Beijing - Qinghai - Beijing (Sep 2017)

Hi guys,

I am planning a 1 week (max 10 days) trip from Beijing to Qinghai and back in the second half of Sep 2017.
At the moment it is at the wishful thinking stage, however I would need to nail down key points sometime relatively soon to start working on logistics.

Current crew is 2 ppl on one tourist motorcycle (CF Moto TR-G), we generally do not do camping so would need to find accommodation spots to take naps at nights.
Also, we generally prefer to use different routes for the way TO any destination and BACK from it and try not to see same roads two times.

Current plan is to decide on major items by end-July, prepare for the trip with no rush within 4-5 weeks afterwards and to be generally ready by 1st decade of September.

My Chinese is pretty limited (HSK 2 at max), however some experience from travels in other parts of the world (e.g. in South America, Cambodia etc) showed that nothing is impossible to agree on, even in rural areas w/o proper local language skills. China might be different though.

We would be happy if someone from MCM community decides to join us to make the trip more efficient, safe and balanced in terms of communication, mutual support etc.

Should you have any suggestions (could be totally different) regarding the destination, route, logistics, warnings, advices - all ideas welcome! (N.B. - Except from "you better stay home":))

You better stay at home :lol8:

Take Metalmonkey with you, and keep the pace slow enough for his enduro :) Better yet, chose some dirt roads too and have him waiting for you :)

Make it Epic! :naughty:

Hi, Alexey.

I am located in Xining (Qinghai province) and could join you for few days ride here. PM me when you're planning your trip.

cheers

Hi, a_steel, nice to e-meet you!

I understand there is ca. 1700 km from BJ to Xining so with no hurry it should take 2 days for us to arrive and we can take it from there!
Alternatively, I am thinking to take a bit to south first and stop by Xi'an for a day or two. But anyway, I'll sort it out.

Will be in touch soon!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Metalmonkey

Have you thought of going by the Cliff road in Henan Guoliang cliff corridor in Guoliang village, Huixian county..?

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Need to look at the map - not yet familiar with the road names:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lexeyich

I understand there is ca. 1700 km from BJ to Xining so with no hurry it should take 2 days for us to arrive

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What does ca. mean?

I hope you don't actually think you're going to ride 1700km in 2 days?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Metalmonkey

It's a cliff face road in Henan province...Attachment 19582Attachment 19583

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That would be epic :)

Well，your questions sound like I might be too optimistic indeed and not taking into account some Chinese realities...

Assuming good roads (highway type or smaller but light traffic) and based on rides in Europe/Russia/US I am usually doing circa (ca) 1000 rm per riding day (sometimes less of course, sometimes more). I made three Ironbutts runs (min. 1600 km/24h, min.2500 km/36h and min.2000 km/24h). But it was done on purpose, with minimal stops etc.

That's why I thought that 700km/day should be Ok. On weekends (like today) I ride within and around BJ - and with 10am-ish starting time, photo shooting stops, lunch I am back at ca. 7pm with 400-450 km behind. This is where I was coming from re 2 days for 1700 km

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lexeyich

Well，your questions sound like I might be too optimistic indeed and not taking into account some Chinese realities...

Assuming good roads (highway type or smaller but light traffic) and based on rides in Europe/Russia/US I am usually doing circa (ca) 1000 rm per riding day (sometimes less of course, sometimes more). I made three Ironbutts runs (min. 1600 km/24h, min.2500 km/36h and min.2000 km/24h). But it was done on purpose, with minimal stops etc.

That's why I thought that 700km/day should be Ok. On weekends (like today) I ride within and around BJ - and with 10am-ish starting time, photo shooting stops, lunch I am back at ca. 7pm with 400-450 km behind. This is where I was coming from re 2 days for 1700 km

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Without going on the toll roads 1700 km in 2 days is going to be hard work, not impossible but you need a bit of luck with the road conditions and traffic IMO.
But good luck.

Planning days over 500k in China is a recipe for disaster. It takes one stretch of bad road, or mechanical problem, to set you back and then you're pushing to keep a schedule. Riding 10-12 hours per day, every day, can be exhausting, and can often result in a mistake. Sometimes it's better to dig deeper into the place your going instead of burning through huge kilometers. If you look at this ride report, we only covered 4010 kilometers riding 8-10 hours every day over 15 days. But, wow, those were some amazing kilometers. You only have 10 days, so you might want to think about sending your bikes to Qinghai and riding back.

One other thing to think about, the more people you have, the worse your progress. I never ride with more than 1 or 2 other riders, it always ends up costing you time.

Alexey, there's one more problem worth to mention: you're goind to ride with a pillion, what is forbidden on higway by national laws. I think 500km is real daily distance in China

300 km a day is respectcall IMO.
Its not a race? It don't mater if you ride 100 or 1500km a day.
Enjoy what you ride is the main thing.
After you get more used to riding in China you will be surprised how quick the Km will add up.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Metalmonkey

Do you know you use the word epic quite a bit- making me paranoid:)

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Well, one remembers epic road trips :lol8:

All comments, advices and concerns are taken and well noted gentlemen!

Will adjust my logistics plans accordingly to make them more reasonable!

Thank you!

Will update you on further steps once I deep dive into more detailed planning:)

Good to hear that, hope to see more posts how the preparations for the trip proceed.

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Originally Posted by moilami

Good to hear that, hope to see more posts how the preparations for the trip proceed.

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I call the preparation the "3 F".
1.Fill the tank with petrol.
2.Fill my pockets with money.
3.Fill my bag with clothes.

The 3XF......
When all done go go go .

:riding: :riding: :riding:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by moilami

Good to hear that, hope to see more posts how the preparations for the trip proceed.

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Ok, the solution that may work better indeed is to send my motorcycle to Xining, to fly there, go around the lake and ride back to BJ (or either way, to ride from BJ to Xining and send the bike back by cargo).

It will result in 2600-2700 km of ride in 10-12 days (instead of 5000km+ if i ride both ways) which looks Ok-ish from what I hear.

Now will think about whether to take north and go through Inner Mongolia (Bayan Nur) or use this opportunity to stop by Xi'an (haben't been there before).

The latter route (I assume) might be more busy in terms of traffic and less scenic but happy to hear other opinions!

Attachment 19589 Attachment 19590

Both routes created avoiding highways and toll roads.

North route is better more senic.
I will be Baotou from the 3rd August onwards till after the weekend.
Big bike race day arranged by CFmoto so I been told.
Many rides from our local Longkou club are going so I think it a big meet.

Shipping is costly and you may have damage on the bike.
IMO ride Kent both ways.

Alexey, you may consider another option: ride to Xining, have few days here, then leave bike in some place for storage for 1-2 months. then come here again, for example, in end September, take bike, ride it from here down to Sichuan or whenever else during National holidays (first week of October)

storage here isn't a big deal, I know at least two places where your bike will be safe till you come back.

I am considering to make ride from Xining to Chongqing at the end of September to visit CIMA 2017 (motorcycle exhibition).

shit, I just noticed "Sep 2017" in the header of this thread :D
which dates are you planning to travel?

As prince said the northern route is the better option, but I would go from Hohot to Datong and then side roads followed by the G109 to Beijing.
Before you reach the Beijing mountains I would avoid the G road. Shortly before the mountain area start get on the G109 and you get hours of roller coaster :riding:

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Originally Posted by a_steel

shit, I just noticed "Sep 2017" in the header of this thread :D
which dates are you planning to travel?

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Yeah, I plan to travel during the second fortnight of September and have a bit of time during the Golden Week to visit my parents and see some dudes etc.

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Originally Posted by ShuBen

As prince said the northern route is the better option, but I would go from Hohot to Datong and then side roads followed by the G109 to Beijing.
Before you reach the Beijing mountains I would avoid the G road. Shortly before the mountain area start get on the G109 and you get hours of roller coaster :riding:

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Well noted, thank you ShuBen!

That one should be really nice! And reasonbly short - 1000 km.
But as I am based in BJ it will require different scnario - fly to Chengdu, rent a bike and go to Xining.
Can be put into the agenda for further travels!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by prince666

I call the preparation the "3 F".
1.Fill the tank with petrol.
2.Fill my pockets with money.
3.Fill my bag with clothes.

The 3XF......
When all done go go go .

:riding: :riding: :riding:

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That is my way of preparing too :lol8:

Attachment 19594

Again, speaking out loud here, potentially I can do even round trip in 14 days. Cannot throw away the impression that I can do 500 km on avarage daily... and even have some sleepy days to walk around w/o riding.

Plus, the week after will be a Golden week so in case I am behind the schedule I can add a couple of days w/o being nervous that I have to be in BJ by a certain deadline sharp. So let me not sweep away this option for the time being.

Alex
I am sure you will be fine at 500km a day.
Pack the bike fill the tank, take some money and enjoy you ride.
I am sure stuff will pan out ok, and will give you a good Insight for the next ride.
What happens, happens so don't worrie about maybe I can maybe I can't.
Just a quicky note.
Just about to start 30 day ride on my new CFmoto 650 MT, been breaking in the bike over the last 6 weeks, clocked up over 6000 km.

In the last 3 day just before the start of the ride.

1 The gear sensor played up and I needed a new one.

2.The Speedo stop working, cant set trip to check fuel usage and km traveled.

3.And then tonight 50 km away from Ningbo on top of a mountain near the wind turbine farm the gear connecting rod broke ?
Was abel to select 2nd and had to ride 50km on mountain roads only using 2nd, to get to the Ningbo CFmoto dealer to remove the same part from a new MT in the show room.

What I am saying Alex "Shit happens".
So planing this and that IMO is not worth the time on day here in China on a Chinese bike.
I was lucky that the 3 items I was abel to sort out directly with CF in a very quick timely way.
You could be not so lucky mate.
So take it as it comes and your be fine.
Have a great trip.
Keep the rubber down.

My plans for my next big ride is to go to first or so gasoline station and ask the merchant say some place in the world, and then go drive towards it :)

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Originally Posted by moilami

My plans for my next big ride is to go to first or so gasoline station and ask the merchant say some place in the world, and then go drive towards it :)

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That the way, just hope it Don't say CHINA. Lol

Agree with Prince666, if it is your first time on China roads, you need to plan a buffer for lost time and failures, lost, bike pushing etc. If your Chinese not so good, would suggest you arrange for a very good friend that you can call anytime (3 am?) and can help you translate on the phone with locals in case of emergencies.

Also have a waterproof bag with your info, where you are from,. emergency contact, all in Chinese and put on your tank or obvious pockets etc. just in case... since you are 2 up. I have this when I ride alone.