Comments on: Riding Motorcycles in China http://www.teachabroadchina.com/riding-motorcycles-in-china/ Home of the Teach Abroad China Alliance Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:20:38 +0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Ryan http://www.teachabroadchina.com/riding-motorcycles-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-49985 Ryan Mon, 21 Sep 2009 01:27:20 +0000 http://www.teachabroadchina.com/riding-motorcycles-in-china/#comment-49985 Great info Robert, thanks for sharing it. Am getting eager to buy a bike myself, and it's good to have some first-hand accounts of the risks and pleasures of it. Great info Robert, thanks for sharing it. Am getting eager to buy a bike myself, and it’s good to have some first-hand accounts of the risks and pleasures of it.

]]> By: Mike http://www.teachabroadchina.com/riding-motorcycles-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-39170 Mike Mon, 01 Jun 2009 02:44:03 +0000 http://www.teachabroadchina.com/riding-motorcycles-in-china/#comment-39170 I am wondering why your proudly dare to tell that 1) you do ride in China without a Chinese motorcycle license 2) that you never had a motorcycle license, even in your own country. 3) And you still make fun of Chinese traffic, seems you are not better and not more responsable at all than the Chinese drivers and riders. Please remember that also China has some laws. That many Chinese disobey Chinese laws should not be a reason for foreigners to do the same. It seems the place where you live is not one that has stopped issuing motorcycle licenses. I am wondering why your proudly dare to tell that
1) you do ride in China without a Chinese motorcycle license
2) that you never had a motorcycle license, even in your own country.
3) And you still make fun of Chinese traffic, seems you are not better and not more responsable at all than the Chinese drivers and riders.

Please remember that also China has some laws. That many Chinese disobey Chinese laws should not be a reason for foreigners to do the same.
It seems the place where you live is not one that has stopped issuing motorcycle licenses.

]]> By: susan stafford http://www.teachabroadchina.com/riding-motorcycles-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-33025 susan stafford Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:19:34 +0000 http://www.teachabroadchina.com/riding-motorcycles-in-china/#comment-33025 Hi all my name is Susan Stafford from Australia. I have read your stories and there fascinating. I am an experience rider and i`d love to ride throughout china and the continent, but going it alone maybe some risks. I met a Japanese fella in Cape York who was riding a Honda CT 110, he had all his stuff in sidesaddles he was cool mate and going into unfamiliar terroritory it`s rough as guts that country, but he did it i heard along the grapevine. If anyone has information about group rides or anything i`d love to hear.. Hi all my name is Susan Stafford from Australia. I have read your stories and
there fascinating. I am an experience rider and i`d love to ride throughout
china and the continent, but going it alone maybe some risks. I met a Japanese
fella in Cape York who was riding a Honda CT 110, he had all his stuff in
sidesaddles he was cool mate and going into unfamiliar terroritory it`s rough
as guts that country, but he did it i heard along the grapevine. If anyone has
information about group rides or anything i`d love to hear..

]]> By: Cojo http://www.teachabroadchina.com/riding-motorcycles-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-30298 Cojo Fri, 20 Mar 2009 06:20:18 +0000 http://www.teachabroadchina.com/riding-motorcycles-in-china/#comment-30298 I would like to point out that not having a license and playing dumb won't always work. There's a high chance that the police officers won't bother you if you play dumb but I think the author plays down the risk in his article. Worst case scenario includes jail time, confiscation of the bike, hefty fines and even deportation. I would like to point out that not having a license and playing dumb won’t always work. There’s a high chance that the police officers won’t bother you if you play dumb but I think the author plays down the risk in his article. Worst case scenario includes jail time, confiscation of the bike, hefty fines and even deportation.

