Touring on a 125cc
 

What are people's opinions on touring on a 125cc bike such as the Yamaha XT125R or the Honda XR125?

I don't mind taking it slow, am planning to travel with light packing and to avoid motorways as much as I can. Where possible, I'd like to opt for the smaller and hopefully more scenic roads.

For my first trip I would like to travel up from London to the south west coast of Sweden.

What do you think? Is this potentially a totally enjoyable trip or something to be avoided on a 125cc?!

Best,
Toby

Nothing against the concept. You'll need to get a rack or something made up to carry luggage.

My XR400 is hardly a high-speed cruiser and is best at speeds of 50-55 mph. The XR125 will be slower so, as you say, choose scenic routes. Though I am not sure I would describe the overland route to Sweden via Belgium, the Ruhr and the north German plain as particularly scenic.

Tim

It's just a matter of Zen
 

I once saw a Swiss registered Honda Sports style 125 in Fort William and I don't think he freighted it to Scotland to ride while he was there (it looked as though it had been riden all the way). I would also guess that a modern 125 has got similar power to the BSA M20 my late father and others used to tour in the years after WW2 - it has much more power than a pedal cycle, and people tour on them.

As long as you don't expect to do too many 500 mile days on motorways , I say go for it. At 125cc speeds you'll see more than most people do and won't be worried about speed limits. :scooter:

All you need is to be sure you have the right (patient) attitude.

People tour on Honda 90s and Enfields (350s but probably without significantly more pep than a 125cc) so I don't see why not. Have you seen those itty bitty Varaderos? They have a bit more weather protection than a dirt bike and being essentially a teeny version of the big Varedero might be quite comfy for the long hall?

Matt :)

Toby,
There were a couple of Honda 125s at the HU meet in Derbys about 3 years ago which had just arrived from Oz, and the bikes looked like it!!

As others say here, take your time with a bike that is not overloaded and the bike should get to anywhere.

Dave

Ta-daa!

Honda Varadero 125 : 2007 Model Year

Not bloomin' cheap though!

Although I expect second hand they'll be OK.

Matt

Yeah, go for it. Just know the limitations. More an adventure than on a megga tourer. Enjoy the ride.

125CC is big enough
 

Hey Toby,
You will find this relevant and interesting:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...e-tasks-5182-2

Dave

I just love treads like these..
it shows you don't need big bucks (and bikes) to see the world

but a 125 with load raises some safety questions when cars speeding along with 150+hp

Switzerland to Spain on a DT125
 

i was riding with my 13 year old DT125 last autumn from the north of Switzerland via Italy, France to Spain and back during two weeks.

No problems at all beside tensioning the chain and filling in loads of 2 stroke oil and many stops for refueling (~150km range)

conclusion: i would do it again.

Lois on the Loose went thru the americas on a XT225 Serow, so there should be no problem touring around europe on a 125 :thumbup1:

If you can live within the limits of a bikes capabilities you will be happy with it. Being content is a state of mind. It may not seem like much but will be the difference between enjoying something or being disappointed with it. I make great use of teh French D road system. Often I can go miles and not see another vehicle. It is better than biking in teh UK in the early sixties. In those days I went all over southern UK ona Tiger cub, poodling along at about 45mph :)

Building on what oldbmw said, I would also like to think that a good and enjoyable travel experience has a lot to do with your state of mind, and that there will always be positive and negative aspects (albeit different ones) regardless of what sort of bike you decide to travel on.

I really like the Varadero, but in my mind I see myself with something that is a little bit more suitable on smaller roads, even with some off-road capabilities. Very impressive 125cc bike though!

Thanks for that link, Dave - very relevant. Guess I should learn to use the search function a bit better!

Thanks for all the great comments everyone. :thumbup:

A local NZ bike mag (Kiwi Rider) had a story recently of a NZ university student who sent his Yamaha Jog 50 to Spain and made it to Norway in about 2 weeks. He had a ball. The biggest problem he had was in countries where he couldn't ride on main roads by law. I think in The Netherlands he had to use bicycle routes.

