China > France (Spring 2015)

Hi Guys,

I would like to plan a China > France trip in spring time next year and i am definitively looking for a road mate for this long adventure.
I am french based in Shanghai for 6 years. Currently driving a Benelli which i will sell to get a Chinese trail Shineray 400cc type is this ride is confirmed later on. The most important is to find a road mate to share this long trip.

My weekends ride are often in Zhejiang. Love this province. Planning a week ride during October holiday through Zhejiang toward Qian dao Hu with my GF.

Do not hesitate to contact me if you share the same idea as i really would like to make it happen....Lets see

Julien

What Country's do you like to visit?

I will post your information on China Motorcycle Club in Poland.
Maybe someone will company you a part of the route.
I think, when you need asistance in Poland (if you will going through Poland) we will glad help you.
Find cheap pleces to sleep, show the best road or help with repairs of you Chineese bike.

Would like to go through Kazakhstan , Russia, Latvia, Poland, Germany...
Thanks for the help...thats a good idea...

JR

Hey Julien,

Which Benelli do you have? The new 600? Is it fitted with a Hu plate? How do you find the drive out of Shanghai every time to get to the good bits?

I like your plan, sounds like the kind of trip you will not easily forget. If at that time I switch jobs I may be able to swing it but too soon to tell now. I've got a 3-week ride planned through China first in October, to see how that fares... Would be a good way to get a feel for China roads.

Mark

Hi Mark,

I am riding the BJ 600 2012. I have a legal waidi plate on my girlfriend ID on it. (Just use it for weekend ride outside of Shanghai). I know pretty well Zhejiang, where i am also riding road and mountain bike sometimes....You got the idea ` the kind of trip you will not easily forget` :)

Lets keep in touch Mark, feel free to add me on wechat > Julien_Reversat

G'Day chaps... Zhejiang... I been living and riding amongst it for over nine years and there are some who have been riding here close on twenty years. I can say with a high degree of certainty that I have ridden many of the riding jewels there are to be had in this province, and many more. Often I have ventured on roads less travelled when navigating points between, A, B all the way to, Zee. As I have already offered to folk's closeted in SH (where I also lived for a couple of years prior) & Suzhou, I'm always open to riding to meet at a designated spot on the SH side of the Hangzhou Bay to accompany any rider(s) down to this best kept secret.

Julien (& Mark), if you're interested, I'd be happy to meet up on the SH side of the HZ bay (outlined above) and lead you down here (near to Ningbo), then after a few days of exploring the 'backyard' - lead a route from Ningbo via multiple mountain ranges as possible/feasible to Yiwu then over the mountain divide to Jiangde - via routes you would be hard pressed to find on your own. I spent two-three years riding almost every weekend from Eastern Ningbo-Yiwu-Jiande and back again, exploring many routes along the way, for reasons I can't and will not disclose :naughty:

FWIW Morganshan is a nice pleasant excursion from the likes of Shanghai... but it aint got nothing on more Southern parts of Zhejiang IMO.

When it comes to riding and Zhejiang... I got it covered... and I'm always open to showing it off to any of the Northern riders.
:riding:

Hey Julien,

I have the same bike. I'll add you on wechat.


Hey Dennis,

Sounds like you would have 2 Benelli 600's to chase ;)

M.

Julien, sounds like a great idea. I've got very young kids in China so couldn't do a trip like this, but I'd love to. I think the perfect bike for this would be a YBR250 but with road trail tires. I'm not sure I'd want to trust a bike like a Shineray for such a long journey.

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Originally Posted by ZMC888

Julien, sounds like a great idea. I've got very young kids in China so couldn't do a trip like this, but I'd love to. I think the perfect bike for this would be a YBR250 but with road trail tires. I'm not sure I'd want to trust a bike like a Shineray for such a long journey.

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I am in fact re-considering using my Benelli for this trip. Need of course some adjustments especially for tubeless tires , not the best if you have flat tires in the middle of nowhere.

I just got a new waidi licence plate on the Benelli and I am lazy to sell it and buy the shineray

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JulienR

Hi Guys,

I would like to plan a China > France trip in spring time next year and i am definitively looking for a road mate for this long adventure.
I am french based in Shanghai for 6 years. Currently driving a Benelli which i will sell to get a Chinese trail Shineray 400cc type is this ride is confirmed later on. The most important is to find a road mate to share this long trip.

