Good Old Clay "CJ" Jones in Beijing
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"Here is a real CJ mystery, at least to me. While leaving my house the other day I spied a lone CJ which looked pretty newly built. Attached to the bike were two boxes, finned, and with a tube leading to the carb throat. In the pics you can see the gas line and the rubber tube leading to the throat attached to the jug. Not sure what this is, but in an effort to spark a dialogue and perhaps an answer as to this add-on, I have presented this query to your pages."  
 
February 4, 2010
Snow-covered Changs on the streets of Beijing.
November 17, 2009
"Hey! What's wrong with these guys? Why aren't they sending photos? Anyway, I felt it was time for more. Here is a springtime ride. It's getting warmer but the nights are still very cool., still leather weather..."
March 28, 2009  
"Remember Peng Yie? He owns a guitar shop in which many "po' boys" BBQs took place. Well, he just did the impossible by getting a Jing A plated CJ. This is a milestone for him as he had to overcome many problems with "the man" to finally get back in the saddle. Glad to have him back up and running." (Scroll down the page for another shot of Peng.)
March 5, 2009  
"These bike are currently offered for sale with the Harley inspired (Chang-Davidson) at 16,500 RMB..."
"...and the seemingly more modern swing arm Chang at 4500 RMB..."
August 21, 2008  
"Much has been made about the citizen patrols that Beijing has pressed into service. Here is a rare glimpse into the the inner working of the "granny patrol" as I like to call them. Armed with regulation Olympics shirt, visor, and uniform green stools, they wait at every corner with the PD on speed dial, vigilant for any foreigner or non-Han looking native to do something suspicious. This particular setting drew my interest as it could be that one of the oldsters is also a Changster."  
 
August 14, 2008  
"Well the rusted CJ project has been ridden hard and put up wet to often so I need to change a few things out. Brakes for one were begging for new shoes, much like my girlfriend so I gave in and went to an old friend Mr. Cai to use his new facilities. Tucked behind the Chinese "neck of the woods" but very near to Mr. Maos favorite the YangAn Restaurant, transformed from his hometown to Beijing and home of his famous points of light speech (does every leader have a points of light speach) (xing xing zhi huo ke yi liao yuan). Also gave the old gal some 30 weight straight and 85 weight gear oil for the tranny and rear drive. Mr. Cai told me he is having a problem with old customers finding his place so I will be making a map soon to give away the location and if you need any repairs be sure to stop by and see Mr. Cai and have lunch at Mr. Maos favorite place. When I left I saw the drum corps getting ready for the evenings performance and it looked like it was gonna be a lively meal. By the way, if you want to get in touch with Mr. Cai his number is 64330741 or 13311296497."  
 
May 6, 2008  
"Thought you may get a kick out of this drawing sent to me by a friend."
November 1, 2007  
Danny Woody has gotten more press, famous in China for his exorbitant bike building skills, is now using Donghai tubs (as well as naked Chinese girls) to complete his show bikes.
October 7, 2007  
A poster sent to me by a friend which shows some military types on a CJ750.
October 7, 2007  
National Day at T-Square, filled with multitudes of folks celebrating their beginnings (PRC), and a "plastic Chang" parked by a Gong An (or did Rich get his together in time for the celebrations?)
October 7, 2007  
Clay spotted a poster advertising this old-school chopper for sale.
Yep, it's a flathead CJ with sissy bar, apehangers and numerous other interesting features. (No extended forks, though.)
October 4, 2006  
A Shanghai taxi. Now that's class.
9/24/2006  

"Mr . Cai is a good guy and his shop is the only local Chinese shop that I deal with. He has a couple of new bikes for sale. If anyone wants to make contact with him they can contact me at hclayjones@yahoo.com

As far as bike repairs go, his shop is the most reasonable. Here they are replacing the dreaded "stator" for Devon, done in a few moments and the price wasn't bad."
9/18/2006  
"The store [in Beijing] that Freddie went to is already a memory. All the stock has been moved to a new location. Here are some pictures of moving day."
"Check out those shelves of Chang parts! I found a couple of new leaf springs and some copper head gaskets. There were also some oversized gas tanks which of course came home with us—good luck as the move uncovered some parts that I really needed."
September 2, 2006  
Bike shop watchdog. He's all business.
August 29, 2006  
"I ran into these guys talking in the shade of a tree where one had a 6V CJ. Looking it over I thought of the debate on Chinese workmanship. They didn't take off the tag when spraying the green on this iron."      
 
