 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Clay Jones in Changchun
|
 |
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 |
 |
Clay collects
motorcycles and owns a CJ, a Dong Hai 750, a
GuangDa and an unknown make of postman's bike.
He works for a computer graphics school and lives across
from a PLA garrison. Nobody bothers his CJ when it's
parked by the garrison. As a matter of fact, Clay has
been surprised on occasion to find mothers with their
babies sitting in the sidecar. |
| |
|
 |
This
old soldier stands guard outside the Boy &
Girl Bar in Changchun. It's an M1 that has seen
better days but isn't beyond restoration by any means.
Those are cabbages drying on the pavementfuture
sauerkraut perhaps? |
 |
It's
not such in ignominous fate for this bike, really. One
day it could indeed end up restored, but for now its
function is to draw customers into the B&G. |
 |
Clay
is well known around Changchun and has assimilated nicely
into the local culture. He respects Chinese customs and
traditions and has earned himeself a nickname among the
local kidsMo Tuo Che Da GeMotorcycle
Big Brother. I'd consider that an honor. |
 |
The
enlarged view shows the entire bike. It's mostly
complete. |
 |
Same
here, another vertical format image. I'd clean out that
fuel tank! |
 |
In
this shot you'll see what keeps the bike from
disappearing as happens from time to time in any big
city. It's secured to the building with angle iron
brackets! You'll need a torch if you want to borrow this
bike. |
 |
Yep,
it's mostly there. You can see the tag on the 6V
generator. I'll bet that carb could use some cleaning. |
 |
One
last look at the old girl. |
| 10/16/03 |
|
 |
Clay
has been prowling around Changchun's Motorbike
Street by night, armed with nothing but his
digital camera and his wits. |
 |
This
CJ has some effective brake lights as the picture would
indicate. These are pretty useful in big city traffic. |
 |
One
last look at the big brake lights before we move on to... |
 |
...these
fantastic CJ750 windshield farings! Man would I love to
have one of these, not necessarily for the bike but for
the wall of my shop. WOW! |
 |
Meet
the Laoban, boss/shop owner/mechanic
from Motorbike Street. Here he is wrenching on a
customer's bike. |
 |
Full
teardown in progress. |
 |
This
proud mechanic is just beaming... kind of like I do when
I'm sitting on my CJ. |
 |
This
bike belongs to a Chinese customer. Some of the guys
really like the US military look. You'll see that it's
decorated with US Army and MP
lettering. |
 |
Here
it is again. |
 |
As
it does every 24 hours, night once again descends on Motorbike
Street. |
| 10/13/03 |
|
 |
Clay's
friend Lai Fang is a photographer who
not only owns this toy CJ, but a real Dong Hai 750 as
well. |
 |
And
we'll close out today's session with a look at Clay's
bike. The enlarged image shows much more. |
| 10/13/03 |
|
 |
Again,
night falls on Changchun and Clay is out there, camera in
hand. Here's a an M1M that looks as if it gets a lot of
use by its owner. |
 |
Say,
that's not a CJ fender! Recognize the forks and
handlebars? |
 |
This
could be a FengTong. The sidecar has an
enclosure for the passenger. |
| 10/10/03 |
|
 |
Some
of Clay's bikes including the CJ and the Dong Hai 750.
The enlarged image shows even more! These were shot
outside his home. Clay has a camera on the roof watching
so he can keep an eye on the bikes which are chained in a
line. The police on the street are really friendly and
often check the bikes. |
 |
And
what better way to complete the package than Jia
Yin? |
 |
This
bike belongs to an old guy who lived in a hutong that
they were riding around in. Clay met his son and asked
permission to take his picture but was told that the bike
was more beautiful than him. Even though he didn't want
to share a photo he did share some beer. |
 |
Inside
the house Clay was shown pictures taken when the old guy
was younga carpenterand he used this bike to
carry his tools which is why there's no seat. |
 |
Down
on good old Motorbike Street near the
train station was this CJ. You can see that they don't
always remove everything before paintingor even
mask!. |
| 10/7/03 |
|
 |
Clay
and Jia Yin were out riding around when
they came across this squad of Changs all dressed up for
National Day. |
 |
The
soldiers didn't seem too excited about the photos so Clay
kept his distance. |
 |
Clay
drove while Jia Yin took the shots. |
 |
She
was so excited that her hands shook, thus the blur
effect. |
 |
For
people like usespecially those who've never been to
Chinasights like these are amazing and priceless. |
 |
Here's
Jia Yin outside a meat stick shop. Yes,
it's meatand many other thingson a stick!
