Vintage Chinese bikes

[Lao Jia Hou]

Yes, the postie bikes are also super cool!

In my search for the 10th anniversary, I came across many different types of Xingfus, including a couple of actual postal bikes, complete with original postal bags, in near perfect condition. One is sitting in Shanghai, and I've been going back/forth with the owner about selling. Nope, I won't reveal its exact location, just yet.

Another very interesting find was some of the military bikes with Cultural Revolution slogans written on the forks and side panels, applied by the factory. Again, super cool. Those are bikes with a very unique historical value.

From what I heard, talking to some Chinese "experts", many of the postal bikes & military bikes (as well as many 10th anniversary bikes) were scrapped as junk.

There are a couple of guys in China who are starting to recognize the future vintage value of these bikes and are trying to snap them all up (ha ha ... maybe me included?). At present, they are a steal, IMHO. They are still considered "old and ugly" by most local people. Any red-blooded young guy is going to want some super-sport bike (or a Harley) to attract the girls ... definitely not some "old and ugly" Xingfu that his father/uncle/whomever gave him! Not many hot girls will be oo-ing and ah-ing at some guy on a Xingfu!

Fine by me ... I'll take it off your hands! I think it is a very important part of China's two-wheeled history.

Oh, how did I find these? With the help of super smart ex-students who know the ins/outs of where/how to look. Still, however, my ex-students think I am truly the crazy professor chasing after these "old and ugly" bikes. Nyeh, fine by me.

[fahni]

Update on the Xingfu 250A (Happiness):

After seeing my first "happiness" last year, I started researching the bike. Here is a little synposis ...

They were first made by the Shanghai Bicycle Factory circa 1959/60/61 ... a time when China was experiencing the terrible consequences (widespread famine) of "The Great Leap Forward". After making a few prototypes, the "leaders" decided that the bike needed to be named "Xingfu" (happiness) to try and create a positive spin. Hence, marketing was also important in diehard communist states.

The bikes were originally made in very limited number, and primarily for the military and government deliveries (e.g., post office). Therefore, the earliest "customers" could choose any color, as long as it was green. Reminders of Henry Ford.

In the 70s and into the 80s, the Xingfu 250A started becoming available for the "public", although one can imagine how difficult it would have been for an average person to acquire one. This was the start of the red ones. The "people's bike"

In 1995, the Shanghai factory decided to make a limited edition 10 year anniversary (stories vary on what exactly it was a 10th anniversary of). It was limited to a production run of 999 bikes, and was painted in a gold color with a silver frame. Some claim that the paint, brought in from Hong Kong, had real gold put into it, but this may just be an urban myth. This limited production run had the bikes' engine, frame & plate serial numbers sequentially numbered from 001 to 999. All three should match on an original bike.

Accurate records are difficult to come by, although some estimate that fewer than half the original 10th anniversary bikes remain. The red Xingfus are quite common, with high production numbers. The green Xingfus less so, but still many many times more than a gold 10 year anniversary.

The Xingfu 250A was discontinued in the late 1990s, and replaced by the more modern Xingfu 250 that copied the squarish Japanese motorcycles of the day.

It is a unique classic ... 2-stroke, 6 volt, combination kick-starter/shift lever, with the "finest materials" and "quality control" of the day.

Here's a little video of my most recent acquisition ... I managed to find a one-family-owned, 10 year anniversary in a small village in Dongbei. The youngish son wanted to sell the bike because it was "old & ugly" and he wanted a sport bike style. I was happy to buy the Xingfu because it matches me!

Super cool Chinese history! I'm now chasing down an original QingQi motor-bicycle.

Wow, can't believ you found one. How is riding these. What did you pay and did you get it plated?

[Lao Jia Hou]

Wow, can't believ you found one. How is riding these. What did you pay and did you get it plated?

I feel lucky to have found one, but when it rains ... it pours. Waited many months for a 10th anniversary, found this one, and three more have since popped up in my "network."

Riding experience of a Xingfu? You'll have to wait for the sequel "ride report / review".

Prices for these vary tremendously. The absolute lowest I have heard is 10K rmb for a 10 year anniversary (high is 50K). One lesson I've learned is ... get a poor, native student to negotiate on your behalf. Having a laowai anywhere in the picture, even as a passing reference, is a very bad idea.

Plating is impossible, at this point. I am working with some people, advocating a vintage plate (post 11 year bikes, if there is some historical significance). Under certain circumstances, a special permit is available - e.g., a biz partner and I are thinking about organizing a Xingfu tour, with guides & official escorts, but that is very convoluted and will probably remain a dream. In the interim, I've ordered some "special" yellow plates that read 幸福 (instead of 京A) and 250-A (instead of the typical 47nnn for foreigners). I'd like to find some of the original green 京A plates that were used on motorcycles in Beijing during the 80s and 90s. Not sure if "the guy" can manufacture these ... never asked, but I will.

[ZMC888]

According to the law shouldn't everything with an engine be taken to the scrap yard the moment it hits 10 years old?

Sure it would be cool to have a new legal plate type for vehicles with historical value or even a different optional car type plate for motorcycles that are over 250cc, but that will never happen because it would complicate things and make a disharmonious society.

[euphonius]

...Sure it would be cool to have a new legal plate type for vehicles with historical value or even a different optional car type plate for motorcycles that are over 250cc, but that will never happen because it would complicate things and make a disharmonious society.

It's already done for vintage cars like the Red Flags, but I'm guessing these are done on an ad hoc basis, and might even be military plates. A call to the automobile museum at FAW in Changchun could be instructive.

[fiddyduke]

Really cool....almost art deco styled bike.

It could be in fact styled after the Puch Twingle which was a weird configuration. two pistons on one connecting rod I believe....and twin exhaust pipes......My dad had one.

Great find....Kudos.....will you ship it back home?

Dave