Hello from Urumqi, Xinjiang

Hello everybody,

my name is Constantin. I am a German national living in Urumqi, Xinjiang now for the third year. I am a professional language teacher and since Xinjiang is such a vast and beautiful place to explore, I've decided to get a motorcycle license and buy a nice ride while I'm at it. :naughty: Since I'm planning to stay in China, I got all the time in the world to explore and discover places far and wide on a bike. This forum has already been a tremendous help to me, so I've decided to become a member and contribute to it.

Dear Constantin,

Herzliche Willkommen an MCM! You surely are aware that you are surrounded by some of the best open road, mountain road and off-road riding in China, though you'll want a reliable steed and good preparation given the sparse population. Check out Futianshenzhen Tom's recent epiphanies from the Tianshan range, which is in your backyard. If I were you, I'd want a solid dual sport -- something you can abuse without worry (it goes with the territory) and yet not feel too limited when you get a nice 500km stretch of open road. Being German, you'll probably be partial to a GS; they are great if you are independently wealthy.

I look forward to reading about your bike shopping and subsequent adventures!

Cheers
euphonius

Thanks euphonius for your kind welcome. Because I am fully aware of the great adventures that lie ahead in the vast open speaces of Xinjiang I actually want to get licensed, buy a nice 250cc dual sport and explore desert and mountain ranges. Thinking of it, the quality of riding here and the costs associated with it are very reasonable. Since I am new to the subject and hope to find info on how to register a bike here and if at all possible in Urumqi. It does not seem to be a dry town because 150 - 250cc scooters fly low around town, but no actual motorcycles, i.e. more than 250cc. Since everything and nothing is possible here, I will se what is possible. Surely there is some information concerning that to be found in this forum that'll help. first things first though; I have to get a license. I'll keep you posted...

There's a list of dry cities in MCM somewhere. OK, the google found it for me. Urumqi looks to be dry, at least on paper. Your adventure just got more interesting.

Thanks man, that sheds some light on the matter. Yeah, you are right, the adventure just got more interesting. I got a good friend here who has a 250cc scooter and I see more and more of them every day. since I live at the outskirts of the city, I should give it a try. Being legal with a license and registration should help, I guess.

It's great if you are on the urban periphery. It may happen that your district is wet, which would be great. Otherwise, you'll need to find a wet district and conjure up some paperwork showing temporary residency there. That should make it possible to get licensed and plated. Hope it's not like Wuhan and Xi'an where because the city is dry they won't even allow residents to obtain a C1D or C1E license. Bigdamo might have some ideas too.

I'm sure you'll sort it all out!

Thanks again euphonius, I will surely keep that in mind. There is always a way in China:scooter:. And as I said, I got enough time, so probably I won't do any of this before the beginning of the next year. Otherwise I'll take up temporary residence in some small backwater town, get plated and registered there, transfer everything back, hide my bike in my backyard and leave for long distance rides before dawn:icon10:. If there is a will, there is way...

Hey Nocturno,

Nice to get to know about you, I live in Shihezi, only 150km west of Urumqi, have been here for 8 years... I have a lot of experience riding in the Tian Shan mountains and I would be very interested in finding a riding buddy for this summer vacation, end july and August. Having a licence is a must considering the police checkpoints we'd have to cross... I ride a Galaxy SUV 250, and I love the concept of the bike; both good on dirt roads and on the main roads, however, the quality of the parts used to put this thing together aren't really the best, therefor it's not very reliable... I have a friend with a second hand Qingqi 200GY dual sport bike that may come for sale in a few weeks... I'm from the Netherlands and I'm an oral English teacher... One trip I have been dreaming about is to go via Yili to the Snow Lotus mountain, might just be the most beautiful place in Xinjiang, a long green valley with a 6627m high mountain towering at the end of it... Another trip I'm planning is towards the Altay mountains in the north of Xinjiang... Let me know if you are interested!

MCM rocks!

Hello Tunafish, I would surely be interested to go out for some rides with you. It's always good to know that there are people around your area who like to enjoy the same hobbies. I have to get the license - buying a bike - getting registered thing sorted out first. After that, I'm all yours so to speak!