Regards

Nigel in NZ

Great website, Chris. I like the Andy Strapz soft panniers you chose for the bike, will look at these myself.

250 ?
 

A small bike is no problem but I would prefer a 250 over a 125 because if you have to ride on a mainroad for a while, it is easier to keep up with the other traffic.
I have been from Holland to Switzerland on a Honda CB125S, avoiding main roads and that was fun but here in the Netherlands I sometimes left the freeway because with a strong headwind I was a riding chicane for the other traffic.
You can not allways avoid the freeway because sometimes it is the only road.

If you go riding in the mountains, a 125 may be a little to small too, depending on your size and weight and the luggage you carry.

If you want a small bike and you can afford a little bigger, I would go for a 250 if I were you.

I ride a 125cc Daelim VS Cruise (1998). The bike is really light, handles ok and is really cheap to run. The only draw back is the lack of power, I feel like I'm riding a blender at speeds above 80km per hour. With a top speed of 105, I try to cruise it at a max of 80, it sounds alot better at 60. The Daelims (Korean bikes) don't have the same quality as say a Honda. So I have to keep a watchful eye on it (Chain especially....I had a chain break while in traffic once).

I bought a larger bike for taking long trips. I also own a Honda CB400. Riding in town its nice to have the extra power and handling, and on the highway it's a real nice little bike. I love riding the 125 in town, it's so light, cheap and good on gas that I can goof around on it with out a second thought. Cheap for commutes, cheap thrills (you can pull a wheely if you don't mind reving that little engine alot with a little clutch work). But if I'm going out for more than 2 hours, I'm getting on the 400cc bike, no question.

I think you will love riding the 125 if you take smaller roads with low speed limits (80 and under - I hate riding it at 100, it sounds awful, it doesn't have engouh power to maneuver safely in traffic and it's a little too light and sloppy). I've been all over on it, but honestly for long distances the 400cc Honda is so much better. I really feel like I enjoy the ride and feel less fatigued after a day of riding the bigger bike. The 125 can be really boring on long streches, the sound gets really tiring, I pull over lots to give the bike a rest and I don't feel as safe on it. I have had friends who have taken their 125cc bikes all over Korea and Japan (where I live) and have loved the experience, but have the same comments to make.

If you had a newer 125 it might be a little better, but 125cc is still 125cc. The Aprillia 125 race bikes are fast and handle great, but they still sound like a blender, they also cost alot more.

A 250cc bike might be a lot more enjoyable and it's still a cheap bike. This bike can handle the freeways of North America and it's still super cheap to ride.

Whatever you choose to do, you'll probably love the trip!!!!

Have a good one.

kris

I also rode a 125 in Nepal (the only bike you can get) and as someone else mentioned, not enough power for the mountains. on small hills we couldn't get the bikes up if we had two riders or too much baggage. We had to walk the bikes up!!! Unloaded they did OK, in first gear (very tiring to ride up hill in first gear for a long time!!!! especially with manic buses coming down the road).

Agree that it can be done with a 125 but as said before a 200cc or 250 will be more enjoyable.
IMHO a 125 is an ideal commuter and designed to carry you and your schoolbag or briefcase over moderate distances off freeways.
You will have to be patient and plan your itinerary carefully if you travel on a 125.
I recently bought a Suzuki Djebel 200 (technically identical to the current DR200SE) for my wife and rode around on it a bit.
What a nice and capable bike! It leaves you with a big smile on your face where a 650 makes you sweat (in sand and mud).
Very nicely build, no cheapskate solutions, just a mini version of the larger DR650.
200cc and 20hp gets you into another class than most 125cc.
The bike cruises very happily at 90km/h and is not too bothered with headwinds and mountain passes.

Smaller cc's is the way to go!
 