August 14, 2006  
Went to Da Shanzi, 798 Factory, some old factories turned into an art community, and I ran into Emmanuel Chantebout, an riend who's customizing his bike. These pictures show the progress. Yes, a little dirty but important enough to show the changes—Ming carbs and a completely different suspension system and an Earles type front end or the leading links (not sure what folks call it.) I got a chance to ride it and the ride is more like the newer style Changs or comparible. The running boards will be replaced with super long ones and he is also looking for an old school rear view mirror."    
   
   
August 13, 2006  
"Last night I went to Chef Jeff's birthday party and met an old acquaintance named Mr. Liang who has been featured on CJU with a water-cooled Chang. Well, there he was with another one—this one stretched, and with buck horn bars and a bigger engine, around 30cm bigger (I think, but don't quote me) and that is why the frame is longer."
"Last time we met he offered me a ride and of course I could not resist. Readers of CJE know me as the trumpet of the 6V and I ain't changing my mind, but the ride was smooth and fast with good bark for the bite and man, with the long frame it felt different and I mean that in a good way."
"Mr. Liang is a cool guy with a cool (water-cooled, that is) bike. In attendance were me, Devin, Big Bill, Tim L. and, of course, the guest of the evening—Chef Jeff."
August 7, 2006  
Jia Yin at what looks like a CJ repair shop. (Why don't those guys ever use benches?)
Some of the adorable little monsters Clay deals with every day. He says these kids spend a fair amount of their time in the office.
August 4, 2006  
An embassy bike (according to the license plate) that Clay photographed in Beijing. It's an OHV Super with a military theme and a full set of those intriguing "John Deere tractor wheels" which probably stay true a lot better than laced rims do. This bike has quite a few interesting details—a pair of jerry cans, a black-out light on the sidecar, chrome coffee can taillight with blinkers, leather seats with fancy upholstery, etc.  
 
August 3, 2006  
This old girl appears to be on the verge of a restoration... we hope. Somebody has gone to the trouble of tearing it down and if we're lucky, we'll get to see it again after it's been put back together.
August 1, 2006  
Clay was out doing a little shopping...
...and parked his CJ with these other ones that just happened to be at his destination.
August 1, 2006 Below: This OHV has a front brakelight switch.

 
July 26, 2006 Below: Bikes parked outside FHL.
July 26, 2006  
This green bike was being rebuilt by a Beijing shop (not a CJU sponsor.) [I really like painted final drives, brake hubs, etc., but this color is just a bit scary!)
July 26, 2006  
"You bet they give tickets in China! Many have often laughed when I have told them about getting a no helmet ticket in Chanchun but I never saw this before—giving a 200RMB fine for parking on the street. Now in a country where anyone seems to make their own trail much less stay on the road, it is surprising to note that you can get a ticket for parking on the street."
"And he takes photo just to make sure the driver doesn't claim that there was a ticket attached to the windshield in the first place."
July 26, 2006  
"This is outside the parts shop that Freddie visited when he was here. On this day some mental patients were out for a stroll and they spied Jamie, a friend from the US, and boy did they identify."
July 26, 2006  
"These pictures onshow two new Beijing A-plate riders, Joachim, who acquired his Chang with an A plate from a of the non-CJU sponsor dealer located along the road near the Lido. The A-plate is necessary to ride inside the 4th. Ring Road."
"Because no more motorcycle plates are issued in Beijing, one bike must be crushed in order to transfer the plate to another vehicle. That's why it's always wise to ask about crush dates when buying a Chang. The second featured rider is a teaching comrade of mine, (pictured before our work unit.)
"Devon, who hails from the US of A, acquired his bike (at a very good price) with the valued A-plates. He is already thinking about the front end wobble and replacing the steering head bearings with tapers—a good choice because tapered roller bearings will fit right in without any modifications to the bike."
"He'll be able to let go of the handlebars without the bike doing the mamba. I came across an old school wheel balancer and loved the look so I'm trying to buy it, but the old man who uses it is reluctant. He needs his tool to work. The last two pictures show a CJ with a little twist—the coil is mounted sideways."
May 7, 2006  
"As the end of the May Holiday approaches, Peng Yie had a BBQ at this guitar shop near the Drum Tower close to the Forbidden City. It was a Chang affair with Chinese riders, me and Devin manning the grill which consisted of wire screen stretched over a metal box. I pondered what that box contained before being drafted as a grill box, but not for long as unrecognizable cuts of meat were foisted on the makeshift cookery.

