If you want we can trade the GN125 for the MZ250. :Beach:
I just love those old smokers. :)

The Brazilian version sold by Sundown have serious problems, for some reason the engine is quite unreliable, the plastics just fall off and the company, sundown, doesn't exist any more, because of this is getting very difficult to get some replacement parts for the bikes. I know a guy who had on STX 200 (the name Sundown used in Brazil for those qingqi 200cc) and the he had a seized engine after 15k kms. Believe me, I don't have any major prejudice against those chinese bikes (like it or not, my bike was also made in China) but Sundown was a really swindler company. I don't know why, but those products sold by Sundown here where quite substandart.

Reviving this thread! As it happens we just bought 2 honda xr125 from eBay in the last couple of weeks. A 2004 and a 2006.
The plan is to ride them from London to Ulaanbaatar... And see if we can put them in the trans Siberian to Moscow. Then ride back home.

We will have 4 months. From end April 2014 to end of August.
They will be put to the test and we will report back.wish us luck! We may need it!

I'm riding around S. America on a Honda CB 150. I wanted a 250 but couldn't find a short enough one in the one day I gave myself to shop.

I have a 25-30lb backpack that I bunjee to the passenger seat and I am having an awesome time down here. 150cc is getting me everywhere I need to go. A bit slow at the really high altitudes, but that gives me more time to enjoy the scenery. I love it!

I ride a Yamaha V-Star 650 at home and will definitely be selling it for to get something lighter (but still 500-650cc for USA roads) when I return. I would hate to ride this far on somethng that heavy.

You'll make it without a doubt. At least you're not going on a GS... bier
And you'll have fun for sure!

Seb, I did the big overland trip with a GS! One year round South America in 2008.
I broke down everywhere, could not make lots of trails as my bike was so heavy... worse bike ever. No one could help with repairs, impossible to find parts, awful BMWs in SA.

Never again BMW!

The wife and I will be leaving OZ for Vietnam early December.
We will be buying a new 125cc Honda Future step through,fitting our throw over panniers filled with clothes,and absolute necessities,and circumnavigating(I hope) the country for the next 3 months.
Compared to the KLR & VeeStrom 650s we use at home its back to basics time again :mchappy: :scooter:

After touring on various small motorcycles over the years, the typical response i get from people is that it is hard-core. I still don't get it, since the key word is easy in the context of touring on small bikes.

• They are easy to handle in challenging situations like heavy city traffic and various offroad conditions. The bike feels more like an extension of my body rather than a machine i have to drive. Makes me smile every time.
  
• They are easy to lift if you drop them, get stuck or whatever. They are easy to drive with almost no vibrations which makes it possible to ride all day long without getting tired. In fact, i have done a ironbutt SS1000 on a 125cc bike with good margin.
  
• They are easy to afford since the purchase price, insurance, fuel consumption and service are far cheaper than big bikes. You can cross a continent on a students budget.

The only hard part is explaining the joy of having one to people on a 1000cc+ machine :)

I'm in the process of finding myself a bike for my upcoming (feb to jun) 4 months tour of Europe.

I found a clean used Varadero 125 for pretty cheap. I'm tempted...

I've never toured on a smaller bike, but I can imagine that a smaller bike means less focus on driving and more focus on the landscape and the trip, which would suit my trip perfectly. Also a smaller bike forces you on secondary roads and will probably help me learn the virtue of taking my time AKA patience ;)

When adding all that to the fuel economy, it just seems like the best option.

The only downside I can see is I won't get the narcissistic pleasure of seeing myself as a badass overlander adventure rider. Another virtue to learn I guess ;)

I hope you're starting off somewhere well to the south and working your way north with the sun!

I've done quite a bit of 125-ing over the last few years and left the larger stuff in the garage. Not for any reason other than the little bike is so much fun to ride, particularly round town. But - and there's always a but- on open roads you'll have more in common with cyclists than bigger bikes. Being overtaken is something you'll need to get used to. And overtaking is something that many people do badly.

While you might enjoy taking your time the pie eating builder in the van following you up the hill is going to push you off the road if he can't get past in the next 20 secs. And the nervous school run mum in the hatchback is going to get half way past and cut in on you when she sees a car 1/2 mile ahead. And as for delivery vans, go faster hatchbacks and "executives" in 4x4s / BMWs / Audis ....... :taz: You should be able to get past tractors ok though! The one group that I've rarely had problems with are HGVs. Believe it or not I've no particular prejudices , just memories.


So, enjoy the countryside (when the snow melts :rofl:) but keep one eye on who's behind you while the other enjoys the scenery. Don't let me put you off though - touring on a 125 is both great fun and by and large cheap. What it isn't is the same as riding slowly on a big bike.

Thank you backofbeyond for thesse tips and warning. That's why touring with a 125 cc equals sticking to secondary roads, although I can imagine that it won't always be possible.

On the contrary my friend I am starting in Ireland. I know it's gonna be cold and wet and I'll be sometime miserable, but my dates are not flexible (work) and Ireland is about the only place where I can buy and register a used motorcycle easily as a foreigner.

My plan is to go straight to the ferry from Ireland to Cherbourg, FR, then make my way to Portugal and south of Spain then make my way around the med coast, only venturing back north when well into spring.

I have accepted that the first leg of my trip will be uncomfortable, but it is the price I have to pay if I want to make that dream happen.

That beign said, I'm from Canada and I rode my bike till december in jeans and leather jacket, it was COLD but I'm gonna have proper riding gear and clothing for the trip so I reckon it will be uncomfortable but not enough to not do it.

:freezing::mchappy::Beach:

p.s: sorry for the bit of :offtopic:

It sounds like you are starting with the right set of ideas and expectations, I have toured on a 125 and enjoyed it for the reasons you state, have a good trip.

Recently done the best part of 3000 miles in a pretty short time on a yamaha wr 125,most of it was loaded with gear and quite a lot of was off road in Spanish Pyrenees..the only thing that came loose or fell off was one seat bolt and that was it..adjusted chain once.the only negative is the suspension feels like its on the budget side,but it was on completly unsuitable terrain for a bike on road tyres..