Quote Originally Posted by Lao Jia Hou View Post
2) On the 2nd, 3rd and 4th ring roads at ANY time (24 hours). You can ride on the side roads next to the ring roads but not on the ring roads themselves. The ring roads have cameras - 100 rmb fine & 3 points. Car & bus drivers hate cheating bikes on the ring roads - they will be extremely & purposefully aggressive towards a bike.
I second the 2nd and 3rd but I'm not sure about 4th ring. I rode a lot on the 4th ring and I never got stopped, fined or pictured. On some 4th ring road entrances are no traffic signs about what vehicles are forbidden, e.g. when you come from Chingcheng or Airport Expressway. Other signs have additional text which was translated to me as: motorbikes forbidden, except 3 wheelers and the ones which have a design speed of more than 70kph - but who knows.


Quote Originally Posted by Lao Jia Hou View Post
3) The 5th ring road has started having "no motorcycle" signs placed at the entrances. That's new.
Interesting. I noticed less "no bikes" signs on the fifth. Also here, I rode a lot and never got a problem.


Quote Originally Posted by marcwan View Post
... But honestly, I just feel better this way, and at the very least, the A plate is probably an investment ^_^ ...
Most likely it is not an investment. I exported my bike and thought that if i'd retire the plate, it could be used by someone else - nope. The BMW dealer and some other trustworthy sources said it cannot be used. However, as Lao Jia Hou said, it is a confusing scenario in the capital.

Ride safe!