Touring on a smaller bike is very possible and enjoyable!
I am currently riding a 250cc Honda XR Baja starting from London to Capetown through West Africa (currently in Namibia). The bike has been absolutely fantastic with no major problems across some of the roughest roads and we've covered over 36,000kms in 9 months.

I recommend a light bike cos it's easy on the tyres, economical on fuel and it's easy to pick up if you ever drop it. Sometimes it's hard to keep up with traffic on the more major roads but like you said you are happy to take the smaller scenic routes!

Best of luck, pack light and let us know when and if you do go.


Check our my site if you want to have a look at my bike,baggage and racks
www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/robbo

125 or 250
 

As stated its really what you make of it as well as the head space you manage to stay in along the way.
125's would seriously lack in the power territory, I feel, especially if you are loaded with camping gear and spares.

I road from Osaka to Barcelona on a Suzuki Djeble 250 in 2002. Along the way I rode with others riding much bigger bikes. Mostly it caused little trouble and I was able to keep up. I did pack VERY light though.
The only time I started to get a little self concious was on the Autoroutes and Freeways once I got to fastpaced Europe...

Youll be OK on what ever you ride, besides things look much better at 40km/h than they do at 100.

Enjoy

125 Ok
 

The case is building for a 250cc engine, so how about re-visiting Simon and his travels:

home

He is a great example of getting by very well indeed on a small Honda.

Bottom line is, you can do it on anything - this remains a "truth" but we all have different tastes and ways of enjoying ourselves on the way.

Dave

250
 

I myself travelled on a 250 xrl and after doing about 30.000 miles with it arround central and south america I will say that if you travel very light , have plenty of time, do not like speed the 125 should do OK, I am sure that you will miss power but if you are too heavy you should be OK, I myself will travel again on a 250 but not on a 125. I had many excelent trip in SE Asia on a 250xr but they hae way more power than the 125.

good luck,

Hendi

Numb Bum
 

Hi, I rode a 125 Honda Cargo last year from Veracruz, Mexico, to Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego. I leave the UK next month to collect the bike in Ushuaia and ride north to my daughter's home in Duchess Colunty, NY. Aged 74, I am no longer sufficiently strong in the legs to support a heavy bike.
Advantages:
1) over 100 miles to the gallon.
2) Spare are available throughout Central and South America - though I didn't need any spares. I bought new and the only mishaps were three punctures in the rear tyre (apart from falling a couple of times thru being stupid and kidding myself that I was still young rather than a pensioner!)
3) A light bike is more manouverable. A few time I came round a corner to find drifts of sand across the tar. - and a dead drop of a thousand feet. Ouch! Same goes for riding happily along on a good surface and suddenly face a huge pothole.
4) Communicatioin with the locals is easier. Locals ride small bikes. A big bike errects a wealth barrier.
Meet bandits, you say, "Hey, do I look worth robbing? There's a rich gringo on a big Harley coming along in half an hour."

Disadvantages:
1) A small seat. I suffered from numb bum.
2) Difficult to keep on the road in a strong sidewind.
3) Patagonia gales, I had to lie flat on the tank to get up to 60 KPH!
4) I climbed to 4,700 metres in Bolivia, for the last few Ks very very very slowly.
5) You can't carry much luggage.

You can check the blog of my journey at home

take care and have fun....

It mite be worth getting a high viz jacket or vest i rode a 125 back from london down the m20 last year & felt quite safe the cars & trucks could see me & gave me room & i found it fun & realy enjoyed the A & B roads . Did a bit of touring on a 50cc when i was 16 & loved it . Good luck im sure you will have a great adventure on a 125 & when other bikers see the UK plate abroad im sure you will get a good reception.
Kev

Hi There,

I've toured with big bikes, mid bikes and little ones and, if you're on your own or with riders on similar machines, then the little ones have been the most fun!

I currently ride a 250cc Serow and have covered around 41,000km's in 19 fault free months.

Just a quick question for you, have you passed your test yet, as provisional UK licences are not acceptable outside the UK?