In attendance was a Chinese fella with a water cooled. I was overjoyed when he handed me the keys to test drive the beast. The resulting putt was one of surprise at the speed and the performance of the carbs, the ease of the clutch and the shifting feeling as smooth as, well, not butter but smoother than most Changs. Well done, but the extra radiator hanging in the wind has me longing to get back on the CJ Project which was the darlin' of the evening according to the Chinese guest (thanks to the Harley taillight which took a year

guest (thanks to the Harley taillight which took a year to hook up due to extreme laziness and the notion that I would rather be riding than working.)

The guy with the water-cooled is the one in the red jacket in the "smokin with the boyz" shot. Across the street was a car wash but no coin operation here. A guy who hands you a hose and takes 5RMB. A few of the Changsters decided to have a wash... their bikes that is. The big guy cooking has an old school Type I frame from the sixties that he is restoring with earnings from his tattoo shop. Nice work and anyone looking for a tat should consider this skin artist.

After ten the shops in the neighborhood started closing. The street emptied of cars and foot traffic making the ride home fun as the usuall pedestrian suspects where not crowding the road home."
May 7, 2006  
"Yesterday we went to the Midi-music fest with a friend of Devon's, another Chang rider to whom you haven't been introduced. The Chinese rider is named Peng Yie with an English handle of Xander."
"Of course Lao Tou (Marcus) has joined us for his yearly visit with Gerald at LRM. Introducing Jamie, Marcus's friend who came along for a extended visit to Beijing.The Midi Festival has grown steadily for the last three and a half years growing from a gym to now occupying an entire park"
May 5 2006  
Clay spotted this old gal somewhere in Beijing. He calls her the old grey mare.
May 3, 2006  
Saying goodbye to the CJ900 as it leaves Clay's care with its new owner. That's a novel way of towing!
May 3, 2006  
Clay was interviewed by Dutch TV at the FHL open house. Below: Jia Yin, Qi Qi and Clay.
April 9, 2006  
Old-school CJ750s in front of FHL in Beijing, China's first and only official Harley-Davidson dealer.
April 6, 2006  
Why are these little monsters smiling? Is it the ice cream... or is it the CJ?!
March 25, 2006  
More CJs in Beijing. These were taken at a shop near Lido. The lady is, of course, Jia Yin.
March 20, 2006  
"Walking by James's Harley Shop the other day I spied a Chang."
"Upon closer inspection, I saw that it had one of those BMW front end conversions."
"I thought it was interesting that the front end seems to hit the tank on the left side. I guess the fit is not quite right!"
March 11, 2006  
A Beijing tool market with some great bikes in the parking lot.
March 6, 2006  
Just act normal.
March 5, 2006  
Action shots of CJs in Beijing!
February 20, 2006  
Here's a shot of Clay's bike parked outside his place of work, slightly dirty but looking pretty fine just the same.
One of Clay's pals sent him this picture. The riders are unidentified. It appears that both bikes have black rims and spokes, something we've been seeing more of lately.
February 11, 2006  
From Clay's visit to Hainan: "Try as I might, this is the only bike I came across in Hainan, and owned by a Chinese. It had any part on it you could imagine."
"They thought at this shop that a foreigner could not own a "military" bike and only 150cc bikes were available."
"Funny, in my conversation with the owner he had no idea where he could get parts and no small shops had them, oh, except one shop they told me had Chang 6V parts only to find the parts they spoke about was a 6V horn new in the box and likely produced last week..."
January 6, 2006  
Here's a colorful OHV Clay photographed in front of James' motorcycle shop in Beijing. Like plenty of other CJs running around Beijing, this one is wired for sound. Check out that front fender and inverted forks.
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