Am I CRAZY or WHAT?

[ChinaGurl]

I bought this today.

Ok, so mine is black rather than blue, but otherwise it's exactly the same.

Specs:

Engine: 4-stroke, single cylinder, air cooled, double exhaust pipe.
Displacement: 149.4ml
Wheelbase: 1370mm
Ground clearance: 180mm
Net weight: 135kg
Max. load: 150kg
Max. speed: 90km
Start: pedal/electric
Tires: Front:3.00-18, Rear:100/90-16
Brakes: Front disk, Rear drum

Beautiful bike. 6000 yuan.

[Lager]

Wow---that's great not crazy at all. I met 1-2 FT's in Jinan who roared around on bikes. Is it a lot of red tape to get licensed?

[ChinaGurl]

I'm not sure. Because we bought it on a Friday afternoon, after the gov't places were closed, we haven't any paperwork as of yet. Monday we'll go back and get license plates (148 yuan) and licenses (allegedly no problem, 300-odd yuan each).

The bike is a joint venture between me and my fiance... since he knows how to ride and I'm just learning. What better place to learn than here, right?!

[Newbs]

ChinaGurl you're not crazy.

I can't think of a better place to learn to drive than China. If you can drive here you can drive anywhere.

When I get back to Oz my son will pick me up at the airport. I'm going to let him keep driving, because apart from the left hand side, right hand side, there are a few other subtle differences between Chinese and Australian drivers.

Anyhoo, the bike looks beaut, and all the best with the lessons.

[hankuh]

Yes, you're crazy, but drive crazy and you should be okay.

;D

[Raoul Duke]

Interesting. Never ridden before in my life, and I'd need a bit bigger model, but the prospect of real mobility at that price range is terribly compelling.

And my new boss says that if I had a Harley I'd be the coolest thing in China.

Maybe, when life is sorted back out again....

[ChinaGurl]

Here's hoping.

Actually, I see it this way. Here in China, there is, generally speaking, more respect given to motorcyclists and cyclists than there is in Canada. Yes, Chinese people are horribly aggressive and terrifyingly nonchalant at times, but I saw a van yield for a bike today.

Also, I'm shopping for the strongest, heaviest, most colourful full-face helmet I can find. Well, two of them, really.

Raoul: This bike is BIG. Everyone is surprised when they see how big it is. It's no pithy little Chinese bike. Combined, my boyfriend and I are probably close to 180kg, and it holds us no problem.

I can't wait for spring (like, the warm spring, not the festival spring) so I can get out on the road and ... well ... be independent of buses and trains.

[gengrant]

yeah, i actually entertained the idea of a bicycle once while we were in china...but a motorcycle....? with the way THEY ride? I think I may get a bicycle when we return, but it would be a long time before i considered a motorcycle...

on a side note...we had a guy (about 22 yrs old) who bought supposedly the fastest bike in the city (Huizhou, 2002) and would ride it at full throttle around 2 am every morning, waking as many people as possible...never did get ticketed that i know of...

[con's fly is open]

Our very own biker bitch! Hats off: I'd never have the cajones to drive in China, let alone Shanghai, LET ALONE on two wheels.
Will you defy local fashion and wear a helmet?

[ChinaGurl]

Of COURSE I'll wear a helmet. Better to look stupid than die or be horribly mangled by a motorcycle wreck.

Also, refer to my previous post where I say I'm shopping for two of the biggest, strongets and heaviest full-face helmets I can find.

As for the "biker bitch"... I don't know that having a motorcycle will really change my personality too too much. I mean, I guess I could try to be more bitchy, but it's just not really in my nature!! I do, however, pledge to wear more leather.

Nicknames I've gotten from foreigners before the bike: Doll, Sweetheart, Drunky. Nicknames after: Biker Bitch, Diesel Dyke.