Hi cameraman, am looking to take my practical this summer so, yes - until I pass I cannot leave the UK on a bike. :(

Great advice from all, it sounds like a 250cc bike might be the best option for me. And if I am being sensible, the Honda CBF250 would be a suitable option. Still have some time to decide...

All seived up
 

I seized my engine coming down from Ripley back to London this weekend and ended up stranded on the M25.

Within 120 miles the oil just vanished (yes it had oil)

We were riding flat out (105km/h) as we were sick and tired of the incesent rain and just wanted to get home.

Maybe it was just bad luck but maybe if we had just ridden slightly slower it would have made it home where I would have been shocked that I had no oil, but the engine would still have been alive.

Once I manage to get the engine sorted within 6 weeks before we leave, we will never push the bike above 95mk/h again.

Oh and no we are not going to change our bikes. The 250's are the best bikes for the job of reaching Cape Town.

ps: to the 4 GS's that I recognised from the weekend that just rode past without stopping...may your armpits be infested by all the germs of all the NHS hospital in London. A bloke on a Fazer stopped and other bikes at least gave recognition.

Another 250cc siezed engine
 

Bossies,
Sorry to hear about seizing an engine - I thought these things to be quite rare in this day and age!!
Also sorry to hear about fellow bikers riding straight past you (and from Ripley too - too big/impersonal a meeting nowadays? :offtopic: ) - a growing trend nowadays?!

Reminds me of my G2 Matchless from years ago which did the same thing with the big-end; that's how I found out that it was a weak point for that particular bike!! :rolleyes2:

Toby,
Don't let these tales of woe put you off 250cc bikes (or the 125 for that matter) - it is just a cautionary to not exceed the capabilities of the bike, not for too long anyway in my case - hammering along the Great North Road (A1) for hours on end.

Dave

I recall, after the fact, someone once telling me that small capacity bikes eat oil at constant high speed (motorway riding).

Again, maybe it was just a damaged ring or whatever (the bike is only at 9000km) but this could prove the point that taking back roads where you vary your speed is better for the bike. These little bikes only take 1lt of oil so when something goes wrong all the oil vanishes very quickly.

We came up along the A43-A444-A5 on Friday and wanted to return the same way. We didn't want to take the motorway but were just sick of the rain and wanted to get home quickly...hey ho :(

Dress Well
 

I leave the UK on Wednesday 18th July to collect my Honda 125 in Ushuaia. I intend riding north to upstate NY. I made no preparations for my ride south from Mexico. Blog at home This time I am ready. Alpinestars sent me a pair of boots and thermal underwear, T-shirts and a cap. I survived all that guerillero and bandido shit on the road south. Now I have to deal with my own kids. They covet! I have to lock up my new gear - particularly the cap! Meanwhile I think of my butt and how it will survive 45,000 Ks. The bike? I have total confidence. A 125 is not fast. However I am 74 and a biker. I call Health Insurance and they laugh. So 125 will do me fine. Not too fast and not to heavy - and I have my new boots!! Wish me luck...
:scooter:

Indeed Simon, I do wish you all the best of good fortune on your next ride - sounds like you are all ready now that you have some collectable kit to wear!! :thumbup1:

Best wishes,

Dave


:funmeteryes: and not:-

:wheelchair:

My hats off to you Simon:thumbup1: Enjoy, and keep us informed, you are a inspiration:mchappy:



Trophymick

Slightly off topic
 

This problem of running out of oil is quite common with virtually all bikes with small sump capacities. It is well known amonst the diesel enfield brigade that it is wise to check the oil each time ( or more often if hammering on motorways) you refill with fuel. Most of them have about 1 litre oil capacity. Problem seems to be poodling along at 55 mph seems to consume none, so you get used to not checking and at full throttle 65mph about a liter every 200 miles.

Incidentally, anyone here have any experience of the new electras? One recurring theme seems to be it takes over 5k miles for the Nicasil barrels to bed in. But as many enfield riders are low mileage sunny weekend warriors information is slow in coming in.

