Travel thru' China on own NX650 motorcycle

[John Neville]

Hi Guys,
All the above is the same info I have been getting as to the difficulty in entering China with your own machine. There are legal ways to do it but it remains to be seen whether the bank balance can support the cost of paperwork processing AND the cost of a car escort with guide. A mate has just returned from China and spent four weeks independently travelling (no bike) and paid a charming Chinese gal AU$25/ day for her to fix the trip. She took care of the mundane necessities of life such as what and where to eat and sleep.
She was part of a group that specialises in this type of touring. The sticky bit is the paperwork for the bikes and the Chinese Tour group I have contacted are yet to provide ballpark figures for this service. I still have an option of shipping from Mongolia to Laos and doing the China bit on hoof.
Keep the ideas coming guys, thanks, John

Holy Batman!!!!!
I just got the estimate of tour guide and paperwork fixing..................................AU$12800 plus accomodation and meals so I will try another fixer.

[NZBrakelathes]

Hi have you managed a way to ride your own machine in China? I am looking at HK to Europe via China but by the looks of it HOW IS it possible??

[John Neville]

I'm yet to find a reliable and legal way in. The amount I was quoted was around AU$12000 for two bikes so that's just bullshit. I've canned China and will fly out of Mongolia back to Oz with the bike in bits in a box.

[NZBrakelathes]

Pity I was hoping to do HK to Nepal to Europe - Seems China is just impassable in a resoanble way due to BS laws etc

I'm yet to find a reliable and legal way in. The amount I was quoted was around AU$12000 for two bikes so that's just bullshit. I've canned China and will fly out of Mongolia back to Oz with the bike in bits in a box.

[bikerdoc]

Unfortunately, the reality is it is really very difficult if not near on impossible for an outsider with no real connection to China or certainly any connections with clout within China, to get a motorcycle into the country legally, and I stress the word legally, since it is pretty easy do so otherwise. There are some motorcycle tour companies that have developed the required connections to get things done, like relevant drivers licensing for short term motorcycle tour group participants, and motorcycle tour companies can also assist with getting owners bikes in as part of an organised tour. But the key here is it's organised, comes compete with relevant and legal guides and costs a lot. Check out this couple of kiwi riders doing South Korea to Scotland who bypassed China for Russia then into Mongolia. Also check out this related thread on MCM

[Roadrunner]

Check out this guy on ADVrider who passed through Xinjiang from Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan not too long ago.

He managed to get an agency in Kashgar to look after the paperwork (only for Xinjiang), and they arranged his temporary Chinese license and number plate. But he had to pay USD$650 for the paperwork and USD$200 per day for the guide, driver and car.

Not so cheap, but possible.