Hi from the UK, hope to come to China on a classic

**HenryUK** · 08-08-2011, 10:44 AM

Hi MCM,

I am planning a round the world trip on a bike I'm building myself - an old Triumph engine in a Rickman frame with modern suspension and cycle parts.

I have heard a few reports from people that have managed to ride in China but am struggling to find a sure-fire way into the country. Does anyone know of any classic motorcycle events or clubs that I could get an invitation to?

Cheers
Henry

**Kennon** · 08-08-2011, 04:14 PM

welcome henry this sounds like its gunna be a proper trip would love to know more details and any pics of this classic your building, as for the whole legal side of china your better off with the more seasoned members.
as soon as i reade triumph i instantly thought of the Triumph scrambler or something like hits cafe racer
http://www.bikeexif.com/custom-triumph

**slabo** · 08-09-2011, 03:46 AM

Henry, a warm welcome to MCM.
Yes, it is possible to come into China on your own bike, but unlike other countries, you have will have to do it with a tour guide, you can't ride alone. And yes, that will be expensive. This has been discussed before here on MCM, but I can't remember the thread.. I'm sure more members will chip in with more info soon.

Another good forum for RTW touring is http://www.advrider.com/forums/ .. though not as China specialized as MCM.

in the meantime, is it possible to tease us with pics, even a bare frame or an engine sitting in it's crate is enough to make us drool..

**euphonius** · 08-09-2011, 04:18 AM

Originally Posted by HenryUK

...Does anyone know of any classic motorcycle events or clubs that I could get an invitation to?

Welcome Henry. Interesting idea you've raised, and I do think this is a brilliant strategy. I've never heard of classic motorcycle events here, but I can imagine this kind of thing would be very popular now, given the rise of an affluent class, the intense demand for expensive bikes (Ducati, Harley, BMW as opposed to Jialing, Qingqi and Chunfeng...), and the yearning for unique meaning in society.

Last year, I linked up some Chinese sidecar hobbyists with a big sidecar festival in the US, and the US indeed had a program for lobbying the US consular authorities for visas.

I'm not naive enough to expect that this already exists in China, but these clubs certainly are starting to form -- Black Bats in Shanghai, for example -- and it may well be that they could issue a letter of invitation to an overseas motorcyclist that would help him or her apply for a visa and permission to bring in a bike temporarily.

I'll ask around.

cheers

**HenryUK** · 08-11-2011, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by Kennon

welcome henry this sounds like its gunna be a proper trip would love to know more details and any pics of this classic your building, as for the whole legal side of china your better off with the more seasoned members.
as soon as i reade triumph i instantly thought of the Triumph scrambler or something like hits cafe racer
http://www.bikeexif.com/custom-triumph

Thats a beaut! The bike I'm building will end up 'a bit' like this - difefrent tank, exhaust, reinforced areas, centre stand etc etc - lots of fabrication required. It will have an old Triumph engine in it rather than one of the new ones. http://www.metisse-motorcycles.com/stevemcqueen.htm

**HenryUK** · 08-11-2011, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by euphonius

Welcome Henry. Interesting idea you've raised, and I do think this is a brilliant strategy. I've never heard of classic motorcycle events here, but I can imagine this kind of thing would be very popular now, given the rise of an affluent class, the intense demand for expensive bikes (Ducati, Harley, BMW as opposed to Jialing, Qingqi and Chunfeng...), and the yearning for unique meaning in society.

Last year, I linked up some Chinese sidecar hobbyists with a big sidecar festival in the US, and the US indeed had a program for lobbying the US consular authorities for visas.

I'm not naive enough to expect that this already exists in China, but these clubs certainly are starting to form -- Black Bats in Shanghai, for example -- and it may well be that they could issue a letter of invitation to an overseas motorcyclist that would help him or her apply for a visa and permission to bring in a bike temporarily.

I'll ask around.

cheers

Thanks! I reckon that either getting invited to a specialist event as an 'expert' or even getting a job in China are my best bets......

**HenryUK** · 08-11-2011, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by slabo

in the meantime, is it possible to tease us with pics, even a bare frame or an engine sitting in it's crate is enough to make us drool..

Unfortunately the bike is only planned out on paper at the moment- I'm busy prepping three old pizza delivery bikes for a race across the Sahara in January (which will be awesome - 500km a day, off-road, on a step through scooter!), then I'll be planning to head off on 'the big one' a few months after that, so around May time. The manufacturers of the frame are still umming and ahh-ing about whether or not they will support the trip with a free, modified frame. If not I'll have to buy the frame and modify it myself - this would be a shame as I'd like to get all the bracing done before the frame gets Nickel plated (a distinctive feature of Rickman frames).

**Kennon** · 08-11-2011, 08:55 AM

now that does look ace henry, will you be using knobblies, dual sports or proper road tyres when you do this trip?
also what size fuel tank will be on the bike as a tiddler wont be most appropriate unless you plan on taking a good ol jerry can with ya but saying that you dont wont to ruin the looks of the bike with a thumping huge fuel tank,
old pizza delivery bike is this meaning a Honda C90?

**HenryUK** · 08-11-2011, 09:19 AM

I think tyre choice will depend on which bit I'm on. I'll probably switch between the good old TKC80 and Michelin Deserts for the tricky sections (most of Africa, the Road of Bones and the Vilyuisky Tract, Mongolia etc)

The tank will be a 3 litre alloy tank. It should match the 'style' of the bike whilst not being as pretty as the little scrambler tank. For longer sections a 5-litre oil can or two strapped to the back will help. I'm planning on travelling VERY light - I've given myself a target of no more than 15kgs luggage. I will smell terrible!

The old pizza bikes are the replacements for the C90 - he Innova, or as it's known in Asia, the Wave. Domino's were selling them on becauise they were 'shafted'.