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[bikerdoc]

Hi SIG,
welcome to MCM. So how's QD treating you? So what line of work are you in? I'm curious since you've moved about a bit here. This also is a factor that needs consideration when you sit down to decide what you want for a set of wheels.

I suggest you look more at the bicycle or electric bike/scooter route more so than a motorcycle, since you don't need a driver's/rider's license, and vehicle licensing is far more simpler for the aforementioned options, they're less challenging to work on - especially if you don't have a suitable setup at home to do your own work/maintenance (something that I prefer), and more importantly you don't have to worry yourself over licensing, compulsory 3rd party insurance and inspections etc. Also you mention that you've lived in 3 cities in PRC already so if you were to buy a motorcycle then sooner or later either you have to concern yourself with freighting it out when it's your next move or selling it, which. You've mentioned there's not a lot of bikes around you in QD and surprisingly none of your new? friends there have much experience with them, so that tells me the market for a used motorcycle is less than ideal. The other big plus is that an bicycle or ebike will ease you more gently into the traffic chaos and all the trappings of road userdom <- is that a word, I've invented a word! kewl! One idea is to consider a higher end foldie (fold-up) ebike, like a high-end electric assist Dahon bike, or some other high end brands... (if your going to go for longevity I'd go high end, but if that's not your thing or budget then find a Giant or Yamaha branded ebike)
for the Dahon specifically http://www.dahon.com
and check these sites for ideas and other models/brands http://www.nycewheels.com/electric-folding-bike.html
http://s.taobao.com/search?q=if+mode...ilterFineness=
http://www.nycewheels.com/if-mode-fo...ke-review.html
and this Taobao bicycle dealer in BJ has lots of foldies http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=5719230559

I've owned more than 4 Dahon foldies in my 9 years in PRC. The last two I still have, and used one in particular a lot when I lived in SH. It has 20" wheels, and suspension front and rear and lots of other innovations, and weighs 16kg which includes far too many accessories. I've carried it with me in its travel bag through many airports to many different cities and countries. awesome. I've been known on occasion to unfold my bike upon arrival at an airport, stow the carry bag, put my day-pack over my shoulders and ride off. Even better when I combine that with my handlebar mounted HTC GPS.

Having never been to QD myself, however if there are a lack of bikes around, it's advisable that you check the local regulations and laws too, maybe there's a city ban on the riding of bikes, just observing what is and what is not being used on the roadways will give you some definite clues?

Let us know how you get on... and again welcome to MCM

[SIG]

S if you don't like hassles, why in hell are you in China? Learn to relish them!

again, welcome!

LOL so true! Maybe I was just thinking of saving a little money after all... Thanks for all the replies. I don't start work until later in August so maybe it can be one of my projects for the holidays.

[SIG]

Hi SIG,
welcome to MCM. So how's QD treating you? So what line of work are you in? I'm curious since you've moved about a bit here. This also is a factor that needs consideration when you sit down to decide what you want for a set of wheels.

Thanks for all the advice and links. By the way, the story about the folding bikes is out of this world. How fast can you go? And are they comfortable and easy to pedal?

I'm a teacher and will probably settle in Qingdao for at least two years. I don't know about the city yet, but I think I will really like the school. QD is different from the other place I lived near Hangzhou. I had a used SNOW ebike scooter there, a higher-end, faster one that could do maybe 40-45 km/h. It was great because it was comfortable, had room for storage, and if any problem you could just take it to dealership, they would fix many things for free or next to nothing, and if it broke down, free roadside assistance (if you spoke Chinese, of course). The city was full of bikes, and other vehicles of all kinds, with chaotic, typical Chinese driving conditions, but relatively less traffic volume because it was a smaller city.

It's kind of funny - my first scooter (shiny new one) was stolen and so my friend and I spray painted the next one, made it look "undesirable", and it lasted me till the end of the year. When I left, her father fixed it up to look nice, then it was stolen :(.

Maybe it's culture shock in a good way that QD seems more like home (North America), especially in the quiet suburban neighbourhood. There are bikes around everywhere, just not nearly as many, and I think they may be banned from some parts of the city centre, not too concerned about that.

I like the little folding ebikes. They were everywhere in Guangzhou. And nice that you can pedal them, get some exercise, and don't have to get off and push if you run out of juice. I like being able to sidewalk with it. Not sure yet if that would be fast enough to get me to work in a reasonable amount of time, but it would definitely be a good way to ease into riding a bike around my area of the city (to the beach, supermarket), make me feel more free, and a useful thing to have anyway.