50 ccm enough for Africa?
 

I am all new to bike-travelling and I guess there's no stupid questions, so I'll just shoot out:
I have done some big overland travels before by car but now would like to switch over to a bike to do an africa overland trip. i have driven big size engine bikes in foreign countries before but my current license in europe is only valid for a 50ccm machine.
is it nevertheless possible to do an overland trip in africa with such a bike?
i don't mind driving with 50 or 60km/h max. or so but was wondering if I can do any offroad at all?
What are your opinions?
I appreciate any comments.
cheers
Mike

PS: I was looking at sth. like this:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/50ccm-4-Takt-...item3ce7cbe1a9

sure can I Japanese guy did it on a 50cc monkey bike

thanks monkey boy... i am pretty sure that it is somehow possible. i was just wondering if i would have to miss out on a lot of sights/roads as i wouldn't manage to get or drive there with a less powerless bike?

There might be a few places in the desert such a bike wouldn't get to but people manage to get just about everywhere with bicycles so it shouldn't be a problem. My concern would be the reliability of a Chinese bike and would go for something Japanese.

Yes Florian Rolke did it with a Simson Schwalbe: Slow Way Down - Mit der Simson Schwalbe durch Afrika
Unfortunately you have to pay to read his story but...it was in a magazine as well. He had to change the cylinder on the way :)

A guy from Leeds was on his way to Capetown on a Honda c90 before it fell into the Congo river. He had to have the engine changed a couple of times but not sure if that was down to dodgy mechanics or what. He certainly had a grand adventure.

As others said, if you can do it on a bicycle you could probably do it on a 50cc, but bicycles are also very light and can be lifted over bad terrain. Personally, I would feel much better with a 125, maybe a Honda CGL or a Yamaha YRB, as at least you can be reasonably confident that the engine and main components of the bike will, if looked after, almost certainly get you there and back.

That bike looks very plastikly, I bet a lot of things would break fairly quickly after the stress of poor roads. At 107kg dry it seems rather heavy and bukly for its size and engine power, and a top speed of under 30mph (too slow for me!), well, would maintaining the top speed for 8hours a day across long stretches be damaging? It does 2lt per 100k, well a Yahama YRB does the same and that will cruise a 120kpm and is a proven overlander with solid Japanese engineering.

I would be considering all these things, also at 1000 euro not exactly cheap, you could pick up a used Honda CGL with cash left over for your driving test. I think if you want to do it for the sake of doing it on a 50cc, it`s a no-brainer, but if it is more about the trip then I would be weighing up what it is going to cost you in cash and time in terms of breakdowns and downtime - just my opinion of course! If you do indeed head out please let us know if you decide to blog about it - Small bikes big adventures!!

:scooter:

My concern for you would be carrying 'stuff' as well as yourself. There are plenty of Chinese 'clone' DAX bikes in the 125cc range that are very reliable, but, alas, that is too big an engine for you.


On page 6 and 7 of this ride report, a friend of the writer meets the writer/rider in Cape Town, buys a cheap Chinese endure, and rides 6000 miles with the only issue being a chain stretching (the Chinese bike Achilles' heel) and if they had asked for advice, the first thing would have been to purchase a chain as a spare. Read the thread, and you will see--but again, that bike is a 250 (most likely a 229cc, but who's counting?


http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...urfboard-72401


Actually read the whole thread and see if you are planning to ride a similar route from the beginning (he started out in Europe and rode south to Cape Town, where he met up with his buddy and girlfriend, and his friend joined him going back north for the first 6000 miles.


There are other African threads, too...


http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...too-well-77534


http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...kinshasa-53285


I am not trying to be a displacement snob by any means and suggest you ride anything over 800cc, but 50cc just sounds too small. See what kind of fun Simon Gandolfo had around the world with his 125cc bike(s). Yes, licensing issues for you, but maybe wait until you can ride something larger--even 100 or 110cc. And that it can haul 'stuff'


Just for comparison--different continent (N. America) and mostly paved, but here is a good example of a Chinese 125cc DAX clone making a long trip...


Scooters Across America: San Francisco to New York - ADVrider


Different continent (S. America) and kinds of bikes, but 125cc


http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...americas-74600

OK, just got to look at the bike you are looking at from Ebay--Similar to the one in the 'Africa with a surfboard thread' but only 50cc. I would look for a Bashan 125cc enduro or a Skyteam 125cc enduro if I was you. Graduate your licensing. Too much weight for a 50, even if the bike is full sized!

You probably could do a trans Africa trip on a 50 but it's going to be so slow.
It can be done though - have a look at this guy's site - Moped Trip - 18660 km by moped for inspiration. He did 18,000km in 3 months round Canada on a mobylette moped.