Hello guys. Sorry for resuscitate this thread but I have some question and I hope someone here can help me. :)
I'm planning a trip to southern Argentina and I was thinking "what the hell, let me try to do this trip on my GN125" but I have some questions to the people who already knows how to handle small bikes on big trips.
I'm not a small guy (6'2" and 230 pounds more or less) but I was able to make small trips on my bike (with light luggage) near my hometown, easily maintaining about 40 mph average speed, but now I'm planning an 9,5k miles trip so I need to take extra care planning everything. Can you guys can help me figure it out what to do?

- How much do you guys consider as an reasonable daily mileage on a 125cc? 250 miles per day? I'm considering an 30 mph average speed. That's about right? I was thinking to drop highways all together and stick to the small back roads.

- Riding on roads just like Ruta 40 on those small standard motorcycles can be tricky, I already rode my bike on some dirt roads but the standard tires are pretty crappy on those conditions. Should I try to replace the standard tires with knobies as soon I reach the ripio roads?

- Mountain passes, should I avoid them or I can try to reach Chile?

I know that for a guy like me, an 125cc isn't the best choice but dual-purpose 250cc bikes up likes hondas & yamahas are quite expensive right now in Brazil and I could't I couldn't afford it now. I'd love to have the chance to ride on a second hand DR200 or something like this, but suzuki never sold those small DRs in Brazil, and the 200cc dual bikes made by Honda are pretty crappy (they are to old and sometimes the engine isn't very reliable).

I have not toured on a small motorcycle, yet, but have ridden in South America and think one of your biggest problems will be wind. Even big bikes get blown around a lot and struggle into headwinds so your progress might be slower than you expect, but don't let this stop you making your journey, just bear it in mind.
If you can find some I would fit knobbly tyres, better grip on gravel and more puncture resistant.

Small bike touring is fun! I've just come back from touring a 125 Honda Wave in Thailand. The GN is a good choice, it'll handle dirt roads quite well. Don't worry about the wind, small bikes are probably better. They have a smaller profile so there is less wind pressure, and being light, your body weight is more effective to recover from sudden gusts. I have toured New Zealand on a 50cc Suzuki and a C90 Honda. Everyone is different, but I find about 4-5 hours riding time per day is a good target in the long term. You should be able to average closer to 40mph. You can do more, but even in 4 hours you can ride past a lot of interesting things. And I'll tell you something that's a truism; you will see more and stop more and enjoy more on a small bike. Really, is there any other reason to travel?

Cheers bloke

Nigel in NZ

It can be done...
 

If you do a search through these forums you'll find there are plenty of people who have toured Central and South America on 125cc bikes (or even smaller). Lately I have been following this guy's web page: From Chile to Texas on a Small Motorcycle | Ondrej Jurik

He bought a new Honda CGL-125 in Santiago, Chile, and has spent the last year visiting every country in South and Central America. Yesterday he crossed the border into Guatemala with 33 thousand KM on the bike. Apparently other than just routine maintenance the bike has proven superb.

I think that the cruising speed on a 125 tends to be only about 80 KPH. I have a CBR125, and while it can certainly do 100-110 all day long, it's pretty buzzy. In areas with light traffic I prefer to drop the speed down to 80 or 90 KPH and take my time.

One of the biggest advantages of a small bike is that it is very cheap. I get about 95 MPG - that's less than 3 liters of fuel per 100 KM! And because the 125s are very common as basic transport in Latin America, parts and service are cheap and easy to come by.

The only problem I see is that at 230 pounds you are quite a bit heavier than most folks on a 125, and don't forget you will be packing along plenty of extra weight for clothes, tools, etc.

I think you could do it, but if you have the budget you may want to go to a little bit bigger bike, say a 200cc or 250cc.

