Honda MSX/Grom 125cc Long distance tour, 2200 miles

[woo]

The bike for this trip is a Honda MSX/Grom 125cc

The foremost important item for this journey is my mp3 player and custom earplug ear phones from ultimateear: https://www.ultimateear.com
This tour would not have been possible with out these as there is nothing better than riding a motorcycle on the open road with the sound of classical musical film scores such as The Crown, Man of Steel, Schindlers List, Interstellar and so many more!

Only modifications I have made are the gearing and have an o ring chain.
I have increased the gearing by adding 1 tooth on the front sprocket so that the revs are lower when doing high speed riding. (top speed is 65 mph)
Standard gearing is 15/34 teeth which means at 65mph the bike is at redline at 8.1k rpm.
My gearing of 16/34 teeth means 60 mph is 6.5k rpm and 65 mph is 7.1k rpm.
Basically the engine does not have to work as hard for the same speed.
The bike holds 5.5 litres of fuel and the reserve light flashes when 1.5 litres of fuel is remaining which according to my calculations should provide at least 40 miles on reserve.
However just in case I have a Trangia 1 litre bottle filled with petrol as an emergency back up.
I have a small Air Hawke seat cushion as the stock seat is so hard it is like sitting on a marble slab.
I have brought all the tools needed in case of any chain adjustments that might be needed and pliers to take off and empty condensation water from the crankcase breather tube which is small and fills up quickly if the air is cold.

The tyres are Michelin Power Pure SC’s as the stock tyres are terrible!
The spark plug is a CPR7 for high speed riding.
Other than that the bike is practically a stock bike.
I have stayed with the stock exhaust system as putting an end can or full system on makes the bike in my opinion sound terrible. (Sounds like a long drawn out wet fart)

I will be in North West Scotland for 2 weeks as that means I can take my time and if the weather is very bad I should at least have some days which will be decent.

The Route to get to north West Scotland from London for me is
• A1
• M1
• M6
• M74
• A82
• A86

Link to map on google: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/London/Spean+Bridge/@54.1530783,-7.303332,6.75z/data=!4m17!4m16!1m5!1m1!1s0x47d8a00baf21de75:0x52963a5addd52a99!2m2!1d-0.1277583!2d51.5073509!1m5!1m1!1s0x488ec89731414f25:0x26467057d9e3ec9!2m2!1d-4.915134!2d56.895695!2m1!2b1!3e0!5i1?hl=en


London to Scotland
Left my place at 5.30am which was nice as there was hardly any traffic as London is always hectic with traffic.
Bike fully loaded with everything I need.
Got onto the M1 and kept my speed at 60 mph, which is the speed I kept for most of the journey.
Then onto the M6 and at one point due to an accident the M6 was at a standstill for about 40 minutes.
As small as I was I could not even filter to the front as the lane sizes were reduced due to road works.

Photo link here:
https://s1158.photobucket.com/user/wooizm/library/to%20get%20there

Despite me moving slower than most traffic as the maximum speed limit is 70 mph and I was doing 60 mph with lorries and cars towing caravans. I was quite content and not scared or concerned in the slightest. (Just made sure I was aware of my surroundings)
The bike was happy to chug along at this pace of 60 mph as the revs were at 6.5k rpm (red line is 8.1k rpm)
Only a handful of times did my speed drop to 50 mph on quite steep sections added with the wind against me.
For a time on the M6 the rain and wind lashed me and the Honda MSX quite hard but we pootled through it like meh………!

The only part that terrified me was when I fell asleep for literally almost 2 seconds!
The fact I had drifted from the left lane and into the hard shoulder left me terrified.
I knew I felt very drowsy and the fact I went to bed the night before at 1 am to then get up at 4 am was a very stupid thing to do.
I should have stopped got a rest or quick power nap the moment I felt drowsy.
I will never ever ride sleepy ever again period and if I do feel drowsy I will make sure I stop at a services ASAP!
Had a little refresh followed by some pro-plus.

