Recomendation for Dual-sport Bike for Trip from China to Europe

[prince666]

Hi Dave

敬启者，

我本人 [Owner's Name] （身份证号码: [Owner's ID Number]），做为此摩托车的注册车主（身份号码如下），允许 [User's name] ([User's Nationality]（护照号码为 [User's Passport Number]）无限期，任何用途地使用上面提及的摩托车，甚至包括穿越国界。

中国车牌号：[Chinese plate No.]
车辆识别代号： [VIN number]
发动机号：[Engine number]

如有任何问题，请随时和我联系。

[Owner's Name]

联系电话 [Owner's Contact number]

Just got my wife to check Dave "she" tells me all is good .

[prince666]

opps posted 2 times sorry ???

[prince666]

What are Chinese spare parts like? I went to the parts shop and bought a complete clutch assembly (plates, springs, holder, whatever) for 50 CNY ($8 USD). Seems.. a little too cheap. It looks OK, the casting is a bit rough. I asked them for their best wheel bearings, they gave my 'KQYQ' made in China bearings (just checked their website, looks encouraging). They cost less than a dollar each. Will they last? Any tips where to find good parts?

Is motorcycle oil generally available for sale? Semi-synthetic? Clutch is sticky and I wonder if it's the oil.

One very important question. How can I check the registration documents are genuine and original, and the bike is legal? I have some reason to wonder.

Is the insurance always 'for the bike', and not 'for the driver?' The seller said everything is fine with the insurance, but I don't understand how it works.

Insurance is for the bike Dave ????? as to the Docs why not get a chinese person other then the seller to take the bike and Docs into your local Traffic Police to check ???? but you run the risk "IF" it is not legal you could lose the bike



steve

[davidzweig]

Some photos, just to make it easier for the police to find us :-)

P1170132.jpgP1170168.jpgP1170170.jpgP1170177.jpg

[davidzweig]

Well, we've been on the road a couple of days, national roads seem good! I try to hold about 60kph. The bike does alright, just the rear shocks are a bit soft, even with maximum preload. I've got my eye open for some stiffer ones. More hassle than I thought getting the bike into shape, a new bike would have perhaps made more sense. The scenery around Yangshuo is great, tomorrow heading North of Guiyin, and will try to get to Zhenyuan the day after. It rains a lot round here.

Thanks for the tip about the parts, went to get a chain/sprockets at the Suzuki dealer. They had a set, didn't say Suzuki on the package but I guess they should last.

Will get some sleep now, early start tomorrow. Thanks for the help! I will perhaps make a new thread as a 'trip report' in another thread, if you guys aren't already bored to death of such threads.. :-)

[bikerdoc]

^Congrats. Perhaps getting a brand new MC would have been less agro for you, but taking the course of action you did, has allowed you to see first hand and therefore appreciate some of the inner workings (a little exposure) to what goes on. Since you've had to spend a little time wrenching or assisting, you'll hopefully be somewhat better prepared for most eventualities should the bike stumble some point down the road. Happy trails. Looking forward to your road report (RR). Post a link to the RR on this thread so any subscribers to this thread are better able to pick up the RR thread.

Will be interesting to see how you get on when you finally make the border crossing(s).

Wishing your trip every success.

Shiny side up, rubber side down.

[foxy88]

^Congrats. Perhaps getting a brand new MC would have been less agro for you, but taking the course of action you did, has allowed you to see first hand and therefore appreciate some of the inner workings (a little exposure) to what goes on. Since you've had to spend a little time wrenching or assisting, you'll hopefully be somewhat better prepared for most eventualities should the bike stumble some point down the road. Happy trails. Looking forward to your road report (RR). Post a link to the RR on this thread so any subscribers to this thread are better able to pick up the RR thread.

Will be interesting to see how you get on when you finally make the border crossing(s).

Wishing your trip every success.

Shiny side up, rubber side down.

Second all that, keen to read about how it goes. Btw how are you coping with the language barrier? You mentioned a bit earlier on that it was surprising how few people speak English, my experience exactly when I first arrived in Kunming. You'll find this more and more the case as you travel further out west away from the more developed seaboard. Not sure if time permits but a crash course in Mandarin could be very helpful, two days intense study or the like, they have a few 'Survival Mandarin' courses like that in Kunming.. If you're interested I can find out more for you, even knowing a little of the language can open doors, people will be telling you how well you speak before you've even finished asking the price of a pineapple..

[bikerdoc]

^ good points raised. Absolutely worth having some working knowledge of Mandarin, but, not all the population speak it, older or less educated citizens speak other dialects so speaking Mandarin won't help. This is especially the case the further away one ventures from a major city, and heads inland. Also if one speaks a little Mandarin then the other party may make the assumption you have a command of the language etc., which may lead to some interesting conversations - all likely one sided of course.

Another important consideration, is asking for advice, directions and such like. Few locals will admit they have no idea. Instead they might offer advice or directions that are ill founded or just plain incorrect. Ask ten people directions to some place and expect to be provided with ten often different directions some seemingly in opposite directions. If you wan't a street location some place, ask a driver, not a pedestrian or even someone waiting at a bus stop, as that person is likely to have little clue or idea. try to ask an appropriate person based on what it is you are asking about.

[Symon260z]

David,

A big thumbs up to you. You are one of the very few who are actually doing what you intended to, rather than talking and doing nothing. Best of luck for you trip !

P.S. Your Suzuki is the same bike that I bought for my inlaws, a great bike to travel around China.

Symon

[foxy88]

How's it all going there Dave, still trucking on? Any nice stories to share? If you make it to Kunming I'll shout you guys a beer