I hope to do the same sort of trip, someday.... maybe if I win the lottery or something. :(

Good advice about wearing a high viz jacket. This should stop cars shunting you from behind on fast roads. Personally I'd prefer at least 250cc but a 125cc bike is a fun choice if you intend to kepp off the fast motorways. Stick to single carriageway roads and you will be just fine. :thumbup1:

Hello , since you have to watch your budget and you are a big guy,
i think you will like the "qingqi qm200" in Brasil they are called "sundown"
( i think).
I is basically a suzuki dr200 with different plastics,and they are very very
reliable.
They are chineese made ,but so is the suzuki gn125.
For someone above 100kilo with luggage and a small budget that is "the"
best choise, they are sold in every S.A. country.

Just my 2 cents.

Good luck.

Just wanted to ad this:
My wife's bike is a suzuki gn125,and we have toured Ecuador and Peru ,2up with luggage on that little bike, and it wase big fun,so i think its a great 125cc.
But with all that weight i will take/need more cc"s the next time.

Saludos.

In Brazil sundown doesn't exist anymore, the company went bankrupt and the 200cc DR clones have serious problems of reliability. Unfortunately Suzuki never sold the original DR200 or DR350 in Brazil, if they had, those would be my bikes of choice. The GN125 is slow (painfully slow sometimes) but is a very reliable bike. :thumbup1:

(QUOTE)"DR clones have serious problems of reliability."

I have only heard of some spokes loosening on the qingqi and plastics loosing color after a few years,
people with a small budget seem to like them over here.

But i assume that you got the suzuki gn125 ?
Also good choice!:thumbup1:

Saludos and good luck!

Go for it . You can tour on anything just make sure its reliable. I use a MZ 250 and would't swap it . GS .. waste of space !!:scooter:

If you want we can trade the GN125 for the MZ250. :Beach:
I just love those old smokers. :)

The Brazilian version sold by Sundown have serious problems, for some reason the engine is quite unreliable, the plastics just fall off and the company, sundown, doesn't exist any more, because of this is getting very difficult to get some replacement parts for the bikes. I know a guy who had on STX 200 (the name Sundown used in Brazil for those qingqi 200cc) and the he had a seized engine after 15k kms. Believe me, I don't have any major prejudice against those chinese bikes (like it or not, my bike was also made in China) but Sundown was a really swindler company. I don't know why, but those products sold by Sundown here where quite substandart.

Reviving this thread! As it happens we just bought 2 honda xr125 from eBay in the last couple of weeks. A 2004 and a 2006.
The plan is to ride them from London to Ulaanbaatar... And see if we can put them in the trans Siberian to Moscow. Then ride back home.

We will have 4 months. From end April 2014 to end of August.
They will be put to the test and we will report back.wish us luck! We may need it!

I'm riding around S. America on a Honda CB 150. I wanted a 250 but couldn't find a short enough one in the one day I gave myself to shop.

I have a 25-30lb backpack that I bunjee to the passenger seat and I am having an awesome time down here. 150cc is getting me everywhere I need to go. A bit slow at the really high altitudes, but that gives me more time to enjoy the scenery. I love it!

I ride a Yamaha V-Star 650 at home and will definitely be selling it for to get something lighter (but still 500-650cc for USA roads) when I return. I would hate to ride this far on somethng that heavy.

You'll make it without a doubt. At least you're not going on a GS... bier
And you'll have fun for sure!

Seb, I did the big overland trip with a GS! One year round South America in 2008.
I broke down everywhere, could not make lots of trails as my bike was so heavy... worse bike ever. No one could help with repairs, impossible to find parts, awful BMWs in SA.

Never again BMW!

The wife and I will be leaving OZ for Vietnam early December.
We will be buying a new 125cc Honda Future step through,fitting our throw over panniers filled with clothes,and absolute necessities,and circumnavigating(I hope) the country for the next 3 months.
Compared to the KLR & VeeStrom 650s we use at home its back to basics time again :mchappy: :scooter:

After touring on various small motorcycles over the years, the typical response i get from people is that it is hard-core. I still don't get it, since the key word is easy in the context of touring on small bikes.

