Forget about bringing a bike to China the legal way If you are lucky you can bring a new bike if you get it CCC'd and it complies with the emission standards. You still have to pay all duties, a homologation fee and go miles of red tape. You end up paying the same as if you'd bought it from a dealer here.

Exceptions:
- diplomats (the emission standard thing still applies)
- if you have really, really, really good connections - I am not aware of anyone who has those for this very purpose

And yes, I know you are not a tourist, you come to work and / or live there. Sorted out your working / residence permit? Also note that the driving license is not valid forever and it may be difficult, highly troublesome or impossible to get it extended if you try to in a place different from the original place of issuing. Once expired for >12 months you have to go through the procedure from scratch.


A good read on rules: Beijing Traffic Management Bureau
Also worth a read: MyChinaMoto - Chinese Motorcycle Forum - Powered by vBulletin

If you buy a bike in China and if you want to be legal (not everybody desires that ), your choice may be among the following:

- 6 to 12k RMB will buy you a 250cc local made bike. The experts for these are on mychinamoto (see link above). A German guy rode a 125cc bike from Shanghai to Berlin, two up!!

- I have not much info on the 400~450cc machines, but some guys on mychinamoto have for sure.

- Less than 40k should make you the owner of a Jialing JH600. Franki (here, on mychinamoto and advrider) is the most experienced JH600 rider I am aware of. I know a bunch of other locals and foreigners on JH600s and I tried it myself - not too exciting but good value for money is the common opinion. There is a good writeup on mychinamoto about this bike.

- there are some legal second hand bikes around for 40 to 200k, mostly Beemers. Currently for sale: F650CS ~75k

- the big bikes are >200k. BMW, HD are in the market for a couple of years already, so is Yamaha (they have only the R1 type approved from what I hear). There is a Honda dealer in Beijing I heard but I am not sure if and what they sell there. Ducati are starting, no idea what they will have on the shelf. I don't think other manufacturers are coming to the Chinese market any time soon.

- no idea on prices of custom bikes ±±¾©ººÂí¹þÀ×||Chrome Horse Motorcycles Beijing China

- there is still a huge 3-wheeler community all over the country if you want to go for one of these - mine is for sale btw


When are you coming and where are you moving to?

All the above to the best of my knowledge and based on very recent first hand info

Moreover the "different village different rules" as well as the "it worked yesterday, it doesn't work today, but it may work again tomorrow" principles apply

Cheers