Weekend trip anyone?

Hi MCMers,

I've had my Benelli600 for a couple of months now and the longest distance I've been driven so far is from Shanghai - Huzhou - Shanghai, one day trip. Are there anyone that are interested in a weekend trip? I have no experience in roads, destinations, or what-so-ever in China. Back in Sweden I only had my bike to commute between home and work, never really did any road trips. Starting to do the same here in Shanghai, that's why I would like to make a longer trip and experience the real purpose of having a bike.

A few weeks back, during Dragon boat festival, I was planning a trip to Hangzhou. But that idea got thrown in to the trashcan rather quick when I found out that Hangzhou has issued a total ban for motorcycles in the city.

Any suggestions for a weekend trip? Can ride solo but it would be much more fun if someone would like to join, the more the merrier, right?

Best
Jackie

Hello Jackie -

Sure! I'm interested in setting up a few 2-3 day rides. Wanted to map our a few runs through JianSu / ZheJiang to start - pure county hwy kind of stuff if you're interested. If there is an established ride route, can follow that, or just follow the road and see where it goes. Just need another 5-10 days to settle out the details on my new plate and then am ready. I'll PM you my contact details if you're up to it.

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Originally Posted by Chinasam

Hello Jackie -

Sure! I'm interested in setting up a few 2-3 day rides. Wanted to map our a few runs through JianSu / ZheJiang to start - pure county hwy kind of stuff if you're interested. If there is an established ride route, can follow that, or just follow the road and see where it goes. Just need another 5-10 days to settle out the details on my new plate and then am ready. I'll PM you my contact details if you're up to it.

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Hi Sam,

Sounds fun! I'm up, but I also need time to get rid of my mrs. She's visiting Shanghai until next weekend. After that, I shall be free as a bird (for a while at least).

Please do PM me your details.

Cheers!

i would suggest huangshan via the gang kou wan reservoir on country road x061 then highway 205 south to huangshan.
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6152/6...de69acd2cc.jpg
SAM_0606 by johnnyfast, on Flickr

x 061 is about 100km like this pic
just dont cut the corners and watch out for the locals although not too many of them

about 1000km round trip

its always tempting to look at the map and make a loop , but in this case just turn around and go back the same way because hgwy 324 back east is s h i t .

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Originally Posted by zhu

i would suggest huangshan via the gang kou wan reservoir on country road x061 then highway 205 south to huangshan.
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6152/6...de69acd2cc.jpg
SAM_0606 by johnnyfast, on Flickr

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this looks awesome! :riding:

Perfect! Thanks Zhu - Now just need to Google Map/Route that puppy! :riding::thumbsup:

For anyone interested in exploring rides around Zhejiang, including my base of Ningbo, Fenghua where there many numerous mountain rides and more, then hit me up. For those with no experience riding down this way, I'm willing to ride up and meet halfway around the Hangzhou bay area which has several bridges. I'm also able to supply a number of GPS co-ordinates of way-points from Shanghai down to Ningbo, as I've done the trip between the two locations multiple times over the years. The way-point co-ordinates might be useful for anyone who's not been far out of Shanghai, as I've also experimented with many various route options from the outskirts of Shanghai in my attempts to make the rides interesting - cause Shanghai and the surrounds aren't anything spectacular.

Thanks BD - I'll hit you up for those waypoints then as soon as I sort out a new GPS.

Hi,

I also just moved to Shanghai and got a Benelli600 2 weeks ago. I would love to do a weekend trip, even if only a day trip from Shanghai to Zhejiang.

Anyone interested in riding this weekend, July 13 or 14?

JGuan

I'm traveling this weekend, but it would be great to see a posse of 650NKs, 650TRs, Benelli 600s and Jialing JH600s sizing each other up! Count me in later in July or in August.

cheers
euphonius

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Originally Posted by Jguan

Hi,
I also just moved to Shanghai and got a Benelli600 2 weeks ago. I would love to do a weekend trip, even if only a day trip from Shanghai to Zhejiang.
Anyone interested in riding this weekend, July 13 or 14?
JGuan

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JGuan I replied to your PM. For the benefit of others... here's some of my reply.

