From deposit to a bike on your showroom floor is typically 10–16 weeks for built-to-order models and 7–11 weeks when everything is in stock. Here is where each week goes, who is responsible, and where delays actually happen.
Week by week
| When | Stage | Who | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 0 | Quote → proforma → deposit | You | Confirm spec, colours, port, documents. 30% deposit with PI number in the reference. |
| Week 1 | Slots booked | Yangtze Moto | Factories confirm production dates; in-stock models are pulled and held. Ocean booking requested for the target week. |
| Weeks 1–6 | Production (30–45 days) | Factories | Built-to-order models. In-stock models skip this. Weekly photo update. |
| Week 6–7 | PDI, crating, consolidation | Yangtze Moto | Every unit through the 18-point PDI on video; crated; collected to one loading point. Parts kit packed and listed. |
| Week 7 | Loading + balance | Both | Container stuffed with layer-by-layer photos; you receive PDI videos and loading report; 70% balance paid; container sealed. |
| Week 7–8 | Chongqing → Shanghai | Forwarder | 5–7 days by Yangtze river barge or China–Europe-class rail to the port; export customs cleared. |
| Weeks 8–13 | Ocean transit | Carrier | GCC 20–30 days · Mexico 18–25 · Andean Pacific 28–45 · Caribbean/Africa 35–50. B/L issued at departure; telex release after balance. |
| Arrival +1–2 wk | Import clearance | Your broker | Duty and taxes assessed on CIF; conformity certificate presented; container released. Pre-file documents to avoid demurrage. |
| Arrival +2–3 wk | Uncrating, assembly, destination PDI | Your workshop | 30–60 min per bike: front wheel, bars, mirrors, battery, fluids, then a short PDI and registration paperwork. |
Where the time really goes
- Production is the long pole. Colour changes, EFI variants and road-legal kits add days. Ordering stock colours shortens it.
- Chinese holidays. Chinese New Year (late Jan–Feb) stops factories for 2–4 weeks; the October National Day week costs another. Order around them.
- Peak season freight. August–October vessel space tightens; book at deposit, not at loading.
- Pre-shipment conformity (PVoC, SONCAP, SABER) adds 1–2 weeks in China. Start the application when the PI is signed.
- Documents at destination. Most demurrage comes from paperwork arriving after the container. We send scanned documents the day the vessel departs and originals by courier.
What you should have in hand at each point
- After deposit: signed PI, factory production dates, ocean booking reference.
- Before balance: PDI video folder (one per VIN), loading report, draft invoice and packing list to check.
- At departure: bill of lading copy, commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, per-VIN sheet, UN38.3 if electric.
- At arrival: telex release or original B/L, broker’s pre-filed declaration.
Plan the calendar backwards from the date you want bikes on the floor, then run the container through the landed cost calculator for the port you chose. The full paperwork list is in the documents checklist; what to do when the container lands is in the uncrating guide.
Yangtze Moto is an independent export company based in Chongqing. We are not a manufacturer and are not affiliated with or endorsed by any motorcycle brand mentioned for reference, including ZXMOTO (Zhang Xue Moto), KOVE, VOGE, Zongshen, Loncin, Lifan and KEWS. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. FOB bands are indicative market figures observed in supplier quotations (July–September 2026); allocation-based models carry no published export price. Every order is quoted line by line before you commit.