Then onto the M74 and then once at Glasgow onto the A82 and this is where the real fun begins for me as I love the A82 from Glasgow to Spean Bridge especially as you navigate the windy roads which hug Loch Lomond.
Then comes the vast expanse of Rannoch Moor which has a wild wilderness beauty to it and the thought of I would never like to ever break down here or loose control and fall in a ditch.
I dropped my speed down to 50 mph for this stretch and let any vehicles over take, as I just wanted to take it all in and plus the bike had worked hard so deserved a little slower pace.

I arrived at Spean Bridge to my nice cosy lodge around 7.30pm.
I refuse to stay in a tent it is just not for me.

About 1.5hrs was spent on fuel stops and having a quick bite to eat (4 snickers bars and 1 Greggs sausage roll and some water)
This 1.5 hrs also includes me stopped at a stand still on the M6 for about 40 minutes.


Spean Bridge to Applecross
The first ride out up here is from Spean Bridge to Applecross via the Bealach na Ba and then take the coastal route to leave Applecross then back to Spean Bridge.
Route I took is:
• A82 toward Inverness
• A87 towards Kyle of Lochchalsh
• A890 towards Lochcarron
• A896 towards Torridon
• Take the road with the blue warning sign
• Applecross
• Take the road towards Shieldaig
• A896 towards Lochcarron
• A890 towards Fort William
• A87 towards Fort William
• A82 towards Fort William

Link to map on google:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Spean+Bridge/Applecross/57.5777817,-5.8086661/57.4187028,-5.6024586/Spean+Lodge,+Lodge+Gardens,+Spean+Bridge+PH34+4EP/@57.3695036,-6.0134883,9z/data=!4m24!4m23!1m5!1m1!1s0x488ec89731414f25:0x26467057d9e3ec9!2m2!1d-4.915134!2d56.895695!1m5!1m1!1s0x488e810ba82c3f4d:0x9e1276b3016162ed!2m2!1d-5.809727!2d57.4319012!1m0!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x488ed3bf5872a289:0x4515719e82278c80!2m2!1d-4.9212725!2d56.8922122!2m1!2b1!3e0?hl=en


On route I stopped off and took a quick picture at Loch Lochy and an American fella came and asked questions about the bike as he rides his big bikes over in America.
He was shocked by the look of the bike and that I had ridden an air cooled single cylinder engine bike from London to Scotland.
I told him about Ed March who rides a C90 around the world and about Nathan Rogers who rode his Honda Grom (MSX are called Grom’s in America which is a much better name!) from Portland to Alaska so anything is possible lol!

I have done this route many times before but I was curious how it would be on the Honda MSX and it was just as great as it was different.
It made me appreciate that the R1’s and GSXR 1000 I had done this trip on before just did it with absolute ease.
Hill and wind resistance was of no concern to those 2 bikes with all that power.
The Honda MSX now required a different approach and attitude!
Some hills were so steep that I could only climb them in second gear, 3rd and 4th gear were not an option.
But it was fun and I absolutely loved it almost more than the big bikes I had.

The climb up Applecross was nice and easy I was in 2nd gear for most of it as I am a slow cautious person when a road is dangerous as the drops to the left looked quite high and I did not fancy a tumble down it.
Some people go far too fast for my liking but then I guess everyone’s skill level is different.
The car park at the top was so cold up there, well it is at the top of a mountain at around 2000ft above sea level.
As much as I love this pass it still scares the heck out of me every time, the decent from the top to Applecross feels me with dread and excitement as its just so dangerous and fun.

When I arrived at Applecross I parked up and had some lunch then headed back via the coastal route which if you have not done you must do so.
The scenery is absolutely amazing!


