London to Istanbul this summer on a CBF125

[skylineonfire]

Okay, as foolish as it is, I'm in need of a new adventure. I want to ride my 2012 CBF 125 from London to Istanbul and back, taking at least 2 months to do it. Time isn't an issue, money isn't really an issue either. I'm going to be camping the entire route, and I want to keep it as basic and "earthy" as possible, the idea is to do it on a minimalist mindset, if that makes sense.

Now, if anyone wants to come, they're more than welcome, but that's not the point.

I'm quite new to motorcycling, but I've got a few thousand miles of experience so far, and I've loved every minute of it, rain or shine. I'm looking for advice of more experienced riders/tourers.

First off, luggage. Can I get hard panniers for my CBF, or am I stuck with soft ones? I'm happy to have the framework welded on, modify my bike in any way necessary etc, if anyone has any idea about this, that would be very much appreciated.

Secondly, power. Is there any way of getting a way of charging my phone/sat nav from my bike? Not a priority but very much welcome if at all possible.

And finally for now, are there any modifications you'd recommend to my bike, to make it more suitable for this sort of trip? Again budget isn't really an issue and I'm happy to source this stuff from anywhere. My only condition really is that I stick with my CBF125, its important to me to do the journey on a 125 for various reasons.

Thanks guys, any help really appreciated,

[GrumpyGuts]

On a 125? You'll struggle for power with all your kit on, going up hills, etc etc. Plus, as it's a 125, constant high revs will require a lot of maintenance to your bike as it is not designed to cope with it, especially England to Turkey!

Trust me, you're better off in a 250/500 than a 125 for that sort of trip!
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My Bikes: Lifan Beat 125cc '11 -> Suzuki B120P '76 -> Suzuki EN 125-2A '08 -> Honda CG 125 '04 -> Honda CB600F Hornet '98 -> Kawasaki ZZR 600 '99 -> Kawasaki GPZ 500S '95 (Current)
Theory test passed - 09/02/2012 >>>> Module 1 passed 24/07/2012 >>>> Module 2 passed 24/10/2012

[Teflon-Mike]

Depends what you want by way of luggage.

The usual makers do 'universal' brackets or you can just buy base
plates or rails and get a rack fabbed up to bolt them to to take usual the molded PVC boxes like Givi or Krauser.

The 'Adventure-Sport' Aluminium boxes are more permenantly and rigididly bolted to the bike, usually, but again, believe you can get the boxes as stand alone then get a fabbed up rack to bolt them to.

On the cheap; old fasioned option was a trip to the Army-Surplus store for variouse suitable 'amo' or 'kit' boxes, then again, met-fam up a rack and bolt them to it.

Make sure you save space for plenty of pile cream....

GOD I wish I was twenty years younger! Though then again? Maybe if I was I would wish I was forty!

Time has a wonderful way of washing away painful memories.... don't recall ANY suffering loading up my old AR125 for long haul touring..... but 25 miles to Leicester & back on the 125 Super-Dream and I CANNOT believe that it didn't make me ache!

Best advice I can offer, is worry about SECURTITY..... body belt for your pass-port and credit cards.... NEVER leave anything like that where it can be lost or stolen!

Interesting bit in Jupiters Travels when he first hit Africa leaving a check-point & not fastening down the lid of his pannier, and loosing his wallet with all travel papers in it!

Read up on such inspirational over-land expeditions; two lads from I think it was Argentina went round the world on a couple of YBR's and many others have done marathons on tiddlers.... or even big bikes...... but while being inspired and looking for useful tips....

Ponder ONE thing..... Apart from the Charlie & Ewan expeditions with following support crew and cameras, meet & greet shows en-route and all the other razamataz they take...... NONE of them have ever released a 'Sequel' adventure-travelogue!

Hmmm... I suspect that probably THE most over riding thing one learns, amongst all the other 'discoveries' is... NEVER AGAIN!

