Chinese Brand R9 Help!!!

[sunnyjdsn]

Hi all, thanks for reading and any input is greatly appreciated.

I just bought a Chinese brand R9, which is a scooter with 150cc engine. I paid 5500 rmb versus 3000 rmb because this one came with Jing B plates and all the paperwork associated with it like frapiao, vehicle registration, and an insurance invoice. These are all done with a name of a company and not mine as this was all ready for me when I bought the scooter.

Question 1: Is this legit or did I get taken?

Question 2: Will I be able to change the registration into my name or is this even necessary? The guy that sold it to me, a shop in Wudaoko, told me that it is not necessary, but he also told me that I don't need a motorcycle license.

Question 3: From reading this forum, it sounds like I need to get motorcycle license, but still not totally clear as to whether this applies to me with a "scooter". Could someone that knows elaborate on this? I live in Wangjing. Is there somewhere close to me or the closed place where I can get one?

Question 4: I made the mistake of riding my R9 inside the 4th ring road the very next day after purchase to Sanlitun, but nothing happened. I thought I passed a couple of police and even rode next to police cars that did nothing. Is the ban on going inside the 4th ring road only for motorcyles? or was I just really lucky?

Question 5: Will an insurance company insure my R9? Does anyone know of someone or someplace I can get this?

Question 6: Would love to meet people and go for rides on the weekends. Any people available near Wangjing?

Again thank you,

Sunny

[Lao Jia Hou]

Hi all, thanks for reading and any input is greatly appreciated.

I just bought a Chinese brand R9, which is a scooter with 150cc engine. I paid 5500 rmb versus 3000 rmb because this one came with Jing B plates and all the paperwork associated with it like frapiao, vehicle registration, and an insurance invoice. These are all done with a name of a company and not mine as this was all ready for me when I bought the scooter.

Question 1: Is this legit or did I get taken?

I am 99% sure (without seeing the docs) that it is legal. The "company registration" is very common in Beijing for "B" plates.

Question 2: Will I be able to change the registration into my name or is this even necessary? The guy that sold it to me, a shop in Wudaoko, told me that it is not necessary, but he also told me that I don't need a motorcycle license.

Yes, you can change it into your own name, as long as you meet the other requirements (residence outside 4th ring road - Wangjing is just outside - minimum 6 months visa).

The dealer saw you are a foreigner - they all believe we are immune from the police. That used to somewhat be the case, many years ago, but most certainly not any more.

Question 3: From reading this forum, it sounds like I need to get motorcycle license, but still not totally clear as to whether this applies to me with a "scooter". Could someone that knows elaborate on this? I live in Wangjing. Is there somewhere close to me or the closed place where I can get one?

Search this forum for info on getting a Driving License in Beijing - lots of help here. I think there is only one school that "teaches" foreigners.

If you already have a motorcycle endorsement on your foreign license, the process is very easy.

Question 4: I made the mistake of riding my R9 inside the 4th ring road the very next day after purchase to Sanlitun, but nothing happened. I thought I passed a couple of police and even rode next to police cars that did nothing. Is the ban on going inside the 4th ring road only for motorcyles? or was I just really lucky?

Ban inside 4th ring road is for B plates (and maybe other provinces? Don't know about that one)

Lucky? I just found out that all my 5th ring road riding has been illegal, and I'm on it a lot, but I've never been dinged. Consider it like speeding - you don't get caught every time, but it sure can be a bummer when you are.

Question 5: Will an insurance company insure my R9? Does anyone know of someone or someplace I can get this?

If you have B plates on it, it has insurance already (in the company name). You can't get legal plates without insurance.

Question 6: Would love to meet people and go for rides on the weekends. Any people available near Wangjing?

There are many rides happening every weekend, for all shapes/sizes of bikes. I recently came across some scooter "club" up in the mountains - about 20 little scooters zipping through the roads. Your dealer will have lots of info, and perhaps even run a few scooter trips himself. By the way, if you don't have a girlfriend already, you will quickly acquire one in a scooter club ... about 3/4 of those scooter riders were attractive young women!

Oh ... hang on ... "Sunny" ... haha ... could be either gender.

[sunnyjdsn]

Thanks for the awesome reply. About my gender, lol, Sunny is often used my gals, but I am definitely a guy and happily married. Would it be weird if I took my wife on those rides?

About the insurance, do I need to get insurance into my name? or should I just leave it alone? I'm a little worried since I don't really know what the coverage is.

Also, I'm assuming getting a Jing A tag is basically impossible?

Sunny

[Lao Jia Hou]

Dear Mr. Sunny:

Your wife would greatly enjoy the excursions, for sure. The mountains around Beijing are quite scenic, the air is cleaner, and there are nice little villages to have a lunch. I was out riding with a guy who has an R9 a couple of weeks ago, and his bike was quite powerful - I think it would easily handle two people around the mountains. He seemed to be very happy with his scooter.

As for insurance, it doesn't have to be in your name BUT you MUST have a motorcycle driving license for any insurance to be valid. No license, everything else is off the table. My guess is that the dealer arranged for the minimum 3rd party insurance - it costs almost nothing to have it upgraded.

I think a Jing A plate should be available if the bike can be registered for a B plate. I've never heard of a bike being able to get only a "B" plate, but not an "A" plate - but who knows. The dealer can help you out there, as the dealer should be doing this kinda stuff every day (or week). You'd have to meet the residency conditions for an A plate (living inside the 4th ring road, 6 month visa, etc). And, of course, the A plate will run you a lot of money (around 14 or 15K rmb, last I heard). And you'd definitely want it in your own name.

IMHO, you really need to get that driving license, asap. That is important.

[xiaoqiang]

I sadly have also bought an R9. I have seen these bikes using jing a and jing b plates, although most are non plated. However I asked my motorcycle mechanic about the legality of a jing b plate on the r9 and he claims they all are fake, also out of province plates are fake.. I will believe my mechanic before I trust a sales guy.

[Lao Jia Hou]

@ xiaoqiang - yup, always a distinct possibility of fake plates, but I think it is a bit too sweeping to say "all are fake". I own several bikes that are legally plated, including two with out-of-province plates. I recall reading somewhere that a bike shop can be held legally liable for any misfortune you might encounter (e.g., an accident) with an illegally plated bike that it sells you.

Most R9s that do not have the green book are indeed fake. But if a buyer gets the fapiao, insurance, both blue & green books, and associated documents, it is likely legal.

My suggestion would be to always deal with a shop that has a decent reputation.