Dads New Toy....

Since moving to Shanghai,  it is typical for the kids to get out of school each June and for families to return to their home country for the Summer.  Because Chris only gets off two weeks during this time, we sadly leave him behind in Shanghai.  There has never been any concrete knowledge of what actually goes on in Shanghai with those soldiers left behind…  but I got a glimpse of this life about a week ago when Chris came home on this… 

Without my knowledge, but with my complete pleasure, I realized that we now have our first China set of wheels.  We are now proud owners of a rebuilt, Chang Jiang.  

What is a Chang Jiang??

Well, a Chang Jian is the transcribed brand name of motorcycles that were once manufactured by the China Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Company. It takes its name from the Chang Jiang River, also known as the Yangtze or Long River.

The company's CJ750 motorcycle is based on the 1956 Soviet IMZ (Irbitski Mototsikletniy Zavod) M-72, which in turn was derived from the 1938 BMW R71. Many are fitted with sidecars.

They were originally produced for the Chinese military and are powered by an air-cooled, four-stroke, flat-twin engine displacing 746 cc. The rear wheel is shaft-driven.  (Just in case you were curious and what that means I do not know)   What I do know is that all five of us have a seat and can get around JinQiao on wheels...

The kids are more than pleased and encourage him to ride it… even with the weather getting cooler.  They will find various excuses to get him to take them for a ride.  

We even took the bike out on a date night….  I sat in every one of the seats for the effect.

It even has it’s own parking space in our garage.  It’s only a matter of time before Chris has it fully taken apart...  and put back together.  Finally something to tinker with!

The kids get up on the weekend and start getting their gear together for a ride.  It has become a part of our weekend routine.   Chris is more than thrilled to have the gang on the bike with him...  they are a huge help when it craps out in the middle of the road and it needs pushing home.   

The crew off on their morning ride...