So my first major ride is done.

skylineonfire · Trackday Trickster Joined: 01 Jun 2012 Karma :

Recently got back from a ride out to Greece and back, took a few weeks and spent a lot of time exploring on the way. I passed my test in August I think it was, and I've got my BMW 650 and my 2012 CBF 125 from my L plate days, and I decided to take the 125!

I've talked a few times on here about long distance touring on a 125 and why it appeals to me so much. And I'm so grateful I did it on the 125. Sure I wasn't blasting down motorways at 90, but in the mountains, country roads etc it's a joy, can get up to 60 (GPS not speedo) with no issues quite quickly, nippy as anything around town, and best thing of all 200 miles costs less than a tenner in fuel. So with that under my belt (it was cold and not the greatest of times to do it I know, but I had an urge to do it before next year so I can start planning something bigger) I think I'm going to start working on modifying the hell out of a 125, not sure what yet, in preparation for a longer trip, something that'll take a couple months, and take me thousands of miles away.

My main question is this. Do I stick with the CBF 125 that has given me absolutely zero issues, starts every time etc... Or do I move to something else? I'm not set on a 125, I'd happily use a bigger bike, but I have such a strange attachment to my CBF. Right now I'm in a bit of a void, I've done something I didn't think I was capable of, and now I'm wondering what next really. So many ideas, so little time!

If you had to choose a single bike, thats happy with a mixture of on road and off road (nothing major, just gravel, rough roads etc) thats relatively economical, has a good range, and isn't too cramped (my only fault with the CBF is that I wish it was a little bigger. I'm not limited by CC or anything like that, so anything will be considered. Plus I want something I can really get to work on taking apart, modifying, sorting out a brilliant luggage system etc...

Any ideas?

Sorry for the essay!

trevor saxe-coburg-gotha · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :

Sounds ace - nice job. If you wanted to stay with 4t 125, but wanted *slight* off-road stuff, there's the vanvan. Slowest 125 ever manufactured - but this is offset by a really high comfort (and fun) factor.

edit - one other thing in its favour is the ease with which a lot of maintenance can be done on the vanvan.
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

Joenitro · Spanner Monkey Joined: 10 Sep 2008 Karma :

Sounds like good fun. I think that if your happy with the 125 then stick with that.

skylineonfire · Trackday Trickster Joined: 01 Jun 2012 Karma :

I've heard great things about the Van Van I must say. But again, I'm not restricting myself to a 125, in all honesty I think my ideal would be a 400. But the 125s are really something I'll always love.

P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

I'm aiming to do a 125 to Spain next year.

Using my 70k Vara to do it, its comfy, consumes little fuel and is such a nice bike to ride. Thumbs Up

skylineonfire · Trackday Trickster Joined: 01 Jun 2012 Karma :

P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

It sits at 70-75 daily.

It hits the limiter in 5th at an indicated 80, but at indicated 70, its still passing cars Thumbs Up

numpty2 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 08 Dec 2011 Karma :

One thing to consider is fuel tank range. I think the VanVan might have a tiny tank range, but I could be wrong. You don't want to be spending all your time trying to find fuel stations.

P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

trevor saxe-coburg-gotha · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :

Yeah tank is pretty totty. 6.5 litres iirc.
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

J4mes · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Karma :

I'd be inclined to go bigger I think, as it gives you the option of going fast if you want or need to. In the mountains/hills/windy bits you can take it as steady as you like, but once you're on the main roads I think I'd want to be tanking to get to the next interesting bit....unless you're only doing interesting bits?

I know when we go skiing to Austria I love driving the mountain passes at low speed, usually 30-40mph so we can take it all in and enjoy the ride, but the 800odd motorway miles are far more exciting at 90-100mph

totally destroys the fuel consumption though.

How does a 125 on the rev limiter do on fuel compared to say a 650GS which is easily cruising along?

