pepperami Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 After reading a thread on here and thinking about it, i have decided to tour East Anglia on a small bike . Why use a small bike i hear you say? well because it`s a challenge and a lot cheaper than using my ZXR and i dont trust my XS400 yet plus i am unemployed so i need to keep costs down. i have been reading up on this and some people have done some impressive tours on little bikes, like Lands End to John O`Groats or to spain and back!! I am going to start off small, ie 100 mile overnighters and see how it goes? if things go well i will then start to branch out into bigger tours that are further away from my home. i`ve been looking for weeks for a cheap & cheerful small bore yam (single cylinder, less than 250cc) but they hold thier prices and i have not found anything in my price range (£250 max)unless it`s been a real donkey! So i`ve got a Honda CG125 lined up for this adventure. i looked at YB100`s RS100`s RSX100`s DT`s of various sizes but theres nothing out there thats a real bargain , thats how i ended up going for this little Honda. have any of you lot done anything like this? what problems did you come up against? any good tips? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackhat250 Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Aye pepper " its a nice thot , its the adventurer in us eh. doing a trip on a small cheaper bike , adds to the "will it make it there and back" exitment,, Search out Foamys posts " Ireland on a 50" read up on all the pro"s and cons , keepn up with the traffic is the biggest danger . it was ok for us in the 1970s, our DTs & RDs could out run most cars then [ VIVAS" MINORS" ESCORTS" MINIS,] but road speed is more hectic nowadays , so the little 100cc bikes get in the road of impatient cagers,, Plan it tho, u might get a few takers, were plannig a" mopeds go West" this summer Cuple of Fs1e"s- ap50s. auld bikers reliving our past, But roads are quieter up here , than the rat race down south, >I remember traveling on M25 at MIDNIGHT , AND GOT STUCK IN A TRAFFIC JAM . dont them fkers go to bed i said to my mate, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Airhead Posted January 17, 2010 Moderator Share Posted January 17, 2010 Great idea mate, the little Honda will no doubt be upto the job. Do an oil change, and new battery chain & sprockets if needed. Shouldnt be too dear on this...Ooh and take a chain lube on the trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepperami Posted January 17, 2010 Author Share Posted January 17, 2010 >I remember traveling on M25 at MIDNIGHT , AND GOT STUCK IN A TRAFFIC JAM . dont them fkers go to bed i said to my mate, M25?? oh! you mean our massive car-park hopfully i wont be that far south. i`m looking at North Norfolk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackhat250 Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Nofolk" nice part of the country , av never been, wud love to travel them parts ,, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepperami Posted January 17, 2010 Author Share Posted January 17, 2010 i`v been to Edinbugh, Glasgow, Stirling, Inverness, Loch Lomond, and a few other places in bonny Scotland. trust me!! you have nicer touring country where you are than i have here. that said North Norfolk is nice in it`s own funny way... i suppose it`s a case of you/we always look further afield than where we live?and think about how we would like to have a look.. i`ll be back there one day when i do the Lands end to John O`groats, but not on a CG125 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepperami Posted January 17, 2010 Author Share Posted January 17, 2010 Nofolk" nice part of the country , av never been, wud love to travel them parts ,, ???? would you be interested?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackhat250 Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 ???? would you be interested?? Am planning a raid over the border this year,, gonna meet up with Drwps & O.G. who kno"s ,, see how the wrk goes and, wot the Tax man lets me away with Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard_Bolton Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Haha, that sounds amazing... I am wanting to do something like this, but my only fear is breaking down on a smaller bike with an unknown cause/ problem like my GP100! Heard all good about this little bike, and the GP125! My plans were to do something small like spain and back maybe on 125-250cc Good think about 2 strokes... usually... is easy to repair... rich coming from myself having many problems so far but im slowly learning, which is why i bought the bike! was either that or Honda C90 but they have reached classic collectors status! damn... lol Keep us updated on your plans would quite like to hear them! Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepperami Posted January 18, 2010 Author Share Posted January 18, 2010 i am trying not to leave everything till the last minute...so i have been looking at maps today, to try to come up with some destinations??? the thing is i hav`nt even taken delivery of the bike yet ... but i know it`s coming soon as the deal is already struck. i have to get all the other bits together as well.... things like panniers, rack, tankbag, & maybe a small flyscreen? i have all the camping gear already because i go night-fishing, so a fair bit of that stuff can be used. i have a blackbelt in being a pussy so i am not going to do this for a few months yet, so hopefuly the weather will improve. that way i might not need so much wet weather gear (i hope), i hope i`m not tempting fate here!!! next step after deciding exactly where i am going is to find campsites in those areas.. i am also thinking about trying to rig up my sat-nav to the bike. that way i`ll know how to get there and that i wont be sleeping on the side of the road Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 Wheels Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Hey pepperami, What you are thinking of doing is (to me) a really good idea. I have been thinkin of this myself for a while now and this weekend comming (saturday) I have a little 3hour trip planed for myself on my DT. I will take my camera and take picks and post on here just to get you inspired and keep your motivation going. If all goes well, I am going to make the trips longer every time and following the results of these I just might take my DT over to Forfar,(bonny Scotland) to where my Uncall lives, in the hight of the summer and good weather. I think the bike should be up for this no prob but just to make sure im staying close to home for the timebeing. To me it is all about the chalange of wondering will I make it there and back on my little DT. Plus its a bike where you can sit up nice and straight and not have sore wrists or heart-burn from lying on the tank of my 600. I too was wondering about setting up a sat-nav on this bike but im not sure would the electricks have enough power to run it, (me no good with wires) and it would have to waterproof. Anyway good luck with your travels whenever they start Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gas up - Let's Go! Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 I think the bike should be up for this no prob It'll take you around the world if you choose to go...... just might take a bit longer than 'bigger' bikes, and you'd have to travel light I too was wondering about setting up a sat-nav on this bike but im not sure would the electricks have enough power to run it, (me no good with wires) and it would have to waterproof. This will let you put your Satnav on the bike - I've heard very good reports on these. --> http://www.cmcbikes.com/givi-sat-nav-gps-holder.html As for the power, you need to work out your power budget - SatNav doesn't take much Ummphh to charge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepperami Posted January 18, 2010 Author Share Posted January 18, 2010 Even though a sat-nav is proberly 12V i am sure i will be able to put enough volts in it to get a bit of a charge (partial charge) to get me out of trouble. if i am riding in daylight without using the lights i think it will be ok. i will be doing a couple of test runs before my mini-tour (and i mean mini!!) to see if these things work out. When this little CG125 turns up and i have got all of my luggage sorted, i will take it for a spin fully loaded to ensure nothing falls off. as for sat-nav being waterproof?? i just wont use it in the rain. i dont mind a bit of rain, that`s to be expected but if it rains that much, i`m going home . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepperami Posted January 18, 2010 Author Share Posted January 18, 2010 Hello Mr Gas-Up ..... i think that the link in your reply is missing?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gas up - Let's Go! Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Hello Mr Gas-Up ..... i think that the link in your reply is missing?? Sorted (you were quite right, it was missing) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepperami Posted January 18, 2010 Author Share Posted January 18, 2010 i`ve had a good day searching on the net, and will be using this to find my campsites it`s a really easy site to use with all the info i need! i have also been looking at the YHA and there are some good sites there Thank you Mr Gas Up, that link was helpful.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 Wheels Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Thank you Mr Gas Up, that link was helpful.. I second that Gas-Up, this is a nice tidy bit of kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 Wheels Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Right Then. As you might know, last sat I was away for a little spin on my DT, so as promissed here are a few picks to wet your lips and get out touring (come the so called summer) Sat morning I got up early, done a few bits arround the house then had a big early dinner, warmed up the DT and said "chow" to the missus for the day! My destination was a hour and a half away so with all my gear on (was bloody cold) I set off. The trip there was getting better as the clouds were lifting and the sun was shining on my back. The first picture is of me on a beach just after having a coffee. I reached my destination but looking arround there wasnt much else to do r see so I picked the nearest mountain in the distance and said surley that will test my trial bike. My 3 hour round trip was soon turned into a full day on the bike as I headed up the mountain, there were lovely sites to see, many lakes, lovely roads only wide enough for one car and then there were the views from the clifs (gourges). It all came to a quick end as 4pm came the fog appeared out of no-where and in thinking that I might get lost I turned and headed for home. Pick 1) is start of the day Pick 13) is the end as i headed home Hope you enjoy ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepperami Posted January 25, 2010 Author Share Posted January 25, 2010 QUALITY now all you need to do is stay out over night!!! impressive pictures.... my Mrs would never see me if i had roads and the sea like that near me (biking & fishing) you really do have nicer touring roads there than we have in East Anglia. What is that in the background of the first picture??? it looks like a Transformer turning into something else Fingers crossed ... i`ll be picking up my little CG with-in the next two weeks..... not quite a DT i know, but it will do for me i live in Suffolk and the CG is in west london and i have to get it back to Suffolk. i dont fancy riding 120 miles on a bike that i have never ridden before, even if i do trust the seller completly (and i do). thats what is stopping me collecting it tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepperami Posted January 25, 2010 Author Share Posted January 25, 2010 i know someone must of thought of this before??? but for me it was a light-bulb moment... I`m going to dig out my lights from my push bike and use them as day-running lights for my CG ... that way i will put less pressure on the charging system and the silly little 6V battery. my lights are only cheapy L.E.D`s, but bright enough to let people know i`m there and they last ages on thier batteries. As i`m only doing a mini tour i wont need to carry spare batteries. i was reading somewhere that you can change the bulb in the headlight for a Halogen jobbie??? but lost the the article... ideas anyone???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts