What I Think I'm Packing for the TAT / Trans America Trail on a Honda Trail CT125
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- Опубликовано: 2 авг 2024
- Gear List: tinyurl.com/2c4w3k5u
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Went out to test my latest packing situation as I prepare to take Holda Trail CT125’s on a 5,500-mile cross-country from Asheville, NC to Port Orford, OR - traveling on the Trans America Trail. My buddy John will meet me in CO to finish. On a bike this small - every ounce really matters and so does how it's packed. Changing things really changes how it handles. I've changed my mind on how to do this a hundred times by now. We plan on using the Smoky Mountain 500 as a shakedown test in a week or two.
What don't I need? Better pack ideas? Suggestions and ridicule welcome!
Skip Over the babble and go straight to my proposed TAT Pack:
• What I Think I'm Packi...
To get right to why I'm trading my CT125 for a BMW 1200 GS:
• What I Think I'm Packi...
Ed March's RUclips Channel:
/ @c90adventures
Ride with Warro Video on Sprocket Replacement & Chain Adjustment
• 2020 Honda CT125 Hunte...
Chain Adjustment Here:
• 2020 Honda CT125 Hunte...
Ranger Roll - Clothes Packing Military Style:
fb.watch/4TYZyy_BhR/
Affiliate Links to gear:
Boots: amzn.to/3x0cexk
Givi 40L: amzn.to/3gkliXY
Givi 30L: amzn.to/3ttKOOj
Givi Tank: amzn.to/3ebfVHV
Rok Staps: amzn.to/3e85vJ7
MSR Dromedary Bag: amzn.to/3ghmoDI
Drinking Tube for MSR Bag: amzn.to/3dpEMZb
Ditty Bags: amzn.to/3x3OwjW
Poo Shovel: amzn.to/3dsbA48
Pocket Blanket: amzn.to/3akdT7g
Headlamp: amzn.to/2Qzz6TK
Buff: amzn.to/3sr6byg
GoPro 9: amzn.to/32nb8h5
ND Filters for GoPro: amzn.to/3mXzEi5
Tripod: amzn.to/3mXzTK1
InReach: amzn.to/3uXXgWJ
Magic Arm Cam Mount: amzn.to/3x60yce
HEET for Fuel: amzn.to/3uZsDQY
Knife: amzn.to/2Q24E4N
GSI Long Spoon: amzn.to/3ebiTw3
Cook Kit: amzn.to/3gkeYQ3
Wind Screen: amzn.to/3x1CtDF
Collapsable Cup: amzn.to/3v3kefj
Big Agnes Tent: amzn.to/3wWO5HU
Sleep Pad (this is stupid-expensive - but I swear - the pad is the most important piece of gear…)
amzn.to/3ajyb0q
Camp Chair: tinyurl.com/e398nhxh
Sleeping Bag: amzn.to/3dp70n6
Coffee Press: amzn.to/3sqIt5n
Bear Bag: amzn.to/2RDiECd
Disgusting Vegan Camp Meals: www.goleafside.com/
Power Inverter: amzn.to/3mTqYtl
Air Compressor: amzn.to/3x3HvQ1
Enormous Tool Roll: amzn.to/3ghqZps
Tubes for CT125: amzn.to/32kL9H0
Pressure Gauge: amzn.to/3efuPNv
Chain Lube: amzn.to/3ghr4tg
Tire Spoons: amzn.to/2QBSlf6
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Lose the saw and shovel and survival knife. Keep either a Swiss Army knife or multi plier on your belt.
Get the Deuce of Spades for digging a cat hole. Go with smaller amounts of bug spray, mouth wash, sunscreen, etc.
You’re gonna have to resupply at some point. You can mail yourself resupply boxes to a post office on your route ahead of time (RUclips thru hiking resupply). Send yourself replacement sunscreen, food, etc every 600 miles or whatever works for you.
If you upgrade to MSR International stove it will run on unleaded so you don’t have to carry Heet or Alcohol. The fuel bottles come in 10, 20, & 30 ounce sizes and can be strapped to front rack. In a pinch you can fill your gas tank to get to a gas station.
MSR fuel bottle is also much safer than the dromedary bag.
Increase in stove weight is off set from shovel, saw, survival knife.
