To TAT or Not to TAT? Contemplating taking a Honda CT125 on the Trans America Trail
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- Опубликовано: 24 мар 2021
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I had a HondaTrail 70 when I was a kid. I bought my first street bike at age 16. It was a Honda Shadow. I stuck with the Japanese Harley rip-off bikes for decades - another Shadow, a Suzuki Intruder. Then we had our first kid and I got rid of the bikes thinking that dying on a motorcycle would be pretty rude to my kid (then kids). Over the years of not owning a bike - I rented often. I rented massive Harley's and BMWs. Then I started renting BMW and other types of adventure bikes and started nosing around the many fire roads in my region. I like being on a ride, seeing some unmarked dirt road or trail - and being able to see where it goes.
When I saw that the CT125 was coming out - I was hit with a massive wave of nostalgia for the Trail 70 of my childhood (which I'm sure was Honda's plan) and I knew I had to try to get one. I'd also just watched the Ed March videos which will make anyone believe that a small bike can do anything and is absolutely the way to go. I thought the big BMW GS's were so cool before watching Ed. Afterward though, I started to share his disdain for big heavy bikes. I mean - every bad situation I've ever been in on a motorcycle (there have been a few) probably could have been avoided on a lighter bike. Around this time I also discovered the TAT for the first time in my life. How I'd never heard of it - who knows. But an old friend of mine decided to get a CT125 too - and the plan was to do the TAT on them.
Well - then we actually got them and rode them. And now - we're unsure. We go back and forth almost daily. The CT125 is incredible on the trails, but it's not fantastic on roads with a higher speed limit. We've looked at the XT250 which is probably the perfect choice for the TAT. Very light and nimble - but it can get on the highway if it needs to with a top speed of 70mpg or so. But we don't love how they look. Enter the Royal Enfield Himalayan - which is a bike I've loved for a very long time. It looks cool, it's setup for adventure. But it's heavy as shit.
So - here we are trying to figure out what to do. After a couple of hundred miles of mostly road riding - we don't think the TAT would be a heck of a lot of fun on a CT125. But again - we change our minds every day. Next - we'll try to find some real dirt to test these out on...
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“Sitting on a toilet going down the road” that is absolutely what I’m looking for.
An original Vespa..feels the same!
Yes! I've got one. Ed March did it on a C90;)
Dude, your analogy of the seat position/feeling is so true. It could really use a hemorrhoid pillow upgrade for those extra long rides 😄 This bike reminds me of riding on a lawn mower on a hardtop floored.
Hell yah! I have 2 ct125's and moding them out a bit. Gas is my biggest concern. Also, thinking about switching out the 14 tooth sprocket with a 13 when we get to Colorado. Easy enough to do. I already have plans to retire and do the Grand canyon next summer so the tat will have to wait until 2023. My fiancee is learning to ride and taking an adventure bike class and we will be doing the Wisconsin trail in the fall to build skills and feeling out the bikes.
Yeah, I think Ed March and Lois Pryce might have spawned a generation of small bike adventure riders. I was originally considering the trail 125 as well but ended up going with Lois' steed; the Yamaha XT225. I'm planning on doing the TAT in 2022. Good luck!
I think the XT is the absolute perfect bike for the TAT. For real.
Cool vid, I'd love to see you guys go for it on the TAT but that's easy for me to say! Have had the same experiences with larger bikes and was also blown away by Ed March. Also have 20 or 30 years on him but love the idea of something small and nimble. It's too bad its not at least capable to keep up on 55 mph roads. I'm still tempted, I have thousands of miles of dirt roads to roam where I live, but it would sure be nice to be able to jump on the pavement to link them at times and not worry about being run over. Wonder if some mods would make it a bit more capable on the road?
Well - our attitudes have changed a bit after using these bikes in some serious dirt. They were incredible - so now we're thinking that maybe we take them on the TAT. I wish I knew what the real percentage of dirt to slab was on the TAT. I've seen widely varying accounts. Guess it depends on the route you take... Will add that video this weekend...
I'm doing the Arkansas section on mine in June, Oklahoma section if I have time.
Hoping to leave from Asheville, NC June 27 - maybe I'll see ya out there...
