Hi Simon:

I agree with you, if someone is willing to take the time to plan a route that avoids roadways with a speed limit greater than (for example) 80 km/h or 50 MPH, then sure, a long distance ride could be done safely, enjoyably, and comfortably on a bike with a small engine (<500 cc).

My concern, which I expressed in my first reply to this discussion, is this: The people who are most likely to be influenced by discussions such as this are not folks who have years and years of experience touring cross-country on motorcycles... they are most likely young ones or newbies who have no prior experience with long distance motorcycle touring. A perfect example of this is the question posted by forum member 'NWY' in this discussion: Travelling EU on Moped.

Folks such as NWY want to enjoy long distance touring, but might not have the financial resources needed to make an elective decision about whether to use a small, low-powered moto or a larger bike that is suitable for long distance highway use. I'm worried that we - the more experienced riders - might unintentionally be encouraging them to do something that is not entirely prudent by saying "Sure, you can have a great cross-country trip on a 50 cc, 150 cc, or 250 cc bike".

By way of analogy: Before I retired, my job was to make intercontinental deliveries of new aircraft, from the factory to the airline that purchased the aircraft. Frequently this meant ferrying the aircraft halfway around the world, in segments of 1,000 to 1,500 nautical miles per flight. The aircraft were always new (therefore generally trouble free) and were always equipped with the "latest and greatest" navigation and communication equipment. On top of that, my full time job was delivering these aircraft, hence I was used to flying halfway around the world every month... it was 'old hat'.

Once, a friend asked me to move a really small aircraft (a little 2-seater) from one side of Canada to the other. My first reaction was "Sure, shouldn't be much of a problem." After making that trip, I realized that it required a heck of a lot more of my skill and experience to move that little thing, with its limited speed, range, power, and navigational capabilities, across Canada in 300 mile legs than it did to move the newer, larger aircraft halfway around the world in 1,500 mile legs.

I got the little aircraft moved, and it was a pleasant and entertaining voyage in its own way, but I certainly don't think it was the kind of trip that a young pilot with limited long-distance experience could have undertaken. On the other hand, a young pilot with limited long distance experience could have safely and easily moved a newer, larger, more powerful aircraft with greater range and navigational capabilities over the same route.

I hope that puts my thoughts in the correct perspective.

Michael