Hi all - first post...
 

Hello everyone,

Will spare you the life story but I first learned to ride bikes in India (totally inadvisable and dangerous). Since then I've only ridden heavy bikes in India (Enfield 350 and 500's) because it's so easy to rent there with a standard car license.

Anyway, my experiences have inspired me and I'm thinking about London to Sydney, and even beyond - overland. I'm a freelance photographer and sometimes I teach English, but I mostly avoid work, hence I'm always skint (but no mortgage, kids, car loan etc).

So I'm interested to see what you lot think of doing such a long trip on a 125cc ? - was thinking something like a YBR, Honda GC or Derbi Terra 125. I'll be alone, I won't have a lot of cash (but probably enough) and always travel light... I wanted something that is 100% reliable, sturdy, economical and most of all cheap to run, ride and insure (and for the carne de passage).

Many Thanks!

Ross

Lots of people do these trips on small bikes.

I would probably not go on less than a 250 myself, but that's just me.

Great idea - go for it.

Europe, Oz, and perhaps surprisingly most of the in-between, too, the (main) roads are good. Sure it can be done on a small&lightweight bike, and it may be a good choice for a beginner. If youre already ridden India, then you know what the worst traffic will be (Indonesia & Pakistan do get close, though!)

But note that India is among the slowest to travel, in many other countries there might actually be use for a bit more power than a 125cc will offer (but no reason, why you couldn't go with that!)

Yep, thanks for the quick responses...

When I rode a 350, I was a bit skeptical of the people who said 500cc is really worth the added cost (considering these are old, heavy bikes - people say an old Enfield 350 is more or less equivalent in power to newer 125's). But once I tried a 500, I saw the added benefits immediately when overtaking buses on the highway two-up with luggage...

Presumably, I cannot do this trip legally without a full license anyway - so do 250's cost a great deal more than 125? If not or if so, can anyone recommend a 250cc that might be up to the task?

Thanks again!

Ross =)

125cc
 

If you buy new then 250 cc do cost quite a bit more than the 125cc. The 125cc are the cheap commuters and entry level, hence the entry level price tag.
A new 125cc will match a old 250cc on performance. It will also be more reliable and less prone to break down.
Yamaha and Honda offer many chioces, road or "off-road dual purpose", shop around. You never know when a second hand gem appears.

From my experience of Derbi I wouldn't be confident on one lasting to the chunnel, let alone RTW. Most common problems are seizing brakes, collapsed wheel bearings, worn shock bushes, rust prone forks, perishing rubber.

And this is just on commuters bikes being ridden on an island 9 miles wide.

Also be aware that the motor in the Derbi is a brand new design and shares no common parts with anything commonly found in the 2nd/3rd world.

Having said that, I've never tried so I can't tell you its impossible!

I don't mean at all the Derbi is any reliable. AlexleBrit could tell about that more.

BUT I guess that any vehicle pays a high toll -regarding rust to say the least- in a 9 mile wide island... nonetheless, I think now it may be a great place to test anything!

oh yeah all bikes rust very fast here, but the Derbis really don't last. A lot of Derbi Sendas snap their engine mounts. And the AJP brake set ups they come with rot in about two years