Ni hao from Zhoushan!

[cj_zhoushan]

For a bit more than two months now I've been living in China and will probably spend here a year. Originally from Kiev, Ukraine.
Though I'm not much of a motorcycle rider yet I really hope I'll become one soon but despite not having a bike I have 4 years of experience riding 50cc scooters. I know how that may sound, but hey, it has 2 wheels and an engine. Did some trips around Ukraine and the latest one was last summer for around 2500km. There's actually a short video here:



However I'm not sure how many of you will be able to watch it as I guess most of users here are in China.

Ok, so the main reason I'm here is that I'm thinking of buying a motorcycle somewhere in the next few months, that depends on when I'll get the license issues solved and enough money saved. But I'll be buying a bike not for just riding around the island while I'm living here. My plan is to make it all the way home next year. Some say that I'm starting to plan way to early, but since my experience is limited and my budget is going to be really tight I think it's just about the time to start.

As I just started thinking I don't have any exact plans. But the whole trip would be somewhere between 3 and 6 months depending on the budget and the route I'll choose. So far I'm considering of buying either a Suzuki gn125 or Yamaha YBR125. Some of you may say they are not powerful or fast enough so I'm open to suggestions however as long as they stay 125-150cc.

Oh, and if there's by any chance someone close to the place I live who would be also glad to meet fellow laowai - let me know as I don't get much communication here and the level of locals' English apart from "Hello!" is very-very poor, so I can't count on them.

Thanks for your attention,
Alex

[bikerdoc]

For a bit more than two months now I've been living in China and will probably spend here a year. Originally from Kiev, Ukraine.
Though I'm not much of a motorcycle rider yet I really hope I'll become one soon but despite not having a bike I have 4 years of experience riding 50cc scooters. I know how that may sound, but hey, it has 2 wheels and an engine. Did some trips around Ukraine and the latest one was last summer for around 2500km. There's actually a short video here:



However I'm not sure how many of you will be able to watch it as I guess most of users here are in China.

Ok, so the main reason I'm here is that I'm thinking of buying a motorcycle somewhere in the next few months, that depends on when I'll get the license issues solved and enough money saved. But I'll be buying a bike not for just riding around the island while I'm living here. My plan is to make it all the way home next year. Some say that I'm starting to plan way to early, but since my experience is limited and my budget is going to be really tight I think it's just about the time to start.

As I just started thinking I don't have any exact plans. But the whole trip would be somewhere between 3 and 6 months depending on the budget and the route I'll choose. So far I'm considering of buying either a Suzuki gn125 or Yamaha YBR125. Some of you may say they are not powerful or fast enough so I'm open to suggestions however as long as they stay 125-150cc.

Oh, and if there's by any chance someone close to the place I live who would be also glad to meet fellow laowai - let me know as I don't get much communication here and the level of locals' English apart from "Hello!" is very-very poor, so I can't count on them.

Thanks for your attention,
Alex

Hi Alex, as you guessed can't watch your youtube video. never mind. there are a few of us foreigners near by. we're based in Ningbo & Beilun. you will likely find there are some other foreigners too on or near Zhoushan related to the shipbuilding industry there. How are you getting on with your license? you may not be aware but the Ningbo Traffic PSB have stopped the English drivers license resources for the moment as I understand they're being rewritten. One can sit the exam still, but only the Mandarin language version at the moment, which means you have to know Mandarin (read/write) or take a Mandarin speaker with you. They aren't allowed to help other than translate for you the questions and the multiple-choice answers. It might be better for you to wait until the language issue is sorted.
check out helloningbo <dot> com or Ningboguide <dot>com or Ningbolife <dot> com.
I have a JinJing StarTrek 125cc scooter for sale sitting in my garage for a good price... even if you just use it for your time here. Personally I'd look for something a little larger than 125-150cc though for your ride back to the Ukraine from PRC. Why not a 400cc dual purpose bike... there's some reasonable ones, though finding them and being able to license them for road use can be an issue... maybe a JH600?

anyway, gidday and welcome... keep an eye and ear listening, I was just riding through with some guys a couple of weekends ago in having caught a ferry from near Beilun, to Zhoushan as we rode to TaoHua island, and back the next day. :)

[jape]

Not sure the video is loaded right, can't get anything in Australia either!
Good luck with the bike/license hunting, have a good read through this forum, lots of info.

[ZMC888]

Alex, coming from the Ukraine, congrats on your English, it's perfect!
Also a Yamaha YBR125G might be a good choice of bike not only because it is a good step up from a 50cc, but also because it has proven itself to be reliable, alas too many Chinese bikes look good, and can even handle well, but few are really reliable for doing something like riding across Asia, (or have yet to prove themselves reliable) unless you are really keen on studying motorcycle repair and maintenance!

Coming from 50cc I really don't think that a 250cc bike is really too much for you to handle as you'll become accustomed to and bored of a 125-150cc bike pretty quickly, so consider the YBR250 or JH600 if you have the money.

[felix]

Welcome to china Alex, and what a nice place to be located! I'm jealous i don't have a job out there! I hope you're able to get your license sorted out soon, your region is definitely a nice one to explore by bike!

I think on a long trip like the one you're planning, reliability and parts access should be your first concerns. While a 400cc china bike might be fun, it's not gonna be much good to you when you're stranded in the middle of buttf*cknowhere in khazakstan! I think tokyokid on this forum drove to europe on a YBR125, you should search around for info on this. It might take you a bit longer, but it'll probably get you there.

[cj_zhoushan]

Thanks for your replies, it's really a relief to know you have someone around who can understand you.
I'm still not sure if I have to go to Ningbo for the test or I can do it here, waiting for the guy who is helping me to reply. I already have an international driving license but it's only valid for cars, so I guess I'll have to do the driving as well. And I'm quite worried about that. Do you have to the driving test on your own bike or they normally provide you with it? I don't want to buy one before I get hold of the license though. Is it possible to take it on a variator scooter as I don't have any experience shifting gears so far.
I've chosen gn125 and ybr125 because they are the most reliable and cheap bikes here, at least that's what I think after reading numerous reviews. And it's also easier to register them. Do you think I can buy a decent one easily for 4000-6000RMB? If there's a good alternative I would be more than happy.

I've fixed the video, so now people outside the great firewall can take a look at it. But don't expect much, it was just made for saving memories and doesn't cover the whole trip, however it has some nice shots.

ZMC888, thanks for the compliment but my English is by no means perfect, I'd say just not bad. But it's completely of no use here.

After the situation with the license clears a bit I'll have more questions regarding all the stuff needed for the trip, gear, gps and stuff. Will be digging deeper into the forum for now.

Btw, if someone is desperately struggling without some of the blocked sites I can recommend "tor", though the speed is not always that good it still opens any site and sometimes you can even watch youtube videos without waiting at all.