Yes, big bikes are allowed now, but it's not that simple.

Basically in China in some areas you can technically and other areas in reality register big bikes such as BMWs and Harleys. This is only for machines that have been legally imported by these companies for sale, and there is a huge amount of import tax and other registration duties on these bikes, which makes, for example a BMW 100% more expensive 'on the road' than it would be in the EU. Also if you are going to live in Shanghai the bike would need local plates, and probably local plates will be unobtainable in Shanghai, as most residents are limited to 125cc, and you'd need legal import paperwork to register the bike. Shanghai also has one bike or car per household, or other such local bylaws. However the further you will be living from central Shanghai the easier it will be to register.

Also, I doubt it is currently possible to bring in, for any length of time, a motorcycle legally, except short term with some tour group operator. The other alternative would be to stick the bike on the back of a truck and hope for the best, but riding an illegally imported bike in Shanghai is a bad idea these days, but possible to do without too much hassle in rural provincial areas, but you take your own gamble with that.

Laws in China do change, and the government do not publisize rule changes so certainly try to get a 2nd opinion.

If I was in your shoes I would try to buy a 2nd hand registered BMW or buy a new Jialing 600 with Zhejiang plates in China.

Also these days there are loads of 250cc single cylinder and parallel twins which are lightweight, fun, easy to register and cheap to buy.

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National Motorcycle Club in China: http://www.the-fmcc.co.cc

dnicoletti, my idea is not to travel to China by bike but fly there and take the bike with me. As I will be moving most of my household goods, the idea is to use the same transport to take the bike over. Once in China I will use it to ride around and maybe take some short trips from home, hopefully with some guys in the same situation.

In any case, dates have not been decided yet.

ZMC888, thanks for your input. I will keep on seeking additional information, I may move before taking a decision and, from Shanghai, evaluate other possibilities. As I will probably start to work there early next year, but will not go into moving until august or so, so I will have a few months to try to find out what will be the best move.

Buying a bike locally is always an option. Actually I was also thinking along those lines. Is this as easy as it looks? If I go along those lines, I will not go for an expensive bike, instead I will look into something chinese that will work.

By the way, is off road riding allowed? Not that it matters since, from what I remember, most roads can really be considered off road by our standards

pepelu,

The Galaxy 250 is a Chinese made bike which is quickly gaining popularity. Cheap and fun, available in motard and dirt format or you can even buy two sets of wheels for different uses. Costs 11,000 to 13,000 RMB and road legal. Fun and all you need in China, due to it having a good power to weight ratio for going through potholes and avoid mad cyclists and village stray chickens.

Check this thread:
ChinaV's new Galaxy 250! - MyChinaMoto - Chinese Motorcycle Forum

There are better bikes available or with bigger displacement but they are all much more expensive or not road legal.

If you decide you need to live in or near central Shanghai you'll probably need to buy and register the bike in Zhejiang in the name of a trustworthy Chinese (girl) friend.

__________________
National Motorcycle Club in China: http://www.the-fmcc.co.cc

It sure looks nice, and for that price, it is worth it. Thanks, again, for all this info.

G'Day,

Who wants to ride a crappy small displacement China bike with no power?
Spent some $$$$ on a real bike!

哈雷戴维森 上海网站
bmw-motorcycle.com.cn
Öйú±¦ÂíĦÍгµ¾ãÀÖ²¿¹Ù·½Í øÕ¾||BMW Motorrad Club China official website
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Ride Safe! Season's Greetings! BUTCHMAN

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Somewhere down the road in China since '89 ~ along the route I've learned the hard way that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everybody off is a piece of cake....TBR

I already have a real bike, but seems too difficult to take it to china, althoug I will try. When, and if, I settle down in China, I will evaluate the options.

This real bike (R1150RS) will be complemented soon with a R80G/S or R100GS (also real, but older), and is this that I want to take to China.

I also want to buy some off road, relatively cheap, chinese bike to take back to Spain.ç

I hardly think that buying a new BMW, or Ducatti, in China is really an option, but I may be wrong.

By the way, butchman, I've sent you a PM, I hope you don't mind.