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  1. #1 Vintage Chinese Motorcycle Plates 
    Danger, Will Robinson! Lao Jia Hou's Avatar
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    I've picked up a few vintage Chinese bikes, and have been curious about the plates. This is what I've uncovered ...

    Prior to the current Yellow (= & > 50cc) and Blue (< 50 cc) plates, of the 京A 京B variety, the plates came in:

    1) White with red letters/numbers (< 50 cc); and,
    2) Green with white letters/numbers (= & greater than 50 cc)

    They also came in:

    1) 北京 01 (the equivalent of the current 京A plate); and,
    2) 北京 02 (the equivalent of the current 京B plate).

    I am not 100% sure when the switchover was made, but I am guessing early 1990s. That seems to be the consensus on motorfans. Maybe someone else knows?

    Here's a picture table (sorry, couldn't find a good example for a green 02)

    Vintage Beijing Plates.jpg

    Other vintage plate info is welcome (e.g., from other cities).
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  2. #2 Re: Vintage Chinese Motorcycle Plates 
    Senior C-Moto Guru euphonius's Avatar
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    I remember both types, though not in any detail. Our company cars had black plates, and I think they said 北京01.
    jkp
    Shanghai
    2010 JH600 "Merkin Muffley" (in Shanghai)
    2000 KLR650 "Feezer Ablanalp" (in California)
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  3. #3 Re: Vintage Chinese Motorcycle Plates 
    Danger, Will Robinson! Lao Jia Hou's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by euphonius View Post
    I remember both types, though not in any detail. Our company cars had black plates, and I think they said 北京01.
    Interesting - the black plates (foreign-owned) have been done away with, in Beijing, for both cars & bikes. The only new black plate issuances are for diplomats (with a red character). My prior cars had black plates, but my current car has the typical blue/white. But they were always a single 京 character. My first car in China was about 2003 (comparatively recent).

    Do you recall about what year your company cars had the plates? I wonder when China started the black plate system? (obviously, it was likely after 1982) But I wonder if pre-1949 also had black plates? Pre-1949 Shanghai pics would probably be informative.

    By the way, were there even any motorcycles in pre-1949 China?

    I was watching one of the never-ending wartime movies on Chinese TV, and noticed a 32 hp Chang with a black 京A plate on it, heading off to do battle with the Japanese. Minor blooper, in a few ways.
    Last edited by Lao Jia Hou; 07-26-2013 at 02:51 AM. Reason: first car was late 2003, i think - fading memories
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  4. #4 Re: Vintage Chinese Motorcycle Plates 
    Senior C-Moto Guru euphonius's Avatar
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    Back in 1990-1992, when I was with UPI in Beijing, we journalists were required to live in the four diplomatic compounds, and had black plates for non-diplomat foreigners on our Jeep Cherokee and our Polski Fiat (this was bankrupt UPI, after all). I googled a bit to see if I might find something, but no luck. I probably have pictures of those cars and plates, somewhere...
    jkp
    Shanghai
    2010 JH600 "Merkin Muffley" (in Shanghai)
    2000 KLR650 "Feezer Ablanalp" (in California)
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