3400 Mile EU trip YBR125. Experienced tourers?

[G]

Should have various options to stop them getting stuck in the rear wheel - maybe a bit of metal going from the pillion peg to the rear rack.

Don't expect anything in lockable panniers to be actually safe.

I'd keep anything important in a backpack you can take with you - I made a mount so I could put said backpack on my tank.

You can get generic hard lockable topboxes cheaply, so I'd go that route for stuff you don't want to carry about, but want a bit of protection over. You can always but your soft one on top of it if you want. Infact, doing that and putting stuff on the pillion seat, quite possibly you could get away without panniers at all.

[garth]

https://bikebins.com/buyonline.html

I used these on my cub. They're hard plastic bicycle panniers.

Fabricate a rack using 10mm steel tube.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[Cal89]

[G]

Why do you want something for the sides?

For off road, while big metal boxes are the fashion (and I do indeed have some for my KTM), many consider soft are better as while they might rip in a crash, they won't transmit shock to the chassis etc and are easily repaired.

A bit different on road, but not too bad thinking anyway.

However as Garth suggested - cheap options available and plenty second hand, though some bodging may be needed for mounting.

[Enduro Numpty]

I would never do it on a 125 but if that's the way you want to do it then fair enough but I think you're possibly missing the point, which is that you need to travel as light as possible. Givi Luggage - free or otherwise will add weight. Take a change of clothes for the inevitable soaking and very little else. Have you considered not camping? Lugging even the lightest camping gear around is a PITA on any bike.

Alternatively take everything, including the kitchen sink and make what will be a fairly tedious journey on a 125 even less enjoyable. After close on 40 years of touring the single most important thing about any trip for me, is the journey. Anything that makes riding the bike less enjoyable, I try to avoid.

I don't want to seem negative but I've done the overloaded touring in the past and it's just no fun. Me and the wife can travel for 2 months on the bike these days (albeit a large bike) and carry less gear than we used to take for a long weekend.

Like I said, a 125 wouldn't be my bike of choice but I'm sure the trip will be great fun however you decide to do it.

Enjoy and good luck

[smegballs]

I rode my GN250 to portugal and back in 2014 and it did it without any troubles. I changed oil down there and might have put in a spark plug too, I checked the valves at some point but they were in spec.

https://i.imgur.com/GMUJhbQ.jpg

I had two east-german backpacks as panniers, previously used them as cycle panniers on a tour too, they have now been turned into muffs. These area dead cheap at about 12 quid each.

Standard milsurp army bergan on the back, and then my topbox. This had loads of stupid stuff in it that never got used, as well as my wetsuit and loads of clothes.

I found 50-55mph cruising speed a comfortable pace that the bike seemed happy with, it would have physically gone faster but I didn't want to ring it's neck without due cause - it got up to 60mph fine for the odd overtake. Fuel economy was in the region of 70-80mpg, did have one anomalous tank that was down to 55mph (long drive into headwinds on spanish motorway).

I was riding about 12+ hours a day. Most milage in one day was 454. I really wanted to crack 500 in a day but was in france and was getting low on fuel at 1am, GL finding petrol stations that take cash past 8pm, so bedded down for night in a random carpark. Was on the verge of falling asleep after riding about 14hrs too, so probs for the best I stopped.....

I carried a 5L jerry can in the topbox as the GN has a small tank and only has about 110 mile range before hitting reserve.

[pepperami]

[RodYork]

great topic, great videos!
I think the "wild camping" & going with a group of people is the way to go...oh & film it!
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Bike trip through Europe! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2yTtFPM7Xc

[Casper]

When is this trip? If your soft luggage is getting sucked in you have them sitting to low and make shure you have even weight. I uses a nylon suitcase strap round each one to prevent slip.

[img]https://s19.postimg.org/czhafw6oj/SAM_1137.jpg[/img]


Orange strap is looped through the grab rail. Dont worry about security to much unless in a city. The European neds have more respect than the UK neds. No need to spunk good cash on a dedicated sat nav when the likes of Mapfactor Navigator for android is good enough. As you are on a small bike less is more. Take less luggage and wash more. Get a hotel/B&B every 3rd nigh or so for the sake of a good sleep and shower. Google says your planed trip is a 55 hour ride so no need for big miles. Make sure you eat and drink water.

[smegballs]

[Cal89]

[Cal89]

[Cal89]

[Cal89]

[smegballs]

[Cal89]

[smegballs]

[RodYork]

[quote="smegballs"]

[G]

While having a 80cm disc tent isn't the most convienent, I really appreciated. As suggested - throw it out, chuck a couple of bits in it and that's it done.

Just as quick to pack up.
Also good for generally being 'subtle' wild camping as you don't need to spend a while with lights on fighting with a tent poles etc.

Mine was a darkened one too, that does make a decent difference in the mornings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWGWX8wibz4 .