Another China to Europe thread. How to prepare old"ish" bike for this trip

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Originally Posted by prince666

HI Modron


News ???

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No news yet as I didnt get my ATA yet so I didnt bother myself with visa. The ATA office in Erlianhaote has had my application for last two weeks but no response yet.
As soon as I know anything Ill let you know

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Originally Posted by modron

No news yet as I didnt get my ATA yet so I didnt bother myself with visa. The ATA office in Erlianhaote has had my application for last two weeks but no response yet.
As soon as I know anything Ill let you know

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OK i wish you luck.

[RANT]

So Ive called the ATA office today to check whats happening with my papers and them wankers said they need my all the bike info written both in Chinese and English on the general list. Now they have told me this 10days ago and Ive sent them the updated version over email. That dipshit said he cant find it........so I send it again. He also asked me to send him intended route in Mongolia and he also proceeded to discourage me from going there. He said that in April there is nothing to see, the country is very poor, its very boring and sand storms all the time. I just want to bitch slap that twa*.

Sorry for the strong language but Im so furious now. Ive been in China long enough to know where this is going. They prolly dont want me to go so they just look for a reason not to issue that bloody ATA carnet and as we all know there is no power to forced them to do their job


[/RANT]

They quoted the deposit just now. They are asking for 208% of the value of my motorcycle whilst the official rule states that for Mongolia its 40%~~~~~~stay tuned for more info


Steve, did you get your ATA yet?

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Originally Posted by modron

They quoted the deposit just now. They are asking for 208% of the value of my motorcycle whilst the official rule states that for Mongolia its 40%~~~~~~stay tuned for more info


Steve, did you get your ATA yet?

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Hi Modron

The best update I can give you as regards to the ATA is I am TOLD by my wife the Chinese guys have it all sorted out ???? she tells me the amount I have to pay is 50% of the value of the bike.

We got a invoice from the dealer to show the bike cost 30.000 RMB so I expect to pay 15.000 RMB deposit + the cost of the policy, until I get back to Shandong which will be in 6 days time I can't confirm this is 100% true?

If you can give me a week or so I can will get back to you will details of the company and the policy the Chinese guys have sorted out.

Steve

I also have an invoice from the dealer and even with a stamp from a local police station. Im dealing directly with ATA office not through any companies so possibly this is the problem.

Anyway, let me know once you in Shandong. Hope it will work out fine for you

Its a bit late for me to deal with all that crap now as i supposed to be leaving in few days
They told me today

"Because you are a foreigner, a foreign passport, this is I will to push your items (the driving) is back."

They said openly its just because Im foreign despite the fact that ATA supposed to be for my bike which is Chinese.

In few days!? :eekers:

One more thing you can do on a bike, to improve passive safety - wash your bike thoroughly and go wild with a roll of reflective tape. Yes, your bike will look like a Christmas tree, but no one can SMIDSY you.

Good idea. I have some reflective stickers on my boxes but I might get more

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Originally Posted by prince666

found the engine around town run nice at 120/140c but would rise to over 180c flat out hard riding made a point to keep it under 200c much about this you will be running into the danger area

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I bought meself that TTO spark plug thermometer but didnt have a lot of time to try it out. However I did have around 20min ride around the city and the temp got up to 160C and it wasnt a hot day.

Whats the max safe temperature for cylinder head? I did google and some say its around 250-260C