Fag-lighter socket? Dead easy; have a search in work-shop. One socket two wires one to poss, one to neg on battery. CBF is 12v job done, at the most rudimentary level. Leaves the circuit unfused and unswitched though. Better to tap in to an ignition switched live in the loom, say the horn feed, so its only 'on' when the ignition is, and add its own fuse. Relaying may be worth considering too, if you want to use higher load divices, such as an air compressor to pump up punctured tyres.

Did this on my DT, but even with the engine running; you can only run the compressor in 'bursts; it drags more juice from the battery than the generator makes, so eventually, & I can say from experience, you probably wont get a completely flat 18" wheel pumped up completely off a fully charged battery, before the pump grinds to a halt!

Have fun!
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[skylineonfire]

[skylineonfire]

[Amreet]

I wouldn't get in to aluminium boxes to be honest, they are MASSIVE and could be horrendously awkward on a 125. Just get a couple of rubber waterproof bags and add some strap hooks or rings to convenient places on the bike like the footpeg hangers and then run lots of ratchet straps over everything,

keep quick access stuff in a tank bag and kidney belt under your riding gear and leave other stuff strapped on. The most important bit is finding good solid mounting points. A 125 subframe is less likely to cope with a huge amount of weight really far back and over 1000s of miles could suffer, so pack light and keep heavy stuff further forwards, hard boxes will be heavy and also will transfar all that weight to the weakest point of your frame.

If I were you, maybe strip your bike down a bit for a general service and also get to know the frame a bit, take the seat and plastics off and just see where the strong points are etc.


but GO FOR IT. Don't let anyone tell you not to do it on a 125. the thing about riding long distances by any bike is that you choose extreme highs and extreme lows as opposed to easy but boring in the car. some days you will utterly hate being on a 125 and will wish you had something different, but on something different you will have some days where you hate it and would wish you were on a 125. so just do it and enjoy the highs, and accept the low points, they will be there in equal measure whatever bike you choose.

[G]

[moppy]

Was considering the same trip to Istanbul, but only had one month, so settled on Slovenia and back via Italy instead.

Have fun, Istanbul is incredible.

As for power: 12v accessory socket, some come with inline fuses. Straight onto battery, it's on all the time, but as long as you leave nothing plugged in, no harm done. So easy I can (and have) done it.

[The Shaggy D.A.]

When you're in the middle of nowhere, cold, tired, miserable and the bike refuses to start, showing only a lonely blinking orange light from the engine management system, you'll wish you were on a CG125.

Other than that, go for it!
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Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[AlexW]

I assume it would be on L-plates?

Would you even be allowed due to the laws in other countries?

[Moo.]

No, you can't be on L-plates, europe doesnt allow it.

Keep your important documents safe on you, and make photocopies just in case

I'd worry about putting too much weight at the back on the bike, even McGregor had problems of his BMW with the weight causing stress on the frame and snapping it

Maybe add some crash bars? Also to think about, if you take a fall, would the metal panniers get dented and be repairable? Opposed to soft panniers maybe just getting compressed?
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A2 Passed 18/6/10

[Cheeseybeaner]

2 months to get to Istanbul?
That seems remarkably slow progress even with 12/14.6hp?

[G]

[Cheeseybeaner]

[G]

If you're wild camping and buying food from supermarkets, it neededn't cost a massive amount - probably no more than cheap daily living in the UK, as while you're not spending on bills etc, you are getting fuel - but for a cb125 shouldn't be too horrible.

[skylineonfire]

Just to answer a few questions, and again thanks so much everyone for the advice etc....

Nope not running on L plates. The reason I am doing it on a 125, and why I've such an odd passion for 125, is I love the idea of simplicity. It's easy as anything to blast across Europe in a car, I've done it many times, I'm sure it's pretty easy to do it on a 1000cc touring bike too, and I'm sure it isn't that hard on a 125, but it's different! I enjoy riding small bikes, I'm certainly in no rush, hence why I've got 2 months scheduled. And cruising around at 40mph in southern europe sounds like my idea of heaven to be honest! For me it's definitely about the journey, not the speed of getting there. Absolutely no disrespect meant to people who do it on faster more powerful bikes though.



2 Months is a long time to get to Istanbul and back, but it's because I've no intention of rushing. My very tentative and flexible route is something like...

