Nanjing Motorcycle shops? Any hot tips? New or 2nd hand.

[Murrance]

G'day bretheran.
I've been researching 2nd hand/transfer motorbikes using website, 58.com
(Second-hand motorcycle Channel 58 city)
I'm actually in Yangzhou, wanted a YBR250 but the local shops no longer stock.
Felix's old XTR250 looked like a good option, but new C3 emissions render them no longer able to be registered.
Pretty much only scooters available 2nd hand here, and they are like fat chicks...
Fun to ride, but you dont want your friends finding out

Nanjing seems to be a better bet. There was quite a few bikes listed in Nanjing that caught my interest. Temples was a reoccurring location entry??

Can anyone enlighten me on where in Nanjing I would be able to procure my first C-bike??? Much appreciated.

[TexasAggie]

Howdy,

I live in Nanjing and had to get my CJ750 in Hefei and my JH600 directly from the factory. I now know of a great honest mechanic for the CJ's that could help get you one of those but registration has to be outside of Nanjing and not completely sure of status since it has been 4 years. I had no serious issue with the JH600 to register with Nanjing A plates but my wife had to yell at a few bureaucrats profusely as they had not seen one before. I am not sure you want/need Nanjing A plates and if you decide to order a JH600 directly, there are lots of people who can help here and I can also probably help you as my wife is local and she ran the gauntlet once before for me.

My colleague bought and registered a Honda SDH150 here in Nanjing early this year and got it registered no problem with Nanjing A plates. It has been a pretty good bike for him. He is a fellow Texan but was born and raised in Hong Kong so he has no language issues. I would be happy to give you his contact info via PM if you want to know how he did the Honda. I know it was done thru a local dealer without too much above normal stress.
Honda link:
http://www.honda-motorcycle.com.cn/d...0-150a_zy.html

[Murrance]

Thanks Aggie. Perhaps Nanjing is in fact 3 bridges too far from relatively congestion free Yangzhou.
Appreciate the information, and offer of assistance. The Honda 150cc is a little small for my liking.
My wife checked online last night the law of the lands here. She says as long as I have my Motorcycle license,
if I am pounced on by local authorities, the fine should only be 200RMB, per instance off course!
I want at least 250cc underneath me. Her mother has a scooter unregistered, but bearing a fake license plate.
Nor is her mother licensed, but she only gets about in her home town, where they are friends with the local police.
I am still procrastinating whether to go dual sport style, or return to my full dirt bike roots. Possibly even go up to a 450cc.
License plates for Yangzhou should only be about 1500RMB, for 6-10 years!
I plan to meet up with Cmoto member Zhu for a beer and chat tomorrow night.
Before this week is over I will also make my way out to Yi Zheng's Galaxy dealer, just to have a look see, check prices.
(Even if they are not really register-able!)

Hold up, just having a look at JH600 pics now, nice!! I assumed it was more cruiser style, Thats what I get for assuming!
Have to fight through Ebike chaos now to pick up the wife from work, I will have a better look into the JH600 later tonight.
Cheers again for your time!!

[felix]

Good luck with all that, and if you do make it out to the galaxy dealer, tell them xiao fei, the laowai from suzhou, says hello!

[TexasAggie]

There is not much over 250cc other than the JH600 and my only word of caution to you is be careful to be legally insured. You are the foreigner and if you hit a bicycle or pedestrian, you want to be legal otherwise it will cost you in more ways than just money. The Jiangsu Gray Bar Inn does not look like fun to me. That being said, you are in a good location to ride. The big cities are a pain.

I have to tell you the European model of the JH600 I have has pretty good suspension for off road if you are tall enough. I am former motocross and enduro racer who did Baja 3 times. The JH600 is heavy but is pretty good for the money for China roads and trails. I loaded up with German rear shock cause I am 6'3" and now weigh 280lbs or 127kg. A bit over the average! (I will soon go to UK "Stone" as it sounds even better than kg)

Good luck

[Murrance]

Damn it, had this reply nearly finished, and lost it all!! Here is my 2nd revision...

Felix, I will definitely pass on your greetings to Yang min min, I have made first contact and will go see him before the weekend!
If I may be as bold as to ask, how much did you end up selling your XTR250 for?

Aggie/DT; I had a proper scan of this site and furthered my research into the JH600.
A very nice looking bike, and quite capable also! I am just under 6 foot, and only 80kgs or so. The weight scares me a little.
I have fond memories of exhausting myself trying to extract the XR400 out of some sticky mud pits!!
And also price point will also be a factor, JH600 is just under 30K RMB? plus as you mentioned upgrades budget allowance.
The Yamaha Sword King 250cc new at around 22K was pretty much my upper price threshold. (Well mostly mine, my wife's also;)
Also I am becoming painfully aware of the vast price differential between 125cc, 250cc, and above sized bikes!!
Wow, Baja 3 times, I am in awe and envy, that is some serious riding!! (Of which I have only seen on TV) Respect!

I also respect your advice on the legal side of things;
TIC and I am a stranger in a strange land. A lowai can only get away with so much!
I am having a hard enough time avoiding the 'day walkers', and 'ghost riders' (Pedestrians and Ebikes with a death wish!) while driving our Reiz around town!
I am a natural defensive, give way kinda driver coming from Sydney, really on a steep learning curve dealing with the pretty much exact opposite driving style here!
So if Yangzhou authorities will only give me a license plate and insurance for up to a 250cc, I do want to be legal, I will have to compromise.
A mate in Sydney gave me a ride of his Honda CRF450R, scared the be-jesus out of me! Compared to the tractor like power curve of the XR400!
He was only a small guy also, but he had been riding since he was knee high to a grasshopper!

So perhaps a water cooled 250cc 4stroke Enduro style bike would be reasonably close to what I was accustomed to power wise on the XR400? Would you agree?
The XTR250 would have been my obvious choice, but Felix advised the new C3 emission rules pretty much cancel that option out.
I will still go and have a look see at Yi Zheng Galaxy dealer Yang min min's offerings before the weekend.
Hopefully I can come across a 2nd hand transfer bike that is already registered? and has a motivated seller

Thank again for your input. Much appreciated.
Cheers and beers, Murrance.