New kid on the block looking for some moto orientated friends

Real name is Chris. Moved to Guangzhou from Namibia (close to South Africa). Previous bikes were a Big Boy gpr250r (6 months) and a kawa zx6r 2008 model (about 2 and a half years). Been in GZ for almost a month now and my eyes are set on the cf 650NK. Anyone in the vicinity that could offer some tips/ a garage with all the tools that I can work the bike on myself? :mwink:

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Welcome to the forum.

That Ninja should actually burn rubber until there would be just one enormous cloud of smoke, and then, pooooof, disappear :lol8:

Hi and welcome to MCM
You say you live in Guangzhou ??? do you seen many plated motorbike in your area you live?
Is Guangzhou not a very strict motorbike band city?

[rant] Dear Chris, Guangdong province (especially Guangzhou and Shenzhen) is a horrible place to own a motorcycle. Many of the locals have a car love mental disorder that manifests itself in a need to ban every other kind of transport. Even in motorcycle 'friendlier' northern China the cops pull every bike they see even if they are obviously legal (brand new), ban them from most every freeway, half the city streets or more or force them into unsuitable bike lanes in urban areas. Make them fill up at service stations using an old kettle which could kill you with flash-burns for 'safety' reasons (surely something that they have no clue about).

You're honestly much better off on an ebike or bicycle as you can easily flout stupid laws like going through red lights even if the road is clear for 10km in every other direction (camera revenue raiser), but soon those too will probably be banned in the Guangdong megacities for not helping the locals feel modern enough and gaining enough 'face'. They seem to think being modern is trying to emulate an LA freeway at rush hour even if they only live 1.12km from where they are going, making their city horribly unliveable and polluted for no good reason.

Many of the locals are sure that trees take up valuable space that could be used for extra car parking and that a cold beer will absolutely give you diarrhoea. In short the whole place is an insane asylum where you are best off locking the doors and leaving them get on with it rather than trying to use logic or reasoning to involve yourself in their pointless lives.[/rant]

Or on the other hand, you can get out of the city and ride stuff like this.

Link....... http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjg3Mj...8770.3416059.1

Or this ...... link. http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjg3MT...8770.3416059.1

Or this link.....http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjg3MT...8770.3416059.1


Best to view video in full 1080p check setting at the bottom

In short - rural area good. City - sucks.

Welcome to MCM. Hope you're able to find a bike and place to keep it. I lived in Guangdong for about 17 years, look through the site and you'll find plenty of on and off-road adventures I posted.

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Originally Posted by ChinaV

Welcome to MCM. Hope you're able to find a bike and place to keep it. I lived in Guangdong for about 17 years, look through the site and you'll find plenty of on and off-road adventures I posted.

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That will be interesting to see him ride off road on a CFmoto 650NK.
But the threads will give him a good taste of what is around the area.
IMO the Beast place fairly near him would be Hainan.

So, basically what everyone is saying, I should keep my bike in another district in order to be able to ride it? I do see a lot of plated bikes here, but I have only seen 1 bike bigger than a 350cc here and that was a 1200 GS passing through. I was hoping to ride it on my days off / at night when most of the locals are asleep. Was even recommended to keep a pack of cigarettes with me to assist in situations with the cops :confused1:

What people are saying you live in a band motorbike city.
And only you and the local know how much that is inforced in you area.

Can you even plate a bike were you live ?
Can you apply for a Chinese DL in your area .

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Was even recommended to keep a pack of cigarettes with me to assist in situations with the cops

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Ho shit is this how it works?
I been doing all wrong for the last 8 years.
I been taking cigarettes of them lol

That is what I'm trying to find out at the moment :lol8:
I'll probably be able to get my dl here easily enough.
Just not sure on all the detail yet. Will have to make a pitstop at the "roads authority" in my area to see if I'm allowed to even have a 650cc on the road
Otherwise I just might get me one of those 150cc tomahawk replica's for the shits and giggles :riding:

Or, you can try to find out what is the story about electric bikes in Guangzhou. As I understand, there are some commuter motorcycles with electric motors. If authorities are rigid toward motorcycles with internal combustion engines, maybe some wheeled vacuum cleaner can do the job for you without additional fuss with plates and s....

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Originally Posted by Zorge

wheeled vacuum cleaner can do the job for you

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:lol8::lol8::lol8:

Will definitely ask around, see if I can find some locals who know a lil more about the laws this side.

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Originally Posted by SOmeAsHOle

I'll probably be able to get my dl here easily enough.

