Euro tour - only a LITTLE different
Discussion
I have known for a while I wanted to go to Europe by bike, so long in fact I booked the time of work months ago and that was, until very recently, the only planning I had done.
In fact it is still the largest amount of planning I have done.
So I am planning to take the below bike, to at least the South West of Germany, around the Black Forest region.
It is a 2005, Honda CG 125 with 10k miles on the clock that I picked up for £450 a couple of months ago.
It came with the top box, a lot of history, every MOT it's had and a Haynes manual.
A lot of people will be reading and thinking "it's stupid" "why not take a real bike?" or having read more recent threads "125's are dangerous". My counter argument to those is as follows, it will be cheap. Incredibly cheap in fact. I worked out rough costs and with the mileage I was aiming to do (now cut down for the CG) I would have spent over £400 just in fuel!
I won't have to pay for breakdown cover but lets face it, it's very unlikely to breakdown, if it does I am likely to be able to fix it by the road side with tape, hammers and the old favourite, cable ties. Worst case if I can't fix it by the road side I can probably call a taxi to put the bike in to get me to the nearest bike shop, or have a couple of energy drinks and carry it.
I also don't see how riding a bike of a certain capacity is a greater or lesser perceived risk, especially if you use it as intended. I am not iintending to be doing top speed autobahn runs, if you care it does 75mph and it's not great fun and needs to be a long downhill.
I'll be planning to hammock most nights with perhaps the odd night on the floor or perhaps even pay for a hostel mid-way through just for the beauty of a shower. It will certainly be an adventure no matter what happens.
So, on to more important things. As of writing this post I do not have a route planned (I probably won't plan one at all other than getting to the ferry or chunnel), I haven't yet booked the chunnel or ferry or indeed decided which I will do. I haven't looked into what is precisely required for riding a motorbike in Europe, HINT; If you have suggestions or a list it would be a great help, I haven't fully finished prepping the bike and I also haven't got a firm list of what I am packing/taking.
All of the preceding paragraph is fine, apart from the one small detail which is I leave on Thursday night. Thursday the 24th. As in 5 full days away. 4 of which I am working.
I still need to finish fitting the chain and sprockets, fit hand guards to the now MX style bars (just think it will be better if I drop it over there) plus have a good once over of the whole bike.... I'll be heading off to do that once this post is done and once I have booked a ferry!
As everyone loves pictures see below an arty farty shot.
Finally I'll update this thread alongside my website (look in my profile) with details of the trip most likely on my return. Wish me luck!
ETA -
Part 1 > www.ilikemotorbikes.com/single-post/2017/11/13/125...
Part 2 > www.ilikemotorbikes.com/single-post/2018/01/03/125...
Part 3 > www.ilikemotorbikes.com/single-post/2018/01/08/125...
Part 4 > https://www.ilikemotorbikes.com/.../125cc-2100-mil...
In fact it is still the largest amount of planning I have done.
So I am planning to take the below bike, to at least the South West of Germany, around the Black Forest region.
It is a 2005, Honda CG 125 with 10k miles on the clock that I picked up for £450 a couple of months ago.
It came with the top box, a lot of history, every MOT it's had and a Haynes manual.
A lot of people will be reading and thinking "it's stupid" "why not take a real bike?" or having read more recent threads "125's are dangerous". My counter argument to those is as follows, it will be cheap. Incredibly cheap in fact. I worked out rough costs and with the mileage I was aiming to do (now cut down for the CG) I would have spent over £400 just in fuel!
I won't have to pay for breakdown cover but lets face it, it's very unlikely to breakdown, if it does I am likely to be able to fix it by the road side with tape, hammers and the old favourite, cable ties. Worst case if I can't fix it by the road side I can probably call a taxi to put the bike in to get me to the nearest bike shop, or have a couple of energy drinks and carry it.
I also don't see how riding a bike of a certain capacity is a greater or lesser perceived risk, especially if you use it as intended. I am not iintending to be doing top speed autobahn runs, if you care it does 75mph and it's not great fun and needs to be a long downhill.
I'll be planning to hammock most nights with perhaps the odd night on the floor or perhaps even pay for a hostel mid-way through just for the beauty of a shower. It will certainly be an adventure no matter what happens.
So, on to more important things. As of writing this post I do not have a route planned (I probably won't plan one at all other than getting to the ferry or chunnel), I haven't yet booked the chunnel or ferry or indeed decided which I will do. I haven't looked into what is precisely required for riding a motorbike in Europe, HINT; If you have suggestions or a list it would be a great help, I haven't fully finished prepping the bike and I also haven't got a firm list of what I am packing/taking.
