Quote Originally Posted by slabo View Post
Advice please:: sell or keep as a learning project that hopefully won't turn into a money pit. I'm only thinking this way since I won't be able to buy simple carburetor ~250cc bikes (something I could legally register) and any EFI bikes will prove a big headache especially here in PRC
Actually, Naim, the availability of bikes here could evolve a lot during your couple of semesters in Beirut. And the trend seems headed ineluctably toward C3-compliant EFI for bikes of 200cc and above, and perhaps below too. Qingqi's C3 models are due at end-2011. Galaxy already has C3 bikes in the market (carb or EFI?). ChinaV's Yingang 250 (now piloted by Cap'n Pikey) was carbed, but as I recall V bought that bike just weeks before the C3 deadline made the C2 unregistrable; surely they'll have to update that engine for C3. The YBR250 has been EFI for ages. The Raptor 250s are EFI.

And here's a sobering thought: A buddy of mine said that registering a car in Shanghai now requires Euro4 certification, which is stricter than China3. No word on when/whether bikes will face similar restrictions, but, again, the trend is clear.

I'd keep the old girl as a project bike, given, as you note, that she's legal as is. And if you can keep to your budget for the rebuild you might end up with a good, reliable bike. But I'd wager that your future will hold an EFI bike, especially if you want something with more than 250cc displacement.

Right now you can put all that out of your mind and enjoy the precious, fantastic luxury of stepping outside China for a spell. This can be very restorative, especially after the run you've had in the past year. The passage of time alone might change your perspective on what you'll want to do with your Shineray.

cheers!