This is a cheap way to get a snack and is likely the
safest because it's cooked in hot oil and served right
after cooking. |
 |
These
gentlemen are grongren (workers), freelancers
who sit around the station to see what jobs they can dig
up to earn a little cash. When Clay came out of the
freight transit station they were sitting on his bike and
quickly tried to get off. Clay I caught their surprise
with his camera. |
| 10/7/03 |
|
 |
This
fellow honked his horn at Clay while following him. He
just wanted to meet the foreigner who had a Chang Jiang.
Is that cool or what?! That's a Chang Hong he's
riding. |
 |
Clay
thought this bike was pretty cool. It's a PLA machine
being rebuilt at one of the shops on Motorbike
Street. The owner allowed him to photograph it
but not the one inside his shop. Hmmm. |
 |
Another
shot of the PLA bike. |
 |
This
detail shot of the PLA bike shows a grease fitting for
the steering bearings. PLA bikes were of very good
quality despite the rough welds. |
 |
The
Train Station 750 shop where Clay buys
his parts! You can buy jugs for 250RMB a pair. There are
two ladies who own this shop but the end is near as
Motorbike Sreet will be torn down. Clay doesn't know
where all the shops will go. Bummer. |
| 9/23/03 |
|
 |
Meet
Jackson, Clay's faithful companion and
fellow CJ enthusiast. He has a passport looking
visa/license which cost 500 RMB. Jackson is just under
the height limit for dogs in this area. Clay hears it
costs 2000RMB in Beijing to keep a dog. Everything is
more expensive in Beijing, it seems. Changchun has fewer
restrictions too. |
 |
Chang
Jiangs galore on Motorbike Street. The latest news from
Clay is that he's in the process of acquiring a Dong Hai
750 to add to his collection. His Chinese girlfriend is
handling all the negotiations so the seller doesn't know
it's being sold to a foreigner, otherwise the price
skyrockets. |
 |
You
could have this bike for a song. |
 |
A
CJ front fender for $5! |
 |
These
cylinders will set you back 250RMB... or $30! |
 |
I'm
pitching a tent. |
 |
Another
beat CJ. I'd buy them all... |
 |
How
about a complete frame for nearly nothing? |
 |
Somewhereunderneath
all that modern looking stuffis an M1S OHV. |
| 9/17/03 |
|
 |
This
very lovely lady is Jia Yin, Clay's
girlfriend in Changchun. In the enlarged image
you'll see a cooling tower in the background, one of the
many reasons they call Changchun and the cities in the
northeast da rust strip. |
 |
Changs
on Motorbike Street. These motorcycles start at 300RMB
and go to about 1000RMB. (I'd buy all of them.) |
 |
A
regular Saturday event on Motorbike Streetpushing a
Chang! |
 |
This
Chang was being offered for 5000RMB... and it probably
would have been cheaper if the buyer wasn't a Westerner.
The price to foreigners in China is sometimes higher. |
 |
The
enlarged image shows the entire bill of sale for Clay's
CJ. As you'll see it was 12000RMB. He recently received
word that there are two Changs in Changchun being held by
the Expatriates
Motorbike Team. They're 14000RMB. Buyers be careful.... |
 |
King
is a Chinese guy who very thoughtfully extended an offer
to install a TV on Clay's Chang. Never in a million
years! |
| 9/10/03 |
|
 |
Here's
a shot of Clay's M1S. Good looking Chang! |
| 8/31/03 |
|
 |
|