It can take a long time to ride from SH down to Zhejiang, especially down to Ningbo, although in my opinion it is worth it. It does depend on where you want to ride though. Lots of choices in Zhejiang to be fair. To ride down from SH-Ningbo bypassing HZ takes about 7-8 hours. If you have not been before then you would likely need to allow a longer period of time perhaps 8-9 hours. I have done the trip over the years multiple times, both by motorcycle, and car. It takes a good 7 hours by motorcycle using the provincial highways and all my self imposed diversions - to make the ride that much more interesting.

This coming weekend: If one is able to leave on Friday, then that would be better as a group of us plan to ride to one of the islands named TaoHua Dao. It's one of a group of islands just off the coast of Ningbo (Beilun actually) me and some mates travel to frequently in the summer. We take a vehicle ferry which takes 2 hours then stay on the island until we return by ferry on Sunday afternoon. From SH one would ideally need to look at spending 4 days away from SH. 2 of those to allow for riding here and back.

All motorcycle riders from SH or beyond are welcome to join us.

If one uses a GPS I can share some coordinates to get riders down from SH to Ningbo with a fairly interesting route. If I have time I could possibly ride up to meet any riders midway, around one of the HZ bay bridges to the East of HZ to act as the guide. I'd supply a waypoint at the Northern side of a specific bridge for this.

We (the group I ride with) plan on heading to TaoHua Dao this Saturday, but don't let that put anyone off if any interested can't make it, well we make this trip really frequently in the Summer. Usually though some of us catch the Ferry on Friday just to beat the crowds that leave on Saturdays. Nice weather, and the hordes of cars are there at the ferry terminal to greet one and all.

TaoHua Dao has two main beaches, and they couldn't contrast any more if they were painted mural scenes. One is commercial, with sand, toys, lifeguards, and a blue seascape, and an entrance fee to go with it - the other beach is on the opposite side of the island and is a fishing village, pebble beach, no sand, no toys, no crowds and no entrance fee.

The beaches aside, the island itself has lots of mountain rides... I lost count the number of times, I have ridden round, over the island and back again. There is a decent town too.

Best part is it's located in my back yard, amongst all the other daily ride choices I have at my doorstep... nope, don't miss SH one i-ota!

:scooter:

"Best part is it's located in my back yard, amongst all the other daily ride choices I have at my doorstep... nope, don't miss SH one i-ota!"

Do you have any salt left? I think you have poured enough into my wound thank you very much!

Seriously, thanks for the information.

I'd love to join on upcoming weekends as soon as my bike is out of the shop and down in SH; should only be another week or so.

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Originally Posted by TexasAggie

"Best part is it's located in my back yard, amongst all the other daily ride choices I have at my doorstep... nope, don't miss SH one i-ota!"

Do you have any salt left? I think you have poured enough into my wound thank you very much!

Seriously, thanks for the information.

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Hehehe, Aw shuckssss... hey, you are always welcome to come on over from Jiangsu province... anytime. Remember. Place for your bike and all... though I know how long it takes to ride from over that way (rode to visit wifes family in Changzhou from Ningbo and return) one time only, cause Jiangsu is one of the most boring places to ride IMO. To mention nothing of the Changzhou CBD motorcycle ban!
Anytime though you want to escape the light fantastic Jiangsu (Jiangzoo) then gotta be closer the 'ol US of A. Just sayin...

OK - Count me in for a ride this weekend if anyone is going. Just picked up the new SRX5 and it is running beautifully. Just need to get some TF cases secured by Friday and I will be good to go. :riding:

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Originally Posted by bikerdoc

Hehehe, Aw shuckssss... hey, you are always welcome to come on over from Jiangsu province... anytime. Remember. Place for your bike and all... though I know how long it takes to ride from over that way (rode to visit wifes family in Changzhou from Ningbo and return) one time only, cause Jiangsu is one of the most boring places to ride IMO. To mention nothing of the Changzhou CBD motorcycle ban!
Anytime though you want to escape the light fantastic Jiangsu (Jiangzoo) then gotta be closer the 'ol US of A. Just sayin...

