Yesterday, three stalwart C-Moto riders went back into earthquake territory to rescue three stranded bikes. Really, it was a bunch of people hanging out getting their wheels back!

- China Earthquake Motorcycle Recovery Video -



Just Charlie (Charlie) , and Ray were stranded on QingCheng mountain during the Sichuan Earthquake on May 12. With all roads blocked, they made their way to the base of the mountain on foot with a group of fellow stranded locals. Hopefully Charlie will share more of his harrowing tale with us if time allows.

Their bikes were left at a hotel on the mountain which had now has limited access. Ray and a group of people including the hotel owner and Dave, an Australian whos never ridden in China before, set out earlier than us and took the toll-road there. The three of us would meet up with them on the mountain and attempt to bring back three stranded bikes.

That said, a man needs to have his wheels and it was time to reclaim what was rightfully his so Just Charlie and I met DHFox (Chris) on Saturday morning and rode out to the very same mountain to recover Charlies bike and take a look at the destruction first hand.

- Charlie and Chris -


- 6 foot 4 in a CJ sidecar! -


We needed Chriss good ol CJ750 to port Charlie out as far as we could make it before having to go on foot. The CJ750s are great bikes loaded with character and really enjoyed seeing it in action!

- Team CJ on the road to Dujiangyan -


As we got closer to the mountains, green returned and even if we didnt have a specific purpose for the days ride, it would be a pleasant day trip.

- Starting to climb -


The roads to the back of QingCheng mountain start to wind and twist along the mid-base of the mountain following a river deep in the valley below. DHFox got a chance to scrub the CJs tires a bit!

- Scrubby scrubby -


Even though the roads became scattered with debris, they looked fairly clear. A couple cleared landslides gave an opportunity to get the CJs tires dirty again.

- No problem! -




- CJ on its way -


We rode through an unusually quiet small town. QingCheng mountain is a major tourist attraction and Im sure if it had not been for the earth quake, it was have been busier and full of traffic. Tents were lined along the streets and in most every suitable nook and cranny.

- Passing a tent-ple -


Then the road came to a dead endmaybe literally. A massive land slump had completely obliterated the road and there was no going over it. I had seen land slides in the mountains before but this one completely took the road out of commission. They werent even trying to work on it as Im sure there were other more immediate problems to be solved.

- Mountain-1 : Road-0 -


- Looking closer -


We walked over the first obstacle to get a better look at how much damage there really was. The whole section will need major reengineering.

- Wheres the road? -


A little further in it was plain to see the whole side of the mountain opened up and covered the road under incalculable amounts of earth, rock and splintered trees. Walking on these steep grades of loose freshly fallen debris would be difficult and dangerous without the proper equipment.

The rocks continued on a steep slope to the river valley below. Landslides like these have contributed to the now more than 300 new lakes formed by landslides in the area. One lake was reported to have been rising at a total of 2 meters a day, threatening up-river villages.

- Trees didnt stand a chance -


- Further scarring can be seen down the whole range -