China's Motorcycles Outrun Law Scrapping Them at 13 Years

Key facts

• A motorcycle enthusiast imported a Triumph Scrambler 900 for nearly 200,000 yuan.
• Chinese law dictates that motorcycles are condemned to the scrapheap after 10 years.
• The law mandates scrapping motorcycles after 13 years, impacting well-maintained imported bikes.

A motorcycle enthusiast, identified as Li Xiaoli, spent nearly 200,000 yuan (approximately $29,614) to import a Triumph Scrambler 900 ten years ago. Despite the bike remaining functional, Chinese law considers it condemned to the scrapheap. The regulation mandates that motorcycles must be scrapped after 13 years, but many imported, well-maintained vehicles are affected by the 10-year condemnation period, leading to a situation where functional bikes are legally considered obsolete.