PREPPER BUG OUT VECHILE PROJECT

joshjohnson12... · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 15 Sep 2013 Karma :

PREPPER BUG OUT VECHILE PROJECT

Well the title says it all. I am looking to create a motorcycle solution that will enable me to get to a safe location while carrying all my needed supplies.

Ideally I am looking for a Bike which can have multiple bags or cases attached to it as well as webbing bars to go along the sides near the passenger area to allow me to secure things like tent & sleeping bag.
I intend to attach a rucksack on the back and also use a top box to store fuel and tools.
I intend to either use saddle bags or some light boxes on the side.
I also plan on using a set of small saddle bags on the fuel tank.
I may also decide to use a small trailer depending oh how the bike runs on full load.

I also need the bike to be able to go over fields and climb small hills. I have considered getting a trail bike but it would cost me bag room which I would rather have.

However there is a catch. I'm a new rider. I will be using a 125cc. It will be cheap to run and give me more miles to the gallon at the cost of speed.

In an ideal world I would opt right for a ROKON but the sad thing is I can't find any in the UK and I would rather learn to use a 125cc so I can move right onto the direct access course & test.

So can you guys help and try and convert me from a gas guzzling car user to a motorcyclist.

Cheers.

LockyUK · Brolly Dolly Joined: 22 Dec 2011 Karma :

good 125, varadero, cheap 125 cbf/ybr

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

I say Varadero.

Iain says this https://www.scooterhype.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/icon-honda-EZ90-cub.jpeg

The Shaggy D.A. · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Sep 2008 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Any bike can have multiple bags/cases attached to it if you put the time in - hell, a GP bike could if you add some extra brackets etc.
Top box to store fuel seems silly. Choose a more useful storage container that can be afixed to the outside of the bike; ideally get a long range tank on the bike.
Trailer I wouldn't be convinced by - get a bigger vehicle if you really need to carry more.

Why would a trail bike cost you bag room?
Any bike will go over fields and climb hills off road in the dry (a friend at a trials location was telling me how one day someone turned up on a zxr1100 or something and zipped up a VERY steep hill first time on road tyres (the hill was steep enough that while I got up it absolutely fine on my trials bike, it took me a little while to get my nerve up, not having ridden trials for ages.)
I'd go for wheels you can add rim locks to. This will likely through them way out of balance.
Ideally, a tubeless system, which will let you run the tyres flat.

The two wheel drive of the rokon won't make up for that much in lack of skill I doubt. Doesn't sound like a great choice for your requirements I don't reckon.
A modern 2 wheel drive system on a KTM may well allow a medium-low competent rider to get up much steeper stuff than their skill level would suggest - but the unskilled rider probably won't be helped massively I reckon.
In the squelchy British mud, you need dirt tyres, whatever style of bike you have. (Ok, they aren't essential, but if you're not confident riding off road you'll be on your backside a lot and making very slow progress without them.)

A 125 4 stroke will cost you in carrying capacity as well and when compared to something like a TE610, in off-road ability.

Someone on here was managing c90 sort of levels of fuel economy from a GPZ500s by riding it at c90 speeds.
Ride many big bikes at 125 speeds and you'll do pretty well on fuel.

I would consider a Varadero 125 for the requirements you list.
It's very heavy, but sturdily built.

It's not good off-roading and won't be good practising off roading on.
So, while it matches you requirements, in reality probably isn't a good bike for you.

Riding off road takes practice and you don't want the first time you attempt it to be with a fully loaded bike.

So you want a bike to gain confidence with before you push it.

Teflon-Mike · tl;dr Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

Go google 'Military Motorcycles', perhaps or in particular Armstrong MT350/500... you just described exactly what the military did until you said 'trailer' and '125'.

WHICH is where your plan falls down. You cannot tow a trailer with a motorcycle under 125cc.. and i'm not entirely sure you can even tow a trailer on L-Plates at all.

However; 125's are LIGHTWEIGHT motorcycles; they generally weigh somewhere in the order of 100-150Kg; and to be learner-legal complient, they aren';t exactly endowed with huge amounts of pulling power; 14.5bhp at most.

This is sufficient to get you up to maybe 70mph on a clear, straight level road, unincumbered by luggage or passengers, so you can lie down a bit to reduce wind drag.... OR its enough that down geared you can get up steep hills and over rough terrain.... but believe me, you wouldn't want to try much more than cross a grassy field at walking pace with much more load than a half sober pillion on the bike.

