Soberpete's YBR 250

[soberpete]

I had my first encounter with the traffic police today. It went like this:

I left the house at 8am this morning to go to the dentist on the YBR. I've had a big hole in my upper-left molar since a chunk of it fell out last week and needed to get it checked.
Things started off to be 'not so smooth' as I pulled away and instantly slammed to halt when the the front wheel lock hit the brake caliper, jolting my gonads into the petrol tank . After removing the lock, I made my way six city blocks north to the dentist's place.

I was one block away when I had to stop for a red light at a big junction. I was stopped in the middle of the four lane road; the safest place to be right? I believe it to be the safest place but not from the traffic police though.
Two of them appeared in the middle of the junction and made their way towards me, waving me into the bike lane. I just stared at them, trying to play dumb until the lights went green again but they were soon standing right in-front of my bike. They asked me where my number plates were and then I started to feel worried . My plates have been delayed until tomorrow and I shouldn't be riding it until then. One of them simply snatched the keys out of the ignition and told me to push my bike to the side of the road.
They followed me over there and asked me to show them my driving license, bike registration, certificate of purchase and something else that I didn't understand. I told them that I'd just bought it (a bit of a lie) and that my plates were supposed to have arrived already but, due to an unexpected delay, aren't here yet.
There was one thing that I found very funny about this situation: after I'd told them that I'd only just bought it they looked at my display to try and find the odometer. The key taker 'KT' stuck the keys back in the ignition and the display turned up with the time: 08:12. He looked at it for about ten seconds and I was wondering whether or not he would push the "select" button . That would have switched the display between 'time', 'trip 1', 'trip 2' and 'odometer' which would have read '209km'. They didn't find it though . They just told me to go and get my documents.

A stroke of luck had blessed me with the location of this junction being only 100 meters away from the Yamaha shop where I bought the bike. I told this to the police and asked them to come with me to the shop to confirm everything but they just kept repeating themselves from behind their big aviator sunglasses:
"Driving license, bike registration, certificate of purchase.
Driving license, bike registration, certificate of purchase.
Driving license, bike registration, certificate of purchase."

I told them to look after my bike as I walked over the road to the Yamaha dealer. I explained the situation to the salesladies and they were, to my surprise, very helpful. A mechanic kitted up with a big blue Yamaha biker jacket walked with me back over to where the bike was but the police officer guarding my bike was a different one. Chatting was done between the officer and the mechanic, phone calls were made and then the mechanic went off somewhere to find the KT. Within roughly twenty minutes he was back with my keys . I asked him if the police caused him any trouble and whether or not I could do anything but he simply said "It was nothing" and sent me on my way. I was thirty minutes late for my meeting with my friend but at least there was no big deal made out of the whole thing. I got my tooth fixed fairly nicely in the end .

I have been thinking to myself that I should have made a quick right hand turn as soon as I saw the police approaching. I might also have done well to give them the finger as I drove off even though this isn't something I'd usually do.

[ZMC888]

Hehe, this means you directly caused the Yamaha dealership who have delayed giving you the plates some hassle! Oh, I'll help you get your driving license once you have your plates.

[Nuhaus]

Things started off to be 'not so smooth' as I pulled away and instantly slammed to halt when the the front wheel lock hit the brake caliper, jolting my gonads into the petrol tank .

Did that once on my first scooter, only I got about 20 feet before it dumped me off. The skid mark was a source of much bemusement.

One of them simply snatched the keys out of the ignition

Yeh, they like to do that. Best is when they reach for the keys only to find them not there. I imagine your ignition is a little more sophisticated than my elderly Honda, where the key simply falls out after I switch it to the on position.

I'm sure from now on you'll be carrying the reqired docs. Just remember to take your fapiao with you next time.

[dewsnap]

Hey Nuhaus. Are you any closer to a decision yet? You've gotta get yourself round to try the Raptor. Pete has ZMC in his corner, i need you to help me review mine.

That's a hairy run in the with the law Pete. You were lucky. I also don't have a license yet, i'm pushing my luck riding the bike everyday. My final test is this Friday tho. Nearlly there after 2 months of getting up at 6am for class.

I rode a YBR250 around the car park at the mechanics today, i'd be very surprised if ZMC's weight figures are right. If anything, i thought the YBR was heavier than the Raptor. The YBR is much taller so possibly the riding position made the weight feel different, but i reckon those YBR wheels ae heavy.

[soberpete]

Hehe, this means you directly caused the Yamaha dealership who have delayed giving you the plates some hassle! Oh, I'll help you get your driving license once you have your plates.

I've been having second thoughts about doing a Chinese motorcycle test since I heard (from you I think) that the police/ most people believe a standard car driver's license to be better than any motorcycle license .
I had my UK driver's license translated before getting my first bike. I told them that the codes on the back of my license (stating that I am qualified to drive a car, a milk-float and a minibus I think) meant that I could ride motorbikes up to 250cc. They asked for 200rmb and a few other documents, typed a bunch of stuff up on a computer, printed a certificate, gave it to me and sent me on my way.
I used that certificate in place of a drivers license while getting my first bike registered and there were no problems. I think I'll just continue to use it. Could I go wrong with that?

