The image of Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda cruising down American highways to the tune of Born to be Wild in the film Easy Rider is a distant dream for Taiwan motorbike enthusiasts.
'Get your wallets open' may be a more appropriate opening line to that memorable song, while those looking for adventure would be best advised to head down to the relevant government department.
Despite the fact that entry into the World Trade Organisation has forced the Taiwan government to open its doors to bigger motorbikes, owning anything but a city-bound scooter remains as troublesome as ever.
Prior to WTO accession, the island simply outlawed any bike with an engine larger than 150cc.
Those who did flout the law managed to do so through legal loopholes that allowed people to own the bikes, but not import or register them. Bikes were smuggled into Taiwan whole, or in pieces.
Many managed to ride the 'open' roads because some police officers simply turned a blind eye - or were just unable to catch the high-powered machines.
But with legality no longer an issue, other speed humps have appeared along the road to big-bike heaven.