]]> By: Ilan http://www.teachabroadchina.com/riding-motorcycles-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-10918 Ilan Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:56:58 +0000 http://www.teachabroadchina.com/riding-motorcycles-in-china/#comment-10918 hi! very interesting story. anyone knows if it is possible to cross the border with a motorcycle? thanks, ilan hi!

very interesting story.
anyone knows if it is possible to cross the border with a motorcycle?

thanks,

ilan

]]> By: Riding Motorcycles in China http://www.teachabroadchina.com/riding-motorcycles-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-7076 Riding Motorcycles in China Tue, 09 Sep 2008 04:36:22 +0000 http://www.teachabroadchina.com/riding-motorcycles-in-china/#comment-7076 [...] I want to first congratulate you and your friend on your ambitious motorcycling plans this Fall. Many foreigners have enjoyed exploring China by motorcycle and I am sure that you will have an unforgettable experience. However, there are some issues related to driving motorcycles in China that you should be aware of. I will touch on a few of these issues here and also direct you to an informative article about motorcycles in China written by our very own Robert Vance. [...] [...] I want to first congratulate you and your friend on your ambitious motorcycling plans this Fall. Many foreigners have enjoyed exploring China by motorcycle and I am sure that you will have an unforgettable experience. However, there are some issues related to driving motorcycles in China that you should be aware of. I will touch on a few of these issues here and also direct you to an informative article about motorcycles in China written by our very own Robert Vance. [...]

]]> By: Jason http://www.teachabroadchina.com/riding-motorcycles-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-905 Jason Sat, 17 May 2008 06:09:53 +0000 http://www.teachabroadchina.com/riding-motorcycles-in-china/#comment-905 I was an experianced motorcycle rider when I came to China, getting my first motorbike at 10 years old and owning one ever since. Needless to say one of the first things I bought here was a motorcycle. It was a Chinese brand, and I tricked it out to look like an American Harley, more like a chopper. As I have worked on motorcycles for as lond as I had them, and enjoyed this in my pass time. My bike was truely one of a kind. I wish we could post pics here, you would never believed it was made here. Extended forks, bored pistons, custom exhaust, custom handle bars, custom seat, electronic alarm and ignition, the whole nine yards. It was a 150cc, but I won several bets by racing 250cc sport bikes, and smoking them. However as I mentioned in a recent post here, a few days ago I was in a serious accident which I am lucky to have survived. A man rode directly through a red light and creamed me, totaling me, and all my hard work. My bike is now history and even the police could not believe I survived. Point being be carefull. Even an experianced rider such as myself had a brush with death. Driving here is very different from western countries, and that is an understatement to say the least. I would certainly say take lessons if you are inexperianced. Drive cautiously but you will need to be a bit aggressive as well. I was an experianced motorcycle rider when I came to China, getting my first motorbike at 10 years old and owning one ever since. Needless to say one of the first things I bought here was a motorcycle. It was a Chinese brand, and I tricked it out to look like an American Harley, more like a chopper. As I have worked on motorcycles for as lond as I had them, and enjoyed this in my pass time. My bike was truely one of a kind. I wish we could post pics here, you would never believed it was made here. Extended forks, bored pistons, custom exhaust, custom handle bars, custom seat, electronic alarm and ignition, the whole nine yards.

It was a 150cc, but I won several bets by racing 250cc sport bikes, and smoking them.

However as I mentioned in a recent post here, a few days ago I was in a serious accident which I am lucky to have survived. A man rode directly through a red light and creamed me, totaling me, and all my hard work. My bike is now history and even the police could not believe I survived.

Point being be carefull. Even an experianced rider such as myself had a brush with death. Driving here is very different from western countries, and that is an understatement to say the least. I would certainly say take lessons if you are inexperianced. Drive cautiously but you will need to be a bit aggressive as well.

