I think it also helped that tokyokid had registration/insurance documents that were in his wife's name and she was with him. I'm not sure what happens when you get to the border and try to cross with a bike that's not registered in your name. Different border crossings seem to have different policies. Then there's the whole carnet issue after you get out of China, Chinabiker knows all about that. Probably some routes you can take that don't require a carnet? Getting the bike registered in your name and the drivers license issue have generally been what stands in the way of most people, money can sometimes solve those problems. Plenty of people have crossed China on Chinese motorcycles illegally, but it's getting much harder, and the police seem to have less and less patience with foreigners that don't follow the rules.

Cheers!
ChinaV