All of the preceding paragraph is fine, apart from the one small detail which is I leave on Thursday night. Thursday the 24th. As in 5 full days away. 4 of which I am working.
I still need to finish fitting the chain and sprockets, fit hand guards to the now MX style bars (just think it will be better if I drop it over there) plus have a good once over of the whole bike.... I'll be heading off to do that once this post is done and once I have booked a ferry!
As everyone loves pictures see below an arty farty shot.
Finally I'll update this thread alongside my website (look in my profile) with details of the trip most likely on my return. Wish me luck!
Edited by MotorsportTom on Saturday 19th August 12:45
Edited by MotorsportTom on Saturday 19th August 12:48
ETA -
Part 1 > www.ilikemotorbikes.com/single-post/2017/11/13/125...
Part 2 > www.ilikemotorbikes.com/single-post/2018/01/03/125...
Part 3 > www.ilikemotorbikes.com/single-post/2018/01/08/125...
Part 4 > https://www.ilikemotorbikes.com/.../125cc-2100-mil...
Edited by MotorsportTom on Monday 6th January 21:02
Edited by MotorsportTom on Wednesday 30th September 12:17
Thansk for the well wishes folks!
Kamil - I seem to remember you had a classic 50 that you rode some incredible distances on did you not?
Cbull - really appreciate the sentiment, I'm hoping it all works out too!
myvision - It's much obliged
Channel tunnel is booked for 7:20am on the morning of the 25th, I just need to find a place I can pitch my hammock close by and I'll be pretty much set to go. It's only a 5.5 hour ride from home...
Kamil - I seem to remember you had a classic 50 that you rode some incredible distances on did you not?
Cbull - really appreciate the sentiment, I'm hoping it all works out too!
myvision - It's much obliged
Channel tunnel is booked for 7:20am on the morning of the 25th, I just need to find a place I can pitch my hammock close by and I'll be pretty much set to go. It's only a 5.5 hour ride from home...
CG125, bloody hell. Looks like my old one. I couldn't put up with riding that slowly for that long but I was surprised that when I sold mine, I had loads of inquiries from prospective buyers looking for one to do a Euro tour, only to be put off when they realised how far north Northumberland is (where I had the bike for sale).
Any bike can tour, it's the rider that can or can't, I'll be following this thread, Have fun!
You don't need anything special in France to tour, if you read most sites it says you need a plethora of stuff, I lived there for years and no ones gives a s
t what you carry, you're not going to be doing big motorway miles, as it's the only place you would need a high viz vest if you broke down. credit card, and enjoy
You don't need anything special in France to tour, if you read most sites it says you need a plethora of stuff, I lived there for years and no ones gives a s
t what you carry, you're not going to be doing big motorway miles, as it's the only place you would need a high viz vest if you broke down. credit card, and enjoyReally appreciate all the well wishes folks.
Andy - thanks for the heads up re: kit required!
Loyly - honestly the speed isnt a problem for me, being on the right roads is the issue. Dual carriageways are horrid, single track roads are awesome fun! 25-45mph and riding it like it's stolen is some of the most fun I have had on the road in a long while
If I can figure out how to upload a photo from my phone I'll show a pic of where it stands after today
Andy - thanks for the heads up re: kit required!
Loyly - honestly the speed isnt a problem for me, being on the right roads is the issue. Dual carriageways are horrid, single track roads are awesome fun! 25-45mph and riding it like it's stolen is some of the most fun I have had on the road in a long while
If I can figure out how to upload a photo from my phone I'll show a pic of where it stands after today
Figured it out! First time round the phone didn't want to play ball.
Handguards fitted and only required minor "modification" to the levers. When I say minor imagine them being attacked with an angle grinder followed by a liberal dose linishing
Also chain and sprocket, singular, are now fitted as the rear sprocket is incorrect. I can't wait to see if a replacement would turn up in time so it's lucky I decided to change it as a precaution and not because it was necessary!
wuckfitracing said:
Dont forget to pack all your gear in a safe manner. The CG is a touring bike after all. Isle of Man TT trip in 2015.
that is incredible! Well done Cheers Twizel! I'm excited to see how it pans out too.
Captainslow -
of course no european country could possibly offer a larger taxi based on a minibus the same as the UK could they? Don't take everything so literally, lighten up and you might enjoy how this thread develops
MotorsportTom said:
Channel tunnel is booked for 7:20am on the morning of the 25th, I just need to find a place I can pitch my hammock close by and I'll be pretty much set to go. It's only a 5.5 hour ride from home...
Im 20mins from the tunnel and I have a paddock where you're more than welcome to pitch for the night. Drop me a PM if you fancy it & I'll give you my address.Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff