Riding around the world... on an inappropriate bike!
Discussion
Stevemr said:
Looking good.
Would it be worth making a small bash plate under the sump.
Also might be a good idea to raise the front mudguard up?
A bash plate is something I've been considering, I've largely ran out of time but its something that may get done along the way. Would it be worth making a small bash plate under the sump.
Also might be a good idea to raise the front mudguard up?
The front mudguard is a comment that has cropped up a few times. I've been off roading a few times with it the current and similar style tyres and the front mudguard tends to scrape the sloppy mud off the tyre. It may well be worth revisiting this when I've snapped a mudguard from not listening to people's advice though
Long time no updates!
No real change so far but FINALLY we are nearly ready to leave. I've been stuck in this awful sort of purgatory where we knew we were going, but didn't yet have everything in place to go. With a motorhome to sell that is largely funding the trip having not sold until yesterday, it was a case of not wanting to spend money on the final key details
Well enough of that faff! We have a couple more things we could do with buying (water bottles, a tank bag for Lauren's bike) but we can pretty much leave and be alright.
In two days time we plan to strap the bikes up, what hasn't sold of our worldy possessions will be stored with family and we'll be off. First steps is head due SW from Calais to Tarifa in the South of Spain but we'll pass by a few places and explore on the route.
So watch this space! After wanting this for a decade or more it's time to hit the road!
No real change so far but FINALLY we are nearly ready to leave. I've been stuck in this awful sort of purgatory where we knew we were going, but didn't yet have everything in place to go. With a motorhome to sell that is largely funding the trip having not sold until yesterday, it was a case of not wanting to spend money on the final key details
Well enough of that faff! We have a couple more things we could do with buying (water bottles, a tank bag for Lauren's bike) but we can pretty much leave and be alright.
In two days time we plan to strap the bikes up, what hasn't sold of our worldy possessions will be stored with family and we'll be off. First steps is head due SW from Calais to Tarifa in the South of Spain but we'll pass by a few places and explore on the route.
So watch this space! After wanting this for a decade or more it's time to hit the road!
Cheers all for the well wishes! Will update on here as and when I remember to do so but more frequent updates will be on Facebook - if you search for the same name as I am on here, you'll probably find it 
macp said:
As others have said this will be incredible. In all honesty I couldnt do it. Best bike for the trip too. Assume the CG are still pushrod OHC.
Yep exactly - very unstressed engine so should do the trick!
Really good luck with your trip!
My memories of my CG125 are of a sore arse on long trips and crap rear suspension. You've obviously done the miles already so you muct have the comfort side sorted but you may want to consider some more capable suspension for the rough stuff when you get there.
Hope you have a brilliant time and if you haven't already then check out Sam Manicom's books - https://www.sam-manicom.com/into-africa/ - he did a similar thing to you but with far less motorcycling knowledge. A good read as well.
My memories of my CG125 are of a sore arse on long trips and crap rear suspension. You've obviously done the miles already so you muct have the comfort side sorted but you may want to consider some more capable suspension for the rough stuff when you get there.
Hope you have a brilliant time and if you haven't already then check out Sam Manicom's books - https://www.sam-manicom.com/into-africa/ - he did a similar thing to you but with far less motorcycling knowledge. A good read as well.
Here you go.
twing said:
What's your IG OP?
There's a typo in his profile, but this seems to be the link https://www.instagram.com/ilike_motorbikes/
Hope you have a great trip OP, and I'm looking forward to following your adventure!
twing said:
What's your IG OP?
There's a typo in his profile, but this seems to be the link https://www.instagram.com/ilike_motorbikes/
Hope you have a great trip OP, and I'm looking forward to following your adventure!
Have a good trip, Tom !
The little Honda sure is a good bike for this challenge.
Do the front bags not block the cooling fins ?
As for "long trips on inappropriate bike", how about a world trip on a completely rigid hardcore H-D chop ?
https://www.advrider.com/traveling-chopper-long-bi...
Sure beats my Frankfurt-to-Marseille ride in 7 days on a Mobylette, back in 1975 it was quite a ride, though.
The little Honda sure is a good bike for this challenge.
Do the front bags not block the cooling fins ?
As for "long trips on inappropriate bike", how about a world trip on a completely rigid hardcore H-D chop ?
https://www.advrider.com/traveling-chopper-long-bi...
Sure beats my Frankfurt-to-Marseille ride in 7 days on a Mobylette, back in 1975 it was quite a ride, though.
SteelerSE said:
Really good luck with your trip!
My memories of my CG125 are of a sore arse on long trips and crap rear suspension. You've obviously done the miles already so you muct have the comfort side sorted but you may want to consider some more capable suspension for the rough stuff when you get there.
Hope you have a brilliant time and if you haven't already then check out Sam Manicom's books - https://www.sam-manicom.com/into-africa/ - he did a similar thing to you but with far less motorcycling knowledge. A good read as well.