Solutions:

a) just do what normal people do; get a Yamaha YBR125, go do your CBT, forget your survival special ideas and JUST use the damn thing as designed, a 'learner-commuter' to learn and commute on, until you can get licence to ride a bigger bike... THEN a demobbed Armstrong would fit the bill right out the box, or plenty of choices based around Charlie & Ewan replicas.

b) Forget bikes buy a quad. This is exactly what THEY were designed for... people that like the idea of a bike, but cant ride one, and farmers, who want something more exiting than a Furgie 35!

c) LAND-ROVER
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Teflon-Mike · tl;dr Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

Tristan. · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 May 2007 Karma :

Im-a-Ridah · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Oct 2006 Karma :

Preppers are mostly yanks scared of EMP attacks and the world ending, with extra helpings of Jesus in the mix. Well, when I say scared, it's probably more realistic to say they dream about the end of modern civilisation and the opportunity to play huntsman on a farm and tending to animals etc. Others seem to be more interested in some kind of street battle with the customary AR15 and ooh should I go with 8 or 12 mags of 30 rounds, when they can barely walk 4 miles, and would be cut down in quick order by their local SWAT team.

They also tend to be bible bashing republicans.

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

Ariel Badger · Super Spammer Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Karma :

I had an MT03, I swear the frame was made from solid bar it was so heavy.
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bazza · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

joshjohnson12... · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 15 Sep 2013 Karma :

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

I'm confident that if anything disastrous did happen I'd be able to handle it without the fifteen tons of dried powdered milk or the NBC shelter.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

joshjohnson12... · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 15 Sep 2013 Karma :

joshjohnson12... · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 15 Sep 2013 Karma :

_mjs_ · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Karma :

OP if you're still about I'll sell you this as a basis for a bug out bike for a grand as I need the garage space:

www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=3691145

I'll even bung in an old 52 litre Givi topbox I have to get you started...
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Previous Bikes: 2006 Honda XR125L > 2003 Yamaha DT125R > 1996 Honda CB500
Current bikes: 1997 Kawasaki ZZR 600 E5 > 2006 Honda Varadero XL125V

joshjohnson12... · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 15 Sep 2013 Karma :

I think Im going to go and sit on a few Hondas & Yamahas.

I like the Varadero a little. Was going to get one a few years ago.

I might even give up the off-road dreams and settle for one of them cheap LEXMOTO's or a Huoniao HN125-8. The LEXMOTO ZSX 125 looks similar to a Yamaha YBR125.

Going to have a look round anyway and not rush into anything.

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

Wants bike to get away.

Buys chinese. Might as well lay down and accept defeat.

deadwolf · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 24 Jan 2013 Karma :

R1.

https://www.sjaaklucassen.nl/

Guy's bugged out across the Arctic. 100 km/h on Sahara sand. Kneedown on a track with huge panniers onboard. Waded through tropical jungle. The list just f*cking goes on. It's almost unreal.
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bazza · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Oh, wait; you're actually serious about this? Confused

If you're stuck with the motorbike, I'd not worry to much about your eventual machine.
Instead, I'd get a bike and start practising riding now.

Both off road and in traffic.

In the sort of situation you are considering I suspect you may have to deal with tight grid locked traffic.

You may also, as mile has suggested, have to deal with some pretty boggy conditions, this being the UK.

To expedite your transition through both, you definitely need practice.

Possibly the closest I've come to such a scenario for on-road was when really heavy snow came down in Reading starting from lunch time. It was our Christmas party; thankfully I had the KTM with tubeless trail tyres that day.

A colleague warned me not to take the bike as I'd hurt myself.
She fell over twice on the hour walk there; it took me twenty minutes or so (twice the normal time) and I remained warm and upright. Cars took twice as long or more than the walkers - averaging 1mph or less.

My off roading experience certainly helped in that case, though that's less likely to be an issue - and so did confidence in creative solutions to traffic.
More realistically, you're likely to be worried about situations like a typical busy rush hour.

As for the off-roading, greenlaning and then enduros should help give you the confidence and skill to keep bikes upright and going in the right direction when it all gets a bit slippery.