Chinese Brand R9 Help!!!

[Lao Jia Hou]

Hi all, thanks for reading and any input is greatly appreciated.

I just bought a Chinese brand R9, which is a scooter with 150cc engine. I paid 5500 rmb versus 3000 rmb because this one came with Jing B plates and all the paperwork associated with it like frapiao, vehicle registration, and an insurance invoice. These are all done with a name of a company and not mine as this was all ready for me when I bought the scooter.

Question 1: Is this legit or did I get taken?

I am 99% sure (without seeing the docs) that it is legal. The "company registration" is very common in Beijing for "B" plates.

Question 2: Will I be able to change the registration into my name or is this even necessary? The guy that sold it to me, a shop in Wudaoko, told me that it is not necessary, but he also told me that I don't need a motorcycle license.

Yes, you can change it into your own name, as long as you meet the other requirements (residence outside 4th ring road - Wangjing is just outside - minimum 6 months visa).

The dealer saw you are a foreigner - they all believe we are immune from the police. That used to somewhat be the case, many years ago, but most certainly not any more.

Question 3: From reading this forum, it sounds like I need to get motorcycle license, but still not totally clear as to whether this applies to me with a "scooter". Could someone that knows elaborate on this? I live in Wangjing. Is there somewhere close to me or the closed place where I can get one?

Search this forum for info on getting a Driving License in Beijing - lots of help here. I think there is only one school that "teaches" foreigners.

If you already have a motorcycle endorsement on your foreign license, the process is very easy.

Question 4: I made the mistake of riding my R9 inside the 4th ring road the very next day after purchase to Sanlitun, but nothing happened. I thought I passed a couple of police and even rode next to police cars that did nothing. Is the ban on going inside the 4th ring road only for motorcyles? or was I just really lucky?

Ban inside 4th ring road is for B plates (and maybe other provinces? Don't know about that one)

Lucky? I just found out that all my 5th ring road riding has been illegal, and I'm on it a lot, but I've never been dinged. Consider it like speeding - you don't get caught every time, but it sure can be a bummer when you are.

Question 5: Will an insurance company insure my R9? Does anyone know of someone or someplace I can get this?

If you have B plates on it, it has insurance already (in the company name). You can't get legal plates without insurance.

Question 6: Would love to meet people and go for rides on the weekends. Any people available near Wangjing?

There are many rides happening every weekend, for all shapes/sizes of bikes. I recently came across some scooter "club" up in the mountains - about 20 little scooters zipping through the roads. Your dealer will have lots of info, and perhaps even run a few scooter trips himself. By the way, if you don't have a girlfriend already, you will quickly acquire one in a scooter club ... about 3/4 of those scooter riders were attractive young women!

Oh ... hang on ... "Sunny" ... haha ... could be either gender.