The Applcross trip was about 214 miles and cost me about £7 petrol and the Honda MSX gave me about 150mpg

This link will take you to the photo album on photobucket: https://s1158.photobucket.com/user/wooizm/library/applecross



Spean Bridge to Cairngorms National Park
The next trip was from Spean Bridge doing a circle around Cairngorms National Park.
This is another trip I really love doing.
Route I took is:
• A86 towards Newtonmore
• A9 towards Inverness
• A95 towards Grantown-on-Spey
• A939 towards Tomintoul/Braemar
• A93 towards Braemar
• A924 towards Pitlochry
• A9 towards Inverness
• A889 towards Fort William
• A86 towards Spean Bridge

Link to map on google: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Spean+Bridge/57.3164076,-3.5912521/57.0605663,-3.0744303/56.6470365,-3.4042895/56.7036042,-3.7352834/Spean+Bridge/@56.906216,-4.3194069,9.5z/data=!4m20!4m19!1m5!1m1!1s0x488ec89731414f25:0x26467057d9e3ec9!2m2!1d-4.915134!2d56.895695!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x488ec89731414f25:0x26467057d9e3ec9!2m2!1d-4.915134!2d56.895695!2m1!2b1!3e0?hl=en

This trip is great as the terrain changes a lot from mountains to short stints on dual carriage way to going past a Harry Potter looking house.

I went past 2 different Ski resorts and some very long step hills requiring 2nd gear.
Not only were there steep hills to climb there even steeper winding hills to go down requiring me stay in 2nd gear for engine braking to slow me down.
They were that steep and had me cautious that I was considering going down them in 1st gear. If they were straight down hills with no twists and turns I would have happily sat in 4th gear all the way.
But my gosh that was a load of fun!

I stopped off at the top just after one of the ski resorts as it was the only spot that was midge and fly free due to the strong winds and cold air constantly blowing.
I have never been so glad to have a cold wind blowing against me as it meant I could eat my food in peace, midge and fly free.

On the way home on the A86 I stopped by and viewed a memorial to Cpl J Hendry GC which was sad and interesting.

This trip was about 221 miles and again cost around £7 in petrol and gave about 150 mpg
I was getting around 130 miles before the reserve light started flashing on the dash.
I always thought the stock suspension on this bike was too soft but it has been perfect for the roads up here.

This link will take you to the photo album on photobucket: https://s1158.photobucket.com/user/wooizm/library/cairngorms



Spean Bridge to the Isle of Skye
The next trip was from Spean Bridge to the Isle of Skye and back.
Route I took is:
• A82 toward Inverness
• A87 towards Kyle of Lochchalsh
• A863 towards Dunvegan
• A850 towards Portree
• A87 towards Uig
• A855 towards Staffin
• A87 towards Kyle of Lochalsh
• A82 towards Fort William

Link to map on google:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Spean+Bridge/57.361222,-6.3986833/57.4368742,-6.5816284/57.4519396,-6.2652198/57.6837863,-6.3021934/Spean+Bridge/@57.3124307,-5.959151,9.5z/data=!4m20!4m19!1m5!1m1!1s0x488ec89731414f25:0x26467057d9e3ec9!2m2!1d-4.915134!2d56.895695!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x488ec89731414f25:0x26467057d9e3ec9!2m2!1d-4.915134!2d56.895695!2m1!2b1!3e0?hl=en


This route was absolutely amazing.
The weather stayed nice and dry and many occasions the sun was out and I started to get hot in my gear which was most welcome.
The roads had nice straights and plenty of twists and turns all with beautiful scenery surrounding me everywhere.

In fact the whole of Scotland has beautiful scenery full stop.
Though I am from England and it sounds like I am betraying my country the truth is simply the truth!
Scotland’s scenery is far more beautiful than England and North Wales combined together. (I have not been to Ireland on a tour like this yet so it would be unfair to include it).

