If I buy a motorcycle from another province that comes without plates, how can I obtain A plates for Kunming?

Short answer: you basically can't.

They stopped issuing plates for motorcycles to drive into the city several years ago. Old plates have been grandfathered in. I think there's a process where you can transfer old plates to a new bike, but those plates are costly (over 10,000 kuai last I heard, and that was quite a while ago).

The other option is to get non-A plates for Kunming (might actually have an A, but the number scheme designates them for outside of the city center). To do this, you need a legally purchased bike (i.e. fapiao or other documentation showing it's not shady/stolen), and an address outside of the 2nd Ring Road. If you're fully licensed and have those plates, then every once in a while you'll get stopped in the city and told not to drive there. Not a huge deal unless you drive on the main roads downtown.

Same goes for cars, unless you have "relationships"

So does Kunming want to phase out all motorcycles within 2nd ring? Dang that is harsh. Does that mean that, even if you buy a brand new motorbike, you still cannot get an A plate?

I got my US drivers license, autos only.

1The thing is I want to buy a fking kawasaki ninja (150) or something, how much for the dl's, license plates and shit?

2 U got guanxi? Let me know bout that on PM.

3 Do u know stories of anybody getting caught w/o one?

Well, relying on public transportation for years while I've been here hasn't been very manly, or practical, tough it is sure safe and cost effective.

If I were a Kunming official I wouldn't be as concerned with bikes right now as with those Diesel black smoke puffing buses and trucks.