China/Stans/Russia on Chinese bike. Sanity Check!
 

Hello,

I'm starting to plan a trip home (currently in Philippines, going to Hungary). Had the idea of:

1. ..buying a (new?) bike in SW China for less than $1000 USD (without a Chinese driving licence, that sounds complicated to get..)

2. ..possibly driving through Tibet without a permit by avoiding checkpoints..

3. Crossing into Kyrgyzstan, then Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, then home via Russia and the Ukraine.

Before I research this in detail, is this plan doomed to fail for any obvious reasons? This route avoids the need for carnets, as far as I understand. Could skip Tibet if that's just asking for trouble. Not that adverse to a Chinese prison for a couple of days but would rather not loose the bike :-). Budget won't stretch to guides, expensive tours etc. Many thanks for help, and appreciate any suggestions!

David

Would also appreciate any suggestions for Chinese bikes. Looking for a tough 200cc+ trail/dual sport/semi-offroad bike with reasonable build quality and some hope of finding parts for outside of China. A full size bike (me and my Hungarian girlfriend), for less than $1000 USD. Can it be done? :-)

For reference, a thread I started on 'My China Moto', mostly relating to choice of bike:

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

The Yamaha YBR125G is suggested ($2000 USD), or it's clone (about $850 USD).

Yes, you won't get away with this in Tibet or any other part of China, you have to show a permit just to buy petrol or book a hotel room in some places.


I also doubt that you will be able to actually buy a bike without the correct permits, a licence and a guide.


If you want to do something like this I would suggest starting in Mongolia where I think you can buy and ride on from there.
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Tibet aside, the problem seems to be that I wouldn't have a Chinese driving license:

Recomendation for Dual-sport Bike for Trip from China to Europe - Page 4

I'm still undecided if it's worth the risk driving across China without it, and risk prison/fines/losing the bike (or prison + fines + losing the bike ? :-)

Any advice highly appreciated!