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Honda C90, Innova 125, or new WAVE110Ii Honda C90, Innova 125, or new WAVE110Ii
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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 19 Aug 2012
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Honda C90, Innova 125, or new WAVE110Ii
Thinking about buying one these bikes for UK to South Africa- was going to do it on my pushbike before a knee injury put paid to that 2000km into trip -so not worried about speed. Also have all kit I need and could carry this on the pushbike so am sure these bikes will cope.
Which one of the three would you choose if you had to and why? OR is there a more common small bike sold in Africa that might be more suitable? (Not really interested in Chinese copies -they seem fairly unreliable). Low cost, good mpg, reliability and spares/ease of getting bike sorted if problems, would be main priorities for me - speed isn't - 30 mph is about three times faster than I can go on a loaded pushbike, and I am sure they will be a lot faster going uphill!
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  #2  
Old 19 Aug 2012
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to the HUBB !

Any of these seem a pretty safe choice, not sure what Honda 90 you talk about but the Innova or wave seem pretty sound.
Have a good trip.
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  #3  
Old 19 Aug 2012
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All are good but rember the Innova is fuel injected rather than carbed.....which means its not easily fixable ( by you) at the side of the road should it go wrong.

Me and Nadsicles have just done London to Ulan Bataar on Chinese Syms (110 C90 copies) and they were fab. Cheap too. And much easier to source than C90s.
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  #4  
Old 20 Aug 2012
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c90
The c90 is bullet proof and lasts forever, they're easy to fix with a basic tool kit and return a very respectable fuel consumption.Spares are easily available and there are owners clubs and forums etc for advice and support. I have put a few miles in two up on one of these and it coped pretty good as long as high speed is not important to you. The bad news is the petrol tank is really small so you will need to carry extra, the good news is they are incredibly good fun to ride once you get used to the semi auto gear change
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Old 20 Aug 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Belle View Post
All are good but rember the Innova is fuel injected rather than carbed.....which means its not easily fixable ( by you) at the side of the road should it go wrong.

Me and Nadsicles have just done London to Ulan Bataar on Chinese Syms (110 C90 copies) and they were fab. Cheap too. And much easier to source than C90s.
Read your blog and thought you had quite serious (fairly expensive) engine trouble with one of the bikes? Would you say there where as reliable as a japanese bike?

. Have had a look at some C90's but a lot of owners seem to want high prices for old, worn out bikes.

Looking at a local Honda XR125L tommorrow as looks low miles and fairly decent price - plus i'm a slightly bigger bloke - not as economic on fuel but fairly bulletproof from what I have read.

Thanks for those that replied - went with the XR125L- bought today. 4500 miles, 2008 model with one or two useful mods. Hopefully won't regret the descion! Now to planning the trip by motorcycle! Think I will be posting/looking on these boards a lot. Want to leave a.s.a.p. - b ut have a feeling beginning of October maybe too optimistic.
Last edited by paul1962; 20 Aug 2012 at 18:14.
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Old 21 Aug 2012
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All I can add is that my PGM-FI Honda 125 cc Pantheon did not miss a beat in 10000 km. Fuel injection seems to work, good performance, nice fuel efficiency.

Besides that, paul1962, I think the XR125L might be the better option, if only that fueling up is easier, not to mention better suspension and the exhaust positioned higher up.

If Honda made a 250 cc twin Varadero just like the 125 cc version I´d be all over it.

Belle, I read your blog. Congratulations on two epic trips in a row!
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Old 21 Aug 2012
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Well done Paul - you're almost there now!

And thanks Pete - just sitting here trying to work out if I can get away with a third excursion this year.......
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  #8  
Old 21 Aug 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by paul1962 View Post
Thinking about buying one these bikes for UK to South Africa- was going to do it on my pushbike before a knee injury put paid to that 2000km into trip -so not worried about speed. Also have all kit I need and could carry this on the pushbike so am sure these bikes will cope.
Which one of the three would you choose if you had to and why? OR is there a more common small bike sold in Africa that might be more suitable? (Not really interested in Chinese copies -they seem fairly unreliable). Low cost, good mpg, reliability and spares/ease of getting bike sorted if problems, would be main priorities for me - speed isn't - 30 mph is about three times faster than I can go on a loaded pushbike, and I am sure they will be a lot faster going uphill!

I'm a bit confused here, you ask for opinions about step throughs then buy a small trail bike ? having said that the bike you've bought will be a better option for the trip your doing, but if you were thinking of a proper bike why not go for something just a bit bigger like a yamaha serow or honda xr250/400 or something similar, whatever, have a good trip. Best advice from me is don't fret too much about the mode of transport, for me it the journey that counts...enjoy
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  #9  
Old 21 Aug 2012
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Simple - I'm on a tight budget and haven't got a lot of time to waste to get up and going and spend weeks looking around at bikes, just having my knee go wonky 2000km into the trip, on my bicycle -every week spent in the UK means less time spent travelling.
Carnet is 8 x value of bike for Eygpt - so had an absolute max of £1500 budget for bike. I want something low cost and economical with good fuel consumption. There where C90's, Innova's and Waves available locally, this was an option I was looking at, however the XR125L came up at the right price. No bigger bikes meeting my criteria available locally - did look for Serrows but none around and probably out of my price bracket, although - I did think riding a Ducati 900ss through Africa may have been fun! (I could have got a 12,000 miler 2000 model, with S/H for £1500 - just the cost of insuring and running it put me off! and the thought of riding it through Africa.)
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Old 22 Aug 2012
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Good luck on your journey, Paul. If you don´t mind, what did you pay for the Honda? I looked used ones up on mobile.de and they were not exactly cheap.

Belle, you are giving me a serious case of travel envy!!
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  #11  
Old 16 Feb 2013
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update
Hi this has really caught my attension im looking to take my c90 away this summer ive racked up 7000 in 5 months to and from work trying to learn the maintance ....but nothing has gone wrong ha

Can you let me know how youve progressed???
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