Nankunshan Lychee Queest 2009
I received an invite from MCM superstar ChinaV to hop on one of his many bikes and ride to Nankunshan with a group of Chinese riders from Guangdong's MotoF club for some wild lychee picking fun. After careful contemplation and a long and difficult decision making process I agreed to the adventure. I had never heard of this Nankunshan place, but from what I understand it is the motorcycle Mecca of Guangdong province. If you own a bike and have not done the Nan Kunner people in the local motorcycle community will scoff at you and think you're nothing but a punk ass wanna be. With such motorcyclified, religious like connotations it is must. I packed my bag, threw my helmet, grabbed my wife and hit the road to ChinaV's place.
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Upon arrival I met my ride for the pilgrimage, the new Qingqi QM250 supermoto. In the past I had ridden many a QM200 and was never impressed with the refinement of the bike. For me it was something I really didn't ever want to ride for any serious amount of time. Numb hands and a numb ass would always be part of what you got very time you wanted to turn the key and go for a ride. I as reassured by one ChinaV that the QM 250 was a noted improvement and that is was smooth and could only help a rider build his or her confidence. I waited until the morning to try the little beast out. I was impressed, but still a little leery of coming ride. That aside, bike be dammed I didn't want to be scoffed at. I'm fragile and long for the false respect of those I don't know and have never met. So on the bike we went.
The ride up was uneventful. We had a short ride through the diesel cloud which is the Pearl River delta and after about 30-40 minutes on the bikes we arrived at what I think was some kind of China moto club house. Here we would meet the rest of the crew and see all the wild and exotic bikes they would be riding. Honestly I was shocked at the pedigree of some of the bikes, Aprillas, Ducatis, R1s, GSX-Rs and a plethora of amazing and illegal bikes.
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After a short break at the MotoF club house Franki, ChinaV + girl, myself + girl and our new friend Little Tom hit the road. It was time for lychees. The ride out of the city is always the same and most of the reason I had not had a bike up until this point. The roads are congested with heavy trucks belching their black diesel smoke into your lungs faster than you can breathe it in. I was actually boxed in by a bus and a big truck so badly that the bar ends were touching both the truck and the bus. Really I was lucky that I didn't get smushed good.
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After leaving the city the riding became a little more relaxed and a little more fun. The traffic thinned and we started to enjoy our ride. I was starting to like the little Qingqi. It was hauling my wife and I quite well. We were even able to cruise around 110kmph and keep us with the big boys. The horrific vibrations that had plagued my hands and ass in the past were gone. The bike was tuning out to be pretty good after all. It was light and fun to ride, just as I was told it would be. Even two up there wasn't much trouble passing cars, trucks and other bikers.
When we got to the base of the mountain we parked the bikes and headed up the hill to grab some lychees. ChinaV and I went up the hill, at a couple of lychees of the trees and snapped some photos. It was damn hot that day and we had traversed a river to get up the hill. After some quick conversation we decided the time would be best spent cooling our feet in the river while we let the girls do the manual labour. We headed down the mountain to cool our heels and wait for our bounty.
The girls came down the hill, lychees in hand, sat next to us and joined us in the river. It was a nice relaxing time.
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Lychees in stomach, it was time to get up the legendary Nankunshan mountain road. This was only the second bike trip my wife had ever really been and on our last one we fell multiple times. Going up mountain switch backs on a bike was a little unnerving for her so we had to take it slow. The most important part of the trip for me was to restore her confidence in motorcycle travel and to make sure she had a good time. Remember a little effort and discomfort can go a long way in the long run. We hung around near the back of the pack. The bike made it up the mountain with a little effort. Some of the hills were pretty damn steep and the QM250 struggled a little with getting out of second gear.
When we finally reached the hotel we were stuck outside waiting for the dude with the reservations papers. We spent this time drooling over all the vehicular pornography in the lot. There were only supposed to be about 20 bikes there but more than 45 showed up. There was lots of fancy iron and aluminum to look at. The funniest part about this was that the bike that had the most attention and the most looks and the most questions asked about was that little orange QM250. No one knew what it was. They were shocked to see that there was actually a Chinese made motorcycle that appealed to them and that wasn't a complete P.O.S. Many people asked about price and where they could be purchased. One guy wanted the bike there and then and wanted to see what he would have to do to get it. I just told him the bike was new, there was probably one of them on the road in China and that it was this one and that if he really wanted to buy he would have to wait until it hits the market later in the year. Most people were blown away to see a bike that they could own that is fun and even more important had the potential to be a legal ride for them.
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We finally got into our rooms and waited for dinner. Dinner was supposed to be an all you could eat and drink BBQ. I'm not really a big fan of unorganized Chinese BBQs but I figured what the hell. The beer is included and there is lots of it. If I made sure I cooked the meat well enough I should be well enough to survive the ride back to Dongguan in the morning. Many beers and lots of well cooked meat later we hit the beds and slept in wait of the coming ride the next day.
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Re: Nankunshan Lychee Queest 2009
Dear Friends:
Hi, my name is Mark and i am actually living in Dongguan ( Guangdong). I just saw ur pics and since it seems the route was made starting by Dongguan i am wondering if anyone of u are from here. I have been living here the last two years and i should say i already gave up about drive a bike but... just in case... In Spain i was driving Harley Davidson. I have got already chinese car driving license. The only i know is Motos are banned in Guangdong Province, but i think always there is a "B" way to do everything. And i think i saw something about handle everything in a place like Chengdu or Xiamen where Bikes are allowed. Any information will be very much welcome.
Re: Nankunshan Lychee Queest 2009
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Shul
Dear Friends:
Hi, my name is Mark and i am actually living in Dongguan ( Guangdong). I just saw ur pics and since it seems the route was made starting by Dongguan i am wondering if anyone of u are from here. I have been living here the last two years and i should say i already gave up about drive a bike but... just in case... In Spain i was driving Harley Davidson. I have got already chinese car driving license. The only i know is Motos are banned in Guangdong Province, but i think always there is a "B" way to do everything. And i think i saw something about handle everything in a place like Chengdu or Xiamen where Bikes are allowed. Any information will be very much welcome.
Hi Mark,
Welcome to MCM...
This trip did start in Dongguan and I am also living here for the last ten years. Motorcycles are illegal in Dongguan, and owning one in the city is very difficult. Once you get out of the city, there are many places where you can ride a bike legally in Guangdong.
As long as you only want to ride outside of Dongguan, there are plenty of options available, but if you're interested in owning a motorcycle for daily transportation, I would think about moving to another city. :sad:
Cheers!
ChinaV
Re: Nankunshan Lychee Queest 2009
Welcome the board, Shul. Whether you know it or not, and even a casual read of MCM will demonstrate it in spades, ChinaV is the reigning oracle of motorbiking in China. Or at least one of them.
:gerg:
Now, ChinaV, remind us again exactly how many motorcycles you own there in Dongguan?
:dirtbike::
Apropos of nothing, I was there a couple of years ago on the day of the grand opening of the first drive-through McDonalds. Not just the first in Dongguan, but the first in China. Alas, I was on a bus, and I doubt the driver would have stopped, even if I'd had a mind to, which I didn't.
:bs:
cheers
Re: Nankunshan Lychee Queest 2009
Quote:
Originally Posted by
euphonius
Now, ChinaV, remind us again exactly how many motorcycles you own there in Dongguan?
A few, but it's time to thin the herd. One MCM'er is coming over on Friday to have a look at buying something. If anyones interested, everything but the V-Strom is up for sale.
http://www.contactdi.com/2010/the_fleet.jpg
2009 Galaxy XTR - 8500 RMB Includes 3 sets of wheels (Dirt, Dualsport, Motard), white plastic and black plastic, big gas tank, small gas tank, other assorted spares.
2009 QingQi QM250 - 7000 RMB Includes Motard and Dualsport wheels, other assorted spares.
1998 BWM F650 - 20,000 RMB New chain, sprockets, tires, tubes, cables, plugs, filters and brakes. Everything was just upgraded, original BMW parts or high quality replacements from Hong Kong.
Getting the itch for something new and the wife will kill me if I don't sell something first.
Cheers!
ChinaV
Re: Nankunshan Lychee Queest 2009
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ChinaV
Getting the itch for something new and the wife will kill me if I don't sell something first.
ChinaV, you had me worried there till the last sentence. Was thinking, what with the marriage and all, you might be turning the garage into a nursery...
Looks like some fine values there.
Hey, Ekki, there's your Qingqi!
cheers
Re: Nankunshan Lychee Queest 2009
First come first serve, XTR is mine!
Teleport me to Guangdong and I'll ride now. I'm selling my Shineray, even if I sell it for half price.
Looking forward to Friday, seems someone beat me to the call.
Re: Nankunshan Lychee Queest 2009
Hi ChinaV, and nice to meet all of u, guys. I know here is banned, and that really piss on me. Yes, i like both things, i mean, i like make off road on weekend, and that can be an option, but i really miss, as u said, a "daily-use" bike. I have a brazilian friend here, Andru, he has a 400cc or 600cc and ride often around city. That is totally forbidden but... it seems he didnīīt got any problem ever before. is he Lucky? or maybe cops donīt care about us? Anyway, change city is not my idea yet, and change local regulation seems pretty difficult. So, hope to know more about what u do on weekend and around where... What about some beers one night?
Hi Euphonius. Nice to meet u too.
Oh Gosh! U hav 4 bikes? in the moto-forbidden city? Well, thatīs cool... Where do u ride ur V-storm? I really need a beer and get more info... Vīs!
Re: Nankunshan Lychee Queest 2009
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Shul
I have a brazilian friend here, Andru, he has a 400cc or 600cc and ride often around city. That is totally forbidden but... it seems he didnīīt got any problem ever before. is he Lucky? or maybe cops donīt care about us?
Most of the time people ride around and don't get in trouble, occasionally the cops do care, and they will take motorcycles away if you get stuck in a roadblock. Being a foreigner here isn't anything special these days. If your friend has an accident, he's probably going to be in some trouble. Given the fact that most of the vehicles on the road in Dongguan are high priced luxury cars, I would really hate to find out what happens when one of those idiots runs a light or pulls a left turn in front of you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Shul
Well, thatīs cool... Where do u ride ur V-storm? I really need a beer and get more info... Vīs!
I ride all over, but one place I never ride is in Dongguan city center. I live outside the city in Houjie, so it's much easier to have bikes out here. If you're living downtown, not getting caught and not getting your bike stolen might be difficult.
I always have beer in my fridge.:goodtime: Also sent you a message with my phone number if you want to stop by and chat.
Cheers!
ChinaV
Re: Nankunshan Lychee Queest 2009
Quote:
Originally Posted by
euphonius
Hey, Ekki, there's your Qingqi!
i only just saw this.. GAAAAH I want i want i want so bad. but right now i can't afford it :(
Re: Nankunshan Lychee Queest 2009
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ekkicore
i only just saw this.. GAAAAH I want i want i want so bad. but right now i can't afford it :(
If you want to sell your soul, I can arrange that ... trouble is even innocent ones aren't worth much these days!:hellfire:
Re: Nankunshan Lychee Queest 2009
I'm soulless without my SQUEAZEL?!... even if he comes in bright orange.
