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  1. #11 Re: Road-trip advice 
    C-Moto Maximus corporal_clegg's Avatar
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    On the test:
    Memorization is the key indeed, I picked out all the funny questions and memorised them using "ANKI", frickin awesome memory tool I also use for studying chinese and got 100% :DD. With the weird double negatives (can't make a left turn\u-turn if theres a sign prohibiting no-left turns = true) and stupid definitions like "what is this? A simple cross hatched area" what's the point in knowing what it's called and not knowing what it means... It's the only way.Done now anyway time for lessons, should be a challenge with my whole 10 months worth of mandarin.

    Will take you up on that euphonius, maybe the weekend after next if you're free.

    I have read the post on plating but the guy in the shop has a plate already so wanted to reg. on that. Will ask him again tomorrow.
    Last edited by corporal_clegg; 06-07-2011 at 11:25 PM.
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  2. #12 Re: Road-trip advice 
    Senior C-Moto Guru
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    Quote Originally Posted by corporal_clegg View Post

    Slabo: How long does it take to get a plate down there do you know? Do you just need the temporary residence from the police station. I will be doing some drills before I leave for sure, with her on aswell when I get better. What do you mean about skid? Do you mean when cornering, or on wet, or when breaking?
    I registered mine in ~3 hours. I was probably the only one registering a bike that week in Anning, so they really had nothing else to do. It takes as fast as you can hop between three places on your bike. Not sure about the order, but roughly: Get the green book, motorcycle inspection, insurance. Now that I write this, I remember Andre's thread about registration. Goes into all the gory details >> http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...Kunming-Yunnan)

    Remember, proof of residence is just a paper from some police station that states you live at some address. All you need is some landlord to say that yes, this guy does live here, he pays rent. The police will call the landlord to confirm. At least 'down here' where I am, that's all they did.

    what happened with exam /?

    I will write more about skids and what not tomorrow..
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  3. #13 Re: Road-trip advice 
    C-Moto Maximus corporal_clegg's Avatar
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    cool. you gave me a fright there lol. passed the test. anticipating the skid info
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  4. #14 Re: Road-trip advice 
    Senior C-Moto Guru euphonius's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by corporal_clegg View Post
    On the test:
    Memorization is the key indeed, I picked out all the funny questions and memorised them using "ANKI", frickin awesome memory tool I also use for studying chinese and got 100% :DD. With the weird double negatives (can't make a left turn\u-turn if theres a sign prohibiting no-left turns = true) and stupid definitions like "what is this? A simple cross hatched area" what's the point in knowing what it's called and not knowing what it means...
    You aced the written exam??? Impressive! Did bells go off and a little brass band come out to celebrate? Actually, Chinese are great at taking tests so I imagine it's not that uncommon. But then there's the matter of, errr, practical driving. Someone should tell the authorities that just because someone aces a written test does not by any leap of imagination mean that they are capable of piloting two tons of steel at speed through China's teeming streets. (It's the same in most fields. You pass a written exam here to become a doctor. Hardly any practical training at all, and you are a genuine "attending physician"! Then the fun begins.)

    Anyway, you are off to a great start! What you'll need now is as much riding experience as you can get prior to your big adventure. Riding a bike ain't like driving a car. Not even close.

    cheers!
    jkp
    Shanghai
    2010 JH600 "Merkin Muffley" (in Shanghai)
    2000 KLR650 "Feezer Ablanalp" (in California)
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  5. #15 Re: Road-trip advice 
    C-Moto Maximus corporal_clegg's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by euphonius View Post
    Someone should tell the authorities that just because someone aces a written test does not by any leap of imagination mean that they are capable of piloting two tons of steel at speed through China's teeming streets.
    No there was nothing. It was a bit of an anti climax. 100 came up on the screen, I jumped up with my hands in the air but everyone else was still looking down. They said they'll call me. Probly need time to arrange a proper celebration and what better way then to go for a drive around the car park of a course :p

    I think that if they actually applied what was in the test with regards to road courtesy and safety things the roads would be much safer. I found myself staring at people waiting to take the test thinking "you're going to be my problem from now on." Visualising them pulling out in front of me without looking, cutting corners at speed, parking the car for a picnic just behind a bend on my side of the road! I had to stop myself from staring. I've managed to avoid negative stereotypization so far, don't want to start now (unlike PAL who thinks anyone who doesn't have a 沪A is a moron lol)
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  6. #16 Re: Road-trip advice 
    Danger, Will Robinson! Lao Jia Hou's Avatar
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    Congrats to you for getting your DL - 100% is impressive! It is actually a tough exam to pass, largely because of those confusing questions.