London > Down the west coast of France to the Spanish border > Follow the Pyrenees mountains east to the south coast of France > Once I hit the French/Italian border, head north and follow the natural contour of the Alps and the Italian border, right round to Slovenia. Then head south down the coast of Croatia, Albania etc to Greece. And from there I'm still thinking of where to head next with an eventual goal of Istanbul. I think I'll take a more northern route home from Turkey.



G, I've got lots of experience wild camping/supermarket eating and long distance touring on foot and in cars, and it's definitely cheaper than living in the UK. I don't have to pay rent when I leave the country for over a month (I've got a fantastic landlord) so that covers fuel and food on it's own. Besides budget really isn't an issue, I don't keep it cheap, I just like to keep it simple, which coincidentally is quite cheap! My 125 does about 120mpg when I ride "enthusiastically" as it is, so that just sips fuel. My biggest expense will be food, as I love quality food and drink. But again, not paying rent back home makes up for it.


I photocopy documents for every journey I do. I'm quite well travelled, and most of my trips have been of the "adventure" sort, it's just the first time I've thrown a motorbike into the mix. Weight at the back is definitely an issue, but my load is mostly going to be clothes, tent, sleeping bag, and a few other essentials. I'd imagine Ewan and Charlie (and Claudio, unsung hero!) had all sorts of weight in theirs, plus their terrain was much tougher than the 99 percent paved roads I'm expecting to Istanbul! Crash bars, definitely something I have considered, I'm going to look into that further, thank you friend.


Shaggy, I was considering an older 125 such as the CG for simplicity, but I've grown rather fond of my CBF! If I have such an issue, I'll have breakdown cover, and I'll also have the ability to ditch the damn thing and get another 125 somewhere if its truly irrepairable, but I'll think back to that post when I'm somewhere in Albania by the side of a road with a dead CBF at 3am, trying to find a phone signal!


Alu boxes were my ideal, but I'm definitely flexible. Strapping all sorts of bags and packs seems like a cheaper, better idea though. I've seen a few people touring on 125's with all sorts of alu boxes etc, but I'm going to be looking into both definitely. I'll definitely be taking the plastics off my bike for a good look around, to find mounting points for all my luggage for one thing, also because I want to really know what everything is before I leave, I'd like to have a basic grasp of motorcycle mechanics (somehow I don't think my reading of "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" will cut it!)


Thanks again everyone, you've all been incredibly helpful and I appreciate any more suggestions, advice, anything, it seems like a great community here, very glad I joined. Hope my post isn't too long for a Monday afternoon!

[G]

Actually, I missed the back. A month each way to do say 10 countries seems 'reasonable' and not as relaxed as initially thinking. (Though of course you can get through them in a day if wanted.)

I'm not sure a modern injected 125 really equates with simplicity for me - something like a kickstart DR350/600 is the sort of thing I'd be considering if I wanted 'simple'.

I've always liked the idea of getting a few people, going to India and buying a Honda Hero 125 or similar and riding them back to the UK - might actually make some money on the bikes too . However it's the Eastern side where that sort of bike makes more sense for me.

The person my last c90 got sold to was planning to go touring around Europe on it.

[neatbik]

Sounds epic, i wish i could do something similar myself.
But i would probably use a DRZ350/400 and throw some off roading into the mix.

As for luggage - I would stay away from expensive aluminium boxes. They cost a fortune, if you drop the bike they will bend and not work properly and they are heavy. Plus they will attract extra, possibly unwanted attention to your bike.

There is a guy over on ADVRIder who uses pushbike waterproof panniers. He had a rack made up to attach them to the bike. They are reasonably priced, waterproof and if you do drop the bike they wont break. In fact they will probably help protect the bike.

I guess the only negative point with soft luggage is that its harder to make it as secure as hard stuff, but i imagine they can be made secure with a bit of ingenuity.

Let us know how you get one.

