Beijing: reliable mortocycle shop and 京A license plate questions!
Hi Guys,
Been riding for years in SH with Hu A plate and moving to Beijing starting on 1st of June, plan to do the daily commute to work (Guomao area) and buy a SWM440 gran Milano, not sure if this bike is available in BJ though (it is in Shanghai already)
hence would like some info from seasoned Beijing riders!
My questions:
Anybody know a reliable, trustworthy, professional and friendly seller in Beijing, preferably selling the SWM440?
My advice for Shanghai: Jeff, 2717 Wuzhong rd near Qixin rd, mfmoto@163.com : he always treated me with patience and care, scooter or bikes, license plate Hu A and Hu C he'll do it efficiently, speak a bit English for those who don't speak mandarin.
As I'll be working and living around the 3rd ring 京A plate seems to be the right fit, isn't it?
right now the price is around 90K, for the 京A, right? price seems to sky rocket as few years back it was worth 10K!
What about the lifetime issue, 11 years, (not the case with Hu A in Shanghai), what does it mean? if I get closer to the 11years my 京A plate will be worthless as obsolete and my 90K investment go to the trash? I'll need to buy a new plate? Or can I renew it? Please explain.
Can I sell and shift the plate easily like in SH if I decide to sell the bike?
Thanks for your help guys.
T.
Re: Beijing: reliable mortocycle shop and 京A license plate questions!
According to what I've read on here (I.e. Not my own experience)
New bikes are good for 15 years. As long as you scrap your bike according to process, your 京A can then be kept, even if not attached to a bike, until you add it to a different bike, then the same rules apply again.
Don't try to plate a bike, new or used, that wasn't originally sold in BJ.
京A plate enforcement inside 4th ring is rare, got a buddy living inside 3rd ring, riding a 京B without issue for years, including on ring roads (technically not allowed) except ahead of things like large military parades and the like. You'd have to get your bike registered in the name of a bike shop outside 4th ring and outside any district that crosses 4th ring (e.g. 朝阳区).
If you can afford the 90k, as long as 北京 doesn't change theire plating rules, you should be fine.
I created a wiki to try and aggregate wisdom from this site, chinamoto.wikia.com and it has a much fuller explanation of the 京A vs 京B issues.
There is also a reputable bike shop page with two reputable bike shops, again based on others experience.
Welcome to BJ.
Ed
Re: Beijing: reliable mortocycle shop and 京A license plate questions!
Guys Thanks for the quick feedback.
So from your replies, License plates (京A or B) don't get obsolete over time: you can keep it as long as you change bikes as it's actually the age of the motorbike that matters.
Ed, I'll check your website as well. Thanks for the tip.
Re: Beijing: reliable mortocycle shop and 京A license plate questions!
I'm not sure 京B plates can be moved but there is no limit on the number of 京B plates so, it doesn't matter. Most 京B plates are 'public' meaning the blue book has the name of the company where you registered the bike, not your name. Sounds weird but this is 'normal' in Beijing. You own the bike because you have physical possession of the large registration book. As long as the company you registered the bike through stays in business, you're fine. If they go out of business, or didn't get their license renewed on time you won't be able to do you annual inspection (or every 2 years for recently purchased bikes) until that gets cleared up. Had it happen to a buddy recently but it did get cleared up. If it doesn't get cleared up your bike becomes un-insurable. So, if you're planning to drop a lot on a bike & can afford it, 京A is probably the way to go. The two bike shops listed on the chinamoto.wikia.com have been around so they will hopefully stay around.
Ed
Re: Beijing: reliable mortocycle shop and 京A license plate questions!
Thanks for your insight, I indeed plan to invest in a 京A, I contacted the SWM seller and he told
That he can do it for me but plates are around 130K now, which seems to be quite a big difference from what I heard (100K), of course I understand that price are increasing but that's fast. Will call other sellers to Benchmark (Qili and Datone Motors). Don't hesitate if you have more I go on the matter.
Thanks,
T.
Re: Beijing: reliable mortocycle shop and 京A license plate questions!
congrats on your Hu A... you should save the money and buy a house! :)
Re: Beijing: reliable mortocycle shop and 京A license plate questions!
Hello everyone, I am new to this forum. I am riding chinese 125 in beijing for more than 3 years without any license which seams i am lucky enough to bee living inside 3rd ring road. I want to get my bike license ASAP but the problem is that my visa is from other city and people told me that i can't get bike license unless my visa is issued from beijing. I already have chinese car license. I need help here for the license.
Re: Beijing: reliable mortocycle shop and 京A license plate questions!
Hi guys, many thanks for all the insights.
Quick question - assuming one has 京A or 京B plates - are they valid throughout the entire China?
E.g. for travel to Chengdu, Xi'an, Yúnnán, other provinces, or even abroad, say, LAo, Vietnam.
Re: Beijing: reliable mortocycle shop and 京A license plate questions!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lexeyich
Hi guys, many thanks for all the insights.
Quick question - assuming one has 京A or 京B plates - are they valid throughout the entire China?
E.g. for travel to Chengdu, Xi'an, Yúnnán, other provinces, or even abroad, say, LAo, Vietnam.
Yes, sure. Some countries you may not get in, or there are special requirements.
As for PRC, then usually where bikes are allowed you should be able to get in... however TIC (this is Ch!na) the LFZ (logic free zone)... some jurisdictions some may say no, or... whatever.
Some cities e.g. Shanghai attempt to restrict out of town plated bikes, with some bylaws which prohibit the entry of such bikes and even have fines for any such bike riders... but keep your wits about you, hang back at intersections where there are PSB etc and wait for the lights to turn green and traffic to start moving so you one can keep momentum therefore limiting apprehension...
Ordinarily on a bike one would wan to be up front at the head of the queue... but if you are in a place you aren't meant to be, and there are PSB lurking round, then better to hang back and blend in with the surrounding traffic IMHO
YMMV
Re: Beijing: reliable mortocycle shop and 京A license plate questions!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lexeyich
Hi guys, many thanks for all the insights.
Quick question - assuming one has 京A or 京B plates - are they valid throughout the entire China?
E.g. for travel to Chengdu, Xi'an, Yúnnán, other provinces, or even abroad, say, LAo, Vietnam.
1. Ok all over China but when in the city that Motorbikes are banned.? NO
2. Just completed a trip from China to the UK and back visiting 26 other countries on a Chinese plated Bike all ok.
3. Laos YES, Vietnam NO
Re: Beijing: reliable mortocycle shop and 京A license plate questions!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
prince666
1. Ok all over China but when in the city that Motorbikes are banned.? NO
2. Just completed a trip from China to the UK and back visiting 26 other countries on a Chinese plated Bike all ok.
3. Laos YES, Vietnam NO
Ok, gotcha. Will try to find the list of such cities:) If someone has it at hand - would be great.
And from what age kids are allowed here to be backseat helmeted passengers? From 12yo?
Re: Beijing: reliable mortocycle shop and 京A license plate questions!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lexeyich
Ok, gotcha. Will try to find the list of such cities:) If someone has it at hand - would be great.
And from what age kids are allowed here to be backseat helmeted passengers? From 12yo?
Nearly fell off my chair laughing reading the last part.
TIC mate no problem 1-year-old or your old grandma off 100 years old with or without a crash helmet, all good to go IMO.
Yes, there are laws about matters like this in China, but just stand outside on the road and look around you.
But good on you ride safely IMO.
