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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.
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I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Hendi Kaf,
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  • 1 Post By Threewheelbonnie
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  #1  
Old 5 Apr 2013
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Smile Mad as a box of frogs ?
Hello to all ,first time posting something so awaiting remarks and general piss taking ( but hey that's half the fun !!)
any hoo ,was thinking about something odd ( as you do ! carefull lets not go there ! ) thinking of buying a cbf 125 and doing a lands end to john'o just for sh@@S and giggles ! any one done it ? was it a laugh ? or was it just a " seemed a good idea " type of gig !
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Old 5 Apr 2013
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Why not? I doubt you'd be the first to try it on a CBF.
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Old 5 Apr 2013
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30 mph cruising is great fun so long as you are doing it for the right reasons. Take your time, enjoy the scenery, eat in village pubs, avoid motorways, get the challenge from packing light and navigating without the help of signposts.

I don't know of any CBF's doing this but I know of BSA Bantams, Honda C90's and 150cc MZ's. A Honda 125 should be a decent ride.

Go for it.

Andy
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Old 5 Apr 2013
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I was curious so did some Googling:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land's_..._o'_Groats

Sounds like fun.
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Old 6 Apr 2013
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In 1953, Triumph directors, Edward Turner, Bob Fearon and Alex Masters rode 149cc OHV Triumph Terriers from Land's End to John O'Groats in a publicity stunt known as the Gaffers' Gallop.

I had a 1959 200cc cub developed from the Terrier and it was a grand little bike. I went all over the UK with it. ( at a steady 45mph and over 100 Mpg
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Old 6 Apr 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Threewheelbonnie View Post

I don't know of any CBF's doing this but I know of BSA Bantams, Honda C90's and 150cc MZ's. A Honda 125 should be a decent ride.

Go for it.

Andy
At least one Bantam ride was with the 125cc version IIRC.
I can't think of anything slower, other than walking.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BSA_Bantam
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Old 6 Apr 2013
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Originally Posted by Walkabout View Post
At least one Bantam ride was with the 125cc version IIRC.
I can't think of anything slower, other than walking.
Bicycle. Many have done it by bicycle.
Public transport. A few have done it this way too....

It is your trip. Do it and enjoy.
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Old 6 Apr 2013
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The CBF 125 is a great little bike and should be more than up to LEJOG. If one can get Simon Gandolfi all around India, it can get someone from one end of Great Britain to the other.

It occurs to me though that that might not be what you want to hear, maybe you're after something more obscure, more challenging, in which case why not try a Solex? That would be something a bit more unusual.
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Old 6 Apr 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Warin View Post
Bicycle. Many have done it by bicycle.
Public transport. A few have done it this way too....

It is your trip. Do it and enjoy.
It's not actually - it's in the mind of the OP.

While the link in post number 4 gives quite a bit of detail of the various records that have been set, I am sure in my own mind that the modern-day-lycra-clad-"Lance Armstrong"-on-performance-enhancing-stuff will get there faster than any of the Bantams that I rode nearly 50 years ago; those bikes were owned by my employer at the time and they were very abused (in fairness to the Bantam model, and BSA).
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Old 6 Apr 2013
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In my case the Bantam would be faster on account of the heart attack caused by the thought of lycra and a push bike.

Rather OT, Records seem to have become rather pointless now all the good ones have been done. First mono-testicled Special Friend to do JOGLE on a blue D-reg C90 starting on a Tuesday in May, may be a record that is there to be gained, but I think I'd rather just enjoy the ride.

Andy
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Old 6 Apr 2013
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It seems that at least one other person has already done this on a CBF125:

Lands End To John O'Groats On A Honda CBF125!

Quote:
Before I forget, one of the main reasons to do this trip was to see exactly how good the little CBF125 really is. I have to admit that ever since it was launched back in December last year I have loved the little fella. However, after covering 1750miles in 5 days my opinion has changed, but only for the better. It cruised all day at 65 miles per hour, it would over take on the flat at 75 mph and I managed to achieve a top speed of 84mph, not the fastest I’ve ever been but when you remember this is a 125cc engine it puts it all into prospective. From Lands End to John O’Groats we achieved 105mpg inclusive of the steep inclines in the highlands. Point to point on the motorway cruising at 65mph we achieved 132mpg.

The CBF125 is a lovely little bike to ride; it’s light, nippy, fun and most of all commanding. The upright position and the “big bike” feel means that you have confidence in the vehicle and an ability to assess the roads ahead. It’s certainly not a sports bike but once you remember to back off on the throttle it will hug the corner superbly. It’s really not the most suitable bike to be going long distance touring on, I still have various body parts which are struggling to achieve a normal range of movement, however I really don’t thing we would have had as much of an adventure or raised as much money if we set out to do Lands End to John O’Groats on a Pan European, That would just have been a Holiday.
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Old 7 Apr 2013
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Originally Posted by Threewheelbonnie View Post
In my case the Bantam would be faster on account of the heart attack caused by the thought of lycra and a push bike.

Rather OT, Records seem to have become rather pointless now all the good ones have been done. First mono-testicled Special Friend to do JOGLE on a blue D-reg C90 starting on a Tuesday in May, may be a record that is there to be gained, but I think I'd rather just enjoy the ride.

Andy
In contrast, all the bantams I rode were knackered with blown crank gaskets (what a design!!) thereby losing the two stroke compression via said gasket. None of them could do a 1000, or so, miles.
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Old 8 Apr 2013
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I once bought a bantam 125cc because it was cheap, but regretted it long before I got home. Which was about a mile.
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Old 8 Apr 2013
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125 ccm touring is great if you ride the roads less traveled.

I am not sure that my new to me 500 ccm GS500E will beat my lowly Honda FES 125 scooter in any department besides speed.

By all means go for your trip and post many images!
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