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Keeping Cool in Beijing: A Guide to Buying a Sidecar Motorbike This Summer2004/06/15
text by Daragh Moller photos by The Peoples Photography Studio During the glorious days of China's summer, one of the most enjoyable ways to get around Beijing is on a sidecar motorbike. A common sight on the city's ring roads, the sidecar, particularly the Chang2* Jiang1 750, is popular transport for young trendy Chinese and expat motorbike enthusiasts of all ages. Recalling the on-screen action of WWII in late 1960s and 1970s films such as Where Eagles Dare (1968) and The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) the sidecar motorbike has rough and ready appeal and a definite status on the city's roads and avenues. This month Learning Curve gives some tips on the real meaning of cool. Not to be confused with a popular brandy cocktail of the same name (hic!), the first important fact about the sidecar motorbike is that its easy to buy in Beijing but is only available to permanent city residents (sorry guys: over six months and that's the law). Known as Kua4 zi3 in spoken Pinyin, it can only be found secondhand - it was last made in 1997 and retails, after reconditioning, for around 10,000 yuan. The Kua4 zi3 was first manufactured in China around 1951 by the Nan Chang Airplane Manufacturing Factory and is called Zhong1 guo2 kua4 zi3 in Pinyin with Chang2 Jiang1 750 being its brand name. Usually purchased in black enamel with polished chrome fittings, variations include camouflage (netting and aerials are popular with young Chinese) and an assortment of primary colours. Wang2 Xin1 of the Heaven and Earth Motorcycle Repair Shop, team leader of a popular Beijing Chang2 Jiang1 motorbike group, gave Learning Curve the lowdown. Bike to Basics It goes without saying: when starting out getting information on motorbikes or simply looking at them, bringing a Chinese friend along is essential. Second, Wang2 Xin1 recommends you pay particular attention to three things about the motorbike: the motor, the price and the overall look of the motorbike and sidecar. Once youve identified a vehicle that fits (with your idea of cool), you can begin to negotiate with the dealer. It s important to have your price limit fixed and Wang2 Xin1 suggests 10,000 yuan will get you the reconditioned bike you want the way you want it. There is some very important paperwork - wen2 jian4, you must expect from a dealer when you have settled on a price and agreed to the sale. This must include:
You will also need to show the shop/dealer two things before (or after) your purchase:
A license and plate for the Chang2 Jiang1 750 will cost you around 400 yuan500 yuan while insurance is 85 yuan per year. Foreign plates are black and Chinese plates are gold. Remember to be explicit about asking when the motorbike will
be ready. Once you ve purchased it, the reconditioning should
take no longer than two weeks. Now that its yours, it s going to be important to keep it on the road and functioning at its best. Wang2 Xin1 gives his Top 5 Tips for getting the best performance from your Chang2 Jiang1 750 and keeping cool the whole summer long:
While these five tips may seem obvious, he said many problems are solved by following them (...you in the back, pay attention!). In the course of checking things out, Learning Curve got some vehicular wisdom from Chang2 Jiang1 750 enthusiasts American photographer Walter Gregg and Beijing-based headhunter Hai3 Zhao4Yun2 who have travelled all over China on their comfy three-wheel Chang2 Jiang1 750. Walters recommendations are: let this rough and ready, off-road vehicle cool down for at least 15 minutes for every hour of travelling time. That means pulling over and switching off he says. He also advises that it s really not wise to head out of the city alone no matter how careful you are as something usually brings you to a halt. And if you want greater control over the bike (top speed 80 km per hour) putting breaks on the sidecar wheel will guarantee it. Walter said, The best thing about the bike is the freedom and fun it gives us. Wang2 Xin1, Walter Gregg and Hai3 Yun2 will be participating in an attempt to break a world record for the largest number of sidecar motorbikes on the road at one time in Beijing June 13. The world record attempt will have a police escort along a 3.2 kilometre route on Gonti Bei Lu, Sanlitun, and the 3rd Ring Road. For problems encountered in the buying process or later, Wang2 Xin1 and Walter recommend making immediate contact with any of the following: Beijing Industry and Commerce Bureau - Beijing Shi4 Gong1 Shang1 Ju2 Tel: 63150000 or Hotline: 12315 Beijing Consumers Association- Beijing Shi4 Xiao1 Fei4 Zhe3 Xie2 Hui4 Tel: 63011234 Beijing Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision- Beijing Shi4 Zhi4 Liang4 Ji4 Shu4 Jian1 Du1 Ju2. Hotline: 12365 For further information Learning Curve recommends contacting: Heaven and Earth Motorcycle Repair Shop-Tian1 Di4 Mo2 Tuo2 Che1 Xiu1 Li3 Dian4 in An1 Ding4 Men2. Contact: Zhang1 Ji4 Zhen1 Mobile: 13651201816. Tel: 84030875 Contact: Wang2 Xin1 Tel: 64918890 On the web: http://www.chang-jiang.com/bmw/welcome.html *Italics refers to spoken pinyin and the number symbol refers to the tone to be used. |
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