Don’t pack your fears and have a great trip!!
A few comments. Sorry if I missed things, but I didn't see duct tape in the toolbag (but maybe I missed it). What I do is to wrap a few feet of duct tape around a wrench. Same for electrical tape. This way, you always have some around, but without the big bulky rolls. Duct tape can help you fix a damaged drybag for instance.
I also didn't see tie wraps. I suggest you pack some long ones (the 1ft ones or longer) since they are the most versatile.
I also didn't see a headlamp. It is great to keep your hands available if you have to fix something on the roadside. There are some USB rechargeable ones.
A survival blanket can also be extremely helpful. It's not a gimmick, I once was freezing at night during camping and the $1 blanket saved the night.
You could also take an extra schrader valve cap (those that have the embedded tool to remove the valve), and an extra valve (unless you have valves in the new tubes). Not always useful but since it takes ~0 space and weight, it's good to have on a long trip like that. I think I would also like to have patches for the tubes (a small repair kit) for emergencies (the ones meant for bicycles).
Enjoy the trip !
I do have some gaffer tape wrapped around a broken pencil and a bunch of various length zip ties, and a headlamp in the tank bag.. But this is a good tip. Will add some other types of tape, a survival blanket, and a valve. Tell me about the tube patches though... My thought was, if I'm going through the trouble to take off the tire to get the $10 tube out, why not put in a new one? Curious...
@@SomeGuyRides the idea about the patch is if you have a second puncture. It gives you a safety net. It would be bad to replace the tube at the beginning and 500 miles later, have another puncture...
Granted if the tube suffers a big cut it’s useless, but if it happens to be like a nail it can save the day
Just a thought. I don’t pretend it’s perfect. It’s just what I’d do for such a long trip :) enjoy the trip and keep us posted!
@@SomeGuyRides weight
You may have the best rig out of all the CT125 RUclipsrs! Wow you’ve really thought of everything! Thank you for sharing all of your goodies. The Givi bags are now gonna be the first buy, they seem much more functional/collapsible than basket fixed on there.
I placed my deposit over a month ago out here in Phoenix, still waiting..... but I can’t wait to delicately tear up this Sonoran desert on this little thing!
You're going to love the bike. I have no idea why I went with the Givi bags- but they're great. Seem to be high quality and I think they'll hold up. The basket would be great around town - but I'm a bit of a crasher... and I'd ruin it on the trails right away... Anyway - hope your bike comes soon!
Omg...😂🤣😂bro you killed me with the spinal tap reference..!!!
Haven't heard one of those in a WHILE..!!😂Brilliant.. Your awesome. Keep up the great work. love your video's... Stay safe...✌
You did well, sizewise. Very smart choices, imho.
Your kit looks very complete! I've fitted my CT125 with lots of similar gear for adventure camping. I'm planning to take mine on the TAT next year (hopefully). I'm already committed to do the Scooter Cannonball Run on my Super Cub for this summer, so the TAT will have to wait. 😉
You can probably ditch the inverter and get a DC-DC power supply for your laptop instead. I use the Goal Zero Sherpa 100AC power pack (with built-in inverter), but the DC port on it will directly power & charge a laptop.
You might also consider using a 7-10W solar panel (Goal Zero Nomad 10 or similar) to charge batteries while you ride. I usually strap a 7W panel on top of my bags to charge GoPro batteries or USB power packs... no extra drain on the bike's electrical system.
For your flat kit, you could also skip the electric air compressor and use CO2 cartridges and a small hand pump instead (Vibrelli bike pump on Amazon is great). Save any weight where you can because the CT's rack keeps all of the weight high and behind the rear axle (both less than ideal placements).
I'm anxiously waiting to see how your TAT adventure goes! I'll be rooting for you and taking notes for my trip next year. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM
This is great info. Now if only the Sherpa wasn't $300! So - you can charge the Sherpa while riding - and also charge your devices while it's charging too? You're right on the compressor - it's much larger than I thought it would be. The bike pump looks quite large too though. Hmm... I'll check that out. I know my riding buddy Johnny Pow is bringing CO2 carts... Anyway - thank you a ton for these suggestions - good stuff! Stop by again once those TAT videos start coming out...
Its going to be an epic trip and an amazing test for this bike. You taking an extra chain?
