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  1. #1 Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide 
    Senior C-Moto Guru ZMC888's Avatar
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    Riding Safe in China - New Rider Guide

    I've known quite a few new riders who have been hurt in China, some with just cuts and bruises, others more seriously, requiring hospitalization. The following is what I would liked to have told them:

    Obviously all riders vary in their skills and experience. New or inexperienced riders especially, thinking of riding in China or even intending to learn how to ride here could seriously consider riding a bicycle or an electric bicycle/scooter extensively for a few months before attempting to ride a motorcycle, to fully appreciate the local road habits. Even experienced riders are well advised to be cautious when adapting to Chinese road conditions. Learning to ride a motorcycle without instruction anywhere in the world is fraught with danger, but in China the risk of potential injury is much greater. Those intending to learn to ride in China or that have limited experience are advised to find a very quiet wide area and learn how to handle the bike effectively, including emergency stops, gear and clutch use, until it becomes natural and leaning the bike until the tires are worn from edge to edge or as much as the peg height will allow. Some reading about advanced motorcycle techniques on the internet or asking more experienced riders for tips or tuition would certainly be useful.

    On the Road

    Road Hazards - There are many more road hazards in China than western countries, many are obvious, including but limited to objects on the road surface, overloaded trucks, gravel, dirt, drying crops, open man-hole covers, inconsiderate/drunk/incompetent drivers, and so on.

    Protection - Adequate protective clothing, at the minimum reasonable quality riding gloves and protective padded jackets, trousers and motorcycle boots or over ankle high boots are needed. Full face helmets are best, if not only to protect face from insects, dust and grit.

    Undertaking/Using cycle lanes - Chinese bylaws attempt to force all motorcycles and cycles into the far right hand lanes on most bigger roads. This can improve road safety, if properly marked and divided, however many Chinese drivers will turn right often without signaling or looking, so caution when using these lanes. When outside of, or on the edge of a city, in some circumstances, it may be safer to keep out of the cycle/emergency lane altogether. These days many Chinese cities force buses down these side lanes originally for cycles which can cause havoc if bus passengers do not look properly when they are getting on or off the bus.

    Don't follow too closely - Don't follow other riders too closely, remember that any hazards on the roads are specifically each rider's problem, stay back far enough to see road hazards, such as dropped stones/bricks/dirt/holes/trenches/animals/pedestrians etc. Do not rely on the path taken by any other rider or road user.

    Generally Chinese road users have no idea of the concept of major/minor roads or right of way, or just completely ignore the concept preferring some kind of system based on vehicle cost or size or perceived personal status, regardless of the law. Being on a major road and traveling at a constant speed in a straight line will not mean other road users will treat your road position with any respect, and may cut you off and try to force you to yield to them even though it is your right of way.

    Be Defensive, but also Aggressive - Possibly keep engine revs higher than in western countries to allow better engine braking, and keep front and rear brakes and gears covered at all times so that emergency stops can easily be performed at any time. Be aggressive, don't be afraid to honk, flash lights or rev the engine loudly to alert any other road users to your presence on the road. The Golden rule: Never Assume You've Been Seen. Kernalpanx: '
    Think that all drivers have tunnel vision do not know how to use a mirror or work a signal'. ...have a exit plan at all times.
    Think about using some kind of small helmet camera to record your rides, great evidence of idiotic driving.

    The Bike

    Many cheap Chinese motorcycles are so poorly manufactured that they can be dangerous, with very poor frame welding and quality control issues including nuts and bolts not being tight enough or very cheap components. Buying new Japanese branded bikes such as Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki that are made in China avoids most of these pitfalls. There are also well made Chinese bikes, so do some research on mychinamoto.com and don't buy something just because it's cheap or looks good. Lighter weight small capacity bikes up to 250cc are a good choice. Dual-sport bikes are favored as they allow better rider view, handling and durability on many types of road surfaces.

    Most bigger bikes, almost all that are unregistered, are of questionable background. Many are a few bikes put together, possibly even of different brands and may have been crashed and repaired, whilst looking good, could have a bent frame, incorrect shocks, forks, or wheel/tire sizes etc, so potentially be dangerous.

    Some links....

    http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...lue-Truck-gaah

    http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...me....in-China

    http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...riving-License
    Last edited by ZMC888; 06-11-2013 at 01:58 AM. Reason: New quotes
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