Riding in China anyone?

[Xlratr]

We have a Chinese girl working in our office and she was showing us some pictures of her last trip back home. I must say, they have some pretty impressive scenery over there! And then I saw this picture which was a bit of a jaw dropper!

Zhiangjiajie by -Xlratr!-

Isn't that one amazing looking road?
I wonder if a motorcycle trip within China is remotely doable?
I'm sure renting a Stelvio won't be any problem!:-)

[scura283]

Read all about it here:
http://www.cscmotorcycles.com/Riding-China-by-Joe-Berk-p/csc-1998.htm

[Kiwi_Roy]

I think you will have difficulty getting permission to drive there. I spoke to one young guy from Spain, he was saying you need to speak Mandarin first.

[simonome]

I've been few times to china in the past 10 years, and I've worked closely with a chinese guy, dealing on a broad level with automotive there.

From what I've heard, large-capacity bikes are forbidden out of safety concerns for the poor status of the road surface. Infact you don't see any bike larger than 125cc, maybe 300cc.

Moreover riding a bike in the middle of chinese traffic is one of the scariest road experiences I can think of. Actually even being in a car in the middle of the Chinese traffic is pretty scary.

You should consider that Chinese people have a very short driving history, and in most cases a very little understanding of car dynamics and traffic safety... and all of a sudden some find themselves driving mercs, bimmers and exotic cars with hundreds of HP. Very bad combination even on city roads where high traffic density forces to keep speed low.

Just to give an idea, the pal I've been working with had to regularly lend his BMW to his wife, and drive their humble VW. Thats because his wife has no clue on how wiper stalk, driving light switch work, so she drives the car with automatic-everything. I wouldn't remain within 1 mile from that lady driving a 300hp BMW, that don't even know how to switch the wipers off...

[Kiwi_Roy]

I've been few times to china in the past 10 years, and I've worked closely with a chinese guy, dealing on a broad level with automotive there.

From what I've heard, large-capacity bikes are forbidden out of safety concerns for the poor status of the road surface. Infact you don't see any bike larger than 125cc, maybe 300cc.

Moreover riding a bike in the middle of chinese traffic is one of the scariest road experiences I can think of. Actually even being in a car in the middle of the Chinese traffic is pretty scary.

You should consider that Chinese people have a very short driving history, and in most cases a very little understanding of car dynamics and traffic safety... and all of a sudden some find themselves driving mercs, bimmers and exotic cars with hundreds of HP. Very bad combination even on city roads where high traffic density forces to keep speed low.

Just to give an idea, the pal I've been working with had to regularly lend his BMW to his wife, and drive their humble VW. Thats because his wife has no clue on how wiper stalk, driving light switch work, so she drives the car with automatic-everything. I wouldn't remain within 1 mile from that lady driving a 300hp BMW, that don't even know how to switch the wipers off...

The 150 cc rule used to be the case but there are now a few Harleys and BMWs sneaking in.
The Chang Jiang sidecars are classed as sidecars, not motorcycles, one time I took a tour with "Beijing Sideways" out to the great wall, that was a hoot.
The Concere was not too happy about the driver and interpreter picking me up at the hotel.

Although the driver/owner didn't speak English we able to understand each other, he let me pilot for a while and I gave him a Guzzi tee shirt at the end of the day.
They took me to part of the great wall not visited by the hoards of tourists, I highly recommend their tour, remember "Beijing Sideways"

[ITSec]

If that's the road I think it is, a guy from Italy just took a Ferrari up the road in a record attempt...

[Tom]

Downsize your thinking as mentioned.  Learning some Mandarin would help.  Expect to eat Chinese food most of the time.  Be very open. 

[oldbike54]

Downsize your thinking as mentioned.  Learning some Mandarin would help.  Expect to eat Chinese food most of the time.  Be very open.

 Do they have American takeout in China ?

 Dusty

[Tom]

When you can find it but it's a bad carbon copy.  Better to just eat Chinese while there and enjoy the 7 main dialects/regional cooking.