My weekends ride are often in Zhejiang. Love this province. Planning a week ride during October holiday through Zhejiang toward Qian dao Hu with my GF.

Do not hesitate to contact me if you share the same idea as i really would like to make it happen....Lets see

Julien

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Hi Julien, I was just thinking after reading this post and your recent update(s), maybe you might be interested in a trip/ride that a few riders will be doing at the end of the year: PRC -> Laos -> Thailand (Northern Thailand where there is some fantastic riding routes, and way friendlier circumstances than here IMO), and then back again.

Dates are not set in stone as yet, but looking at possibly December. The time expected for the ride is likely no less than 6 weeks, though realistically probably more, as it would take at least a week or ten days to ride from this part of PRC down to CR. Getting a legally plated PRC bike into the aforementioned countries is easy as Prince666 has just done a complete circumnavigation of said routes (crossing borders without issue) over the last 2 months on a YBR125G (legally plated/documented) - which as turns out was pretty ideal for the trip - as a more dual purpose bike was a necessity for approx 30% of the journey based on the routes chosen - of that 30% roughly 10% a road bike would not have gotten through. Many mud sections and landslides encountered along the way.

Different route choices might make taking a more road orientated bike a viable option.

That said though, there are some really great off-road riding sections worth the ride in Northern Thailand, that makes a dual purpose adventure style bike a worthwhile choice.

Another choice is that one can/could fly into Northern Thailand (ChiangMai or ChiangRai) and rent a bike for the duration. I undertook this option this past January & February 2014, flying from Ningbo - CR and renting/riding a CB500X (excellent bike and did very well off road). I'll add a couple of photos from the trip here shortly... just to get ya taste-buds a-flowing :mwink:

For the upcoming trip, I've purchased a new imported ADV bike suitable for the intended journey.

PM if you're (or anyone else is) interested.

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Originally Posted by bikerdoc

Hi Julien, I was just thinking after reading this post and your recent update(s), maybe you might be interested in a trip/ride that a few riders will be doing at the end of the year: PRC -> Laos -> Thailand (Northern Thailand where there is some fantastic riding routes, and way friendlier circumstances than here IMO), and then back again.

Dates are not set in stone as yet, but looking at possibly December. The time expected for the ride is likely no less than 6 weeks, though realistically probably more, as it would take at least a week or ten days to ride from this part of PRC down to CR. Getting a legally plated PRC bike into the aforementioned countries is easy as Prince666 has just done a complete circumnavigation of said routes (crossing borders without issue) over the last 2 months on a YBR125G (legally plated/documented) - which as turns out was pretty ideal for the trip - as a more dual purpose bike was a necessity for approx 30% of the journey based on the routes chosen - of that 30% roughly 10% a road bike would not have gotten through. Many mud sections and landslides encountered along the way.

Different route choices might make taking a more road orientated bike a viable option.

That said though, there are some really great off-road riding sections worth the ride in Northern Thailand, that makes a dual purpose adventure style bike a worthwhile choice.

Another choice is that one can/could fly into Northern Thailand (ChiangMai or ChiangRai) and rent a bike for the duration. I undertook this option this past January & February 2014, flying from Ningbo - CR and renting/riding a CB500X (excellent bike and did very well off road). I'll add a couple of photos from the trip here shortly... just to get ya taste-buds a-flowing :mwink:

For the upcoming trip, I've purchased a new imported ADV bike suitable for the intended journey.

PM if you're (or anyone else is) interested.

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Hi Doc,

Thats an awesome trip...Would love to join but i am just back from Chiang Mai (where i rented a Yam Bolt 900cc for few days) and have to go back to France for Christmas period, so no more holiday flexibility unfortunately...

Thanks a lot for letting me know. and lets try to catch up one Weekend around MGS / Anji. We are planning a weekend trip with Mark (mblank) soon.

