool" and popular among bosozoku (biker gangs) and delinquents. Nowadays, it's not just delinquents but also ordinary local high school students who tend to adopt it if their peers do.

Additionally, since the grip position of an Oni-Handle is higher than that of a normal handlebar, it offers an advantage for people with a tall seated height who found it difficult to hold the handlebars without lowering the saddle, as the position becomes just right.

Oni-Handle isn't just popular in Northern Kanto?!

Speaking of Oni-Handles, a tweet in March 2016 about their popularity in Northern Kanto became a hot topic.

北関東の高校生は流行りに乗るためにハンドルを上げたり鉄パイプでハンドルを曲げたり荷台を意味もなく上げたりするんだ。
それがかっこいいと思ってたんだ。
東京に行ったらそんなチャリンコどこにも走ってなかったんだ。
死ぬほど恥ずかしかった pic.twitter.com/dqNWB14izS

— 知らんけどたぶんわたる (@wataman_style) March 15, 2016

This tweet was retweeted over 10,000 times, eliciting responses such as "I used to do that" and "It brings back memories."

Although the tweet mentioned that "there were no bikes with Oni-Handles in Tokyo, and it was extremely embarrassing," we investigated how popular Oni-Handles actually were in Northern Kanto.

As you can see, there are many sightings in Gunma, Ibaraki, and Saitama, so it's true that Oni-Handle is relatively popular among junior and senior high school students in Northern Kanto, just as rumored.

However, when looking at social media, there are sightings from outside Northern Kanto, such as "I'm on the border of Fukuoka and Kumamoto Prefectures... and I saw a bike with an Oni-Handle" and "The Oni-Handle rate among high school students in Akita is unusual." This suggests that customizing bikes with Oni-Handles is popular in other regions as well.

Surprisingly easy! How to make an Oni-Handle and Kama-Handle for your bicycle.

While making an Oni-Handle is thought to be difficult due to its unusual shape compared to standard bicycles, it is actually surprisingly easy.

Here's how to make a simple Oni-Handle using just an Allen wrench:

① There's a screw part at the base of the handlebar where you insert an Allen wrench; turn it.
(Note that the size of the Allen wrench can vary from 6mm to 10mm depending on the bicycle.)

② Once the handlebar is loose, adjust it to your desired angle.

③ Once the angle is set, tighten the screw again. For accessories like speedometers and bells, loosen their screws as well, position them within reach, and then tighten them.
(The screws must be tightened firmly, as they could come off while riding if not, so tighten them more securely than when you loosened them.)

It's a three-step process, and the only tool you need is an Allen wrench, so it can be done with minimal cost.

However, making a Kama-Handle, which is similar to an Oni-Handle, is slightly more complex than making an Oni-Handle.

Steps ① and ② are the same as for the Oni-Handle, but there are two methods depending on whether the handlebar material is aluminum or steel.

For steel handlebars, after loosening the handlebar screw, remove the handlebar, fill it with sand, heat it from the outside, and then bend it.

For aluminum handlebars, the common method is to insert an iron pipe into the handlebar and bend it with brute force.

However, applying force or heat to either material can weaken the handlebar pipe and cause it to break, so it's advisable to consult a bicycle professional or specialist when performing such modifications.

Converting city bikes and road bikes to Oni-Handles? Introducing various Oni-Handle bikes.

Even though we say "Oni-Handle," not all of them are the same. By changing the angle and height of the handlebars, and how much they are bent inwards ("shibori-guai"), you can create various Oni-Handles.

Source: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DiJag1CVMAAFeLo.jpg

The "kaichari" (customized bicycle) with an Oni-Handle typically involves modifying the handlebars of a mamachari (city bike) like this, with the angle sharply upward like a demon's horn, which can be considered the standard angle for an Oni-Handle.

Source: https://www.joynt-auto.com/data/joynt-auto/image/20170531_7b6e73.jpg

Here's an Oni-Handle with an even more angled handlebar section.

