This is extremely useful information, here, thanks a ton!

I only wonder if a similar process can be used for Shanghai where I reside. For example, the ideal situation would be to apply for 'HU C' plates which are used outside the ring road, but I still want to have a downtown residence.

Supposedly this method could work if there are reputable and trustworthy high-volume dealers in the suburbs of Shanghai who could apply for such a HU C plate if I provided proof of a residence in Shanghai and proper visas --- even if it's downtown.

If this method doesn't work, I'd move to the suburbs and give it a whirl, but I'd definitely want to scout out dealers in the suburbs and see what's up first.

It's interesting that the JING A plates only cost 12-13000 RMB or so, because the HU A plates in Shanghai cost almost 50,000 RMB. When you're talking prices that high, the suburban option begins to look mighty attractive.

Then again, this whole thing assumes that Beijing and Shanghai would have similar rules for motorbikes, and I doubt that is the case -- so maybe it's comparing apples to oranges and not worth pursuing. To my knowledge, the Shanghai government highly discourages bikes and has these aggressive crackdowns (for example now you can't get fuel without a plate downtown). It appears that the Beijing government is more favorable towards bikes in a relative sense based on all these posts.

One of the concerns I have about the Shanghai situation is the possibility of a total ban on motorcycles in the coming few years, like what eventually happened with Guangzhou. If a total ban is indeed a possibility, then it would be a waste of money to get a new bike and legal plate right now.