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

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

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.

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

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http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com

http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

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

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Dave

Ta-daa!

Honda Varadero 125 : 2007 Model Year

Not bloomin' cheap though!

Although I expect second hand they'll be OK.

Matt

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http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com

http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

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

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rust & dust

Hey Toby,
You will find this relevant and interesting:

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

Dave

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Dave

Lois on the Loose - Packed and Ready to Go

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Chris
www.motocrossafrica.co.uk

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

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The mouth of a perfectly contented man is filled with . -- 2200 BC Egyptian inscription

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

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.

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Jan Krijtenburg

My bikes are a Honda GoldWing GL1200 and a Harley-Davidson FXD Dyna Super Glide

My personal homepage with trip reports: https://www.krijtenburg.nl/
YouTube channel (that I do together with one of my sons): motormobilist.nl

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

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www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/robbo

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