Guangzhou Area Bike and License

Hello MCM Community!

I recently started working in Zengcheng (about an hour and a half hourside of Guangzhou) in the Guangdong Province.

I have a Valid Z Permit and a Valid California Drivers License.

I am looking for information on how to get a valid chinese motorcycle license as well as information on which bike to buy.

My budget for the bike is between 6000 to 8000 RMB. I have no issue buying used. I am a bigger guy, 6'2 230 so some of the smaller framed 125 bikes just dont work for me. Thanks in advance and looking forward to your input!

I would like to purchase the bike within the next two weeks, as for the license part, I know that may take longer.

Welcome Ritzfactor,

Been through Zengcheng many times on the way to nicer roads in Northern Guangdong. Have you checked with the motor vehicle department in Zhengcheng, are they still issuing MC licenses and plates for Chinese riders? If not, you will probably need to file a temporary residence in another city, then you can buy your bike and get the license there.

Based on your size and budget, the Shineray GY7 is probably your best choice. I would avoid used bikes, unless it's from a reputable source and you are confident the bike is mechanically sound.

Good luck
ChinaV

Hi Ritz, there isn't much choice for 6-8000 RMB above 125cc new. Possibly a Jialing 125 dirt bike with road tires and plates might suit you better than a street 125. There are probably a few bigger Jap bikes with/without plates around, but don't bother, if the bike is in your price range it will have problems, you usually need 15,000+ for a safe mint condition bike.

There are not many bikes around here to choose from. I have no issue with the 125CC bikes I tried at the local dealership a couple frames were a bit too small for me, but doable. I have never bought a bike on my own before, what should I watch out for when buying a bike from a dealership here?

My current plan is to stick to a brand I recognize (Honda or Suzuki) There are several models here at my price point, hopefully I can find some exact model numbers and have you guys help me make a good decision!

The two models I have ridden and felt comfortable on are the Honda WH125-B and the Haojin HJ125-7B. I have not had a chance to take any of the suzukis or any other brands out for a ride yet.

I will ask about the Shineray, but the report on the site here makes me want to stay away until the build issues are figured out!

As for the Zengcheng DMV, I have no idea where that even is but the people I work with have all told me that as a foreigner you cannot get a motorcycle license, only car license.

by the way:
ZMC888
your link for the moto club does not work for me~

Quote:

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My current plan is to stick to a brand I recognize (Honda or Suzuki)

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Good idea, these companies produce better quality bikes than the Chinese brands. The Yamaha YBR125 and Sundiro Honda CBF125 are worth checking out, but at the high end of your budget. The Honda WH125-B is basically the Wuyang Honda version of the CBF125, a good reliable bike, so if you like it I'd definitely suggest that.

It is possible to transfer a foreign bike license into a Chinese one, but rules do vary from province to province.

Sorry the lik for my site is blocked as are many outside sites in China, I should remove it from my signature.

Ritzfactor,

welcome to china and the world of "it can't be done" (mei banfa). Usually, when you are told it cannot be done, it means the person you are talking to has never done it before, has no idea how to do it, has probably never even thought about wanting what you want, and perhaps even is overlaying some kind of protective bias (foreigners shouldn't ride motorcycles, foreigners are better off driving cars, foreigners are rich and might confuse people or embarrass themselves if they ride a motorcycle, etc, etc).

I very much doubt that there is a rule or law prohibiting you as a foreigner from having a motorcycle/car license. So politely suggest that you go check it out anyway.

Incidentally, Chinese drivers licenses are valid nationwide, so wherever you get one it will work in Zengcheng.

almost anything CAN be done in China. you just have to find the right banfa.

good luck!
jkp (20 years in China)

If after a couple personal visits they still tell me it cannot be done here in Zengcheng/Guangzhou/Shenzhen, I will just ask for a couple days off work to go travel to some place and get everything done in a different region. I am rather determined to legally ride here, even if I have to do semi illegal things to do it!

As for registering to get plates, I was told to have the shop I buy the bike form register it for me and receive a stamped letter giving me permission to ride the bike? Or does my Z Visa/Residence Permit allow me to get plates?

What do you mean by a Z visa? If you have a longterm job in China you should have (or get) what's called a Residence Permit for Foreigners in China, which is good for a year and multiple entries. I think the Z visa is just the first step, allowing you to enter and begin the formalities that lead to a Residence Permit. To my knowledge you need a Residence Permit to legally own a vehicle here. Registration in your own name is complicated, again because its rare for a foreigner to do so, and because, while the driver's license is purportedly standardized nationwide, motorcycle ownership is subject to a wide range of local regulations. Some cities have flat-out bans on motorcycles, and bikes over 125cc are subject to more restrictions than scooters and other smaller bikes.