• They are easy to handle in challenging situations like heavy city traffic and various offroad conditions. The bike feels more like an extension of my body rather than a machine i have to drive. Makes me smile every time.
  
• They are easy to lift if you drop them, get stuck or whatever. They are easy to drive with almost no vibrations which makes it possible to ride all day long without getting tired. In fact, i have done a ironbutt SS1000 on a 125cc bike with good margin.
  
• They are easy to afford since the purchase price, insurance, fuel consumption and service are far cheaper than big bikes. You can cross a continent on a students budget.

The only hard part is explaining the joy of having one to people on a 1000cc+ machine :)

I'm in the process of finding myself a bike for my upcoming (feb to jun) 4 months tour of Europe.

I found a clean used Varadero 125 for pretty cheap. I'm tempted...

I've never toured on a smaller bike, but I can imagine that a smaller bike means less focus on driving and more focus on the landscape and the trip, which would suit my trip perfectly. Also a smaller bike forces you on secondary roads and will probably help me learn the virtue of taking my time AKA patience ;)

When adding all that to the fuel economy, it just seems like the best option.

The only downside I can see is I won't get the narcissistic pleasure of seeing myself as a badass overlander adventure rider. Another virtue to learn I guess ;)

I hope you're starting off somewhere well to the south and working your way north with the sun!

I've done quite a bit of 125-ing over the last few years and left the larger stuff in the garage. Not for any reason other than the little bike is so much fun to ride, particularly round town. But - and there's always a but- on open roads you'll have more in common with cyclists than bigger bikes. Being overtaken is something you'll need to get used to. And overtaking is something that many people do badly.

While you might enjoy taking your time the pie eating builder in the van following you up the hill is going to push you off the road if he can't get past in the next 20 secs. And the nervous school run mum in the hatchback is going to get half way past and cut in on you when she sees a car 1/2 mile ahead. And as for delivery vans, go faster hatchbacks and "executives" in 4x4s / BMWs / Audis ....... :taz: You should be able to get past tractors ok though! The one group that I've rarely had problems with are HGVs. Believe it or not I've no particular prejudices , just memories.


So, enjoy the countryside (when the snow melts :rofl:) but keep one eye on who's behind you while the other enjoys the scenery. Don't let me put you off though - touring on a 125 is both great fun and by and large cheap. What it isn't is the same as riding slowly on a big bike.

Thank you backofbeyond for thesse tips and warning. That's why touring with a 125 cc equals sticking to secondary roads, although I can imagine that it won't always be possible.

On the contrary my friend I am starting in Ireland. I know it's gonna be cold and wet and I'll be sometime miserable, but my dates are not flexible (work) and Ireland is about the only place where I can buy and register a used motorcycle easily as a foreigner.

My plan is to go straight to the ferry from Ireland to Cherbourg, FR, then make my way to Portugal and south of Spain then make my way around the med coast, only venturing back north when well into spring.

I have accepted that the first leg of my trip will be uncomfortable, but it is the price I have to pay if I want to make that dream happen.

That beign said, I'm from Canada and I rode my bike till december in jeans and leather jacket, it was COLD but I'm gonna have proper riding gear and clothing for the trip so I reckon it will be uncomfortable but not enough to not do it.

:freezing::mchappy::Beach:

p.s: sorry for the bit of :offtopic:

It sounds like you are starting with the right set of ideas and expectations, I have toured on a 125 and enjoyed it for the reasons you state, have a good trip.

Recently done the best part of 3000 miles in a pretty short time on a yamaha wr 125,most of it was loaded with gear and quite a lot of was off road in Spanish Pyrenees..the only thing that came loose or fell off was one seat bolt and that was it..adjusted chain once.the only negative is the suspension feels like its on the budget side,but it was on completly unsuitable terrain for a bike on road tyres..