Nomads On Wheels

last updated 8 January 2015

Madoi, China

Tibetan nomads are trading in their horses for motorcycles, The New York Times reported this week. Shepherds say the bikes are cheaper and faster than horses, and are just as effective for herding sheep and yaks. Chinese-made motorcycles cost only $600 new and as little as $50 used. “The shocks are important to them,” said motorcycle salesman Qu Jiang of his nomad buyers. “If they are riding across the grasslands, the bike doesn’t shake.”