Finally, the ultimate superlight adventure bike?
 

Honda Trail 125

Here you go, the logical conclusion to every "We need a smaller, lighter, easy to pick up, cheap to buy and run adventure bike" thread! :innocent:

https://powersports.honda.com/street...-1950x1140.jpg

https://powersports.honda.com/street...-2400xauto.jpg

Price is a wee bit steep but I like it.

I had a CT110 and would have been prepared to do a long trip on it had I not prefered my XR125 but I would take one of these.

So are these Chinese Honda`s or Thai Honda`s?

Mezo.

It is light and it is cheap and I like it but for an extra €/$/£1500 and a still very manageable weight of 145kg, the CRF250 Rally seems like a safer bet for any overlanding aspirations.

The CRF's weight and cost are still very realistic for the fan of smaller bikes as well as opening up highway travel.

Still no doubt a very fun and economical bike to ride, but I think they've priced it too high to tempt me to buy one. If I have that kind of cash, there are other contenders that come higher up the list, IMHO.

The CRF may be light, but it still looks like a large bike. It's intimidating for new riders. ;)

This thing? It's got the potential to expand the adventure riding community immensely. Because it looks almost like a mountain bike: "If I get it stuck in the mud... I can just lift it out and carry it to shore!" ;)

And, hey, it and its siblings are priced reasonably against electric bicycles. I know for sure I would rather commute on a Super Cub than on an e-bike! This is the rural equivalent of that. ;)

I have a mountain bike that cost over US$8000 new (I bought it well-used for a bunch less than that). It has no engine, no transmission, no headlight, turn indicators, or horn--not even fenders, brake lights or windscreen, and that $8000 didn't include pedals. It does have a really nice suspension, disc brakes, and it weighs under 25lbs--about 11kg. Official service intervals are around 50 hours, and require full shock rebuilds and other exotic rites.

This is not unusual in the mountain biking world. There are more expensive bikes, and I see them all the time when I'm riding the local trails. Makes even KTMs seem like remarkable bargains.

Just trying for some perspective here.

Mark

Don't get me =wrong, I'm still tempted, but I'm not a new biker. The CRF looks like a diddy bike to me!

On a slight tangent, to feed my motorcycle habit I used to do motorcycle courier work over the summers whilst at Uni'. My first summer the only bike I could afford to ensure was a C90.

One delivery in the business district. The address was down a pedestrianised alley and the area known for ruthless parking wardens. Meanwhile there were many attractive, ladies walking to lunch. So 19yr old me thought "Hmm.... avoid parking fines and impress the ladies!!! What could possibly go wrong?!"

I embraced the bike in a bear hug, squatted and lifted it clean off the ground, to put in the 40cm curb to then wheel it down the alley with me until the delivery was done.

As it made contact with the pavement I smiled to myself smuggly "Hellooooooo, ladies!"

At that moment, it started to tip away from me! I lunged for it, it fell anyway and took me with it. I was now lying on my C90.... That got their attention.

"Goodbyyyyyye, ladies!"

I have never picked up a bike and disappeared out of sight as fast as I did that Thursday lunchtime!

For sure, $3800 for a bike in those terms is not a huge amount. It might not be unusual, but is it usual? My guess is a mountain bike priced at $2000 is already splashing out for many. I may be wrong, but that is my guess.

It did make me smile looking at the brochure from AnTyx's link. It could have been straight out of 1969. 'Fully transistorised' ignition was a big thing back then. The only thing that's missing is the reminder that "you meet the nicest people on a Honda" along the bottom. That's not to say it doesn't have the makings of a decent, small, backroads travel bike but I get the feeling the brochure was probably the most expensive item in the development budget. There can't have been many of the parts that make it up that Honda didn't already have in a spares warehouse somewhere.

Can't see any power output figure in the brochure but I don't suppose it matters that much. There's enough of a max power aftermarket in those small engines that if what it comes with isn't enough someone'll double it for you. Nice little thing though and it can't be long before someone heads off RTW on one.

Same drivetrain as the Grom and Supercub - 7 kW.

So 9.5 - call it 10 - bhp. About the same as my - also 4 speed - vintage Suzuki. So it'll roll along at 50mph or so, which for backroads will be fine. Just kind of surprised to see Honda launching something like it on the US market. The picture of minimalist man getting back to nature by the lake is a far cry from I'd have thought was its natural habitat - somewhere in SE Asia. I wonder how many I'll see strapped to the back of RVs next time I'm in the states?

I included these when thinking about what to do next.

Two things put me off

1. Tyre choice. Matters less than on some 700 lb Behemoth, but did I fancy tubed commuting rubber?

2. Price. They will be heavily discounted like the C125's have been, they aren't going to sell at 18 month old CRF250 money, but I didn't want to wait.

The range and everything else can be sorted.

Maybe next time.

Andy

WOW that’s expensive! I’d go with the 250 ideas as above . . .