The standard sprocket +1 is a possibility for more speed... Standard it is not geared like the new cub125.... What you call a trail 70... I have it as a dax50... From china, of course...
Why not try the run from Key West Florida to Anchorage Alaska. You can Google map it out so you only stay on back roads. I’m seriously thinking about doing it myself. Except I’m 6 foot four and weigh in about 280. I’m thinking something on a minimum of 250 cc
As soon as I have a few free months to blow - hell yeah!
@@SomeGuyRides I’m looking at the Suzuki 250
I was just talking to a guy from Kawasaki. I was looking at the 230 cc or the 300 cc, It’s a smaller bikes they make in endora. I was telling him about the reason why I wanted to buy the bike. Seems they were very interested.
My thoughts.... Pick a starting point, ride the trail as far as you like by staying in motels so you can pack light. keep the weight off the bike so you can enjoy the adventure. ship the bike back home and arrange for a ride.. The TAT is a great adventure but the fun really starts in the west....
I've got a bunch of UL camping gear. Last I checked i was at about 34lbs but that was without food/water/tools and some other odds and ends. But you're right. Motels would probably be easier and better. And.... a real shower... Will definitely ship it home... or sell it if someone out there wants it...
@@SomeGuyRides I like the thought of doing the unusual and so depending on your adventurous spirit, where would you start and how far would you go. I rode Kevin's route last year on a DRZ400 and when on roads I averaged 45-50 and just let cars pass me or pulled over, I was in no hurry and I never took the interstates. You have to be prepared to cope with not making it to a motel before dark so plan accordingly. Video the adventure, it would be a great series....I didn't ride the bike home afterwards, I flew. This summer I'll ride the bike back using Sam's route. Good speaking with you..
Good observations. This is a scooter , not a motorcycle
I have a grom and have set it up as a mini adv bike and plan to pick up trail 125 for my wife and plan to eventually hit the TAT, may be a another year or two though
Also its been done by some guys on groms, I think they flew in from NZ to do it so its doable on the Trail with bigger tires and good cargo carrying capacity
@@mrskywalker115 I watched some of those Kiwi Grom videos - looks like they had a bunch of fun...
Absolutely you can.
Enjoy the journey. Thank you for sharing. What type of GPS are you using?
Just an iphone with Gaia.
Ed march is to Honda cubs what Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman are to the BMW GS 1200
truth. He sold more 2021 CT125s the all of Honda's international marketing put together.
When March and Halloway we’re having an issue with the Canadian highway. At that time I had his personal phone number. Call them to see if I can bail them out. And found out that other people had beat me to it. They had already gotten their bikes back
"No, no way I'm taking a CT125 on the TAT." A few months later....
Trail 70 was a workhorse...I wish they would reintroduce it and the 90!!!
I'm planning on doing the TAT this August on a CRF250L Rally (actually, I own 2 of them). I live in Greenville, SC & if you want to borrow one of mine and ride it to see if you like it, just let me know.
That's so nice! I looked at the CRF Rally - that's going to be a great bike for the TAT. I thought that and the XT250 would both be perfect. Nice and light with the ability to hop on the hwy when needed.
We are two girls on a crf250l and a crf250l rally planning in doing the tat next year. We just got our bikes and are getting comfortable with them! Cant wait to be ready to hit that TaT!!
The bike you need is CRF 300 L Rally.
Looked at those - I like the rally a ton.
100 miles to the gallon perfect for shopping
Across the continent on a commode... plan!
I'm not saying it's stupid, but I'd quit drinking for six months just to be absolutely positive that I wasn't missing something.
No need to say it's stupid - it's stupid!
Himalaya just came out with a 650
How are you capturing voice audio while riding?
ruclips.net/video/cfg2_hVBTn4/видео.html
The others I've seen had trials tires, did you change yours to street tires?
These are the stock tires...
@@SomeGuyRides Watched a video the other day and the guy had a more aggressive tread. I think it would help you in the dirt/mud to have a more aggressive tread pattern.
How about the TW 200 Yamaha??
would love to try one...
Why couldn’t this do the TaT?
Have u ever seen big foot