I'm out of the running... .. but info keeps slowly replying
 

Just for you guys investigtationg this is the latest that i got quoted....
I'm flying my bike & me to thailland it's just too much for my pockets

Hi Andrew,
I have helped the travelers like you riding bikes or drivng vehicles to China for more than 20 years.
I would be happy to help you with your riding. But that would be very costly if it was only you with one bike because we have to arrange a 4WD for you all the way.
The route we suggest you is Zhangmu Pass / Tingri / B.C. of Mt. Everest / Xigartze / Lhasa / Bayi / Bomi / Bangda / Mankam / Deqin / Shangri'la / Lijiang / Dali / Linchang or Kunming / Pu'er / Jinghong / Mengla / Mohan Pass to Laos.
In China, most of the highway is forbidden to motorbikes. You have to ride on the side way.
The cost is EUR6850.--including all the travel permits, motorbike checking fee, number tags, customs declaration, driving permits, vehicle travel permits, compulsory traffic insurance of the vehicle, the company’s service , a 4WD vehicle rental with a driver & fuel and an English speaking guide.
But the price does not include the personal natures, food and hotel accommodation of you, the guide and the driver, fuel and maintains of your bike.

If you can find another cyclist, the price will be EUR9500.---with the same terms as the above.

Please be kindly notified the above quote was made based on the present exchange rate: Euro100:RMB950.

We will pay the China Customs the guarantee for your bike(s) to cycle into & out of China.

We need your confirmation 70days earlier before your arrival in China because we need 60days for getting all the permits ready.

Best regards!
Paul Shi

Quote:

In China, most of the highway is forbidden to motorbikes. You have to ride on the side way.

He means motorcycles are not allowed on most freeways and have to use the main roads.
EUR6850! Seriously expensive! That is six times a factory workers annual salary, and does not even include hotels and food!

The cheap way:

Bike: Chinese made 250cc+ Motorcycle - 1000-3000 Euro dependent on quality. Yamaha YBR250 is available in China, as is Jialing JH600. BMW GS1300 is available but twice as expensive as in Europe new (because of import taxes). Almost no motorcycle rental services here. We can help put you in touch of people if you need to sell a bike when you leave, can guarantee at least half new price for your 2nd hand bike. Bikes include insurance and plates.

6 months multiple entry visa - 100 Euro or less.

Cheap Accommodation, Food and fuel per day - 40 Euro

Do Remember;
-Discuss your plans at length with foreign nationals that live in China, going it alone at a preparation stage could cause you to make mistakes, and put your safety, money or freedom at risk.
-Keep away from big cities, especially those that have very active police and motorcycle restrictions or military areas.
-Bring extra cash for emergencies and possible 'fines'.
-Know some basic Chinese, or be prepared for serious frustration.
-Bring GPS or very good maps for extensive tours.

For the cost of a tour company you could do three months in China 'the cheap way' inclusive of all costs and have over a thousand Euro in spare change! :eek3:

Riding through Xinjiang with out a license would be hit and miss.

You might be lucky and get through you might not.

Xinjiang is a strong army autonomous region.

The police are not as friendly as in other parts of China.Some police are cool some are not.

I am curious - do you not see any foreign trucks in China? For example, a foreign company importing goods by truck into China?

The reason I ask is that I hope to travel by truck with a bike in the back and thought a transit visa might exist.

Perhaps our Chinese resident friends can tell me.

I saw lots of trucks traveling from Xinjiang to Kazakhstan and beyond.

Getting a transit visa for your bike will be both expensive and time consuming.

I rode in China in May 2008 as part of a formal tour group of about 8 riders. We had to ride in convoy, with a guide vehicle in front and in back.

It was very restrictive, and well, horrible...it was probably the only riding I've ever done that was no fun whatsoever.

China probably has very many interesting places to visit, but I won't ever go back while these ridiculous travel restrictions are still in place.