I fell in love with the scenery of North Wales when I was 11yrs and stayed at Llangollen on a youth club trip in 1992.
I renewed my vows with North Wales in 1998 at 17 when I returned and stayed at a youth camp in Brynrefail. I was happily married with the beauty of North Wales.
But when I met North West Scotland’s scenery in 2005 when I was 24yrs I had to immediately divorce North Wales and marry North West Scotland as I fell in love like I had never ever felt before.
Hopefully next year I will be brave and take the Honda MSX on a huge tour in Europe.


This trip was about 280 miles and cost around £8 in petrol and gave at one point 173mpg which I thought was impossible.
This then dropped to about 140mpg as I had really long steep hills and strong winds against me.

This link will take you to the photo album on photobucket:
https://s1158.photobucket.com/user/wooizm/library/skye



Spean Bridge to Glen Etive, Inveraray, Achnaba, Oban
The next trip was from Spean Bridge to Glen Etive, Inveraray, Oban and back.
Route I took is:
• A82 towards Fort William/Glen Coe
• Glen Etive Road
• A82 towards Crianlarich
• A85 towards Oban
• A819 towards Inveraray
• A83 towards Campbeltown
• A816 towards Oban
• A85 towards Fort William
• A828 towards Fort William
• A82 towards Fort William

Link to map on google:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Spean+Bridge/56.5621673,-5.0747081/56.4388551,-4.7174727/56.2319425,-5.0738086/56.0123776,-5.4030578/56.4143845,-5.4725279/Spean+Bridge/@56.453293,-5.6914462,9z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m21!4m20!1m5!1m1!1s0x488ec89731414f25:0x26467057d9e3ec9!2m2!1d-4.915134!2d56.895695!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x488ec89731414f25:0x26467057d9e3ec9!2m2!1d-4.915134!2d56.895695!2m1!2b1!3e0?hl=en


Was Cloudy to start but got better as time went on.
Riding through the mountains of Glen Coe is always amazing.
I turned off the A82 to head towards Glen Etive.

The road is all single track with passing points and was a lot of fun with the bikes soft suspension doing a good job of soaking up the bumps.
Parked up at Glen Etive’s car park and walked to Loch Etive and the feeling of calm and stillness is absolutely breath taking.

After chilling here for a bit jumped back on the bike and headed back to the A82 towards Tyndrum for petrol and stopped at The Green Welly Stop for fuel and a quick eat. (2 Gold bars and a snickers bar)
There was some sort of motorbike event here that I think I must have missed.
Headed towards Inveraray.

Followed the A83 towards Lochgair then onto the A816 towards Oban.

After Oban then straight back home to Spean Bridge.
This route was nice, not much mountains as it appears this is more the lowlands than the highlands on this route.

This trip was about 220 miles and cost about £8 in petrol, and gave about 150 mpg

This link will take you to the photo album on photobucket:
https://s1158.photobucket.com/user/wooizm/library/glen%20etive



I was meant to now start the North Cost 500 route which I had split into two parts to do over two days but because the seat on the Honda MSX is so uncomfortable I decided to leave that journey for when I return next year.
Those ride outs are around 360 miles each and I really need the comfort from a good seat.

So I decided to spend my second week on walking up Ben Nevis and walking on a walk where there is a statue of The Wee Minister.

This link will take you to the photo album on photobucket:
https://s1158.photobucket.com/user/wooizm/library/various


On my walk back I met some cows who made me very wary so gave them a vary wide berth as I my legs had not recovered from Ben Nevis mountain and it would have been impossible for me to run.
When I got back to my lodge I googled if people have been attacked by cows and low and behold people have actually been killed by them.
So I was glad I gave them a miss.


So I had much fun riding a 125cc bike from London to North West Scotland and touring around.
I did around 2200 miles and spent about £84 on petrol all in.
I spent more on food for my 2 weeks up north than fuel which was a first.
The bike behaved well and did not burn any oil.
The chain did not need adjusting at all.
I found it is most fuel efficient and very happy when riding between 40 mph to 50 mph.
Would I do this again……………YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My first priority now is get the seat refoamed with better quality softer foam or gel inserts.