    And kudos to you for taking the initiative to become legal, or at least seriously considering it. In my experience, it was always stressful not knowing what might be forthcoming beyond the next curve, riding around on an illegal bike. In my case, becoming legal was worth the time, effort and expense.

    And, as noted above, it IS possible to be legal ... the key barrier is cost. But look at it this way ... back in your home country, what would happen if some Chinese rider was touring around on a (probably) stolen motorcycle, without a license, fake plates and no insurance - breaking the traffic laws with an attitude of "they have to catch me first!" I know that in Canada, that person would be FOB ... Fresh ON the Boat ... being sent back home ... after a stint in one of our socialist prisons (free housing, food, education, health care & entertainment).

    You've got the right attitude ... legal & safe ... so your trip should be fantastic!
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  7. #17 Re: Road-trip advice 
    Senior C-Moto Guru euphonius's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by slabo View Post
    I registered mine in ~3 hours. I was probably the only one registering a bike that week in Anning, so they really had nothing else to do. It takes as fast as you can hop between three places on your bike. Not sure about the order, but roughly: Get the green book, motorcycle inspection, insurance. Now that I write this, I remember Andre's thread about registration. Goes into all the gory details >> http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...Kunming-Yunnan)

    Remember, proof of residence is just a paper from some police station that states you live at some address. All you need is some landlord to say that yes, this guy does live here, he pays rent. The police will call the landlord to confirm. At least 'down here' where I am, that's all they did.
    Clegg and Slabo,

    The process of registering a bike is essentially the same here in Shanghai as in Kunming, though the vehicle management bureau is an extremely busy and somewhat chaotic place because there are thousands of folks getting their cars registered and collecting their precious plates. As noted in my write-up on getting legal in Shanghai, there are agents there who can help you through the process and, in my opinion, provide excellent value because they know which bureaucrats to approach for which process, and how best to approach them. I can help you find these guys if you'd like.

    As for the cost, if you live outside of downtown Shanghai, and don't have a burning desire to scoot around inside the Inner Ring (and who would?), I don't know why you'd go for anything but the suburban 沪C plate, which costs less than one fifth of what the 沪A plate costs. It's also transferable, so it's presumably an appreciating asset. People ride 沪C bikes inside the Inner Ring all the time, and the worst that would happen is a 200 rmb fine (or more likely just a warning). I've never heard of a legal 沪C bike being confiscated at a downtown traffic stop. Being legal is everything.

    I'm around all month. Sounds like time to organize another Bike Night. Hopefully this time WITH bikes (and no alcohol).

    good luck!
    jkp
    Shanghai
    2010 JH600 "Merkin Muffley" (in Shanghai)
    2000 KLR650 "Feezer Ablanalp" (in California)
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  8. #18 Re: Road-trip advice 
    foreign China moto dude bikerdoc's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by euphonius View Post
    Clegg and Slabo,
    ...I'm around all month. Sounds like time to organize another Bike Night. Hopefully this time WITH bikes (and no alcohol).
    good luck!
    I'd be a starter, if you guys give me some notice (more than a day would help), and as long as the weather gods are in my favour. :)
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  9. #19 Re: Road-trip advice 
    foreign China moto dude bikerdoc's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by corporal_clegg View Post
    cool. you gave me a fright there lol. passed the test. anticipating the skid info
    congratulations on passing the test, just another hurdle down... next is once you buy the bike to have it plated legally, and in your name.
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  10. #20 Re: Road-trip advice 
    C-Moto Maximus corporal_clegg's Avatar
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    has anybody registered a c plate whilst registered as living within the outer ring? I'm thinking I have to rent another house for registering the plate...?

    Got the luggage rack today, just ordered it YESTERDAY! I heard someone recently equating the loss of the midday post in England to the collapse of the British empire. Don't know if theres any British out there but maybe you could take a page out of the little red book.

    Do you have to have a bike for bike night?
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