Aside: I actually wanted to get a smaller bike, because I think it would be easier for me to handle. I can't even get this bike out of the storage room, really. And the doorway leading out of the apartment's back alley is really small too. We're looking into alternative storage solutions. Unfortunately there's not an IKEA around for miles and miles.

[burlives]

A top speed of 90km/h? What cc engine?

I've read that a license is difficult to get. At least for driving a car it's something like you have to trade in your still current foreign country license, or you have to take the standard written and practical tests. I have no idea about motorcycles, although I really would like to know.



Personally, although I'd be as able to ride it as I would to carry it, I wouldn't mind one of these:

The 2003 Harley-Davidson FXSTB Night Train

[MK]

Yeah, I had heard that you have to pass the Chinese test to drive legally here...not sure about motorbikes, so please keep us updated, Chinagurl!

[Lager]

Isn't cc125 the biggest bike for sale in China?

I think Shanghai might be the safest place to drive. Seems more Western to me---people actually obeying lights-that sort of thing. Small towns are the scary places.

[ChinaGurl]

It's really easy to get a motorcycle license from what I've heard. I'll let you know on Monday or Tuesday.

[Hamish]

Yes, it is.

But, TRACTION is a BITCH!!!

BE CAREFUL!!!

Just a little spot of oil, or sand and gravel, can put you in the hospital.

Even if you are going slowly.

[con's fly is open]

And buy some leather togs. If you have to lay the bike down at 40 kph, they'll save you a lot of skin.

And how can you resist the biker bitch angle? Ya know, some glue-on tattooes, skull-and-crossbones helmet... scare hell out of the locals.

[ChinaGurl]

Why glue-on tattoos when you've got real ones?!

Leather togs are on the way, if you're referring to pants/jacket/clothing. I'm really going for chaps because they can have all kinds of other interesting uses. Well, ok, just one.

[woza17]

I remember my first bike a Yamaha 50cc , no it was a Honda. I was sixteen at the time and legally was not allowed to have one. I bought it on hire purchase in Darwin. In those days you didn't have to have a helmet'
I remember getting on the bike and exploring the out lying countryside just taking any road I fancied and being stopped by a big gate at the end of a road it was a leper colony for our native people.
Anyway I finally got up to a 350cc honda and road from Melbourne to Brisbane by myself just camping out at night. The best times. I loved getting on my bike and going out to meet new adventures. I only came off once at 5 ks on gravel but I was wearing a mini skirt at the time and suffered severe gravel rash the kids at the school thought it was a hoot.
I am a defensive driver always looking at other peoples driving to anticipate what they will do next and if I can I will try to engage eye contact lots of body signals.
Anyway enjoy your bike be careful and wear really cool leathers.

[ChinaGurl]

I want to be the exception to the rule, and not be a biker bitch. I want to ride my big bike and still be girly.

So far I've been out on the bike twice, mostly because I can't really move it in and out of the storage room by myself. That thing's freakin' heavy.

[gengrant]

so, how was it riding the lightning of Chinese streets? i still think i'm going to get a little ol' bicycle when we come back...



gengrant

[tom]

Whats the difference between a harley and a hoover?

Where the dirt bag sits!

This was just a joke!!

[ChinaGurl]

I haven't really taken the bike out on the streets much... I've been practicing riding on an almost abandoned road close to my school in the evenings. The one time I did ride home I got a little panicky. I'm still not familiar enough with all the controls to be able to do things automatically, like brake, or turn the lights on. Until I can do that, I'll refrain from merging with the other traffic.

On my bicycle I feel really confident amongst Chinese traffic. I'm sure I'll have the same feeling once I get comfortable with the bike.

Good joke, tom.

I should have my license in my hot little hand today or tomorrow too... a necessity for riding my bike in and around the closest city when the weather gets warmer. I can't wait!

[ChinaGurl]

I broke the bike.

I was trying to put in the storage room, but it's heavy. I dropped it in the doorway and snapped the windshield.

I also smashed my shin. It hurts.