I hadn't thought about bringing an extra. I figured I'd probably switch to an o-ring at some point during the trip or right before I leave. Also semi planning on stopping somewhere for a full service and possibly switch out the tires at some point during the trip...
I like smaller lighter bikes too, even though I'm 6'2". I split the difference between the Trail 125 and the 1250GS. I got the G310GS. The baby GS is the sweet spot for me. I don't plan on riding highways, even though it'll do it. I got it for secondary roads, gravel and dirt. I like ultralight camping so I'm only carrying 35 pounds in a waterproof roll top bag on the pillion and rear rack, including a large tool roll and a first aid kit. I looked at the Royal Enfield Himalayan but didn't want to put down a deposit and wait a year. The new 2019 baby GS was $1400 off a few months before the 2021 models were arriving, which was nice.
I'm carrying the same amount of stuff as you in my backpack, but it sits a bit lower on my G310GS, and I think the handling of the heavier baby GS isn't as altered by weight higher in the back as the Trail 125.
Thanks for showing your gear. While we have a few different gear priorities, (I'm lighter on electronics, coffee paraphernalia and toiletries but carry three days of clothes so I wash clothes less often), I was able to get a few good tips on equipment to investigate.
That Trail 125 looks all kinds of fun, and it's hard to beat Honda reliability. I do like that it has the same size tires front and rear, but I like that my baby GS has tubeless tires so I don't need to carry spare tubes, a tubeless plug kit is small and lightweight, and there's no need to remove the wheel to plug the tire. That's some peace of mind. I carry a Blackburn mountain bike pump instead of a compressor. It's much lighter and probably more reliable and maintainable, but it does take a little longer.
Same, I looked at the Trail 125 but the occasional freeway/highways steered me to the G310 GS. It's right at the weight limit I can handle off-road with gear. Just right for up righting by yourself in awkward situations.
yamaha
1) I would for sure use proper fuel bag or cannister.
2) Add a tow rope.
Loose the laptop and inverter, you only need one days food supply in case you get caught out somewhere, loose the stove setup you can cold rehydrate any food just takes longer than hot, loose the big gas can you only need a 200 mile range at the most ever, get your bags down low and on the sides forward the rear axle as best as you can, loose the camp chair get a pad to sit on, etc...... Ed March was sharing his load with another bike when he crossed NA plus he's nuts as well.... PS the TAT will put 10 years on a bike, the less you carry the easier it is n the little Red pig...
I totally agree with Rockbreaker on packing for a trip..... Listen and learn, you might want an extra set of clothes for when you fall over in a creek crossing..... Good luck......
I'd love to lose the laptop - but if I want to edit on the road I have to ring t. Not sure yet. And yes - you are absolutely right. You really have to factor in the insanity factor when looking at Ed March! He is a glorious nut case...
@@SomeGuyRides : Inverters typically have a very high quiescent current (the current they need themselves, even with no load). It is okay-ish for AC loads like charging a laptop, but a huge waste of energy for phone charging and other USB loads. For USB loads I strongly recommend you bring a dedicated 12V->5V USB converter, since it will make a much more efficient use of the available energy.
Also, if you plan to charge from the motorcycle, understand that the stator only has a limited amount of power output, and you can actually discharge the battery even if the motorcycle is running, if the total load (motorcycle itself + inverter) exceeds what the stator can output. So I strongly recommend you add a small voltmeter to keep track of the battery voltage. At 11.5V the battery is almost discharged, at 11.0V it is discharged.
For flexibility, I would recommend you install a SAE plug (allows to connect battery chargers), then make a SAE plug to cigar lighter adapter, which will give you a standard socket on which you can plug anything, and then simply use a car cigar lighter to USB adapter with an integrated voltmeter such as Amazon B08N4WKJMT.
You might have an opporthnity to remove the inverter altogether. Can your laptop charge from USB C PD ? I can charge my Chromebook using Amazon B071WYF9HP via USB C. Much smaller than an inverter, and much more power efficient. But granted, not all laptops allow for this. I believe Amazon B08N4WKJMT provided above should work for that use case too (because it can supply 20V 1.5A via the USB C PD port).
I would suggest to cut your tool, probably in half, and use one of those tool tubes. And put it on the front rack? Take two fuel canisters and tie them to the engine guards - with that gas milage you don't need so much gas, I think?
Similar to water bladder - 2 1L bottles and you can attach them anywhere on your bike. :)
And don't forget about the space between your tank bag and the seat ;)
You will be happy if you go for the GSA
You can probably streamline your tool kit a bit. It looks awfully heavy...don’t forget the duct tape!
I’d reconsider the fuel carrier. A lot can go wrong with that setup. At the very least, there’s a company that developed and sells ruggedized collapsible fuel carriers that looks like that dromedary you are using, but much thicker and resilient. I just took delivery of my 125 last week and I thought your setup using the jerry can on the side rack was a great idea. I’d consider that and another “white” jerry on the other side to carry water. Keeps the weight low too. Have you thought about loading your tent, sleeping bag, pad into a smaller dry bag and loading it onto your front rack? It may help balance out the load front to back, but probably not exceeding the weight limit of the front.
Hey good luck with your adventures! You’ve inspired me to plan a similar trip on the BDR in New England.
Agreed. Just ordered a few wrenches. Going to totally change the tool kit and will try to stuff it in the side bag. I haven't seen a way to mount anything on the exhaust side yet - lmk if you have! Yeah - the bladder for fuel is a terrible idea. But... those bladders made for fuel are pricey... My buddy John has a fantastic solution - very stealth and out of the way. Check it out at: ruclips.net/video/uwwaN5iyKdw/видео.html - but I wouldn't be able to use the side bag with that setup. Anyway - check it out and see what you think...
i bet your a bag addict just like me and my 125 ct , funny i packed it very similar except you have 2 bags more then me for now !
Wish you luck on your trip, I really envy and wish I could do that on a CT125. By the way, why won’t you get rid of the centre stand? It limits ground clearance plus the CT125 is light enough that if you need to remove the rear wheel or do chain maintenance you can lift the motorcycle on a small log or rock.
Probably should get rid of the ctr stand. But when it's fully loaded, the side stand doesn't quite cut it. Very tippy...
i dont get why covid stopped anyone from going to the woods..
Just buy a real fuel bladder. Have you tried to find a shorter exhaust that will allow you to use panniers on both sides?
Look for comparison tests between the various big adventure bikes. I saw one recently that compared the BMW 1200GS, with the Yamaha Tenere 700, against a KTM, against a Honda Africa Twin.
The hands down winner was the Africa Twin. The BMW was very good but that boxer engine is so wide that on mountain side trails it would constantly get hung up on some of the really narrow sheep paths.
The African Twin in much narrower, more agile, better balanced, with better gearing for plowing up steep or muddy grades without stalling out.
Hope that helps. If you don't plan on doing mountain trails or deep water crossings, the BMW is great. But I noticed you like those deeper water crossings. You want to keep the cylinder heads above the water line.
Although these Trail 125's actually do a better job of negotiation back roads, they don't necessary do as well as bigger bikes for putting on long distance miles. Their lighter weight fabrication will wear out sooner.
Gord
I thought all of those would be too heavy. Then I ended up with a Himalayan which is about as heavy as the T7.
@@SomeGuyRides Yes, that's middle of the road adventure weight. But for what it is, given today's technology, it should be lighter based upon power.
But these bikes and the retro Triumphs are all made in India using tried and true 20-40 year old technology. The problem is they are all s bit top heavy. Which is ok for the road but not the trails.
There just isn't that much in the mid weight range other than the Yamaha Tenere 700. But that may be more power than you want.
At the 400hp range, you have what is available. There is this huge gaping hole in that power range for adventure bikes. Both older and younger folks want lighter bikes these days. The heavy adventure bike is fading.
I would love a 400hp adventure dual sport at around 300 lbs wet, with a lower seat. A Yamaha XT400 adventure dual sport with a lower seat would be awesome.
Light but powerful...
Gord
Get a little plastic trowel for digging cat holes. Keep the TAT clean.
ruclips.net/video/u7WPhJ98AcU/видео.html. I'm a staunch leave no tracer...
I have had dozens of bikes since the 70s including many BMWs. I wish the Honda was a 250-300! Heck a Vespa 300 will run 75-80 hwy all day long.
