Soberpete's YBR 250

[Fred]

Guess it depends on whether your buyer wants a plate or not.

You're absolutely right Euphonius, this is the main question.
But if we're looking at the foreigners with bikes in China (the advertisement will be in expats websites), what is the percentage of them riding around with legal bikes/plates compared to the percentage of them without plates (or without legal plates I should say...) ? I think I would have more chance selling it without the plates. The bonus is that if the buyer is serious and responsible, and because it's a 100% legal bike, he/she will have no problem to plate it as he/she wishes, Hu A or Hu C...

[soberpete]

50k for a number plate? ....My god, that's not cheap.

[Barry]

The chain began to get rusty after several months of me washing the bike numerous times and riding over 300km in rain without being oiled once. I've oiled it a few times since I began to take note of the rust.
I need some expert advice: Should I replace the chain or will it be ok if I just keep on oiling it?

Most of the rust should be gone after properly cleaning the chain. (Wash bike ->) clean chain -> oil the chain, depending on how much you drive ofcourse it's easier if you do it every week (or two). If you just keep oiling it without cleaning, the layer of crap just builds up and will take you much longer to clean off. It's like laundry and dishes!

[euphonius]

...I think I would have more chance selling it without the plates. The bonus is that if the buyer is serious and responsible, and because it's a 100% legal bike, he/she will have no problem to plate it as he/she wishes, Hu A or Hu C...

I agree with your assessment. The Shadow is a low-end bike and it'll be hard to find someone who's ready to shell out five times as much for the plate as they pay for the bike, which I'm guessing will command less than 10k used. A buyer interested in this bike will be cash-constrained and unlikely even to have the price of admission for the Hu A plate. Rather, they'll be thinking "I'll go without" or "I can probably manage a Hu C..."

If you are ready to go on the YBR, you can probably disassociate the plate from the bike right now, and then start marketing the bike unplated.

How are you planning to market the Shadow?

[Fred]

I agree with your assessment. The Shadow is a low-end bike and it'll be hard to find someone who's ready to shell out five times as much for the plate as they pay for the bike, which I'm guessing will command less than 10k used. A buyer interested in this bike will be cash-constrained and unlikely even to have the price of admission for the Hu A plate. Rather, they'll be thinking "I'll go without" or "I can probably manage a Hu C..."

If you are ready to go on the YBR, you can probably disassociate the plate from the bike right now, and then start marketing the bike unplated.

How are you planning to market the Shadow?

I'll go to the Yamaha store on Thursday and start the process with them. They told me between 1 and 2 weeks to change the plate registration from the Honda to the Yam.

About the Shadow, I have several ways :
- one inmate here sent me PM several weeks ago because he wanted to purchase a new Shadow. I'm trying to see if he would be interested in mine now (only 5,000 km and in perfect condition).
- Shanghai Expat
- Craigslist
- A forum for French expats in Shanghai : with the number of French now in Shanghai (they're everywhere !!) ;-)) and the fact that French young men generally love bikes, it could work out.

If you have any other ideas/suggestions, I'll take them !

And I realize I really hijacked Pete's thread, sorry for that mate....

[euphonius]

don't forget about the big chinese secondhand online markets like sh.58.com

cheers

[Fred]

Thanks a lot Euphonius, I really didn't know this one.
Seem like you can find nice illegal bikes there, like the Honda CBR 250. Yummi, but no thanks...

[euphonius]

Here's another called ganji.com.

[soberpete]

Marco and Barry: Thanks for the info about cleaning the chain. I have WD40 and a brush at home, just need to get around to doing it.
Fred: I don't see it as hijacking, it's more of an addition that interests more people so I'd like to say "thanks"!

[euphonius]

Fred: I don't see it as hijacking, it's more of an interesting addition that interests more people so I'd like to say "thanks"!

Fred, as you move forward with the Honda to Yamaha upgrade, many members might welcome a fresh thread detailing the process. Something along the lines of "Lessons from Shanghai's second-hand bike market"...

cheers!