Exploring Northeatern China this summer...............but first need the machine!

Hi all. I am looking to explore the Northeastern corner of China this summer. The following is a rough outline of my route.

Dalian --> Shenyang --> Tongliao --> Hinggan --> Hulunber --> Heihe --> Hegang --> Jixi --> Mudanjiang --> Jilin --> Dandong --> Dalian.

Any advice is much appreciated.

I have been sorting through Chinese bike manufacturers (the ones I could find) and have come up with a list of potential machines for the trip:
Loncin JL250GY Rover

Asiawing LX450S
LX450E
BR200

Qingqi Liger QM250GY-B(A)

Lifan LF250GY-7
LF200GY-6

Pioneer XF250GY-E

Skyteam ST250TR

Sukida SK250GY-10

Skygo SG250GY-7

Please let me know if there are any other models worth considering. I am trying to find a 250, or possibly a 200, with a large fuel tank (bigger the better).

The 250s appear very similar. Has anyone taken any of these models long distances? Should I stear clear of any?

I haven't been able to locate Supersignets Shineray GY-7 anywhere. Are they still available?

Cheers,

Wolfman
:taz:

Welcome to the forum.

Search for "Galaxy XTR 250" on this forum, there's a lot info about it here. You might be interested in this bike!

You are aware, motorcycles are not allowed in Dalian, Shenyang and Dandong!

This is the trip I did last year in the same area!

Hi Wolfman, forget the Asiawing option, I doubt they can be registered. I would seriously look into Galaxy and Qingqi as options. Most Chinese bikes around 250cc have enough clearance that you do not necessarily need a dirt bike or road/trail bike unless you really want to get dirty. Sometimes if you are intending to go mostly on roads less suspension travel and regular street tires might be OK.

Barry thanks for the info on Dalian, Shenyang and Dandong. You have saved me from a sticky situation there. I had planned to catch a ferry from Yantai to Dalian. Is this still possible if I ride around Dalian and not through it? Or are motorcycles banned from the area as well as the city itself? The Galaxy XTR 250 seems perfect for the job, minus the small tank. Does Galaxy produce a larger tank? I spotted the photo below on their website for the TGR250. It appears to have a larger tank, carry racks and panniers but is labeled as a motorcross bike. Not sure if this is factory model and/or if the picture is of a different model.

Thanks for the advice ZMC888. I'd like to have the option of getting dirty so will stick to the road/trail models, but after reading Felix's review on the Galaxy XTR250 I am seriously thinking about road tyres/rims to begin with. Is this sensible given the area I intend to explore (Northeast China)? I've read mixed reviews about the roads but I think road tyres should be ok.

Thank you for the wise words. :taz:

You should still be able to go around those cities and/or enter its suburbs, but probably best to stay away from the center. You would have to look further into it, for finding out the exact ban of each of those cities.

Their English website is a bit messy and not always correct. The bike on the picture is actually the XTR 250 ADV and has a tank of 13.8 liters. The aluminum panniers are not included! Price is about RMB 15k, an extra set of complete supermotard wheels is about RMB 2500.

Many times bike bans are just one or two streets or elevated roads and are not very enforced (Jinan for example), sometimes they are for entire central areas and fairly strictly enforced (eg Shenzhen, Guangzhou).

Thanks Barry. Haven't turned up anything useful from the Dalian website yet, but will call the hotline after work. The XTR 250 ADV looks like exactly what I'm looking for. It is labelled as the TGR250 and the specs are wrong on the english version of the Galaxy site. Shows up fine using google translate. I've sent and email enquiring about it and where the panniers come from. Hope to hear back from them soon.

Thanks ZMC888, I will try to get some answers from the hotline and if that fails, explore Dalian another time.

I agree with Barry and ZMC888. No need to fear pitching up at the Dalian ferry terminal and riding through. The chances of being stopped are very low, especially if you stay off the elevated and main/restricted corridors, but even if you do get stopped, just smile and explain and be friendly and you'll be on your way. I'd bet my last nickel that there will be hundreds of ebikes tooling through Dalian, going every which way with reckless abandon, so you can just ride with them....

That is a pretty Galaxy, and the panniers are the Tourfellas made by Du Rui in Yongkang, which you can read about in detail here in MCM.

cheers

Can this galaxy XTR/TGR 250 still be legally registered?

Yes, but not everywhere! It's not on the BJ list of approved bikes for example, we would have to get it registered in Hebei.

As mentioned elsewhere on the forum by ChinaV: "the TGR 250 is not produced/sold anymore". So it's end-of-life, it is only still mentioned by Galaxy's outdated/incorrect English website!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Barry

Yes, but not everywhere! It's not on the BJ list of approved bikes for example, we would have to get it registered in Hebei.

As mentioned elsewhere on the forum by ChinaV: "the TGR 250 is not produced/sold anymore". So it's end-of-life, it is only still mentioned by Galaxy's outdated/incorrect English website!

---

Whats the information I need to take with me down to the local police to see if I can get this TGR/XTR registered or could it be a case of who you know not what you know.

Thanks for info on the panniers. :taz:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bigdamo

Whats the information I need to take with me down to the local police to see if I can get this TGR/XTR registered or could it be a case of who you know not what you know.

---

I have emailed the people at Galaxy about registration and delivery options. Will let you know what they have to say.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wolfman

I have emailed the people at Galaxy about registration and delivery options. Will let you know what they have to say.