Those are novelty bikes, meant for tugging at the strings of aging Boomers now about 70+. Low slung, easy to mount and balance, easy to ride. Makes sense with one hour mud rides or just buzzing around a retirement country estate.
Monkey and Groms too. Special purpose motorsport... Not bring on for thousands of miles beating beaten up by primative suspension
CRF 250! All around great small bike.
or CRF300L or 300 Rally. 300L is only 60lbs (313) more than the CT 125 and has over 3 times the HP.
I think the XT250 should be on the list too... I looked at the CRFs - just don't love the styling. Which doesn't make a ton of sense, since I own one of the dumbest looking bikes ever made. (Also - seat height issues for me on the CRFs...)
@@SomeGuyRides Yep, the XT250 is a great lightweight "mild ADV" bike. I've ridden mine everywhere and it's much more capable than the CT125. I just did a 1600-mile trip from Houston to Arkansas on my XT250 a couple of months ago, and I'm kinda glad that I didn't take the CT125 for that ride.
I've upgraded lots of stuff on my CT125, but the motor really needs more power to be able to handle the highway slogs getting to the trails. It's a bit limited on steep climbs and in deep, soft terrain, too. I'll probably put a 143cc big-bore kit on mine to wake it up. Cheers, and thanks for the videos! 😉👍 --QM
Why not just keep the jerry can empty or half empty until you need the fuel for a long stretch?
Yup - that's the plan - although I'm going to use the bladder so I can pack it away when I don't need it to save some weight and space. Plus - I wasn't loving the jerry can sticking out like that...
TW200, XT250
Check out Simon bloke in the woods. Great videos
What are you using for rack on side of bike? Commercial rack?
check out the description of this video - and info in the video too... ruclips.net/video/BUGB7gGXHU8/видео.html
Are you keeping to the stock gearing or changing it?
going stock. might bring a sprocket to change out for the passes...
Get some dual sport/enduro tires.
What’s the start date of your trip?
Sometime end of June...
XR650L
Can you stand up a 1200 alone ?
People do it. I sure wouldn't want to have to...
Test your electronics. I don’t think your battery is big enough to run that inverter long enough to charge the laptop. Get a M1 MAcBook Air. Those are much more energy efficient and half the weight. You should test your ability to charge while riding as well. Mine will barely provide my phone enough current to run mapping software much less charging a battery bank.
I tested it charging the laptop and drone batts and it did fine. I was a bit worried about heat - but no issues. I would only run it while the bike is running. Maybe the last couple of hours of each day...
Meat and fat is much more nutrient dense than all those carbs you’re bringing. Canned tuna, Biltong.
Imodium A-D & Aveeno baby wipes... Nothing worse than diarrhea with no way to deal w/ it or easy way to clean up
I use a portable bidet. Required water, but no risk of running out as long as you have water. Costs like $15 on Amazon
Ive watched you ride your 125 off-road. I’ve owned a BMW Adventure 1150. Definitely not for you. I’m not being mean… but you’d get killed on it.
I'd be down with a bike like that on pavement - but nope... not for me off road. Way too heavy for me... I'd be miserable- and then yes, I'd get killed for sure!
I would dump all vegan. Go carnivore. It is what you are designed to eat.
God gave us canine teeth for a reason.
Vegetarian is the old American Indian word for “Bad Hunter”!
I was thinking the same thing. Doing vegan on a trip like this doesn't make since to me. Keep doing it at home with your daughter if you want to support her life decisions, but eat as you please on your trip. We will do some dinners during the week that match my daughters dietary preferences (vegetarian), but on my own meals I eat the way that works for me. Having Crohns Disease and blood type O my system works best with meats and fresh veggies (paleo diet). Everyone is different and if you want to do vegan for you I support you 100%, but if your doing it for someone who's not even with you I don't think that's right.
GS joke is funny. but, ditch the scooter man. you can only do so much with 125cc. there are many dual sports available on the used market for similar price to the Himalayan, that will be lighter and more capable. propaganda for vegans...lol also might try to slim back on all the stuff your taking. its too much. think like a backpacker. don't take it if you don't absolutely need it. specially on such a small bike.
Made it from Asheville, NC to just shy of Port Orford, OR. It wasn't easy, but... the 125 is a beast.
@@SomeGuyRides ha. nice