New in Shanghai

[Iskarjarek]

Hello Everyone!

I'm new to Shanghai and China in general. I've spent the last 4 years living and driving around Africa, where Motorbikes are relatively cheap and easy to get around on.

I was hoping to do some touring here in China, but it seems prohibitively expensive, particularly here in Shanghai. I'm a teacher, so have a relatively limited budget.

Does anyone have any advice? or anywhere I can get a Second-hand (used) bike? Would be willing to travel or ship it to get here.

I just don't think I have the money for a new bike and a License plate - one or the other for cheap would make life much easier.

thanks for any help.

[ChinaV]

Welcome to the forum, China, & Shanghai.

Spend some time browsing, your questions have been answered here many times before. Shanghai is a terrible place to live if you're on a tight budget and love motorcycles. It really boils down to how committed you are to motorcycling, and how much time you want to spend getting legal. There's no easy answer or quick fix for what you want. As many before you found out, people here will help, but it's a long road ahead.

One thing you will learn about China, is that people love to talk about money. So start here by telling us what a "limited budget" means. If you're not willing to spend 10-20k RMB, I don't think people here can help too much.

Cheers!

[Hok]

Welcome.

I would suggest you take the metro and taxi's along with observing the behavior of local Chinese before going out on your own. I spent a good 3 years doing this until I got my bike.

Also you are in one of the most expensive cities in Asia. Whether it be living or working. Just use a bicycle or electric (needs official license in some cases) for a while. you will learn the road and its many risks.

As for budget, sorry you will NEED to be legal... the days of buying a bike and not plating and riding without a license is gone. Once you are ticketed if you don't have resources like money and friends and high places (this is not much use also these days as the past) then you will get jailed. no joke.

Just be patient. You will have to commit to China to have a luxury like a motorcycle

[prince666]

Nice write up into your insight of owning and riding in SH?
I cant think of the worst city then SH to be a motorbike owner.
To fulfil your dreams you need to move.
My Hainan plated bike needed to be insured in Shandong was told by PICC, no can do?
My PICC insurance covers me all over China I. asked?
Yes, there said.
Ok then so stop fuc,,,ing about I told them and renew my PICC bike insurance now from your office.
After a phone call to the province head office.
All was sort and I got the renewal insurance.
Things in China are here to test you.
Most say no because there don't know?

[paulmok]

hi,my friend, welcome to china! now I have a second-hand motor cycle, u can add my wechat to check: paul327726, thanks!

[prince666]

hi,my friend, welcome to china! now I have a second-hand motor cycle, u can add my wechat to check: paul327726, thanks!

Hi and welcome to MCM

Maybe it would have been better to post your bike details and picture in the classified section.


People who are looking to buy a bike would generally look there?

Good luck with the sale whatever bike you have?.

[Iskarjarek]

Hi guys!

Thanks for all the help and advice. Its been really helpful when considering my plans.

I'm currently living and working in Disuhui Lake (Right at the end of line 16) - so getting an A plate doesn't really need to happen. I've heard that if you register the bike to a different province in China, that gives you the same rights as a C plate here. Is this correct?

About the exam, I heard that you can have a translator, but I have no idea if this is genuine or not.

In terms of money, I'm thinking somewhere around 70,000 to 100,000 RMB for the bike.

Thanks,

Iskarjarek

[Iskarjarek]

Oh, and also how easy would it be to buy a bike in Hong Kong and drive it back to Shanghai if i have the correct Drivers License?
Basically, how easy is it to move between different provinces on a motorcycle?

[a_steel]

regret to inform, but you may not get motorcycle driving license in Shanghai as easy as before.

in the past it was enough to have motorcycle+car driving licence of your home country and then it was possible to convert it to Chinese driving licence just by passing of computer test available on different languages.

well, not anymore. Shanghai traffic police will grant you only car license. if you want to get motorcycle driving license, you should be able to pass exams on Chinese. and no translator allowed.

so advice here is to try get your motorcycle driving licence in another province. unless, you can speak and read Chinese.

damn it.

[marco polo]

Got my motorbike licence in Huzhou, Zhejiang a couple of months ago. It was indeed in Chinese only and I had to pay a translator/agent to assist me, which he did by kindly doing the test for me when the police supervisor wasn't watching. I had to do a practical driving test as well, which was quite straightforward, riding around poles with a scooter. Apparently the practice of allowing a translator was stopped shortly after I got my licence. By then the bike ban in the city centre, which was introduced on 1 August was in full swing. I am still living in the city centre and ride out once or twice a week, with no adverse actions yet, although I do try to always use the same road out, then make a detour as needed, and also go out early in the morning before the traffic cops come on duty.