Two-tier foreign riders in China.

**ZMC888** · 11-30-2009, 06:05 AM

It seems to me that there is a two tier system amongst foreigner motorcycle riders the 'haves' and 'have nots'. The haves are typically people who are paid in overseas currency by big businesses and governments and can afford the massive cost of 'premium' bikes in China. The have nots are typically people who are supporting themselves from the local Chinese economy, many of whom are English teachers.

This isn't a dig at everyone who has money and can afford a decent bike, there is just a minority, who see themselves as VIP elite, and actually look down on others, and who wouldn't even ride with people who have a Chinese bike.

This attitude seems more common around Shanghai than Beijing. It's also a little sad that bikers who are under so much pressure from car loving government policy can't see eye to eye.

Some 'premium bike riders' dismiss every Chinese bike as 'utter crap' when they've never ridden one. Laugh at or deride others who ride small bikes, but don't realize not everyone can register a 'premium bike' where they live, even if they wanted to. They may regard their Chang Jiang, Beemer or Harley as being a great bike, but don't realize that they are not to everyone's taste, and some people enjoy riding lightweight, cheap, fun and easy to repair bikes, not great big heavy machines. Many experienced riders would never want a Harley or 1200GS, but might like a F 800 R for example. Most people who buy new bikes in the west do it on finance or with a bank loan. These are unavailable to foreigners who live in China. Lots of people ride Chinese smaller capacity bikes because they are legal. There are almost no affordable larger capacity bikes in the 2nd hand market that are legally registered.

**ChinaV** · 11-30-2009, 07:33 AM

Bikers should be family, regardless of what they ride. Sounds like someone's been pulling your chain

.

When motorcycling gets political, I go motorcycling

. Quite often with English teachers

. I 've met a lot of the people on MCM, some "Haves" and some "Have Nots", they all seem like good folk to me.

Doesn't matter what the others think, enjoy your ride.

Cheers!
ChinaV

**ZMC888** · 11-30-2009, 07:54 AM

V, was never aimed at you! You are a guy who understands the merits of both premium and a lightweight budget machine.

Nor was this aimed at Andy or anyone else on MCN, I agree all on here are good folk. But some people elsewhere really can be ***holes!

**DanKearney** · 12-11-2009, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by ChinaV

Bikers should be family, regardless of what they ride. Sounds like someone's been pulling your chain

.

When motorcycling gets political, I go motorcycling

. Quite often with English teachers

. I 've met a lot of the people on MCM, some "Haves" and some "Have Nots", they all seem like good folk to me.

Doesn't matter what the others think, enjoy your ride.

Cheers!
ChinaV

+1 on that!

I belong to two BMW clubs here in Colorado, but I also own a couple of Yamaha's and a Ural. There are a few guys in the Beemer gang that turn their nose up at me when I show up for a ride and I'm not astride one of my BMW's.

I am smugly superior though as I know I am twice the rider that those few snobs are.

I don't care if you're riding a moped, if you're on it for fun, travel, and adventure, then you're one of the club. Here's a perfect example:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=460631

Cheers,

Dan K.

**chinabiker** · 11-30-2009, 11:57 AM

Is the recent posting on HU what made you write this

I am with ChinaV on this topic and thank's for excluding us from the a@!*^~e list

**CrazyCarl** · 11-30-2009, 02:53 PM

Hmmm... I can seem to remember a day when it took quite some shucking and jiving to get ChinaV on a 200.

Even better still, I can remember a day when it took me a totally destroyed used Honda AX-1 to get my stoopid ass on a cheap old beaten up 150cc Chinese Nighthawk.

I'll never forget that 150cc "piece of crap" for as long as I live.

I read the post on HU and it looks like Butchman is up to it again! He used to be a member on here until one day he mysteriously deleted all his posts and left. Oh well!

CC

**ZMC888** · 12-01-2009, 05:07 AM

Butchman probably hated having to talk to 'cheapo China charlie English teachers' with 'crappy China bikes'.

Anyway, I hope we can all just be riders.

Age, gender, nationality, income, work, what we ride, these are not relevant. Enjoying the ride is the important thing. The whole' two-tier' thing is a product of Chinese government policy anyway.

**Jimbosidecar** · 12-02-2009, 02:24 AM

Hey ZMC 888 I resemble this remark
"Of course the big fat Chang-Jiang and reconditioned BMW side car club won't let you come on their lard-ass outings, which is also an advantage." Our "Lard-Ass" rides take us hundreds and often thousands of kms away from Beijing.
We don't discriminate against anyone who wants to ride with us, it's the power to weight ratio up in the mountains that does it for us. Same story on the expressways; 3 wheelers are allowed but not 2 wheelers.
Regds,
Jimbo (Lard Ass)
www.bmwsidecar.com

Butchman probably hated having to talk to 'cheapo China charlie English teachers' with 'crappy China bikes'.

Anyway, I hope we can all just be riders.

Age, gender, nationality, income, work, what we ride, these are not relevant. Enjoying the ride is the important thing. The whole' two-tier' thing is a product of Chinese government policy anyway.[/QUOTE]