Buying a used motorcycle..?

**bigG** · 01-18-2010, 11:57 AM

I've been living in China for 4 years and been driving my electric scooter the entire time. However back in europe I have my motorcycle and I miss it much. So i decided it was time to start looking into buying a motorcycle here. I found a 150cc suzuki (those that everyone has), second hand for 1300 rmb, looks like a good deal.

However my question is when buying a motorcycle second hand, do all the papers and license come with it? I found this bike on www.moto2s.com, and it says it is selling with papers? what does this mean? Does it mean it will be already registered and everything ready to go?
Also since I have no chinese license i am hoping that these "papers" somehow include the driving license as well

Is this possible or not?

I am in suzhou, jiangsu and would appreciate any information. I am 17 years old. A few of my teachers drive motorcycles too, but I havent had time to ask them yet about the license. I am assuming they dont have one. However i dont really wanna risk that. So, is it possible that in Jiansu when buying a motorcycle second hand from a private owner, the driving license comes with it?

thanks a lot

**felix** · 01-18-2010, 02:18 PM

Hi, do you have a link to the specific bike? I'm a bit weiry of that website, every bike i know that was purchased from it turned out to be a lemon. I found my bike on www.motoe.cn where there is usually a nicer selection of bikes.

About the papers, you're entering a world of headaches but it's not unsurmountable. Firstly, the driving license won't come with any bike, that's up to you to get separately. It's hard to know what 'papers' come with the bike without seeing the ad, probably registration papers. The registration may be out of date, in which case you'll need to renew it.
If you've got more questions maybe we can meet up or something. I'm guessing you're at SSIS and the biker teachers are Hamish and Andrew, and they do have licenses!

**CrazyCarl** · 01-19-2010, 04:46 AM

BigG,

Licenses do not come with the bikes. Second had bikes should at least some with the little blue folder which serves as proof of ownership and registration. There are more documents detailing tax, registration and insurance but these may not come with the bike. The litle blue folder is critical...anyone who has a legally registered bike can show it to you. Do NOT buy a bike unless it comes with the little blue folder... at least.

You still have to get your license. If you've got a 1 year work visa/PR you can apply for your license. How long are you going to be in China?

CC

**bigG** · 01-19-2010, 10:35 AM

wow yes lol it is Hamish and Andrew. Kinda cool that you know them. Anyway thats just the doubt i had with the license. Since i'd have to go through all the trouble and im leaving in a year and a half (done with school!

) i think im gonna stick with my electric scooter in china. I'll have to wait till summer to be ridin again.

i was just looking though older posts and found the one that says china is supposed to ban the electric bicycle? thats rather funny, but if they do pull through with it i might as well switch to a motorcycle rather than some crappy 20kmh bike. I guess i'll have to wait and see how things develop.

**felix** · 01-20-2010, 04:34 AM

hey, they decided to lift that ban in the end i think, so it seems e-bikes are still fine. in fact they're a pretty good option if you're not arsed doing all the paper work to get a motorbike.
in suzhou, for 5000 to 6000 rmb, you can buy an e-bike with a 2kW motor in the back that'll do 85kph and out accelerate most petrol scooters. you'll still have to charge it after a 100km, but if you're sick of going slow it's a pretty good alternative.

**Shanghaifingers** · 02-27-2010, 02:07 PM

One important thing is to check the date of last inspection (Its in the blue folder(book) its the non-laminated page, its usually a rectangular stamp with a date on it(sometimes there are many of them).... The vehicle needs to be inspected every two years(one year in some provinces). Since the bike 99% time will not be in your name the legal owner(the guy's name that appears on the little blue book) will have to have the inspection done either with you or for you. The point is you need to see the buyer again to arrange this, you might want to do it at the time of purchase while you still have them around (because tomorrow is a new day!). Also often locals will sell bikes to people and those buyer will do the paperwork.Chinese cops are never very thorough, so the guying selling the bike and the ID card used to register it are not the same, making it far to complicated to get the need inspections....

Also try to get the Green larger ownership book....

So you should get:

Blue book, Green Book
Any additional small papers with stamps that are often found inside the books helps.

As for the electric scooter in Shanghai(near SuZhou but not the province)
In Shanghai within the city limits, technically the electric scooter ban is still on paper but not inforced. The electric scooter(not the bicycle type, its based on voltageor or output or something) is lumped in with the motorcycles with outside plates policy... Thats why no one can get NEW Shanghai electric scooter or motorcycle plates. As far as motorcycles are conserned all the blue and yellow plates are recycled plates and I personally have never seen an electric scooter plate issue by shanghai on an electric scooter...(not that you see plates much anyway).

FYI : As of this year Shanghai will now require "F"class licenses for all those wishing to drive electric scooters that are capable of 30+km/h. So if you want to drive a BANNED vehicle within an area YOU CAN not drive it you must have a LEGAL license...(huh? anyone find any logic in that)