Great post Bikerdoc, with some good links! I've put a sticky on it.

* Motorcycles are banned from the Expressways period! irrespective of engine capacity.
Certainly true for Shanghai, but around Beijing it is possible to ride on expressways. It is also possible at the discretion of the police especially for a rider of a Chinese made or legally imported larger capacity bike to, on some occasions, on some Expressways with sufficient pleading ride on an expressway!

Also I have seen many, Jiangsu - H (Suzhou) yellow plates on big bikes recently. These may be fake, although it seems they are probably real costing 3,000-4,000 RMB, with some kind 'back door' policy for big bike registration. Of course local police could decide that they are invalid plates, anyone got any info on this?