My suggestion is to press for a legal solution before you start thinking of quasi or extralegal solutions. Things can be done here, but not always in a straightforward or obvious way.

cheers
jkp

Sorry, I have a Z Visa and the Residence permit inside my passport. I should make sure to clarify this in the future.

so you are ready to rock and roll! don't take "no" (or "mei banfa") for an answer!

cheers
jkp

It should be simple, if you like the Wuyang Honda, which have a good reputation btw, go to the dealers and pay a deposit of around 500 or so. Make sure they understand that you will pay the remainder before you take full possession of a fully registered bike. You can register it in your name as you have a residence permit, although this is more complex than simply registering the bike in the name of someone you trust with a Chinese ID card, still perfectly legal, although the Chinese person is technically the owner, so some people are uncomfortable with this.

About the license, the foreign affairs office should be able to translate your home license into Chinese for a fee of around 200. Then eye test and police photo at a police traffic center of some kind. Then the 100 question multiple choice test. You could come into difficulties if the local Gong An refuse to transfer your license for some reason (which may be the case where you are due to local motorcycle bans) and another district may be unable to do it for you as you are not registered as living locally.

Being fully legal is ideal, the next best is being as legal as you can be!

So I am heading over to the local PSB on friday for my first attempt at getting a license in Guangdong!

I will bring with me my passport (with residency permit) my california drivers license, 8 photos with white background, and a native chinese speaker. They might want a translated and notarized version of my license, but everyone I asked has no idea where to get that, so I will just wait and see on that. I assume I will not be able to take the test in english as almost no one around here speaks english. However, I will make sure to update on how things work out!

I have been in Nanjing 6 years, finally got my drivers license for car and motorcycle three weeks ago. I have had my cj750 since 2006 and bought a car for my and been driving it when she did not want to drive me since 2008. If pulled over, just smile and tell them "Wo Boo Ju Da". Seriously, the visa was my biggest roadblock to a license as I had a business visa for 3 years with multiple entries but never more than 90 days. I also live in Texas part of the year so we go back there often. After I officially got married to my Chinese wife, things got easier. You need a visa that lets you stay more than 90 days. That seems to be the key in Nanjing anyway. Once you have that, ZM has accurate advice. I would also add to hire a "translator" to sit with you during the test. It cost me RMB450 and mine translated the test with a guarantee I would pass. I made 99 out of 100. You can put two and two together. You will need a translation of your license. I got mine at the police station but it varies from place to place, ask around. Even with my wife helping it still took 2 days back and forth so do not give up. TIC
DT

Nothing good to report.

Went to first Traffic Police Station. Filled out the forms (all in chinese) they even have a box for nationality and foreign issued drivers license. Went to hand it in. Sorry we cannot help you here. You must go to Another Traffic Police Station(on the outside of town).

Outside of Town Traffic Police Station: Sorry we cannot help you here. You must go to Guangzhou.
I say: "but Guangzhou does not give out motorcycle licenses and you do."
They say: "we do not know how to give foreigners any license."

Meanwhile 5 different police officers there have all told us different procedures and locations, none of which match up at all, all of which say the other way is wrong.

Due to the Guangzhou games happening in the next couple months, nobody has any idea how to get a motorcycle license here.

Besides riding dirty, any other suggestions for what I should try?

TIC
My wife had to go back and forth for a week in preparation and it still took 2 days for me to get mine. My wife did not accept "no" she demanded to talk to supervisor. She ended up 2 levels up the chain before we got it figured out. I do not doubt their response on not knowing how to do it. There are no consistent processes for them to follow. If you do not have a translator, find a company who helps foreigners get car license and go from there. It may cost you up to RMB1000 by the time it is said and done but it is money well spent. You have to keep pushing.
Oh yes, need to add again that my wife is local Chinese. You need someone local to help.
Good Luck
DT

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TexasAggie

TIC
You have to keep pushing.
Oh yes, need to add again that my wife is local Chinese. You need someone local to help.
Good Luck
DT

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Ritzfactor,

Aggie's advice is golden. Do not take "no" for an answer.

I was told by several people "who should know" that it would not be possible for me to register a Jialing JH600 under my own name in Shanghai. This included the Jialing rep in Shanghai, one of the BMW dealers here, and a sales agent for Harley-Davidson, also in Shanghai. All of them were wrong, but they were speaking out of ignorance, not malice. They had never done one before, so assumed it could not be done, or didn't have the inquisitiveness to figure out how to do it. The Jialing guy even went and asked authorities, who, like your guys in GD, said, "can't be done." But the I provided him with clear evidence that not only could it be done but that it ***had been done*** and he was able to go back to the registry folks and confirm that, yes, it could.

