Touring on a 125cc? Would you and if so which?

[Alexlebrit]

Now I know it's theoretically possible to tour on anything from a GS1100 to a Velosolex, but practically is a 125cc enough?

And if so, what would anyone recommend? I'm not meaning serious overland touring, here, more a pack stuff on for a five day tour in Europe, with perhaps the odd cheap hotel thrown in.

I know, I should probably go look and come back with more specific questions, but as dealerships are scattered far and wide and few have much in the way of stock, I thought I'd start simply.

[Matt Cartney]

Unless you have a specific 125 that you love and cherish, I'm not sure why you'd want to. What is the reason? this might affect the answers!

Honda make a 125cc Varadero which might be OK.

Matt

[Alexlebrit]

Well Ok the main reason would be that I've inherited a spare bit of cash, have always fancied a bike of my own, instead of various borrowed bikes I've ridden over the years and don't have a full licence, so I'd have to buy a 125cc to get my err "eye in" before I could take a test and if I'm going to I may as well buy something I could vaguely tour with this summer - as I won't get a test now till October.

[TDMalcolm]

Hi I'd choose the honda 125 valadero looks and feels like a bigger bike, reliable and you sit a little higher, better views of the road and other sites almost a mini road biased gs all with Honda build quality
Tdmalcolm
PS Have a looky here....Honda Varadero XL125V Review in 125s at Review Centre

[Matt Cartney]

Seems like a good enough reason!

The only problem you might have is getting insurance to cover you in europe as a learner. I have no experience of this, so it might not be a problem, but worth looking into before you get too commited, I'd say.

You could certainly tour on a 125. I've toured on a 350 Enfield which probably has the same sort of power as a modern 125, although it might have more torque which is nice for the heavy luggage. Just stay well away from dual carraigeways/motorways, which are no fun on an under powered bike.

The nice thing about a low powered bike is that it teaches you patience. You get used to pottering along with the local traffic, instead of trying to hare past it like you might do on a bigger bike.

I think one of those Varaderos might be a good bet. Alternatively you could try a Honda XR125 or a Yamaha DT/XT 125 with Andy Strapz panniers thrown over the back. Exploring the tiny little windy roads in amongst the Alps on one of those things might be real fun.

For your camping gear look to lightweight hiking and cycle touring kit and you should be able to keep the loading to a really neat minimum.

Have fun!

Matt

[farqhuar]

I've just spent a month touring China on a 125 - 7,500km in 28 days.

Eminently doable, and given Chinese road conditions, probably better than doing it on a bigger bike. You just have to accept that your touring speed will be around 70-75kmh (in China my average speed was more like 50kmh due to the road conditions).

Garry from Oz.

[Alexlebrit]

Why did you guys have to start with the Varadero?

Couldn't you have shown me something uglier and cheaper, at least to start with?

And yes it's true, without a bike licence I can't ride from one country to the next on a 125cc, although bizarrely in the EU I could ride a 125cc within the borders of any single country (Euro law, don't you love it?).

But as I'm in France I'm not too worried, there's plenty to be seen and loads of variety without ever leaving the country. I've cycle-toured in the past so I've already got a range of lightweight camping gear ready and waiting.

But if anyone would like to show me the cheaper and uglier bikes now, feel free before I'm forced to drive the 20kms to the nearest Honda dealer to kick tires and potentially shell out thousands of euros.

[beat_]

how about the Yamaha tw125 or the suzuki vanvan?
i don't know where you licence is registered but in i know that in belgium people are allowed to drive a 125cc motorbike with a car licence. as for holland, your not. but if if you have a belgium licence..you can legaly drive a belgium 125cc in holland.

ain't one united europe great?

[Alexlebrit]

Ah, good onto cheaper and shall we say "less-handsome" bikes. The licence thing is odd isn't it? I've got a British licence but live in France but can ride a French registered 125, but only in France.

Now I look though I can see a whole range of things, I'm reading good things about the Derbi Terra right now, and in a bit I'll no doubt discover another fifty bikes !!!

[IMG]http://img.moto*******/galleries/derbi-terra-125/normal_derbi_terra_125_06.jpg[/IMG]

Now I see why you guys like bikes so much.

[Big Yellow Tractor]

Yammy DT125 if you want to go "off-tarmac" a bit

Honda CG 125 for bullet-proof, loads of miles to the gallon, go on forever biking.

My son had a CG that he tried his very best to kill through neglect and abuse. Sold it after two years commuting 40 miles a day, for more money than it cost him. It got stolen once and the police recovered it. He got a phonecall saying that they had found his bike but it had been wrecked. It hadn't, it always looked like that !!!!!

[oldbmw]

Check you can reach the ground with both feet, and can balance the bike stopped on an adverse camber using feet. The seat has to be comfy, because you will be in it for a long time.

Now plan your routes on teh old 'D' roads as I do for my BMW The money I save on peage pays for my BnB stops

[cozcan]

Honda CG125 and/or Yamaha YBR125 could be my kind of choice. These YBRs are being highly recommended by courier services and I read many people touring all over Turkey with them.

Though in Turkish, check out for some YBR touring and bike images:
Ikiteker Motosiklet Fan Kulübü Web Sitesi
Ikiteker Motosiklet Fan Kulübü Web Sitesi


Dunno if they are also available in EU countries.

cozcan

[Nixa]

If fuel prices continue to rise, I think that all of us will be touring on 125 cc bikes!

[kevinhancock750]

personally i'd stick to a 4stroke for reliability and fuel economy. i once met a guy on a cg125 who'd been all over the world travelling on it for 14yrs! he was on his own for 10yrs and 2's up for 4 years after meeting a girl whilst wandering. suzuki rv125 van van looks a good little thing which can take you up and down dirt track's no problem. the only bad thing i see is a small tank but it has a big wide seat and room for luggage. these are cheap here in the uk at £2000 new(if you bargain) which is great compared to £3500 for the varedero. i will be buying a van van myself after the summer to play on as my scooter is boring me now.
another thought is to buy secondhand if it's only for a couple of months until you do your test. lots on e-bay.....
bonne chance mon ami

[DaveSmith]

Originally Posted by Big Yellow Tractor

It got stolen once and the police recovered it. He got a phonecall saying that they had found his bike but it had been wrecked. It hadn't, it always looked like that !!!!!

My first bike (a total beater) got stolen. When it was recovered they wouldn't let me see it since they thought I would just let them keep it. I took the risk and it was as beat-up as the day I got it -- only the lock was punched out.

--Dave