Plates are due to arrive tomorrow afternoon!
Rain is due tonight. I hope it dries up around noon. I'm scared of riding on wet roads. My tires are called Street Sharks right? I'm not exactly keen to see how they perform in water but I might give it a try.

[Lao Jia Hou]

Interesting situation.

Does anyone know what "the rule" is for motorcycles awaiting plates? I know that it is 30 days for cars.

I recently bumped into a guy who had bought a new Harley about 3 months ago and he still didn't have a plate because Harley is backlogged with getting the fapiaos, paperwork, etc. He is still waiting for his docs so that he can get the plates issued. In the interim, he rides around with a single page letter from the Harley dealership (with the infamous red chop) saying it is his bike, recently purchased, awaiting docs/plates/etc. He uses that to get gas, and also if the police stop him. After a few months, that piece of paper is getting kinda ratty. I forgot to ask him about insurance.

I've always just left my new bikes with the dealer until the plates are on, so I've never had to deal with this situation.

[soberpete]

Did that once on my first scooter, only I got about 20 feet before it dumped me off. The skid mark was a source of much bemusement.

Yeh, they like to do that. Best is when they reach for the keys only to find them not there. I imagine your ignition is a little more sophisticated than my elderly Honda, where the key simply falls out after I switch it to the on position.

I'm sure from now on you'll be carrying the reqired docs. Just remember to take your fapiao with you next time.

20 feet??!! That's a record in my books. How did that happen? The lock was on the front wheel and you wheelied the first 20ft from a stand still?

All of my docs had been sent to the Chinese DVLA so I didn't stand a chance. Should have left the bike with the dealer until the plates arrived but I have given into temptation and ridden it everyday since I bought it.
The plates arrive this afternoon! ...or at least I've been told .

[slabo]

Things started off to be 'not so smooth' as I pulled away and instantly slammed to halt when the the front wheel lock hit the brake caliper, jolting my gonads into the petrol tank . After removing the lock, I made my way six city blocks north to the dentist's place.

This is what happened to my lock when I tried to ride off while it's still locked to the rear disc!!



I thought of such a situation before I started using the lock, so I got one of these cord things on Taobao for 5 or 10 rmb, but it was too short, I never used it. Maybe you can try to find one.

I've been having second thoughts about doing a Chinese motorcycle test since I heard (from you I think) that the police/ most people believe a standard car driver's license to be better than any motorcycle license .
I had my UK driver's license translated before getting my first bike. I told them that the codes on the back of my license (stating that I am qualified to drive a car, a milk-float and a minibus I think) meant that I could ride motorbikes up to 250cc. They asked for 200rmb and a few other documents, typed a bunch of stuff up on a computer, printed a certificate, gave it to me and sent me on my way.
I used that certificate in place of a drivers license while getting my first bike registered and there were no problems. I think I'll just continue to use it. Could I go wrong with that?

You don't need a license to register the bike. You will need a license if you have an accident, that's for sure. Anything missing from your papers doesn't play in your favor.

Rain is due tonight. I hope it dries up around noon. I'm scared of riding on wet roads. My tires are called Street Sharks right? I'm not exactly keen to see how they perform in water but I might give it a try.

Bad idea, very bad idea. I'm no veteran, but I'm sure what I'm writing is good advice. What if you're riding and you suddenly come upon a wet road? Yes, tires don't have as much traction on wet roads but still have plenty enough. You have to try this and practice before you get into a situation where you don't have the right reflexes. What if you have to stop or swerve or take some evasive action on wet roads? The worst you can do then is panic an think, no, I don't want to be on a wet road. Even my off-road tires are good in wet tarmac and even muddy (tarmac) conditions. Practice and get a feeling for their limits, better drop make a mistake and drop the bike on your own terms than be surprised and find out the hard way.

Here's a little something for inspiration::



On thing I'm afraid of is oil on tarmac! Nothing will prepare me for that. Best thing is to crash 'gracefully' :D

[Nuhaus]

20 feet??!! That's a record in my books. How did that happen? The lock was on the front wheel and you wheelied the first 20ft from a stand still?

I have no idea. The scooter was modified with a 200CC cylinder, clip on air filter, and high flow muffler. I was in a hurry so I just hit the gas and was like "Why is it so slow?" hit the gas some more and found myself on the ground. The bike didn't stop till I went from the concrete floor of the parking garage to the tarmac of the road. "Oh yeh, disk lock." Picked myself up, unlocked the wheel, then put the bike away and took a cab. :D

[Lao Jia Hou]

Confession time ...

Note to self - unchain bike from other bikes before heading off.

You get the idea.