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Be careful what you offer in this group! I may end up shipping the bike to you via moving van then coming down on to join you via faster transportation. (I rarely get more than 48 hours off to ride so I have shipped the bike to places worth riding via moving van in the past) It sounds like you have great riding there.

yesterday we came home by train and I have seen the beautiful landscape a little bit north of Nanjing; on the other side of Yangtze River. when autumn comes, Thomas and I will visit TexasAggie. yesterday the temperature was 38 degree C there

There is great riding outside of Nanijng if you travel North, South, or West. Southeast or east is no good. The real problem is it takes half a day to get out of the Nanjing rat race in any direction and getting across the river on a motorcycle easily turns into an all day affair that takes the fun out of the entire trip when you have two days of hell for a few hours of great riding. I am seriously looking to get a house in the country side and keep the motorcycles there. The new train service to YiXing opened some possibilities up for me. We will see.....

I hate big cities no matter where they are. I hate New York, London, or Los Angeles every bit as much as Nanjing but I do not have to live in those cities.

The more people I meet, the better I like my dogs.

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Originally Posted by TexasAggie

There is great riding outside of Nanijng if you travel North, South, or West. Southeast or east is no good. The real problem is it takes half a day to get out of the Nanjing rat race in any direction and getting across the river on a motorcycle easily turns into an all day affair that takes the fun out of the entire trip when you have two days of hell for a few hours of great riding. I am seriously looking to get a house in the country side and keep the motorcycles there. The new train service to YiXing opened some possibilities up for me. We will see.....



I hate big cities no matter where they are. I hate New York, London, or Los Angeles every bit as much as Nanjing but I do not have to live in those cities.

The more people I meet, the better I like my dogs.

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Me to hate big city and it is a shame most of the member who live in china live in the big city and you can read the member love riding their bikes on open roads but take most of the day getting out of the city

These are my reason for not living in a big city ..

view from flat first .

Attachment 12638

2 mins north we have this

Attachment 12639

Attachment 12640

15 mins on bike south we have views

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west no good and east get better but need to ride 30 mins and all for 2200 rmb per sq meter cost of flats 3 years ago ... now just over 4000

so there's a lot to be said about not living in a big city

"get out of the Nanjing rat race in any direction and getting across the river on a motorcycle easily turns into an all day affair that takes the fun out of the entire trip"


I found a new way to get across the rivers

Attachment 12682


looks like fun

download to video here........http://kickass.to/mythbusters-12x6-h...-t7489161.html

If I could use the god damn tunnel less than 2km from my house, I could be in the mountains on back roads on the north bank in 15 minutes......

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Originally Posted by TexasAggie

If I could use the god damn tunnel less than 2km from my house, I could be in the mountains on back roads on the north bank in 15 minutes......

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What happens when you try to enter the tunnel?

A elevated bridge goes from Nanjing to an island. I can use that along with lots of Ebikes and other vehicles. The tunnel goes from the island to the other side of the river and it has more toll gates and guards than the President of the USA's house does. They went nuts. I got off with warning for trying but they were not happy and I will not repeat the exercise. It is a no go for anything other than cages.

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Originally Posted by TexasAggie

If I could use the god damn tunnel less than 2km from my house, I could be in the mountains on back roads on the north bank in 15 minutes......

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That's like saying if my ant had bollocks she will be my uncle:confused1:

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Originally Posted by TexasAggie

A elevated bridge goes from Nanjing to an island. I can use that along with lots of Ebikes and other vehicles. The tunnel goes from the island to the other side of the river and it has more toll gates and guards than the President of the USA's house does. They went nuts. I got off with warning for trying but they were not happy and I will not repeat the exercise. It is a no go for anything other than cages.