]]> By: Robert Vance http://www.teachabroadchina.com/riding-motorcycles-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-509 Robert Vance Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:42:30 +0000 http://www.teachabroadchina.com/riding-motorcycles-in-china/#comment-509 Hi Dapai, Thanks for your informative post. Paying "a motorcycle taxi driver to teach you" is a very interesting suggestion. I never thought about that. Actually, some of my 'motorcycle pals' used to routinely convince the motorcycle taxi drivers to let them drive instead. I don't know if the drivers were crazy or just simply thought all foreigners could drive motorcycles, but my friends were often able to do this. I agree with you that in general, a foreign motorcyclist will not be hassled by the police unless he or she is in blatant disregard of a traffic law. Most police officers do not want to waste their time trying to communicate with you in English. Hi Dapai,

Thanks for your informative post. Paying “a motorcycle taxi driver to teach you” is a very interesting suggestion. I never thought about that. Actually, some of my ‘motorcycle pals’ used to routinely convince the motorcycle taxi drivers to let them drive instead. I don’t know if the drivers were crazy or just simply thought all foreigners could drive motorcycles, but my friends were often able to do this.

I agree with you that in general, a foreign motorcyclist will not be hassled by the police unless he or she is in blatant disregard of a traffic law. Most police officers do not want to waste their time trying to communicate with you in English.

]]> By: dapai http://www.teachabroadchina.com/riding-motorcycles-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-503 dapai Mon, 28 Apr 2008 02:42:04 +0000 http://www.teachabroadchina.com/riding-motorcycles-in-china/#comment-503 I motorcycled from Harbin to Urumqi with my two friends last summer. We did NOT have licenses and still got by, admittedly with a few police run-ins. If you can, get the proper paperwork. If not, just don't break any traffic rules, wear a helmet and it's likely the police won't bother a foreigner. He is right about some cities not allowing motorcycles. As you enter, have a look around; if you don't see any other motorcycles, stay outside the city. When you buy the bike, have the dealer get the license plates for you. Another way to learn to ride is to pay a motorcycle taxi driver to teach you and use his/her bike. We paid 50 yuan/hour, and met with him maybe 4 times 1-1.5 hrs each time. When we went to purchase the bike we were ready to ride away like we were pros! Nothing beats the freedom of a motorcycle! Be sure to drive defensively! Good luck, dapai acrosschina.blogspot.com I motorcycled from Harbin to Urumqi with my two friends last summer. We did NOT have licenses and still got by, admittedly with a few police run-ins. If you can, get the proper paperwork. If not, just don’t break any traffic rules, wear a helmet and it’s likely the police won’t bother a foreigner. He is right about some cities not allowing motorcycles. As you enter, have a look around; if you don’t see any other motorcycles, stay outside the city. When you buy the bike, have the dealer get the license plates for you.

Another way to learn to ride is to pay a motorcycle taxi driver to teach you and use his/her bike. We paid 50 yuan/hour, and met with him maybe 4 times 1-1.5 hrs each time. When we went to purchase the bike we were ready to ride away like we were pros!

Nothing beats the freedom of a motorcycle! Be sure to drive defensively!

Good luck,
dapai

acrosschina.blogspot.com

]]> By: Chris Maupin http://www.teachabroadchina.com/riding-motorcycles-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-199 Chris Maupin Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:56:47 +0000 http://www.teachabroadchina.com/riding-motorcycles-in-china/#comment-199 Awesome post!!! So helpful man! Please please please tell me more about the registration process. I want to ride a bike in China this summer, but I am not a resident and don't have the card. I'm just a tourist. can it be done? Your learning-to-ride story is awesome - I did it exactly the same way when I lived in Oklahoma. I bought the bike and had it delivered by truck. Then I sat in my front yard with an article I printed off entitled "how to start a motorcycle." Then, just like you I did it a street and a block at a time. Soon it was cruising old 66! Hope you can help me with some of my questions. Chris, S Korea Awesome post!!! So helpful man! Please please please tell me more about the registration process. I want to ride a bike in China this summer, but I am not a resident and don’t have the card. I’m just a tourist. can it be done?

Your learning-to-ride story is awesome – I did it exactly the same way when I lived in Oklahoma. I bought the bike and had it delivered by truck. Then I sat in my front yard with an article I printed off entitled “how to start a motorcycle.” Then, just like you I did it a street and a block at a time. Soon it was cruising old 66!

Hope you can help me with some of my questions.

Chris,
S Korea

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