Timely, perhaps…with the reactions we received on our recent Nine Reasons You Should Ride A Chinese Motorcycle blog, I received a nice email from Sergeant Zuo, the man who led our ride across China a few short years ago.
大舅：
最近可好？我买了宗申RX3S，是老版的，排气量380cc，RX3已经8年9.6万公里了。我们国家的机动车有强制报废的规定，所以我还是再换一台摩托车吧，谁让我喜欢呢。RX3我就再怎么喜欢还得卖掉，因为我们小区车棚里我只能申请一个车位，所以还是给RX3找个喜欢她的人吧。
我们这里的疫情是好是坏，你们那里的疫情好点了吗？一定保护好自己。
有一个知道我和你是好朋友的朋友说过：“真正的中美友谊在民间。”我非常喜欢这句话，送给你。
随信寄去几张我的RX3S的照片。（我发给你的信和照片你怎么使用都行）。非常想念你，我的朋友！代我向你的爱人，家人问好，特别是你的几个孙子。
——— 左振义 2021.10.16 中国•兰州
What, you don’t read Chinese? Okay, here you go:
Uncle:
How are you doing recently? I bought the Zongshen RX3S, which is an old version with a displacement of 380cc. The RX3 has been 96,000 kilometers in 8 years. Our country’s motor vehicles have mandatory scrapping regulations, so I’d better replace them with a motorcycle. Who makes me like it. No matter how much I like RX3, I have to sell it, because I can only apply for one parking space in our carport, so let’s find someone who likes RX3.
Is the epidemic situation here for good or bad? Is the epidemic situation there any better? Be sure to protect yourself.
A friend who knows that you and I are good friends once said: “The real Sino-US friendship is among the people.” I like this sentence very much and I give it to you.
Enclosed are some photos of my RX3S. (You can use the letter and photos I sent you anyway). Miss you very much, my friend! Say hello to your wife and family, especially your grandchildren.
——— Zuo Zhenyi 2021.10.16 China•Lanzhou
Here are a couple of additional photos that Zuo sent to us:
So there you have it. That “uncle” business…I used to be a secret agent, you know, the Man from U.N.C.L.E., and…nah, just kidding. The Chinese named me Big Uncle and they called Gresh Little Uncle when we rode across China with them. The Chinese words are Da Jiu and Ar Jiu (Big Uncle and Little Uncle) and the “jiu” parts sounds a lot like Joe, so it was kind of a natural fit.
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Want to ride with us as we crossed China? Hey, it’s all right here!
I like that too, “uncle”— human to human connection is so powerful and (forgive the sentimentality) can probably save the world.
Sentimentality forgiven, Grant.
That RX3S is a nice looking bike, and with that TC380 engine, which is the same as the one in the CSC SG400 and Haylon, I suspect that it has a nice amount of get up and go. I also like the fact that it has a center stand – not so much for chain maintenance, but for rear tire swap outs. Personally, I’d like to see it replace the RX3 in CSC’s lineup, but that’s just me. The mandatory scrapping laws are a little known, but interesting fact of automotive life in China. That probably explains the lack of any “old vehicles” seen on your trips there – there weren’t any to be seen. Contrast that with us here in the US; I’m putting almost 10,000 miles a month on a 2005 Honda Insight hybrid, and the age of the average vehicle on the road in the US is 12+ years now. We like to fix stuff forever, while in China they just junk it and get a brand new one.
Yes, it’s something way different than what we are used to. I can see the benefits. As it was explained to me, the primary reason was to get polluters off the road, as the emissions technology is improving every year. It also stimulates the economy, as it keeps the demand for new vehicles high. But it still feels weird letting the government have that kind of power. It would never fly here.
朋友，RX3s在2017年还没有上市的时候我们进行了1万公里的试骑，我们把那次活动叫《超越之旅》。我们经历高寒、高海拔、暴雨、泥泞、冰雪……各种路面和天气，在近乎极限的骑行中，RX3s所用的TC380异步双缸发动机很棒。
Friends, we did a 10,000-kilometer test ride before the RX3s went on sale in 2017. We called that event “Beyond Journey”. We have experienced high cold, high altitude, heavy rain, mud, ice and snow… all kinds of roads and weather. In the almost extreme riding, the TC380 asynchronous two-cylinder engine used by RX3s is great.
Awesome.
Japan also has similar laws, which is why New Zealand is full of low-mileage used Japanese domestic market vehicles and why used replacement engines for Japanese import cars are usually pretty cheap to source.
International relations should never be left to the politicians, who ALWAYS screw it up leading to wars and what have you. The people are the best representatives of themselves to the world. Always be a volunteer ambassador of your country when travelling. Leave a positive impression.
Amen to that.