Cheers

Thai taster... :naughty:

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Hi guys
Just like to post a few pictures taken
over the last few days on the way back
To Hainan from Thailand , decided to hug
the border road between vaitnan / china
found some of the best scenic roads
To be found in this area , but like most
roads in China you have to expect the
unexpected and at one part I must of
Crossed over 200 landslides just so
happy I was not on a street bike ?

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ive a friend who's currently riding from Beijing to Berlin on his shineray 400 ! not the best bike choice apparently ,he's in those stans countries now and he been fixing his bike for some major quality problem regularly ,the biggest one was a broken suspension ,etc !!!...give ur wechat i can hook u up with the guy for some advices ! Berlin /France ...pretty much the same way to go !

Quote:

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Originally Posted by prince666

Hi guys
Just like to post a few pictures taken
over the last few days on the way back
To Hainan from Thailand , decided to hug
the border road between vaitnan / china
found some of the best scenic roads
To be found in this area , but like most
roads in China you have to expect the
unexpected and at one part I must of
Crossed over 200 landslides just so
happy I was not on a street bike ?

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Nice pics - thanks for sharing but except a YZ Yam , difficult to pass this hole :)

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Originally Posted by vivacity

ive a friend who's currently riding from Beijing to Berlin on his shineray 400 ! not the best bike choice apparently ,he's in those stans countries now and he been fixing his bike for some major quality problem regularly ,the biggest one was a broken suspension ,etc !!!...give ur wechat i can hook u up with the guy for some advices ! Berlin /France ...pretty much the same way to go !

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Thats awesome ! Good to know the Shineray is not the right option, fortunately did not buy it yet...Hope your friend is alright!
It will be wonderful if i can connect him with Wechat. Mine is Julien_Reversat.

cheers mate,

BD,

I had a few days on the CB500X as well last year, driving from Chiang Mai to the Burmese border - I think the place is called Pai - and around. Really nice bike, I agree. Good on dusty offroad tracks (although didn't encounter mud), and powers through on fast tarmac as well, plus comfortable for hours on end.

I can imagine it would be a very reliable companion for the sort of trip we are discussing here, and the engine will be bulletproof.

Have you seen them in China, or have they started copying it yet?

M.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mblank

BD,

I had a few days on the CB500X as well last year, driving from Chiang Mai to the Burmese border - I think the place is called Pai - and around. Really nice bike, I agree. Good on dusty offroad tracks (although didn't encounter mud), and powers through on fast tarmac as well, plus comfortable for hours on end.

I can imagine it would be a very reliable companion for the sort of trip we are discussing here, and the engine will be bulletproof.

Have you seen them in China, or have they started copying it yet?

M.

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The CB500X is made in Thailand and
Very soon will be available in China at a
Price that should be interesting !
To consider a copy one if made you
Would just end up with one more Chinese
badly made bike that falls apart after
10 km IMO .

As Prince666 wrote having a copy of the CB500X or similar would likely not be worthwhile unless it was made by one of the better MC manufacturers. At the end of the day though, obtaining the real deal CB500X would likely only cost approx 30-35% more than most overseas markets given that the CB500 series bikes are made in Thailand, as there are obviously some preferential and favourable import policies for ASEAN member countries exporting MC's into PRC as can seen from my Thailand vs International pricing comparison post.

For the time being only the CBR500R and CB500F are available through the Chinese Honda distributor. Who knows if or when the powers that be will import the CB500X. Some of the independent shops (e.g. Tonjoy) might have access or import the CB500X, though as of about 2 months ago, they had no plans to do so at the time.

Apparently there is supposedly some decision making going on at then moment and announcements forthcoming in or around October concerning motorcycles, and not just specifically related to Honda either. Both Honda and Kawasaki confirm that they'll likely be party to these announcements though nothing was forthcoming in the conversations I had at the time. Might not be anything too significant, perhaps it might be just some special price promotions for the October 'National Day holiday', or perhaps some new model announcements... all conjecture at this point...

Someone heard about this Ata Carnet to pass customs at each border ? Needs more info to figure out what is this .
cheers

A ATA Carnet is a Customs document that provides for tax free importation/travel (free from any import duties and local taxes) of goods, products including vehicles through member/participating countries.