IF YOU WANT TO TRAVEL IN A COUNTRY WITH VERY DIFFERENT CULTURE THAN YOUR OWN, IT WOULD BE WISE TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON THAT COUNTRY AND HAVE SOME BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT IS. THEN USE THE BEST METHOD POSSIBLE TO PROCEED. LEARN FROM OTHERS WHO HAS DONE IT AND NOT JUST PAY THE MONEY AND EXPECT EVERYTHING WILL FALL IN YOUR WAY. I HAVE TOURED CHINA FOR THE PASS 2 DECADES AND FOUND CHINA TO BE VERY INTERESTING AND BEAUTIFUL. DO YOUR HOME WORK CAREFULLY AND YOU WILL BE REWARDED.:scooter:

Travell China with a guide or truck it through
 

HI all, I have done a lot or research re China guides. Unsurprisingly the high profile web sites seem to be the most expensive. The current best price I have had to transit from Mongolia to Loas...a 26 day itinery is £1500 each for two bikes. I am waiting on a quote for road freighting the bike the same route. The freight option would take approx 1 week. The bike would be stored near the Laos border waiting for the owner, exit into Laos would be owner and Bike.

Will kjeep you posted.

Jimmy

I have some Chang Jiangs available in Yunnan and Tibet for rent, also can get you a 30 Day temporary driving License for china

Be VERY carefull about that offer. We took a similar offer of $1500 and that just got us into the country and to Urumqi. When we got there there was another demand for $3000 for the rest of the trip!! (14 days).
We legged it early one morning, but could not exit without the paperwork for the bikes and ended up paying another 1.5k anyway. We had a dammed fine un-guided trip though:D

We were only travelling through the one province. More provinces equals more permits and more costs.

John

I wanted to fly in China (Guangdzou) in summer, buy bike and go back to Europe (Tajikistan - Uzbekistan - Kazahstan), but my friend from China told me its so expencive to get all permits for that, and nobody guarant to me I can go out from China with motorcycle (on border can tako off plates). I must change plan and start to Tajikistan and Kirgistan with my tenera XT600, but I will not come to China this time. In feature I hope will be normal and better law in China, motorbikers are not killers.

Transit with a foreign bike doesn't work
 

[quote=bigdamo;273929]
We tried the transit visa thing for the bike but it is just as complicated as riding the bike. We were at Mohan border discussing (read arguing) with a travel agent, customs official, border guard and two other official looking types to get our bike transported as only transit, no riding. It turns out that according to Chinese Import/Export laws that customs classify the bike as prohibited goods and falls under (well for us at least) as used electronic or mechanic goods. The trouble is that customs has the last word, so as fare as we know they could've chosen any category that was prohibited and it would've had the same effect. In short the same permits and authroisations would be necessary for transiting the country with the bike on a truck or a train as it is to ride... The Chinese government and bureacracy has a way of making temporary import extremely expensive for overlanders.

Info?
 

I know it has been a long time since your post but I just joined this site.I have traveled extensively by bike in Cambodia,Thailand,Burma and Laos for last 3 years.Now I want to do China (Mongolia-Laos).Would buy a bike there and ride solo.
Did you or any one reading this do a Mongolia-Laos trip.Would appreciate any info or advice on this subject.
Thanks and keep the wind in your face.:mchappy:

Mongolia to Laos
 

Hi, Nope I am still trying and hope to transit china in 2012. I am still looking for someone to share costs. last year I had arranged to travel in company with an English family who would have a seat for the guide in their 4x4. Unfortunately they had to change dates and I was not able to make the re arranged dates. I have travelled a bit in Laos and Cambodia...had an xr in P.P for a year or so. If you are serious about China I would be interested in sharing in 2012 exiting into Laos by August.


Jimmy 46

Chinese motorbikes
 

I am a resident in Xi'an, and have an employment visa as well as a housing visa. I have owned and driven a chinese 125cc motorbike for several months it cost about 1800RMB. (with fake license plates and no insurence or registration documents)

Xi'an bans the the use of motorbikes, but I use my bike most everyday in the city centre and on shortish trips to the countryside. I have had no problems with the police.

A word on Chinese 125's is be careful, my bike has not failed me yet (I only had to push it a few times) though I don't trust it. On longer trips the vibrations from those little bikes kill your legs so that you can barely walk.

I have no license (Chinese or other) but am looking to get a motorbike license soon and purchase a larger motorbike trip for a journey into Tibet and possibly further.

can anyone give me anytips on how to get a motorbike licence, and any visas that I might need for Tibet.

Thanks