Hello Constantine!

Guys, who, among you, currently living in China, is not a language teacher? :confused1:

Probably no one, because it is really a very good business. I must state though that I am a certified language teacher and have been one in Germany as well. So I am not just some foreigner looking for a convenient way to make a quick buck.:goodtime::icon10: Don't get me wrong Zorge, I did not read that in your message:icon10:.

Dear Nocturno,

So do you already have a timetable on when you will do what concerning getting your licence? I have an American friend in Shihezi who is getting his licence right now, took him about 3 weeks, but he is very good at studying and his Chinese is pretty good as well... Anyway, if before that time you want to get together once for a :goodtime:, I'd be down.....

Hey Tunafish. I actually do not have a timetable at the moment, just want to get some more infos about how to get licensed, permitted, wher to by a decent ride etc. Glad to hear you US friend is at it. My Chinese is reasonably good I think, but surely I would prefer to take the written test in English. I can communicate without problems, but reading and writing... I would alwys be down for a:goodtime: to make some new friends and find company for the raod in the future.

Sounds good... In Urumqi I know a shop that sells Galaxy motorcycles like the SUV 250 such as I have and the XTR 250 adventure which might be more to your taste, you can find more info about it on this forum or on the internet. There used to be a Shineray shop as well but since it moved I haven't found it anymore... But with some research it should be possible to find out it's location... From Shineray there is the X2 which could be modified to become an adventure bike, I'm lucky enough to know a guy in a local motorcycle shop over here who really know's his stuff and he can weld a rack for supporting sidebags on almost anything... If you have been enthusiastically following this forum like I have I'm sure you are aware of the Shineray X5 as well... Sadly most reliable chinese brands only offer possibilities until 200cc like the Qingqi QM200GY for example... Having said that, the galaxy's 250 are in fact only 223cc so there isn't that much difference... As long as it's just you on the bike it should not be a problem to climb mountains with it... Cool man, looking forward to talk bikes more and have a few drinks in the near future... Cheers!

Attachment 12205

This is my bike and the beauty of the area south of Shihezi...

The motorcycle club at the end of the road (motorcycle ally it is the road that sells motorcycles in Shihezi down towards the old part of town ie uryghur part of town(for want of a better word)) should be able to help you out.Speak to the wife she is the ONE who can get things done.Notice all the exotic motorcycles there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zorge

Hello Constantine!

Guys, who, among you, currently living in China, is not a language teacher? :confused1:

---

Lots they all live in Beijing and Shanghai and have well paying gigs for multinational companies or they own a company in some form or another China being China.

Also the bloke /company who organizes/runs (well they did a few years back) the Takimakan Rally who is based in Urumqi might be able to help you out.Check there website.He also has/isa member /runs a motorcycle club( well he did a few years ago)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nocturno

Probably no one, because it is really a very good business. I must state though that I am a certified language teacher and have been one in Germany as well. So I am not just some foreigner looking for a convenient way to make a quick buck.:goodtime::icon10: Don't get me wrong Zorge, I did not read that in your message:icon10:.

---

No, I'm just noticed that you are not first language teacher here. :17:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zorge

No, I'm just noticed that you are not first language teacher here. :17:

---

interested to know what a first language teacher is? Would that be Mandarin ?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zorge

Hello Constantine!G uys, who, among you, currently living in China, is not a language teacher? :confused1:

---

Not I. Take my profession from the MCM pseudonym, and biker, while a passion is not to be confused with my profession - so not all here are teachers... not that I pass any judgement on those that are...

Bigdamo, you seem to be quite familiar in Shihezi... Did you live here? Do I know you? And that dude I talked about who really knows his stuff sounds exactly like the dude you're describing... He has a pretty good reputation around Xinjiang and I think he was also involved in the Taklimakan Rally... He often has a couple of BMW's in his shop which is exactly at the location you described... Small world....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tunafish

Bigdamo, you seem to be quite familiar in Shihezi... Did you live here? Do I know you? And that dude I talked about who really knows his stuff sounds exactly like the dude you're describing... He has a pretty good reputation around Xinjiang and I think he was also involved in the Taklimakan Rally... He often has a couple of BMW's in his shop which is exactly at the location you described... Small world....