Anyone else who wants to do this on a 125cc, bicycle, by foot, or by big bike, just do it!
____________________
Elen sila lummen omentielvo!

[woo]

as dont have time at the moment to sort a free hosting site i have given direct links to the corresponding photo albums on photobucket
____________________
Elen sila lummen omentielvo!

[pepperami]

looking forward to it
____________________
I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[Enduro Numpty]

A good write up. Glad you enjoyed your trip.

[pepperami]

A really good write up and interesting pictures.
I recognise many of the places from my own tours in Scottyland.

We need a "Quality" rating.

I`m glad you enjoyed doing the distance on a smaller bike, and the fact you get it that you need a different mindset.
I know I use a 250 but the same principle applies in that I cant rely on powaarr!

I understand your thinking about not tenting it, you just KNOW that if you had of decided to tent it, it would of pissed down EVERY day .

As for getting the seat sorted, I`ve just bought a Air-Hawke pad and it has transformed the harsh seat on my Chinese pos.

Seeing those pictures of proper hills and uncluttered roads has made me resolve to get out somewhere in October.

EDIT : fugg me that must took some doing! ........ the write up stupid not the trip
____________________
I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[arry]

Amazing mega awesomeness. Love it!

[woo]

did the write up at the end of each run and yep was effort lol

its a shame i dont have a free picture hosting site as the pictures would have flowed perfectly
I took around 500 pictures and loads of videos on my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 just a shame i couldnt get them in this thread

when i get time ill make a youtube slide show of them all

next year i hope to go Scotland for 3 weeks as im not done with her yet and then after party in Ibiza for 1.5 weeks as my bug to get drunk in Ocean Beach pool party has come back lol!
____________________
Elen sila lummen omentielvo!

[Snowdonia Rider]

Enjoyed the write up Can't wait for my trip to Limerick and back next month
____________________
I want your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle.
Suzuki GP125 Suzuki GSX600F Suzuki SV650S KTM EXC250F SkyTeam Bongo 125
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/SnowdoniaRider

[B5234FT]

Sounds like a great trip and thanks for taking the time to write it up and share it!

[raesewell]

Next time on the way up country take in the B6047 from Market Harborough to Meton Mowbray, you won't regret it.
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Yamaha FJR 1300 Normanton West Yorkshire

[ocatoro]

[ocatoro]

nice trip though good work
____________________
CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[BLB_Rich]

If I still had my MSX I would've asked to join this ride!

Sounded great fun!

[BusterGonads]

A brave effort and a good write up.

Reminds me of some of my early bike rides when I was a student around 1970. I used to go from home in Newcastle to London and back every half term on an assortment of motley 1950s two strokes and old Beezers. The five HP 150cc Villiers two stroke was one of the most reliable, if the slowest. I rode the A1 on it in those days on an L plate, sometimes starting at about 1 in the morning and driving until ten in the morning with my holdall strapped behind me.

At other times back then I wandered about in Scotland on C15s, and an A10 combination. Happy days - and you are right about the scenery.

One advantage back then for a low power motorcyclist was that the average power of cars was way lower then and I suppose their average speeds were lower so I probably came in for less bullying from frustrated drivers following too close.

I just came back into biking after a long time off since about 1995. I got an old CG125 which I am having a lot of fun on and to be fair, I've had very few 'incidents' of intimidating overtaking or close following. I am trying to stick to B or C roads though as far as I can.

[woo]

im going back up again in a couple of weeks on the 125cc cant wait lol
____________________
Elen sila lummen omentielvo!

[pepperami]

[woo]

i just feel so much more relaxed on the 125cc than the R1
____________________
Elen sila lummen omentielvo!

[pepperami]

[Marit1]

I have also had a long bike tour and at that time I did not have any distance calculator tool on my bike and used some programs to calculate distance between places and was no problem also.