[G]

[Teflon-Mike]

Further Thoughts:

1/ Insurance & Travel Insurance
I'd want a LOT. Including European Recovery!
My Uncle is a Dnj-unpronounceable-riskie-heap-of- Sidecar?!?!? fan.
First one he bought, journey back from Wildest Wiltshire to Brum has gone down in legend; & I ended up dealing with the irate AA man kicking and swearing, becouse no-one told HIM it had an effing side-car!
I'm not sure if it was his second or third, he & his missus took a 'Graduation-Celebration-Tour' of the pyranese on... they were hit by a SEAT in a blind bend up in the mountains... LUCKILY two-ton of Wiemaach-Blitzen-Bike 'won' and becouse the outfit was Right Hand drive, they just took a graze on the all metal bath-tub on the side.
BUT; meet a pissed up 'continental' driver on the wrong road; you WANT to know that SOME-ONE will get you and your stuff 'home', should the worst happen.

Also, Believe you may have to apply for 'extended' 'foreign' insurance; many annual policies offer EU insurance as a free-bie, but only up to a month... though sure you are aware of that.

2/ Luggage/Kit
If you are used to back-packing.... then perfect - I would pack as though I was hiking, keep kit minimal and to the size of a good hiking ruck-sack.

Ought to be able to get all you need in that. Bike just saves you shoe-leather.

AND; following thought, personally on a 125, I'd be tempted to not bother with the complexity of trying to rig hard luggage.

What I would be inclined to do, is get a 'sissy-bar' fabbed up, a sturdy one.

Taking its mounts off the top shock mounts and the grab-rail, I'd make it about 18-20" wide... or about as broad as a blokes back..... and as tall as thier shoulders.... And pipe-work it so that I could simply drop hiking rick-sack on the pillion seat, to support the weight, and strap it to the sissy-bar, like it would strap to my body... only facing backwards.

I MIGHT weld a 'light' rack on the back of the sissy to take some gear, like the tent & bed-roll.

Its NOT as well balanced as paniers, keeping the weight 'low'; BUT, its no more unbalenced than riding with the perfect, and lightweight 'pillion'.

Why? Keep-It-Simple-Stupid.

Comment about Sub-frames.... ARHG annoys me! Its the 'Seat-rails'! Only bikes that have detatcheable 'seat-rails' is it a 'sub-frame!.....

YES, Charlie & Ewan managed to crack one on one of thier Beemers... think it was Eulio's or whatever cameramans name was... 'cos it was in mongolia and they bought him a Ruskie two-stroke thing.

Seat-Rails are DESIGNED to support the weight of a PASSENGER!

Geez, I'm not lightweight, I weigh 14 stone, 90Kg.... I don't bend frame rails riding pillion!

Reason that The LWR Beemer broke was not so much the weight as the abuse. Those boxes are on the side, they were over-loaded with eugenes camera kit... (I weighed my camera bag-once.. 3 'old' SLR's four lenses, flash, and a few other odds and sods were nearly 20Kg! Had to slim it down a bit for the bike! HATE to think how much all hist kit weighed with tripods & vidio equipment!) AND dirt-riding over the loose, dropping the thing every two-hundred yards, they were putting twisting & bending forces onto the seat-rails.... Ie CRASH DAMAGE....

125's dont have THAT weak a frame, and if you dont over-load it, and dont crash, ought NOT be a problem.

BUT, sitting ruck-sack on seat, strapped to a sissy, mimicking a pillion, THEN the rack frame is being loaded pretty much as designed, through the seat, with the weight pretty centred on the seat, and the sissy isn't supporting much if any of the load, just the tilting forces during cornering, much as the grab-rail would take for a pillion.

And if you DO dump it, luggage is actually up out the way, not the firs thing to touch deck.
____________________
My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[Amreet]

Heck, i just had an idea, if you're doing it on a new honda, why not contact them and let them know your plans? It would be a big advert for them and im sure they'd see the benefit in making you sure you get to your destination without too much trouble! You never know.
i understand if that's not your style, but it could get you a little bit of support in exchange for photos n stuff? it's a pretty big trip on a 125, and would potentially (!) be a testament to the robustness and reliability of your bike, and would give it a really serious shake down.

[andys675]

make sure you find a copy of a film called 'midnight express' and watch it before you go
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[shereen]

[snikks]

[Teflon-Mike]