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Are you saying that because you've already done some research, or are you assuming?
C1E or C1D license in Guangdong is almost impossible.

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Originally Posted by SOmeAsHOle

Just not sure on all the detail yet. Will have to make a pitstop at the "roads authority" in my area to see if I'm allowed to even have a 650cc on the road
Otherwise I just might get me one of those 150cc tomahawk replica's for the shits and giggles :riding:

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The assumption that a smaller cc motorcycle is any different than a larger cc motorcycle is an internet rumor from decades ago. The size of the engine has had no bearing on registration in China for many, many years. That said, I'm not aware of any districts in the immediate vicinity of Guangzhou that will allow you to plate a bike anymore. Jiangmen used to be do-able, but I haven't checked in years.

Where you live in Guangzhou is very relevant to whether you can get away with riding the bike regularly. I lived in Dongguan and rode my MC to work every day, there are guys living in Shenzhen that ride all the time as well. Cities in China are very big and some areas are sort of OK with riding a bike.

China is a battle for control and authority.The desperate quest for money is just a symptom of that, surprisingly not the cause. in reality it's a giant battle to be puppet-master and have the puppets dance to your tune. Those that step out of line will be punished in whichever way seems appropriate at the time and depending who YOU are - mass conformity, down to the finest remote control.

Luckily you can still be free to certain point in rural areas as that is where the controllers draw their consent.

My suggestion would be to largely forget the idea of city riding or commuting in a city unless maybe on the extreme fringes, and just get up into the hills where it's best! I'm not saying don't ride or even to follow the rules slavishly, just make the best of things.

One point that should be made is IF you are riding an out of city or Province plated bike, is not to say you can't ride into or through a band City.
Done it loads of times, police tend to be a bit more relaxed in the situation like this.
As been mention, China is BIG with loads of places you can ride legally, so get out from the city and enjoy China.

I believe i'm in the Nanhai district in Foshan city. Atleast that is what i've been told. I see plated bikes everywhere. Hoping they will let me get my DL, as I have 2 from Namibia (One that was printed for my bike and the other was for both the car and bike) :icon10: Still staying hopeful though!

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Originally Posted by SOmeAsHOle

I believe i'm in the Nanhai district in Foshan city. Atleast that is what i've been told.

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Bummer, that's a really boring place to have a bike. There aren't a lot of good rides in that area and you've got tons of river/bridge crossings were they love to set up motorcycle traps. The good stuff is all to North, which is really hard for you to get to because you have to go around Guangzhou.

Some suggestions:

• Go to the Guangzhou motorcycle market and ask some questions about bike registrations. If you find a district that still registers bikes, you can probably also get a MC license there.

http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...t-in-GuangZhou

The MC Market in Guangzhou is probably the best in all of China. You can thank me later.

• Think about what kind of riding you really want to do. Most people get the wrong bike in China. Think adventure dual sport if you intend to really want to explore. Sport bikes are not much fun in most of China.

What's your budget? Money solves all problems. If you don't mind spending 10,000 for a license, it's not that hard to do.

Here are some posts to keep you motivated. Guangdong has thousands of Kilometers of incredible roads and scenery. You also get to enjoy a 12 month riding season, I've had plenty of great rides in the middle of the winter with temps in the 20's.

http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...ll=1#post27091

http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...ll=1#post20653

http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...ll=1#post21191

http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...ll=1#post21193

http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...ll=1#post22897

http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...ll=1#post17798

http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...ull=1#post3105

http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...s-and-crannies

http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...ll=1#post62835

http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...-The-bird-trip

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Think adventure dual sport if you intend to really want to explore. Sport bikes are not much fun in most of China.

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Take note read and learn ??? ChinaV knows OK
650NK wrong bike for exploring China.
Allway have a "Jenny" with you, it helps lol

I won't have the chance to get out on the roads much, so I thought i'd risk getting the NK. Already going from a sport bike to a naked is a bit of a change for me. The budget is however much I need to save up. Whatever the cost, I'll pay it. Need a bike as a way to destress, you know?

I'm digging you man!

De-stressing indeed.

http://media.supercheapauto.com.au/s...s/35749301.jpg

:icon10:

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Originally Posted by Zorge

I'm digging you man!

De-stressing indeed.

http://media.supercheapauto.com.au/s...s/35749301.jpg

:icon10:

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At this point I'm willing to get a cheap electric scooter, having been here for 2 years now and nowhere nearer to getting a real bike.
As for the long silence, I haven't had access to a vpn on my laptop and i forgot what this site was called once I got a better phone.