I asked them to quote me on the Honda Super Cub 125

I personally don't get the obsession with slow and gutless small capacity bikes.

Unless it's all you can ride due to licence, age or legal restriction; why would you ride something so dull, slow and tedious.

Lightweight, yes !! I get that. But they don't weigh significantly less than a 250cc or 300cc

Enlighten me.

After touring on a bicycle small motorcycle travel seems very attractive, it is a half way house of having to take the same small roads as a bicycle but moving slightly faster and without the effort, it also depends on where you are as well, my last motorcycle tour was Pakistan, India and Nepal on 150cc bikes mostly with a passenger and they were totally up to the task.

Up to the task, sure. But optimal for the task ?

It still doesn't make sense why you'd go for a 125/150 when you could have a 250. They pretty much weigh the same but the 250 would be far less tiresome.

1. A 125 cc bike can cruise at a speed of 70-75, maybe 80 km/h. In very big parts of the world except Europe, north America, Australia and a few other road stretches the cruising speed of a 125 cc bike would be more than enough to ride the local speed limits and follow the local traffic. In for example Indonesia where I spent 3,5 months I estimate the average speed was 40 km/h. I cant emphasise enough how lost a + 1000 cc bike would be there. The 125 on the other hand would be fantastic there!

2. Fuel economy - the biggest expense I had when riding around the world was fuel costs. My 650 cc bike would get 20-25 kms to the liter, a 250 cc would get 30-35 kms to the liter, the CT125 seems to get 60-65 kms out of one liter fuel. And that would be a very important aspect of a small bike for me.

3. My penis has a adequate size, thus I dont need any penis enhancement to ride on. I have noticed many other do....

Where can I buy a 250 in Europe that isn't either Chinese dross, ancient or race spec? I suspect we are talking 20HP vs 7 HP, but still they don't import the 300's in any sort of choice either.

Having to think about the journey adds something. The train is an adequate tool and one that I can drink beer on and read a book at that but I keep that for other trips.

I am hearing scary estimates of CT125 insurance costs though and there is a limit to cost over interest for me.

Andy

A CRF300L (closest road-legal one) is almost twice the price of a Super Cub 125. Much taller, no storage/rack, way more intimidating for a new rider.

I keep thinking of renting bikes in Vietnam. Everyone there rides scooters - on bad rural roads - and my XR150 was a Big Bike. A CRF250 would be unnecessarily big by any local standards.

So there is definitely a place for a trail-focused 125 scooter.

That reminds me of an interesting observation... In many places around Asia, you will find that scooter rentals by the hour/day are ridiculously cheap. The list price, however, is supplemented by the fact that they are issued with about a liter of fuel in the tank... You fill up at some point in your day, and of course you're just going to fill it up - why not, it's only five liters at the absolute maximum - and you will return it with a nearly-full tank. A nice little side income that I don't even begrudge them. :)

Rumours about a CT150 Hunter Cub in this japanese magasine...
https://young-machine.com/2021/04/22...QFoKoU0Tcj5SxU

But I must admit my japanese skills are non existent so I dont know what the article says....

Another point about small bikes, particularly for Brits and this one does not tick that box is the price and availability of travel insurance, there is a fair choice of policies that cover up to 125cc but not too many that cover for larger and that do are somewhat more expensive.

250 in Europe
 

Up in the land of The Vikings.
We have some that are almost new. But very few.
But the UK (Europe but not EU) imported Yamaha XT 225/250

Suzuki DL 250. 2017-2020 (2019 !)
https://www.blocket.se/annons/skane/...0_abs/82419222

Honda CRF 250 L (race spec ?)
https://www.blocket.se/annons/gotebo...rally/94890252


Kawasaki KLX 230/250 (rare)
https://www.blocket.se/annons/dalarn...x_230/86555305

Very different from SE Asia and South America. (Honda has a factory in Brazil that produces a lot of nice and small models. But those, we don't see in Europe. With few exceptions in Portugal. But those are ancient ones. Before Euro x)

https://www.honda.com.br/motos/xre-190

Thats a valid point. And I guess most of Europe/EU have a 125 cc rule/limit for driving licenses, insurances etc etc. So a 150 cc bike will be just over the 125 cc limit and thus most probably not a bike many would have bought in Europe.

On the other hand I personally wouldnt have used a 125/150 cc bike for travelling in Europe. For south-east Asia and south and central America (and possibly for most of Africa although I have never been there and thus dont know the road standards there but I imagine a 125/150 would be useful for most of that continent) I do think a 125/150 cc bike would be a good choice for those of us who doesnt need to ride +100 km/h most of the time in these above mentioned places....

WANTED: Honda Trail CT125 for the TATrail...
 

I live in Northern-Northern California and, am
Willing to purchase anywhere West of
The Continental Divide, with
Bus or Train service...

A long time ago, before the testosterone fulled, 'adventure' , motorcyclists breed was ever conceived:rolleyes:, a wonderful little lady did it on a Yahama 125.
Here she is (on the right) with Lois on the left.
Forgot to say that her name is Catherine - last heard of living la dolce vita in Brittany, Froggo land

While undoubtedly bad form to quote one's self, but given the gap I thought forgivable, but I've put my money where my mouth is.

Not a CT though, the import stuff and other paperwork didn't seem worth it, a standard C125.

I want something I can ride all year and maybe do a few winter trips on, so the added protection of leg shields is a bonus.

I'll report back occasionally on how the whole light weight low speed low cost stuff goes.

Currently at the stage of trying not to double it's weight by adding stuff that might be useful.

Andy