The issue concerning MC plates in Shanghai is relevant to me as I spent some considerable time emailing/chatting via phone to a potential buyer of the CF650TR I have for sale over concerns about keeping an out of town plate on this bike for riding in Shanghai. As I pointed out, so long as the bike is legally plated, has valid & up-to-date insurance and inspection, and so long as the rider has a valid MC endorsed PRC D/L, then for all intensive purposes, this bike would be treated fairly much the same as a bike with a Hu C plate, when ridden in the supposedly exclusive Hu A plate designated areas. As pointed out in this thread and previously in many others, Hu A plated MC's face serious restrictions and impositions for the privilege of paying circa 120K+ for said Hu A plate. Riding a bike with a Hu C or an out of town plate ends in the same set of consequences should one have the impediment of being caught and that is a 200 kuai fine. One could amass a lot of 200 kuai fines before tipping the scales in favour of the Hu A plate.

To my mind the easiest method of riding in Shanghai is either electric bike/scooter or a small <49cc scoot. Which have fairly limited restrictions in place by comparison to MC's 50cc and above.

A little ditty, last year I rode my Burgman 650 adorned with Ningbo plates up to Shanghai and back again for a weekends escape to the big smoke (needed my head examined but well...). Stayed in a hotel near Hongkou, and rode the scoot round Shanghai a reasonable amount. Rode up and down the full length of Yunnan Xi Lu several times, and also found myself inadvertently riding around Shanghai Peoples Square more than once, as I made a couple of navigational errors, despite having lived on Hengshan Lu, not 2km from Nanjing Dong Lu (walking street) and the Bund some 9 years ago. The amount of development meant I didn't even recognise once recognisable landmarks, so there I was, a Waiguoren riding a big scoot round the Shanghai CBD, including near Huahui Lu. Didn't get stopped once, despite riding in MC forbidden zones complete with out of town plates. Doesn't mean that it can't happen. TIC, there's no consistency. I experienced no difficulty whatsoever obtaining fuel, or even asked to show my scoots registration documents etc. when refuelling. Also refuelled at the bowsers, and not once was asked to move my scoot to some place else. If that had been the case, I'd simply have left and gone elsewhere, as I carry a spare litre of fuel under the seat of the scoot.

My only stop was at the Zhejiang/Shanghai Toll Station on my ride out the Shanghai madness, which was self imposed as I refuelled and feed myself, when a couple of the local PSB guys came over to check out the scoot, with some thumbs up for the auspicious number plate and small banter back and forth. Everything in order, good to go.

YMMV