Looks quite cool, though.

yeah, very good for senior citizens for shopping or fishing...:innocent:

Well, we're all headed in that direction. Some faster than others.

It's a much better option than sitting in your barcalounger (whatever that is?) and watching TV, no?

.............shu

A bit steep priced. And that exhaust:thumbdown:
But except from that a great alternative lightweight bike for places without highways aka most of the world. And you will get anywhere any other advbike gets, and many other places a big advbike never will be able to go.

Its made in Japan btw. But they sell them in Thailand now and it seems to be very popular there.

Another alternative is the Honda XR190L. Theres an aussie guy called Warro that has several video reviews on that bike.

NOT made in Japan. Made in Thailand according to the Japanese pamphlet I have.


https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...892575133a.jpg

Why does it matter where assembly is?

The parts are Chinese and Indian regardless. The management is either good or it isn't. Honda's have a good reputation.

If a Made in the USA sticker makes you think the product is better give my regards to the 1950's. If you want rubbish employ a lot of Germans who know their tenure is so secure and labour so difficult to recruit they don't have to care. The factories that win awards? Nissan in Sunderland (Japanese and Japanese trained managers, British workers evolved from the mess that was British Leyland) and Hyundai (nearly all Korean and not a nice way to work, but they do it). My Thai built Triumph and Hondas have all been spot on.

Don't kid yourself with labels, let the product do the talking.

Andy

I'll be a senior in a handful more years, and that looks like it might be great for shopping or fishing. Hmm....

Well - you might be correct but according to information from thai dealers and I also read it somewhere and the fact that it was said to be sold in Japan first and then in Thailand - told me it was made in Japan.

But as mentioned above - Hondas made in Thailand are just as good if not better than those made in Japan. So if youre correct it shouldnt be any dealbreaker for anyone.

Alas, even the fuel-injected XR190L is too dirty to be sold in the EU new. Euro 3 at best, as far as I know. Great bike indeed, though - I rented an XR150L in Vietnam and really enjoyed it.

I bought a 150 in India and did 8,500km on it with a passenger great bike, the advantage of a 125cc to Brits is it give a lot more choice of travel insurance, many have a 125cc limit or load the premium to cover larger.

Isn't that a city in Spain?

I'm sorry but it's a pile of crap....!! CRF250 all day long if that's what we are comparing too. There will however be a market for it no doubt, each to there own....:oops2::rain::thumbdown:

Please don’t forget us tall riders during these small bike discussions.
I love the look of this bike and it might be okay to pop to the shops on but for any distance it would have to be a 250 Rally with stiffer rear spring and a raised saddle for me.
:scooter:

This guy who is travelling on a Honda C90 is doing more adventurous stuff and going to more far flung places and riding more adventurous roads than 99,9 % of all other motorbike travellers. In fact - most of what he do wouldnt be possible with a huge tank of an adv bike, especially not transporting it as handluggage on a small sailboat between Panama and Colombia....

Whats not to like about a small travel moto?

https://youtu.be/vPIkvp8_CNQ

But are they manufactured or assembled in Thailand? i don`t have any issues with a Thai person putting a box of bits together, i wan to know who is making the parts.

Is it just the usual Chinese junk put together in Thailand & the only part Japanese is the brand name on the tank? we should be told this.

Mezo.

When tall riders start complaining that bikes are not built for them, we're officially done. :rolleyes2:

Anyway, I'm 180cm and I felt perfectly comfortable sitting on a Super Cub (and going on some pretty bad roads on other scooters).

Reminds me of this very accurate portrayal of diagnosing a KTM's electrical system in the courtyard of a backpacker hostel in Laos.

I would say that this is unfair to the 99.9% of motorbike travellers you speak of (possibly you’re being flippant to make a point).

1 - let’s not forget the Pre-digital travellers: No internet, mobile phones or even land lines in 99% of 3rd world countries - no land lines in a UK bed sit in the early 80s!!
2 - This guy makes his living doing this so: a - he needs an angle, hence the crazy guy, doing crazy things on a crazy bike. b- he has all the time in the world - he doesn’t have to go back to work, he’s already there.
3 - He’s young: he hasn’t built up any responsibilities yet and he’s strong and supple.
4 - Not everyone has the persona or wants to tell the world about their adventures - I’ve met quite a few people who are very unassuming and will only talk about their adventures if asked.
5 - It’s all relative.
bier

1. Yes lets not forget them. Can you name some of them and what they did that are generally totally unknown for the rest of the world?
2. Crazy guy? I cannot see anything crazy with him. You have of course your meaning about him, but it isnt neccesarily more correct than others meanings...
He works with engineering for a living and also leads and guides groups of motorbikes in Vietnam for a living. (You would have known if you had seen the whole video...) Yes he also sells some merchs and also probably get some pennies from his YT videos, but hardly anything to live of.
3. He is young. And so what? Do one have to be old to be an adventurer?
4. Agreed! But so what? We cannot discuss someone that are unknown and wants to be so. Bless them btw.
5. True. But so what?