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Firstly, any time you are up for a getaway by all mean get your bike into the back of a moving van and ship your bike here. As for the tunnel, this brings up an interesting conversation I was having with two of my closest riding mates as we discussed this weekends plans of riding and surfing out on the islands off the coast of Ningbo (Beilun). The guys were giving my 650TR the once over at the same time, when the conversation turned to discussing locating and purchasing a motorcycle transport trailer from the likes of Harley Davidson (HD).

http://www.harley-davidsonbeijing.co...ocheshuangtuo/

I think it was HD Beijing that had advertised a fold up type trailer some years ago for sale for pretty good pricing from memory. I'd seen one or two being towed by different HD Ford Transit vans (e.g. HD Shanghai & HD Wenzhou, & later HD Suzhou). At the time, I'd tried to convince a few of these same riding mates to go shares in buying one of these trailers, so we'd have one for communal use for any eventuality that might occur. Since a couple of these guys have their own factories and what-not, storing a trailer wouldn't be an issue. Back then though seemed my idea was a waste of breath, since all but one, were interested in the idea - so it dropped by the wayside. That feeling seems to have changed, and they are now interested in the idea. So we have emails fired off to HD SH on pricing of the two versions of the trailers. Ofourse a high top Ford Transit or similar van would offer the same, with a little modification.

TexasAggie, you could get by if you simply trailered your bike through that tunnel, parked up on the other side, and then rode your bike through all the key riding areas. Then trailer bike back up for the return.

Worth a thought.

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Originally Posted by TexasAggie

A elevated bridge goes from Nanjing to an island. I can use that along with lots of Ebikes and other vehicles. The tunnel goes from the island to the other side of the river and it has more toll gates and guards than the President of the USA's house does. They went nuts. I got off with warning for trying but they were not happy and I will not repeat the exercise. It is a no go for anything other than cages.

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Similar to our experience with the bridge-and-tunnel crossing from Shanghai proper to Chongming Island. If you had multiple riders, perhaps the trick would be to organize one or more of those truck taxis to haul your bikes through. You'd need a posse because those taxis are high off the ground and bikes are heavy. But it might be worth the trouble for the huge saving of time and mafan.

Is the entrance similarly fortified on the other side?

Obviously the good doctor and I are on the same wavelength.

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Originally Posted by bikerdoc

Firstly, any time you are up for a getaway by all mean get your bike into the back of a moving van and ship your bike here. As for the tunnel, this brings up an interesting conversation I was having with two of my closest riding mates as we discussed this weekends plans of riding and surfing out on the islands off the coast of Ningbo (Beilun). The guys were giving my 650TR the once over at the same time, when the conversation turned to discussing locating and purchasing a motorcycle transport trailer from the likes of Harley Davidson (HD).

http://www.harley-davidsonbeijing.co...ocheshuangtuo/

I think it was HD Beijing that had advertised a fold up type trailer some years ago for sale. At the time, I'd tried to convince a few of these same riding mates to go shares in buying one of these trailers, so we'd have one for any eventuality that might occur. Back then seemed a waste of breath. That feeling seems to have changed, and they are now interested in the idea. TeasAggie, you could get by if you simply trailered your bike through that tunnel, parked up on the other side, and then rode your bike through all the key riding areas.

Worth a thought.

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ChinaV posted a year or two back about a very nice bike trailer he found on taobao.

Yes, here it is: Some assembly required.

Hmmm, that's an interesting thread... I wonder how I missed that one.
Will be interesting to compare the trailers and pricing. I searched before on Taobao and found a fair few trailers for sale, that looked like they'd do the business. I'd prefer a light smaller trailer that can carry one bike, but also that could be utilised as a general purpose trailer e.g. to carry an item of furniture or two when the need arises. Another reason is I drive a Suzuki Swift, when a cage beckons or is needed.

Back in the uk people who did not have a trailer used Ford Luton vans with a tail lift could get 8 bikes in ok . Have not seen many tail lift vans on the roads in china . could also rent them for the weekend at $100 with 8 bikes on the van used to work out a good deal just a shame for you guys van like this are not available in china

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