---

Am I familiar in Shihezi I guess it depends who you ask.

Yes I lived in Shihezi still have an unit/apartment there well my wife does. Umm I do not know anyone called Tunafish from Shihezi or any where else for that matter but maybe your English name starts with P.

Tunafish is right you will need to be legal look what happened to that young foreign teacher who had an accident in Shihezi a couple of years ago who was not legal.

I thought Urumqi was about 180 klm from Shihezi.

Be interested to see how your American friend goes getting his license in Shihezi. It was difficult for me to get one because the powers that be don't want foreigners (espically teachers) riding motorcycles there. Maybe things have changed.

Nocturno I know people who go to certain towns in Xin jjiang to get there exotic foreign MC registered but Shihezi ain't one of those towns.Might be worth trying to get your license in one of those towns but I can't remember which town possibly the next town up from Shihezi.

Yes you would be right, my name begins with a P... Nope, it's just 150km... Two Americans in fact will have gotten their drivers licence here this summer. I asked them to write a clear manual on how to go about getting a drivers licence for new foreigners in the future... Now that the locals have experience with foreigners going for a licence it should be easier for other foreigners in the future... Bigdamo, next time you ride to Shihezi, let me know, wouldn't mind hanging out...

Wow guys! That's really a load of usefull information here! A friend of mine told me yestaerday that it should not be a problem getting a driver's license here in Urumqi. I will go far that first. meanwhile, a trip to Shihezi in the near future should be in order I think to check out the conditions there and scout for some bikes. I will also go to the bike shops here in the city and try get some information from the store owners. The Galaxy XTR 250 or any bike like it seems hust fine for me to start with. Btw: Did I get it right that the retailers can help with getting a registration? Can they hel with insurance too?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nocturno

Wow guys! That's really a load of usefull information here! A friend of mine told me yestaerday that it should not be a problem getting a driver's license here in Urumqi. I will go far that first. meanwhile, a trip to Shihezi in the near future should be in order I think to check out the conditions there and scout for some bikes. I will also go to the bike shops here in the city and try get some information from the store owners. The Galaxy XTR 250 or any bike like it seems hust fine for me to start with. Btw: Did I get it right that the retailers can help with getting a registration? Can they hel with insurance too?

---

Is your friend a motorcyclist? Yes, it's probably "no problem" for an expat to get a C1 driver's license in Urumqi, but does your friend know that you need a C1E or C1D to ride a motorbike? Some dry cities flat refuse to issue motorbike licenses to anyone, expat or Chinese, and some wet towns refuse them to expats on the grounds that expats should not be riding in China.

So be sure when you apply for the driver's license that you explicitly specify that you want a C1E (car and two-wheel bike) or C1D (car, bike and sidecar), not just a C1. Often they will say, uh-huh, uh-huh, right, and then give you a C1, which is useless for riding. Get it right the first time, or you'll have heaps of trouble getting it changed in future, as we learned from a member in Shandong who got bait-and-switched. If downtown Urumqi refuses to give you a C1E, try in suburban districts where bikes are not banned.

Dealers can be good for helping with registration, as long as you are certain they are doing it right and not gouging you on price. I'd be more wary if they offered to help you with the license, unless it's just to accompany you to the right place and help with the paperwork and process. If they offer to get you a license, it's probably dodgy.

good luck!

That is one thing to consider, motorcycles are banned in Urumqi, so hopefully you live at the very edge of the city... By the way, my motorcycle drivers licence says class "D"... It is just for motorcycles, not for cars, and I think it's the one you would aim for...

That's the one I would aim for indeed. If it's not possible here in Urumqi Changji might be another option. Maybe I'll get one for car and bike too, since I already have a European car driver's license. We'll see. Does anyone have an idea of what the license costs if you have to do it from scratch? I mean, in general.