Newbie from Ohio,USA

[prince666]

Hi Doogle
Try Hainan first as there was some short cuts and loop holes in the system which would allow you to get a full legal Chinese DL.
Not sure if these are still in place and Hainan is the only province that you can get a VOA (visa on arrive ) .

Have a read up about Hainan because IMO one of the best places to ride as well.

[Doogle]

I am signing up for a 19 day tour of Thailand and Vietnam tomorrow with my wife and a friend. We will leave February 14. They will fly back home, and I will stay for a while. My plan is to buy a bike and ride Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. I think about 3 weeks. Then I want to go to China and ride for a month. I think I would need to sell the bike and buy another in China. I've read that there is a border where people have taken their bikes into China from Vietnam. I don't know if it would be worth the chance. And I hope I can figure a way to get a temporary license.

Someone told me that there are police check points at province borders in China. If that is true, that would make riding illegally very difficult. Can anyone confirm if that is true. I really want to ride and see China. I would risk some minor fines to do it. Wouldn't want to risk jail time in a foreign country.

[prince666]

Hi Doogle.

I am one of a few members om MCM who travels to Thailand from China on a Motorbike every year and I have done this for the last 4 years now.

But this year new rules have been introduced with regards to foreign plated cars/bikes entering Thailand.

which makes it nearly as hard to ride a foreign plated bike to Thailand as it is likewise to China ?

Now you are saying to wish to ride a motorbike into Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and China.
IMO it's best to start off in Thailand with a purchase of a bike
.
Many 2nd hand bikes are available for sale, but the problem you will have is getting the bike out off Thailand because unless the Green Book (owners registration) is in your name then you will need a load of paperwork to allow you (none Owner) to leave Thailand with the bike.

Also, the bike is only allowed to stay out the country for 30 Days.

Getting into Laos on a foreign plated bike let it be Thailand or Chinese is easy done it loads of times now.

Getting into Cambodia can be problematic and depends on what border you cross over and normally you are restricted to the area just over the border.

Now let's say you have got out of Thailand ok and into Laos then would you come back into Thailand and entry Cambodia from Thailand?
Vietnam is like China you need a Vietnam Driving licence to ride legally.

So IMO Vietnam is out unless you book a tour guide and ride a bike from Vietnam with the tour company arranging a Vietnam D.L.

Now would you get a Vietnam plated bike into China ?

A big NO China and Vietnam are not the best of friends at the moment but I am sure locally around the border crossing both Chinese and Vietnam bike do cross but these will strictly be contained to that area.

Now with China, you will not be able to get a foreign plated bike into China unless you are on a pre-arranged tour full stop.
But I see no reason that you can't buy a bike in China which is legally plated and insured.

But you run the risk of not having a legal Chinese D.L.
In 7 years I have only been asked once to produce my Chinese D.L.
and that is with passing through 100 of police/Army checkpoints.

But it only takes 1 policeman to ask and if he is a bad dude you are in DEEP SHIT.
You asked about checkpoints at Province borders ?.

YES do have but normally only on the main roads
.
With the new rules for foreign plated bike to get into Thailand
open this link ....... http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-f...-into-Thailand

There are 10 pages to read on this matter.

I hope I have answered most of your question and please come back with further question if you need to.


.

[prince666]

A Friend of mine called Jan who runs a big motorbike tour company based in Kunming Yunnan province rents motorbikes out and can sort out a tempory Chinese D.L.
Email....... Jan@activechina.com

[Doogle]

The more I read on this forum the more difficult it seems to be.Especially since I want to ride unescorted. Our land tour will end March 4 in Hanoi. My flight home will be April 15 from Beijing. I will have 6 weeks on my own. I hope most of it will be riding a motorcycle. I would like to ride some in Vietnam first. I am checking rentals in Hanoi now.

I think after that, I would go to Thailand and buy a bike. It sounds like I could take it into Laos and maybe Cambodia. Then I would sell the bike and go to China. I looked at the Active China site and didn't see any motorcycle rentals.

[prince666]

You need to email Jan he does do rental ok .

[prince666]

Hi Doogle
Just to give you the heads up I leave Chiang Ria Thailand on about March 24th, 2017 and get a direct flight to Kunming, were I have left my Chinese bike.
After I pick the bike up I will be riding all over Yunnan Province.

You are welcome to tie up with me around these dates and meet me in Kunming and we can sort out a bike with Jan.