When Jean-Luc Devere's elderly mum ran over his beloved motorbike, he thought it was time to reveal his love of the controversial Japanese subculture, Bosozoku. But he is reluctant to take it too seriously when he travels to Japan this year.

Mr Devere believes he is the first Australian with a roadworthy Bosozoku motorcycle. (ABC: Jon Coghill)

A Bosozoku bike starts life as an average commuter bike and is customised with high back seats, bright colours and stickers. "Chrome is almost a no, no. You paint over chrome, hide that as much as you can," Mr Devere said. (ABC: Jon Coghill)

Mr Devere's black trench coat is emblazoned with "Gaijin" or "foreign rider" in Japanese writing. "It identifies to Japanese that it's not the real thing, just play acting," he said. (ABC: Jon Coghill)

Mr Devere admits that, at 54, he is a little too old to be a legitimate Bosozoku gang member. "Unlike bikies here, they're teenagers," he said. "So by the time you've reached 20 you've reached the limit [and] it's uncool to hang around." (ABC: Jon Coghill)

Jean-Luc Devere started building his red and white Bosozoku motorcycle this year after his mother backed over his old motorbike in her four-wheel drive.

As a self-proclaimed "Japanophile", the former mine worker modified his Honda commuter bike with the flashy and futuristic designs common to the Japanese teen subculture known as Bosozoku.

But the 54-year-old is reluctant to reveal his dedication to the craze, or to wear his corresponding black trench coat, when in Japan this year for fear of retribution.

"That would be suicide," he said. "It's teenage games and some of them take it very seriously.

"To walk down the street in battle dress would be inviting disaster from someone who's just a little too serious about it."

The Bosozoku or "violent speed tribe" motorcycle culture first made its appearance in Japan in the 1950s, with young people modifying road bikes with brash colours, removing mufflers to create more noise and wearing cartoon-like uniforms.

Riders are known for speed racing in streets, running red lights, weaving through traffic and taunting police.

It is reported there are over 9,000 Bosozoku gang members still active in Japan.

Mr Devere said his dedication to the movement was as a fashion statement rather than to an outlaw gang.

He dons special "suicide" clothing called tokko fuku when roaming the streets of the Sunshine Coast.

"It's based on the [WWII] kamikaze uniform," he said. "Basic colours are black and red. In Japan you'll see them in pink yellow, green, all sorts of candy colours."

He said the only police attention he has had on the Sunshine Coast was one of bewilderment at the leopard skin-covered, two-metre high bike seat and Rising Sun surgical mask he wears.

"I probably get the same from other bike riders too: 'what the hell are you doing, what is your major malfunction?'" he said.

Mr Devere said the high bike seat played a role in protecting Bosozoku riders when being chased by police attempting to knock them off with poles, but said his seat had not yet been used for such an occasion in Queensland.