The moral of this story is probably this: Find a foreigner in a similar situation to yours who succeeded in getting a license. Then replicate their approach. If you truly are the first in your town, you'll need to bring evidence of how another expat did it in a neighboring town.

Don't give up, and please do not assume that you have no choice but to ride dirty.

good luck!

They're just lazy...
Get the official written answer from http://www.gdgajj.com/contact/index.htm, then police traffic dept can't deined ur request:thumbsup:
From 1 April 2010, even "Migrants" can took the motorcycle test in "working" place:riding:

They told me they do not know how to operate the new regulations (my city is very small) and I am the first foreigner (they said) to even attempt to get a license here. Something that I thought about trying is to get a automobile license first, which gets my name in the system, which they can do. Then from there, ADD a motorcycle license to that which may solve a bunch of the problems with the small town.

I have no issue travelling to a bigger city (not guangzhou) thats further away, however I need an assurance that I can actually get it done there. I also have no problem paying a service 1000RMB to get a legit license. The only time I have off from work during business hours are friday mornings until 2pm.

Its hard to not take no for an answer when you are talking through a translator and all you can understand is that they are saying they cant help you and that they dont know.

I will continue to keep trying, thank you for all the support and good wishes! I already told the people at the station I would be back on friday next week. If anyone can shed more light on the exact process, maybe I can get the health exam and other steps done while i wait for them to figure the rest out. At least do something with my time instead of butting my head up against the great brick wall of china.


As another aside, does anyone know of a shineray dealership (or place that has them in stock) near zengcheng I can go for a test drive?

Does you USA license have a motorcycle permit on it. You need to include a official "chopped" translation of you home license anyway, jsut make sure they include that. In Texas it is CM for car and motorcycle. I had to get the legend for them from the Texas DOT. Do not give up.

TIC
DT

http://www.gzjd.gov.cn/pub/index_jsp..._id_49882.html ( the [4])
Find a local to call Vehicle Administration :rolleyes1 first
the nearest is 黄埔车管分所: 广州市黄埔区茅岗路989号
Shineray dealer? You're in Pear River Delta, Locals mainly bought Japanese brand or bikes made in GD ONLY:lol8: the contact method is http://www.shineray.com.cn/lianxiwm.asp

Yes, there is not much in terms of selection around here... I will be heading into Guangzhou this weekend to look at a couple of the shops there (I made friends with another dealer here in town that wants to show me some bigger bikes, after I tried to explain what I wanted to do) He offered me a used Honda CBR 600 for 11000 RMB (not registered).

As for the license, I am going back to the Traffic Police Station on Friday and starting my Automobile License (this is alot simpler to do, and will get my information into the system). After this, I will start working on moto license again.

I ask again for help from the more experienced in terms of what Bikes are available to me here (that I can register). Finding information about these things around here makes me feel like I am in the wild west (east).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ritzfactor

Yes, there is not much in terms of selection around here... I will be heading into Guangzhou this weekend to look at a couple of the shops there (I made friends with another dealer here in town that wants to show me some bigger bikes, after I tried to explain what I wanted to do) He offered me a used Honda CBR 600 for 11000 RMB (not registered).

As for the license, I am going back to the Traffic Police Station on Friday and starting my Automobile License (this is alot simpler to do, and will get my information into the system). After this, I will start working on moto license again.

I ask again for help from the more experienced in terms of what Bikes are available to me here (that I can register). Finding information about these things around here makes me feel like I am in the wild west (east).

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Dude, so what happened in Zengcheng? I'm not far from Zengcheng and am thinking of trying to have my address moved there in association with my residence permit if I can get a motorcycle license there.

Foshan is the area to buy motos in the GZ surroundings........you can find many shops there

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Originally Posted by kikikillercat

Foshan is the area to buy motos in the GZ surroundings........you can find many shops there

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I'm wondering what happened with the license in Zengcheng. I've driven around that place a few times on my scooter with no licesne, but I'm wanting to get legal and buy a bike I can take off raod.

Killercat, do they have anything like this in Foshan?

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=...d=19712752695#

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ThePope

I'm wondering what happened with the license in Zengcheng. I've driven around that place a few times on my scooter with no licesne, but I'm wanting to get legal and buy a bike I can take off raod.

Killercat, do they have anything like this in Foshan?

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=...d=19712752695#

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nice looking bike...dont know for sure, this taobao is selling out of Chongqing... when in Foshan,, ask anyone on a motorcycle and you should find the area where they are selling the motos....hard to say what they will have in stock...but everyone in GZ says to go to Foshan,,,,many shops because GZ has few.
i go to the moto parts and accessory place on the skirts of GZ and they dont sell bikes there, maybe a small few that i have seen,,,but no real shops....mostly internet and wholesale area. The CF moto rep was the first one to mention it...they sell CFmoto in Foshan.