The bike looks like it ought to be a 125 rather than a 50. Even as a 125 it would be heavy - my old Suzuki 125 is only 88kg. I wouldn't expect a 50cc bike to weight more than about 70kg. Really it's carrying your luggage already. By the time you load it up and get on it yourself it'll be 200kg+. That's a lot for a 50.

I did a short tour in Greece some time back with two people on a (rental) 50 (no luggage - we just went with what we stood up in), so about the same total weight, and there were some hills we had to get off and push the bike up with the engine running. On the flat and on tarmac I think you'd be lucky to cruise at 40 - 45kph. Up hills, on dirt or with a head wind you'll be down to walking pace.

Nothing wrong with any of those speeds - as others have said cyclists go at about the same rate or slower, but that particular bike looks overpriced, over weight and under powered. They don't do a 125 version as well where you could do a quick barrel and piston swap do they? Probably easier with smokers than 4T's though.

Hey guys,
thanks so much for all the infos and links.
I do not want to do the trip on a 50ccm just for the sake of doing it on a 50cmm.
I have done some more reading and was messaging some travellers who are currently on the road and now I have some new thoughts.
One thing is for sure - I do want to leave around End of November since I do not want to spend another winter in Europe.
But considering my current budget and the licensing issue I have a new idea.
Rather than driving a bike down and hassle with all the shipping, egyptians regulations and the sudan visa and also spending so much money on that process I could also fly to Nairobi and try to get a bike there. Also then I would take a 125ccm bike. I guess nobody cares in Africa.
I guess this post is not the right one to ask questions about purchasing and registerating a bike in Kenya and take it to other countries so I will put that in another topic. But of course please feel free to also post here or pm me on any thoughts or if possible at all... Thanks, Mike

If you are going to buy a bike in Africa, buy a 250 (it will actually be a 229cc or 223cc). Chinese bikes are relatively cheap (read the Africa with a surfboard thread I posted) and low power.

Hi yuma,

I did read the "surfboard on a bike" blog before.
I got so lost in it and spent hours reading. Thanks for sharing again.
I have been searching the internet now for quite some time but i can not find any information. So how stressfull is it to buy a bike in nairobi and get it registered? will I necessarily need a carnet? I just want to be around kenya, tanzania, sambia, zimbabwe and botswana. I got 3-4 months and would like to sell the bike afterwards again

50 ccm enough for Africa?

It is if you want to cut some firewood with a chainsaw :scooter::smartass:

Couldn't tell you, unfortunately, the buying process. It seemed fairly straightforward in S. Africa as I read I the 'surfboard' thread, but that is out of your way.

Simon identified a key issue here.

Sure, you could get around Africa on a 50 cc bike (tens of thousands of 50 cc bikes are used by Africans every day), but what about the stuff you plan to bring with you? 50 cc bikes are generally designed to cope with one rider who has only minimal cargo (like, a few kilos of grocery shopping).

I think the suggestions made by others that you consider at least 125 or 150 cc are well meant. It's not going to be any fun for you if your engine, clutch, or suspension gives out before you are even 20% of the way into your trip.

Michael

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? :scooter:

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 :thumbup1:
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
:helpsmilie:

Enough said!

:scooter:

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!

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.

Sent from my GT-S5830 using Tapatalk 2

OK, the guy riding and writing the 'Africa with a surfboard' blog is also posting on Advrider. I asked him about buying a bike and engine size and this is what he had to say:

A 125 is OK, but on the big roads with big trucks, Mike was pretty glad to be on the 250. No idea what the process is in Kenya, but in SA, the only way we got the registration done quickly was to have a guy who was a resident let us use his address.

Obviously, 50cc is out, but 125cc should be taken off your short list, too, based on the above.

Why not just take the airplane and get it over with? Ever heard the concept of "the journey is the goal, not the final destination"?

I have been traveling around europe and india on 125 and 150cc bikes, there have been people doing RTW trips on small machines with great success and having tons of fun!

From time to time i have considered getting a 50cc machine, nor for the sake of being eccentric but to spend more time on the road, seeing more details, making more frequent stops etc. If my knees weren't damaged i would have traveled on a bicycle.

oh please, don't take literally every metaphorical slogan you find on the internet. If you travel without destination you're just a drifter or a bum.

Bum?
 

Well, each to his own ... to me, drifting is fun. If this makes me a bum, I don´t give a rat´s ass.

Thank you guys for all the informations and opinions and especially yuma for your understanding... I already found a way to get a bike in kenya. but i will look into s.a. as well and will contact the surfboard guy soon... thanks

Is it a new bike or used? What kind of costs? What size engine? I would think that SA would be straightforward as long as you can find a local citizen whose address you can use, which is what the surfer guy said his friend did. Like I mentioned earlier, the northern SA city of Johannesburg is in relative close proximity to Botswana; the only thing is you would have to reverse your trip which might or might not fit your plans.

while you might find some countries that let you ride a bike that exceeds your licence don't expect to be covered by your travel insurance if you injure yourself.