Ive been driving a bike in China for over 2 years now. I've driven from Inner Mongolia to Tibet and back and from Fuzhou to Nanjing. I dont have a licence and my bike isnt registered in my name. The biggest problem I have ever had was when I entered a "restricted zone", (which was just a section of highway) and the police hassled me, and then asked for "mei yuan" (American money) at which point I basically told them to f off and left.

But the bike(s) I drove around then at least had proper plates on them. The bike I have now doesnt even have that. So I just dont stop for police. My bike is a CB400, the police could never catch me, (but, really arent that concerned about bikes anyway).

If you are ever stopped by the police, outside of perhaps Shanghai or Beijing, just smile and say "ting bu dong". It will work 99.9% of the time.

Actually, here in Inner Mongolia I was stopped by one cop who thought he was going to teach me a lesson, I was new to the whole driving in China thing and went along with him, he radiod his boss and asked what to do, his boss radiod back, "I have no idea" and he let me go.

That happened in Tibet as well.. a police checkpoint and after about 20 minutes of radio chatter, they had no idea what to do with a foriegner on a motorcycle so they let me go.

Most Chinese really respect the whole "adventure" travel thing. So me driving out in the boonies on my bike is usually met with smiles.

Most important though, if you are stopped by the police, take your key out and put it straight in your pocket (or they will take it), and then say "wo bu qi moto" (I wont drive the bike) and just walk your bike away. (and then get the hell out of there)

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\"Some children died the other day
We fed machines and then we prayed
Puked up and down in morbid faith
You should have seen the ratings that day\" Marilyn Manson The Nobodies