Let me get this out of the way and say I'm looking at this as more of a bicycle touring trip but on a scooter..

Taking bicycle routes, avoiding highways when possible.. wanting to see the small towns and villages along the way.. not race by everything on the highway at 70+mph.

The Trip:

I'm seriously thinking of doing the lower 48 states, up to Alaska and then down through all the countries on the way to Argentina..

Probably 1.5 - 2+/- year trip..

Mostly camping along the way.. except in big cities (hostels/Couchsurfing)

I'd like to do it on a 49cc Honda Ruckus or maybe the 125cc Honda Grom, probably buy used as I may need to donate/scrap/sell at a heavy discount at the end..

As I'm not sure how easy/hard it would be to find a foreign buyer.. or maybe not worth the money to ship back. Anyone?

Thoughts.. and questions..

Seems the Grom gets a lot better MPG at 134 vs 114.. even at a 40,000+/- trip that's only an extra $150 in fuel, no biggie.. unless I'm missing something?

Anyone know what one will be more reliable?

Cheaper parts? Easier to fix? (Outside the USA)

Ground clearance is about the same.. which one is more "off road worthy"?

I'm really curious on if the Grom is dirt road and rock, off road worthy?

I have no idea on the tire and suspension differences between the two bikes?

Ruckus twist and go vs shifting of gears, not sure if this is a big deal or not as I haven't rode a shifting bike yet.. (only semi-auto (Honda Wave 110cc) Thoughts?

Anyone here done a long tour on a scooter or 125cc or lower bike?

Any other thoughts or considerations?

To answer your question yes they have, the name Ed March springs to mind and there are others. You are looking at this the same way that I have with my trips on a 125cc Honda, after several long trips on a BMW 800 I did a couple of bicycle tours which I enjoyed but thought a small motorcycle a good compromise. As you plan to do I look for the same routes I would take by bicycle and usually do 100-200 miles a day maximum, it is a great way to travel and allows for much longer trips on a small budget and you get to see more when you are not speeding along on a freeway.
I would look and see what bikes are sold in the countries you are planning to cross, I use a Honda XR125L which is sold in South America but I am not sure about the North, the Grom is worth considering and one I have thought about for a trip after reading someone else's ride report on one.
Honda reliability is usually pretty good on all models so it comes down to which one you are most comfortable on.

https://advrider.com/f/threads/tat-2...ition.1324638/

http://https://www.advpulse.com/adv-...-or-crazy-fun/

Have a look at Kiwigrom on Youtube, they did the TAT on Groms

I ve done long distance trips in small bikes in south america: 110cc 2 strokes, 200cc 2 strokes, 125 & 250cc 4 strokes. In patagonia the wind slowed down the 125 too much, I personally found it too underpowered, the 250 did much better. I used a Honda tornado. The key will be to really avoid main roads, cars travel @90 mph, a slow bike could be dangerous; the 250 strugled to pass cars or trucks in open roads. For gravel, sand and mud a 21 or 19 inch front tyre is useful. Ultimately any bike will work, with more or less hassle.

Check this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...ature=emb_logo

We all know that someone did that one day. I will never try that because the little scooter is too limited.

- roads up to12,000 to 16,000 feet in Peru and Bolivia
- wind up to 60 m/h in Patagonia.
- Try to ride a scooter in Colombia you will get run out of the road
quicly. I know locals do that everyday, but you don't have their skills

There are heaps of people who have done long distance touring on small motorbikes/scooters. Dominica from Czeck republic travelled south America on a 50 cc Honda Zoomer. Now she is travelling Japan on a 100-125 cc bike: https://www.facebook.com/DominikaNaCeste/

Nathan Millward has travelled Australia to UK on a aussie postie bike, 70, 90, 110 cc or whatever those are.

There was a swedish guy passing through Myanmar and Thailand on his way RTW or maybe Australia a couple of months ago on a Honda MSX which is called Groom in the USA I belive. He was doing just fine and had a great trip so far.

There was a brasilian guy on a Honda Wave 110 on the HUBB meeting in Nakusp last summer who had travelled most of the world on such a bike. He was on his second bike I think though...

And many many many more have done so too of course. Im sure their travels has been as rewarding as anyone elses trip if not more. Take it slow and take in more. Whats the point speeding down the Panam at +100 kms/h and see nothing?

Dominica struggled a bit up in 4-5000 meters altitude in the Andes with her tiny 50 cc bike though. So I might have gond for a + 100 cc bike.

Just do it mate, you will have the time of your life! Just wait until this covid19 hysteria has passed though...

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

As there are quite a few people that have done such a trip on a pedal cycle I don't see why there would be any problem of doing the trip on a small motorcycle / scooter - it just takes time.

As regards Patagonia, some people would recommend that you travel in the early morning when the winds are lower.

I ran into a couple on the Haul Road up to Prudhoe Bay on Honda step-through 90's with 110cc Chinese repolacement motors. They were half-way through a RTW ride and told me of having once shipped their bikes AS LUGGAGE on an international flight! You can do it with a "bicyclist's attitude" because your choice of route and expectations for distance will be properly adjusted...and you won't have to pedal!

Every couple years in the Yukon, or Alaska, I would see or meet someone riding all the way north on a Postie or other small bike. Always very upbeat travelers, maybe the most so as they had lengthy times to complete there travels. Last 2 I can remember meeting were a Mexican couple on Honda CT's and an Aussie on a 25 year old small scooter that I didn't know the make of, who'd bought the bike in Toronto in the spring and we met him on the Dempster in August. We camped with this young man who was out there without any gps or bear spray, with very light weight camping gear.

So all I'm adding is that these adventurist riders only have the smallest amount of gear with them. I

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I have noticed that scooters and tiny bikes bring a smile to everyone's face.



Except mine




I think a true "traveler" who rides a scooter thru countries will have a blast but most "motorcyclists" will long for a different bike the whole time.

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