Crap suspension indeed! I did try to secure some better suspension but budget didn't allow for it and the company didn't want to sponsor us (not that they should but if it wasn't free or discounted we couldn't afford it) - we'll revisit the decision when the going gets rougher but plenty of the locals cope on small bikes but lets see eh?My memories of my CG125 are of a sore arse on long trips and crap rear suspension. You've obviously done the miles already so you muct have the comfort side sorted but you may want to consider some more capable suspension for the rough stuff when you get there.
Hope you have a brilliant time and if you haven't already then check out Sam Manicom's books - https://www.sam-manicom.com/into-africa/ - he did a similar thing to you but with far less motorcycling knowledge. A good read as well.
Cheers! Big fan of Sam's books, it was partly his writing that made me want to travel.
Bob_Defly said:
The bikes look great!
So have you sorted out all the visas you need in Africa? And also where are you posting trip updates, Instagram? If so post your account here.
Thanks Bob! Not yet, most are on arrival and we're now back in the UK to sort the Nigerian visa - arrived earlier and meeting tomorrow at the high commission!So have you sorted out all the visas you need in Africa? And also where are you posting trip updates, Instagram? If so post your account here.
Not sure if links will be removed as I think it goes against the T&Cs but search I Like Motorbikes on facebook or ilike_motorbikes on instagram and you'll find me.
twing said:
Gutted for you both but sounds like you had a good last night. I hope your plan works out for you
Yep was a punch in the gut but it is what it is. For those that haven't seen FB/IG for updates. Long story short is we made our way to a gentleman named Andrew who had kindly offered us lunch on Sunday. We intended to stop and go but sadly it wasn't to be. Lauren's bike had cut out a couple of times on the way to Andy's and we presumed it was rain soaking the plug or some other electrical item. After starting the bike up after lunch we realised it was knocking like a good un!
The motor had been ran low on oil and for how long we don't know! Stupidly I'd been meaning to change the oil on her bike before we left but with being so delayed and not having much time to tie up all loose ends I chose to do it on the road at some point and that point hadn't arrived yet! Schoolboy and girl error as we should have checked the oil before we left or along the way and we just hadn't. Being caught up in the romance of the adventure and trying to cover miles it just slipped from the mind
An expensive mistake. Parts are both expensive and hard to guarantee delivery in France - whilst we needed to return to the UK at some point for the Nigerian Visa (pretty much need to get it in your home country and go for a meeting at the high commision in London) we didn't expect it so soon. So rather than wait a week in France for bits we caught a cheap flight home this morning, will sort the visas and aprts then fly back out to continue the adventure.
Watch. This. Space
Progress! Or so we thought
We'd managed to secure a "free" engine (from a friend for beers so basically free)
Flights were booked and we got to the airport in plenty of time to fly. I've had a friend fly with an engine multiple times so I followed his advice and even double checked the airline rules but sadly Ryanair took a dim view of transporting a used engine in the hold and despite us arguing our case and follow all the rules i.e.no oil or fuel, it being vented for hours and so on they still refused to fly the engine.
Our choice was let the engine be disposed of and we fly or off-load with the engine and make alternative arrangements
So now we're stuck back in the UK trying desperately to figure out a plan of transporting an engine and us 3 days before Christmas and hoping in vain we can get to the bike, change the engine, get it running and be away before Christmas day lands but that's looking increasingly unlikely which is a shame as we feel we're pushing our friends and families hospitality to the brink now.
Flying, buses and trains seem to be off the cards to travel with the engine - couriers seem like they'll take too long and sadly doesn't seem to be any lift share options. I think at this point we just have to sit back and be patient which is very much not like us
Lets see where the next turn on this journey takes us!
We'd managed to secure a "free" engine (from a friend for beers so basically free)
Flights were booked and we got to the airport in plenty of time to fly. I've had a friend fly with an engine multiple times so I followed his advice and even double checked the airline rules but sadly Ryanair took a dim view of transporting a used engine in the hold and despite us arguing our case and follow all the rules i.e.no oil or fuel, it being vented for hours and so on they still refused to fly the engine.
Our choice was let the engine be disposed of and we fly or off-load with the engine and make alternative arrangements
So now we're stuck back in the UK trying desperately to figure out a plan of transporting an engine and us 3 days before Christmas and hoping in vain we can get to the bike, change the engine, get it running and be away before Christmas day lands but that's looking increasingly unlikely which is a shame as we feel we're pushing our friends and families hospitality to the brink now.
Flying, buses and trains seem to be off the cards to travel with the engine - couriers seem like they'll take too long and sadly doesn't seem to be any lift share options. I think at this point we just have to sit back and be patient which is very much not like us
Lets see where the next turn on this journey takes us!
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