My point is if you spend 30 k € on a bike and 5 k € on equipement - you doesnt neccesarily get more fun than if you spend 5 or 10 % of that on bike and equipement. On the contrary - the bike is small it can be taken anywhere compared to 250 kilo socalled advbike. Bike cost and daily running and maintainance are peanuts compared to a huge advbike - so you can travel for many years just for that difference. And thus you dont have to go back to work within a year. You dont have to constantly worry about theft, service, how to get spare parts, insurance covering this or that etc etc.

PS - dont be too serious, have fun and travel light...:mchappy:

1 - I know a few, including myself, I wouldn’t put them in the 99.9%.
2 - I’ve watched a couple of his videos and his style is not to my liking - this is just a personal opinion and I won’t say anything bad against him - or anybody else, these are just my thoughts.
3 - He’s young - so has no wife, children, grandchildren, career that’s difficult to take a break from. Again this is not a slight against him and good luck to everyone who makes a living at doing what they enjoy. My point is that not everyone can do it, again those poor 99.9% of motorbike travellers.
4 - Agreed, we cannot discuss them but how will their existence skew the percentage.
5 - I just feel it’s harsh to compare travellers with travellers when everyone’s circumstances are different.

I understand your point and we are in agreement with a lot of them, I just feel it is more complex than that.
There are a lot more reasons than money, why people can’t travel for long periods.

I’m not serious : and will hopefully be travelling light in the future but will have to be on a tall bike.
bier

Lol, it reminds me of those photos you see at pubs, where the guy is about ready to walk in front of an oncoming bus, because a pretty lady distracted his attention.

Your story reminded me of one. In college, someone stole my bike, so I used to roller blade to my college job sometimes. The college mostly sits on the downward slope of a really large hill. One day, I was running more late then usual so rather then play it safe and slowly zig-zag down the hill I decided to go straight down. This was a decision that could have only seemed like a good idea in a 21 year old's mind. After about 5 seconds on the hill, I had accelerated to about 40 mph and immediately saw my life flashing before my eyes if I did not abort quick. Right at that moment, class let out and college students came flooding out of all the buildings. They were just in time to witness my emergency turn into the curb and then the epic wipeout where I rolled about 50 times in the grass. Then I heard a ton of people laughing after I finally came to a stop. Some how I had escaped injury except for bloody hands, and a very bruised ego. Feeling pretty sore, I quickly got up and high tailed it away from there. I'm sure I made the day of all the kids who got to see the crash.


Luckily it was winter and I had a new downfilled coat that provided lots of padding. It got ripped and damaged in a couple places but held up pretty well considering. Looking back on that one, man, was I lucky to not walk away with broken bones from that one. There were not a lot of grassy areas, so it was fortunate that I was able to time it right and hit the one I did. All those years of playing hockey definitely helped me through that one.

This aussie bloke have bought one of these Honda Ct Hunter Cubs and he is doing some testrides on them which he films and posts on Youtube. He has owned and tested a lot of bikes up through the years, 33 bikes the last 8 years and he says this about the Hunter Cub:

«I have had more fun the past week on this great little machine than with the 33 bikes I have bought over the last 8 years»

https://youtu.be/XRR3oEQNQwA

Thats pretty good words on this bike....:scooter:

I will agree with this point. I've watched most of Ed's videos and found them amazing and informative, but after a while the whole "I'm a wild and ka-razy guy" shtick starts to wear me down. If I was touring with him, I think we'd be punching each other in the teeth after about two weeks! :rofl:

And approx 60 kms pr liter of fuel isnt bad fuel milage either...:scooter:

https://youtu.be/QZssMIdIqcU

That would be approx 170 mpg imperial and 141,5 mpg US if I calculated correctly....

Yet, the bike's tank is barely over that imperial gallon, IINM.

I like good economy, for sure, but I much prefer it married to a decent tank size. 5 litres is it? Admittedly the existing 300 range is pretty good, but still....given where the tank is located, I don't think it would have been a technological barrier to take it out to 7 or even 8 litres.

That would mean a range of 400-480 km.

Perhaps it's just my penchant for a good range, but that's a missed opportunity IMHO.

Reserve tank?

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...cffa07d971.jpg


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It looks like it would be a great little bike for if you lived on an island. Or maybe a bike to keep at your cabin.

He-he, when guys complain about fuel range on this bike you know they take it seriously...:clap:

Well - Honda has increased the fuel tanke size from the Supercub which this Hunter Cub is based on from 3,7 liters on the Supercub to 5,3 liters on this. So wether it would have been possible to make it even bigger I dont know, but maybe youre correct.

I would personally like to see a shopping basket possibility in the front. Then one could have a place to carry a liter or two of extra fuel on really long stretches if needed....