It's almost 180 degrees, and the brakes are further out than a typical Oni-Handle, making it difficult to operate. This is probably the limit for an Oni-Handle angle.

Source: https://stat.ameba.jp/user_images/20121009/18/konann912/0a/ee/j/t02200165_0640048012228791130.jpg?caw=800

If you extend the pipe section, you can also create an Oni-Handle like this.

This is more about "grabbing" it like a train strap rather than holding the grip, so the ride comfort probably isn't very good.

Source: https://stat.ameba.jp/user_images/20120822/12/baseba11kaito/77/40/j/o0480048012148999222.jpg?caw=800

This is not an Oni-Handle, but a typical mamachari modified into a Kama-Handle. It's not a semi-shibori where the handlebars are gently angled towards the center, but an "oni-shibori" (demon squeeze) type of Kama-Handle where the handlebars are strongly pulled towards the center. Since the handlebars are closer than on a regular bicycle, it can be easier for shorter riders to grip, potentially making it easier to ride.

Furthermore, not just mamachari, but mountain bikes and electric bicycles also have the same handlebar structure, so they can be modified with Oni-Handles or Kama-Handles. This eliminates the need for a forward-leaning posture, allowing for leisurely rides around town and making it easier to climb hills.

Is a bicycle modified with an Oni-Handle illegal?

Is it legally permissible to ride a bicycle modified with an Oni-Handle on public roads?

The standards for bicycles are outlined in Chapter 2, Section 2 of the Road Traffic Act Enforcement Regulations. According to these regulations, the body and structure of a bicycle must adhere to the following standards:

・Length must not exceed 190 cm, and width must not exceed 60 cm.
・Must not have a sidecar attached.
・Must not be equipped with passenger seats other than the operator's seat (excluding child seats).
・Braking devices (brakes, handlebars, etc.) must be in a position that allows for easy operation while riding.
・Must not have sharp protrusions that could endanger pedestrians.

If these conditions are met, it is unlikely that a modified bicycle would be considered a violation.

In other words, when modifying a bicycle with an Oni-Handle or Kama-Handle, it is important to ensure that braking devices like brakes are in a position that allows for easy operation while riding, and to avoid creating sharp protrusions that could endanger pedestrians.

However, even if the modification is not a violation, repair costs in the event of an accident can be an issue. If you have bicycle insurance, repair costs are usually covered, but modified parts may be deemed "unnecessary" and thus not covered by insurance.

Furthermore, if an accident occurs where a modified bicycle injures someone, there is a possibility that the compensation amount could be high. Therefore, it is advisable to check with your insurance company in advance, just in case.

Are Oni-Handle and Kama-Handle bicycles cool or lame? Social media opinions shared.

Oni-Handle and Kama-Handle bicycles are considered cool in Northern Kanto and some other regions, but we researched social media to find out their actual reputation.

鬼ハン絞りほんとかっこいい

— 睡眠を司るキモオタク (@arice_July) September 2, 2019

While Oni-Handles are often associated with modified bicycles and thus sometimes viewed negatively, many junior and senior high school students, in particular, admire and find the idea of customizing their bicycles "cool."

Even among older generations, many expressed positive opinions, possibly because they had Oni-Handles or customized bicycles in the past, though there were some negative opinions as well.

Many people who negatively view it as "uncool" are older individuals who once modified their bicycles with "oni-han" handlebars. While they may look back on those days with embarrassment, it seems that when they were in junior high or high school, they had no resistance to modifications, and even girls customized their bikes at least once.

Oni-han handlebars for bicycles are still popular with a certain number of people

What did you think? You might have various opinions, such as "I remember having oni-han handlebars on my bike back then" or "I thought it looked cool at the time," but it seems to still be a popular customization for a certain number of people.

While values change with age, this style remains a classic customization across generations. If you're curious about how to install oni-han handlebars or what the finished product looks like, please refer to this guide.