Clay Jones in Dalian (& Beijing)
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While Clay was in Beijing for the huge sidecar rally he spent some time at LRM hanging around with Gerald.
That gave him an opportunity to take some pictures of LRM's top secret facilities.
Here we see a bunch of SV engine casings and a stack of vintage PLA fenders. In case you're wondering, these components all belong to Beta.
There's an early M72-style sidecar frame in this view.
Again from a slightly different angle.
That gas tank in the foreground has the unique offset filler.
June 23, 2004  
What's the big deal? It's just Wang Xin, one of Gerald's buds in Beijing.
Wait a minute. He's about to do something...
...yes, indeed. There's nothing quite like than flyin' the chair.
He looks like he could ride like that all day.
Here he comes....
...zooooom...
...and there he goes. The flag gives it all the more class.
June 17, 2004  
As many of you know, Clay went to Beijing to attend the big sidecar rally and spend some time with Gerald at LRM. Recognize the bike? It's Alpha, and Clay got to ride it. As a result of the experience Clay has developed a great deal of respect for 6V SV machines.
Clay, Alpha and Gerald's crew fuel up.
Meet Gerald's crew. And feast your eyes on those fine bikes they're riding.
Another view.
And another.
Heavy traffic. Lights and helmets aren't mandatory in Beijing.
Wouldn't you like to be there? I sure would...
A road hazard. Better him than you.
While in Beijing, Clay got to meet some local CJ enthusiasts including Ma Lei who we know from elsewhere on this site. That's Gerald talking with him.
Great tats. He'd fit in nicely with the guys here in New York.
I'd like to get my hands on a set of those police lights.
Some of these fellows are crazy about license plates... like me, for instance. I've been swapping lots of old American tags for Chinese tags and sometimes wonder if the tags that appear in some of these pictures may have originated from my shop!
What's funny? I was stopped by the local PD for displaying a small Beijing tax tag one time. Meantime, this bike has nearly half a dozen different tags on it!
June 17, 2004  
Clay's images provide insight into China that we don't see elsewhere. Here's a shot taken at Liberty Town—right down the road from Wealth Town. Everyone has a different interpretation on the meaning of these symbols—including the Chinese.
This open-air upholstery shop is reminiscent of the way things were done here in the US at the start of the transportation revolution. These guys re-use as much of the original seat as possible due to the lack of parts.
The fellow in the army pants owns the bike.
Here's a guy detailing someone's CJ. I like that T-shirt!
Take a look at this road near Dalian! Wow! That's Jia Yin in the sidecar. CJs are the only way to go on roads like this.
Another view of a local road.
And another.
Clay says that in Dalian, newlyweds are often photographed in CJs. That's cool!
June 11, 2004  
This old school CJ belongs to a Chinese navy guy who didn't want to be photographed.
So here's his bike instead, about as original as they can get.
May 11, 2004  
This man sells produce for a living and uses his CJ to pick up and deliver. The sidecar has been gutted in order to carry his products.
But according to Clay, bikes are being banned in Dalian which will impose hardships on people who depend on them for earning their living.
So, will the authorities ban these bikes as well?
Or this one?
Something suggests otherwise.
April 30, 2004  
Take a look at the swoosh emblem on this Shihu police bike in Dalian.
Cool emblem...
Lurking underneath all this is a CJ OHV engine. I like the spare tire cover and the license plate.
They sure know to ruin a perfectly good bike!
April 29, 2004  
Introducing Scorpio who Clay met recently in Dalian.
He rides an M1 in Afrika Korps tan.
Cool bike!
Time nerver dies. Oops.
The stern.
Looks like a Type I Lanxiang engine.
Another stern shot.
Too many chefs. They're working on Clay's bike... and no, that's not Clay sitting on it.
Off they go...
Clay shot this sidecar running light with a blue lens and a visor.
This home-built fender has potential.
Jiangxi speedo.
It's not a bike but it's still pretty cool! It's a speedboat with PLA markings!
How would you like to own this thing?
April 24, 2004  
Wow! See how many CJ parts you can identify in this junk pile. I see at least eight flatheads and several gearboxes. What a waste!
This SV engine has an electronic ignition...
...which you can see a little better in this image.
April 21, 2004  
During a recent cruise Clay makes a stop by this windmill (visible in the enlarged image) to check the oil plug.
Jia Yin at the helm and Qi Qi in the bucket.
Here's Clay doing a little roadside task that many of us are familiar with—bolt tightening.
Introducing "the restaurant guy" who bought his M1M for 300RMB and spent 7000 more to get it roadworthy. (Sorry, we didn't get his name.)
He's a police traffic investogator who is opening a coffee shop and game parlor.
As you may have noticed, he's fond of miltary stuff.
He has an entire room dedicated to miltaria.
Outside the restaurant. That's Clay's bike in the street.
It's Gong Shan Ju, aka, the tax collector.
He rides around on this M1M disguised as a modern bike looking for street vendors who don't have permits.
April 18, 2004  
Clay just got a new garage! It's in a former PLA installation on the side of a mountain. This little dirt trail leads to it.
And here comes Clay on his CJ!
Jia Yin outside the entrance...
...and next to the oil pit.
This is a short video clip from a Chinese WWII soap opera where the hero rides a flathead CJ!
April 9, 2004  
A CJU first! Clay sent this short film clip of a so-called plastic Chang being ridden by a local in Dalian.
April 6, 2004  
Say what you might, but it's still a CJ750!
Dalian Petrol Technology Company. Is that a CJ gas tank I see in there?
It's a CJ all right, in this case a sidevalve, probably an M1M since it has a reverse lever.
Interesting dashboard.
The speedometer appears to be a Huangshan.
It reminds me of the COE Jeeps of the late fifties and early sixties. Hard to believe it's really just a motorcycle! The badge says petrol.
A close-up of the badge.
Would you recognize this as a bike? How would you like to own one?!
Imagine how fast this thing goes with a full load. It must get pretty damn hot inside that cab, especially in the summer. But in winter it's probably fine, fumes and all.
The license plate number is also painted across the back end of the vehicle.
March 21, 2004  
Clay finally got his M1S down to Dalian last week. Here it's being made ready for the journey from Changchun.
Loading her up in the big blue truck.
The reward? Beautiful, crisp and clear riding weather! That's Clay with Jia Yin and her friend Qi Qi.
While they were out riding they stopped to check out this rock band called the Firebirds. The band posed with Clay's bike in exchange for some free beers!
Here's the lead singer.
Here she is again...
...and once more in a slightly different pose.
Jia Yin and Qi Qi.
One last shot.
March 20, 2004  
Clay went back to the shop in Dalian for a closer look at that old M1 in the back room. The asking price of 5000 RMB is pretty high for China so the bike is still available.
There's the frame tag... underneath that green paint. But it's there!
Your basic 6V regulator.
Sidecar step as described on LRM's page for identifying vintage Changs.
Gearbox. See the 6V battery tray?
This is a perfect example of how taillight wiring was routed on older Changs. Those fasteners are hard to find nowadays.
And here's that mysterious speedometer again. Does anyone recognize that trademark?
February 18, 2004  
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