Zhao Yu takes a photo with motorcycles. [Photo/WeChat account: hafbwx]

Zhao Yu in Hai'an, Nantong province, has spent nearly a decade turning his deep passion for motorcycles into his shop, a welcoming hub that local riders now call their own.

In China's motorcycle world, Zhang Xue, founder of ZXMOTO, is an unforgettable name. When Zhao Yu mentions Zhang, he speaks of him like an old friend. "He puts every bit of profit back into research and development, racing, and building the brand," said Zhao.

Zhao got into motorcycles at age 25. That's when he first saw a documentary featuring the young entrepreneur who said, "Let Chinese motorcycles go global." Back then, Zhao thought Zhang Xue was "a bit foolish" and found some of his choices "not very wise". Still, he couldn't help admitting that Zhang was "quite remarkable".

That seemingly contradictory take captures the essence of passion: what looks "unwise" to others is often the only path for those chasing a dream. In 2016, Zhao bought his first motorcycle. The following year, he started a club.

In 2022, following friends' advice and encouragement, he opened the Yixing Motorcycle Shop in Hai'an. It's not in the city center, and it has no fancy decor, but it has become a home base for local riders.

Driven by his love for motorcycles, Zhao taught himself step by step and developed solid maintenance skills. Since opening the shop, its floor space has grown from 100 to 250 square meters.