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So did I.I think we will have more luck if we QQ them.I am reluctant to believe anyone who sells something in China telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=14270548993

QQ：2545269（果汁） E-mail：2545269@qq.com

Email trade@yinhemotor.com.cn and you'll have a reply within an hour (on working days).

Bigdamo, that indeed is the exact price for the XTR 250 ADV they quoted me.
ADV RMB 14.800, Enduro RMB 12.800, extra complete set of wheels RMB 2.450 (set of supermotard wheels for example)
I emailed with them last month, so trust me on those prices. Delivery time is 1 week they say!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Barry

Email trade@yinhemotor.com.cn and you'll have a reply within an hour (on working days).

Bigdamo, that indeed is the exact price for the XTR 250 ADV they quoted me.
ADV RMB 14.800, Enduro RMB 12.800, extra complete set of wheels RMB 2.450 (set of supermotard wheels for example)
I emailed with them last month, so trust me on those prices. Delivery time is 1 week they say!

---

I am dubious as to whether it can be registered.

I just heard back from Galaxy:

"For domestic sales, the price for the ADV XTR250 is RMB14800. For the registration, our bike is no problem everywhere in China because it meets C3 standard. But you need to ask the local department and make clear which documents you need to prepare. For normal Chinese, we need to have a ID card."

Sounds promising, but double check with the local "department" (Transport Department?) in your area as the guy says. I had heard from some of my chinese colleagues that the max sized engine that can be registered in my area is 125cc. However, none of them have much to do with bikes and they don't seem very sure about it.

Hey Wolfman, I've also had problems getting much useful info out of the average local Chinese folks, mostly it's along the lines of "I think the motorcycle is very dangerous, bus is very convenient" and I drop the issue.
Having traveled around Dalian a little I've only seen one "no motorbike" sign and on the same road I saw the two biggest, nicest bikes I've seen here! (Check out the guy on tiptoes) Don't worry about getting hassled here, I'm not sure about the rest of Liaoning. I was asked by an officer once if I was a foreigner and if the bike was mine and I said it was showed him the registration and went on my way.
I'll be in this area in July (in fact, I had been thinking of riding from here down to Weihai and around Shandong!
Have you got any firm dates on when you plan to be coming through? Where are you thinking of buying the bike? Are you planing to ride more than on this trip?

Attachment 6689

Hey Maux. That is great info about riding in Dalian. I feel much better about riding through there. I'm waiting for work to finalise the dates for the summer break before settling on dates for the trip but am expecting to be in Dalian around the 1st of July. I discovered a few local bike shops by accident on the weekend and may buy one here. I'm interested in any opinions on possibly using a HJ150-19C for my trip. I have read nothing but great things about both the 19A and 19C models and was impressed after seeing/hearing one in the shop on sunday. The tank size is excellent and the bike seemed to be made of quality components. My only concerns are - will it carry me (85kg) and my luggage around ok and will it handle uneven (possibly very uneven) road surfaces. The local dealer quoted 8300RMB for the 19C with side/top luggage racks installed. I think I can barter her down to 8100 or 8200.

Does anyone have any experience with the Shineray XY150-17A? Seems durable and has a decent fuel tank. Is there a thread on it here?

Wolfman,
Have you decided which bike are you going to use for your trip?
would you post pictures of the bike you choose?
Are you riding solo or are you going with other rider?
Bring camping equipments? Since you going to a places quite remote.

Thank,

Eggroll

Eggroll,

I am still researching the bike. However, I am headed to BJ on the weekend to look at some bikes in person (Jialing JH150GY-3 and Zonsheng GY150cc).

At this point I am riding solo and taking some basic camping equipment (swag, food etc).

My work visa gets finalised this week then it's off to get my license. Then I will purchase a bike and get it registered.

Cheers

I am regular into Yantai, I see no problem with motorbikes.
They are everywhere.
If your heading over to this place, drop in for a beer in Weifang.
A very friendly motorbike place, not far from Qingdao, Yantai, to our East,
Then Zibo and Jinan on our West flank.

Gra.

I now have the machine! On the weekend I bought a QJ150-19C and will be getting some accessories over the next few weeks. :riding:

Thank you to those who took the time to share their experience/opinions. Much appreciated.

I decided to buy locally so as to be sure the bike was legal and parts easily accessible. It came down to the YG150-F and the QJ. Upon test riding the YG was sluggish and cumbersome while the QJ was quick (for a 150), nimble and comprised of higher quality components. Plus, it looks and sounds great. :clap:

The price was 9000 RMB including plates and a custom carry rack (both getting fitted today, fingers crossed). :deal:

After dropping my friend at his house (the QJ carries two easily) I took it up in the hills near my apartment. Here are some pics from the day.

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Very nice,

i like it very much.
What is the seat height?
She is typical Chinese, deficient in the height department he he he
I guess we will buy a bike each when I get my licence.
It would make sense for us to get similar?

So we would buy 2 of them I guess.

Gra.

Hi again,

What is the range of colours?

Where is the bike made?

Gra.

Graham,

Not sure of the seat height, although it feels fine at my height (190cm). Perhaps it's smaller size overall is part of why it is so easy to maneuver. I like it.

It is available in green, blue, orange, grey and red. I believe it is made in China and is heavily influenced by Benelli as Qjiang owns them now. However, I could be wrong about one or both.

I'd recommend getting a bike that is sold locally unless you have the know-how to fix it yourself.

Looking forward to hearing what you end up buying.

Wolfman