The Carnet means that the owner of the vehicle must pay an amount as prescribed to a competent authority/organisation (for vehicles, this competent authority or organisation is usually a motoring association or similar in the vehicles domiciled country of registration), with the monies held by that authority/organisation on the owners behalf in a 'escrow' type account.

The money essentially becomes a bond in exchange for documents, declaration, vouchers etc which are used in the countries detailed prior. The bond is only refunded when the vehicle has been returned/reimported back to the domiciled country within the specified period from whence it came (usually 12 months), all documents, custom seals are intact, and there are no claims against the carnet by any member country etc. There are about 73 participating countries. The vehicle must be exported out of the countries visited and returned to the home country within the prescribed period otherwise all duties and taxes become payable on the vehicle, extensions can usually be organised as needed, up to a maximum period of an additional 12 months (at least that was the way it used to be).

I used a Carnet decades ago with a motorcycle (NZ-OZ-NZ), but not for PRC. AFAIK PRC only allow the use of Carnet's for fairs and exhibitions, and there are no provisions for issuing 'Carnet's' from within PRC to the best of my knowledge. A Carnet is not needed for most if not all the bordering countries to PRC, including a few that don't e.g. Thailand. This means that legally plated & registered vehicles are able to cross into neighbouring territories without the need for a Carnet. How one might fair for countries further afield in such circumstances - who knows.

ATA Carnet Federation
International Chamber of Commerce

So it means, need to bring back the bike to China to get back your deposit. Thats completely absurd...
Thats a big obligation if its true :(

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Originally Posted by JulienR

So it means, need to bring back the bike to China to get back your deposit. Thats completely absurd...
Thats a big obligation if its true :(

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Are carnet available for Chinese bikes
which are leaving China !!!

Just to chip in with bike from outside
China !! The duty is 20.000 rmb for bikes
And 50.000 rmb for cars to be paid
In advance to the Chinese customs office
With a entry date and a exit date
Failure to leave before or on the exit date
You loss your deposit
One way to bring a HD bike in and
Keep it here and save some money
On real duty !!!

I hope you will make the trip, People in polish chinese motorcycle Club deklare to go with you truogh Poland.

Hi Guys,

2 german guys are on their way to Germany. You can follow their trip here : http://monkeykings.jimdo.com

Awesome picture and trip....They just left China yesterday and no problem with customs...So forget about the ATA CARNET and so on...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JulienR

Hi Guys,

2 german guys are on their way to Germany. You can follow their trip here : http://monkeykings.jimdo.com

Awesome picture and trip....They just left China yesterday and no problem with customs...So forget about the ATA CARNET and so on...

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Well done have a great trip i don't think people said you need ATA Carnet to "get out" of China with your Chinese plated bike but will come into play at other borders crossing i am sure !

Interesting page, are you tied into the spring time frame? I'm thinking of heading back to Europe late next year too, leaving from Shenzhen... I've currently got a YBR250 but I'm looking for something bigger to do this trip.. Not to keen on the Shinray, got some bad feedback from a quality point of view and for this length of a trip, you need a solid machine, I'd love to find an Honda Africa twin or BMW650/800GS....

Noel
Wechat: NoelieK

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Noel

Interesting page, are you tied into the spring time frame? I'm thinking of heading back to Europe late next year too, leaving from Shenzhen... I've currently got a YBR250 but I'm looking for something bigger to do this trip.. Not to keen on the Shinray, got some bad feedback from a quality point of view and for this length of a trip, you need a solid machine, I'd love to find an Honda Africa twin or BMW650/800GS....

Noel
Wechat: NoelieK

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Just added you on wechat.
BMWGS will be the perfect bike - I do agree....in term of timing I will definitively be waiting warmer temperatures , so April is the plan. What are your dates ?
I am more and more thinking of equipped my current Benelli with few off road touch to be able to be out of the track sometimes .

Trip is 80% confirmed for April 2015 departure ! Thats the good news !

2 bikes : Benelli BJ 650cc and Kawa Z1000

Now we need to work on bikes modification and most important getting our waidi plate in the coming months.

Will try to post some pictures regarding the workshop modifs...

hi vivacity, my wechat is noeliek and would love to be added to the their wechat group... have been keeping an eye on their progress online and on there instargram!