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Have been meaning to do a write up, just been busy.

This is some information for those thinking of doing something similar.

Yes, you can drive across China without a licence. We might have been...

A quick update, we've reached Xining, soon to start traveling west towards the border. No issues of yet. I'm putting together a webpage with the nuts and bolts information for doing such a trip, will...

@Symon Thanks for the compliment. Actually it's nothing very difficult, just need to be able to think clearly and have some knowhow. Migrant workers I read do enormous distances on the same bikes in...

Hi, quick update. We're in Guiyang, couchsurfing with a teacher and nursing the sores on our rear ends :-). The natural beauty has been obscene, people friendly, some good roads some poor roads, but...

Well, we've been on the road a couple of days, national roads seem good! I try to hold about 60kph. The bike does alright, just the rear shocks are a bit soft, even with maximum preload. I've got my...

Some photos, just to make it easier for the police to find us :-)

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What are Chinese spare parts like? I went to the parts shop and bought a complete clutch assembly (plates, springs, holder, whatever) for 50 CNY ($8 USD). Seems.. a little too cheap. It looks OK, the...

South of Guangzhou too，where we arrived everything was super-shiny, perfect roads, huge areas being planted with trees. It made most places in Europe look shabby. Not saying I'm a fan of that. Had a...

@bikerdoc I had taken a look at those posts and elsewhere about setting up the Garmin, but it seemed complex and I decided that it wasn't worth the time looking into it in detail. I did find a...

Setting myself up with maps..

I've got a Garmin with me (Nuvi 200, a car one, that should be fine on a bike), but the download is 4gb for the China map, would take forever on this connection, plus...

The Chinese registration papers have English on them, right? That should be enough (without translating the whole thing into Russian).

Trilingual bill-of-sale. I think there's some Chinese missing, see near the end.

Edit: This is probably confusing to people, so probably better doing two: A Chinese/English and a Chinese/Russian.....

I made a couple of changes and a 'key' that will make it easier for others to put the right information into the form even if they don't understand the language (ie Russian). Your suggestions are a...

Figured out quite some stuffs today. Went back to the Yamaha dealer, the bike was 5980, but the registration was another 900 (so 6880) on top, and I would have needed to find someone to register the...

@foxy88 I found a formula online that says a non-turbo engine looses about 12% of it's power for every 1000m above sea level.. so at 3000m that's something like a 36% loss of power (I had the feeling...

There was also a 'Piaggo Zongshen' bike, similar to the YBR but with a honda-derived engine, I think, front disc brake, trail tires and a good rack for 6000. Any info on that bike?

Also, sorry was...

We understood that to register it in a Chinese persons name takes just one day, they were willing to run off to the police station (or wherever it's done?) right then and do it. A lady who spoke some...

There were a few on TaoBao used for 3000-3500. That's the right price, right?

I guess we'll end up getting the Yamaha. It would be a shame to loose it to the police or at the border though then,...

Thanks! We had a good look round today too. There's a lot of bike shops here, a whole long street of them. Here's what we found:

Many many brands, but only a limited number of frames and engine...

Now in Hezhou. The hotel has a computer in the room! Nice room, AC. They asked for 200, I offered 100 and they accepted. I'm not sure if that's a good price.

I'm off to get some food and look at...

Yesterday picked up the visa and crossed into China. Went to the bus station. Given limited time decided to skip on giant metropolis Guangzhou, and head towards guilin area, to start the trip from...

Sounds good. Maybe use one of those for China then get a Ural in Kyrgyzstan to reclaim my manhood :-).

Drinking beer with Filipinos in Sendai square and stealing WiFi :-)

Or this..

http://newcenturypower.diytrade.com/sdp/974858/4/pd-4816842/5716308-1901886/F80_bicycle_engine_kit.html

It turns a bicycle into a primitive motorcycle. Rather have a bike though.

The idea definably has some merit. More fun than cycling. Cheap cheap. Do you think the police would really take it easier on us? Any idea about crossing the border? Do they have papers? Take it to...

Today arrived in macau. We handed our documents over to CTS (China travel service) and will get 30 day visa tomorrow 4pm. Cost 420 mop each (about $50 USD). Longer tourist visas not available. Will...