Got any pictures of your journey? Sounds great Thumbs Up

skylineonfire · Trackday Trickster Joined: 01 Jun 2012 Karma :

pepperami · Super Spammer Joined: 17 Jan 2010 Karma :

C1REX · Traffic Copper Joined: 20 Sep 2012 Karma :

I just came back from a rally. Most people on big bikes and me on a VanVan.

Still haven't start working on a video but made few pictures.

https://s19.postimage.org/mr9gcp31f/2012_12_09_22_08_14.jpg

https://s19.postimage.org/99z67z5ib/DSC_7971_2_3_tonemapped_002.jpg

https://s19.postimage.org/t3tnjncf7/DSC_8031_2_3_tonemapped_001.jpg

VanVan have done a great job. It wasn't fast on motorways but very comfy on smaller roads. I was less tired than people on big bikes.

Full report: https://www.mcforum.co.uk/forum/topic/260-abr-yuletide-exmoor-explorer-rally-7th-to-9th-december/#entry948
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Ja7 · Crazy Courier Joined: 10 Nov 2012 Karma :

Although you have done a great task on a 125, a bigger bike will be better fullstop............ Maybe not so on fuel economy, but for comfort, motorways, cornering, luggage, etc etc, I envy you a great deal, I travelled around Australia for a year, but would have loved to done the off on a motorcycle, wouldn't really know on what bike to suggest, as you are on gravel and dirt roads some times, maybe a tdm850, but I don't know on there realibility, as you done it on a cbr, how about a zzr600,

C1REX · Traffic Copper Joined: 20 Sep 2012 Karma :

BMW F650GS is a cool option. Very low seat for an adventure bike.
50MPG is also very good. Still more than twice worse than over 100MPG of a VanVan or CBF 125
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skylineonfire · Trackday Trickster Joined: 01 Jun 2012 Karma :

Thank you everyone, and I'll try and get a write up done tonight.

I have been looking at Honda Varadero 125's as a replacement for the CBF125. What sort of hit to fuel economy and range will I take? I get about 120mpg at the moment on average whilst having plenty of fun, and it has a range of about 250 miles on a tank without stretching it.

The Varadero just looks so much more capable, with luggage, off road, the lot. It's beautiful, almost ideal. A dedicated 125, or 250cc serious touring bike, my absolute dream!

pepperami · Super Spammer Joined: 17 Jan 2010 Karma :

kingsknight · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Karma :

https://is02.thegumtree.com/image/extrabig/154084094.jpg

Enough said if you ask me Smile

btw. Amazing story! reminds me of my 2000mile tour of the uk i done on my XR!
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TS50 (sold) NS125F (sold) NSR125R-K (write off after 2 crashes) CG125 (nicked) XR125L-3 (Sold )-: ) DR125SM '11 (sold yay) XL125V '12 (In love with this bike) XT600E '04 (fun on the dirt)

Asharin · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Karma :

trevor saxe-coburg-gotha · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :

Downer. How tall are you, out of interest? Is the knee discomfort a consequence of low seat height?
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

pepperami · Super Spammer Joined: 17 Jan 2010 Karma :

trevor saxe-coburg-gotha · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :

Me too!
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

Asharin · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Karma :

skylineonfire · Trackday Trickster Joined: 01 Jun 2012 Karma :

First off that Varadero with the luggage. Oh man. Just perfect. I absolutely love that. Luggage is my biggest issue with the CBF. I find it comfy and fun and plenty quick enough but luggage is a pain.

Pepperami, love what you've done on that 250, looks brilliant! How do you find the long distances on a smaller bike? I've had no issues compared to what people said I would, and I had some 400 mile days etc.

And as for you guys saying you should plan something next year, join me! I'm utterly serious! This time I want to load up with a bunch more better camping gear etc and really do something different, like follow the entire coast from Calais right around France, Spain, Italy etc... All the way to Istanbul, then back up through eastern Europe to Latvia, then follow the coast from there back to Dover or something. I'm open to any ideas!

Anyone have any fuel economy/range details for the Varadero compared to the CBF 125?