Africa is huge with all sorts of roads stretching for thousands of miles.

Long haul = Big bike

or muddy/sandy roads = small bike.

The locals ride the dunes with 125cc better then most of the tourists who get stuck with their 1200GS. No way to bring 100 horse power to the ground on sand

and how I remember being passed by various local riders on mopeds and Chinese 125's,as I trundled along a rocky piste on a BMW 1200 Adventure in Morocco!

I agree, although not big like 1200GS or super tenere but at least 650cc
otherwise the trip will last forever.
50cc let face it, it's a joke, isn't it?

I know I keep referring back to the surfboard/Africa thread, but Botswana is just north of S. Africa. If you could change your plans a little, and start in Johannesburg, or Pretoria buying a bike there (unlike the thread where the guy bought his in Cape Town), would this help out? It did not seem too difficult for the writer's friend to fly in and purchase, and he was able to ride up to Dar es Salaam with the writer where he sold the 250 and flew back to Europe. Perhaps Kenya is easier to purchase, however, although no one has chimed in. You could try to PM the 'surfboard' writer since he is still riding and blogging and probably saw the S. African purchasing process firsthand?

Yep it's a joke.
By big bike I meant size around 600cc on which you can carry some decent gear but on a 50cc.....errrr ok where is my toothbrush.

No, sitting at home being a keyboard warrior taking the p**s out of other people's plans is a joke, getting out there and making a trip no matter how far or on what bike is the real thing.

You took the words out of my mouth (or fingers), mark!

I have never undertaken an expedition myself, but the original poster 'shikkagga' was thinking of riding from Europe on a 50cc because that is what he is licensed for. He linked an ebay ad for a cheap Chinese full-size enduro with a 50cc engine. I think part of the problem is that everyone thinks he is trying to be eccentric riding a moped, which was not the case (so the 'joke' issue is moot).

Some of us suggested bigger engines just so he could factor in the weight of carrying things. I could see a Chinese enduro with a 125cc engine realistically doing the job. On one of the threads about riding through Africa, someone who was riding his Suzuki 650 was met by a friend who bought a 250 Chinese enduro. He rode with his friend for over 6000 miles, and the bike did not miss a beat mechanically other than the stock chain kept stretching until he could no longer adjust it, and a new chain could not be found since they had left civilization. The guy on the 650 who was writing the reports (he is still in Africa riding and writing) never mentioned feeling slowed down by the smaller bike.

The poster here had read the same thread, and decided, for licensing purposes, he would fly to Africa and look for a larger engine bike to purchase and ride throughout several countries (licensing meaning he wouldn't need one where he is planning to go!).

I am sure that he knows who is actually trying to help, and who is a snob. Heck, even the guy who chimed in above with the 1100 BMW mentioned how he was passed by locals on Chinese 125 bikes on tough terrain in Morrocco. I don't think a 50cc would quite cut it, but I never felt the guy was joking; just wanted some opinions based on what his original limitations were (50cc license). It is like that old saying--'if you don't have anything nice or constructive to say to somone, then keep your mouth shut!'

by that stupid thinking you can do any trip on any means of transportation
even on foot or a bicycle so in that case asking such question is pointless.
Why ask here anyway if you expect only conformation on your crazy ideas???

If that what's you want go ahead and good luck, you will need it
I also think, it's irresponsible to advice such trip on such small bike because Africa is not safe continent as may think.


p.s.
BTW on 50cc you won't be able even to escape a lions if they decide to eat you

Enough said!

While agree that any 125cc or bigger is better, riding Africa on a moped has already been done:
African Moped Ouagadougou - Paris en mob!

These are all good points, but he has already decided to change his plans and look for a bike in Africa--preferably Kenya. He already stated he wasn't riding a 50cc for the sake of riding one, but due to his European license restrictions. It was a full-size Chinese enduro he was eyeing, not a moped (although they might be licensed as such), which had a 50cc engine.

What he needs now is advice on what bike and where to buy one. Using another thread as a baseline, I told him he should consider a 229cc Chinese bike like the one the guy rode in the 'Round Africa with a surfboard' because he got it cheap in Cape Town, and it got him the 6000 miles from Cape Town to Tanzania with no mechanical issues other than a chain stretching. There are also plenty of 125cc bikes available, too.

Now that we know he will consider a bigger bike, again, he needs advice on what bike to get. A used 'proper' bike (assuming one with 600cc or larger) from Europe won't do because he cannot legally ride it. So flying into Africa--start with Kenya, although I said to look into S. Africa due to the thread I referred to where the guy bought his with seemingly few paperwork issues. Any other suggestions on a bike, 600cc or not, to be found in Africa I am sure the poster would appreciate.

HE IS NOT BUYING A 50CC BIKE

Read this blog, which is informative, but if you skip to page 6, this is where his friend joined him and bought a cheap Chinese bike in Cape Town. This bike was more than adequate as compared to the poster's 650 Suzuki.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...fboard-72401-6

Good luck and have fun!

__________________
Roborider
Rob Osborne
Vail (Tucson), Arizona USA

We rode to The Gambia on a fully loaded tandem. It took 2 months but if speed isn't your thing then that timeframe is fine. I think knowing the machine you're riding is the important thing so you can keep the thing on the road. Regarding tranporting gear as well as rider, there's no need to travel super heavyweight. Google 'ultralight cycle touring' for tips on this if interested. Finally I'd have thought if the 50cc bike broke beyond repair it would be cheap enough to source a replacement.

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