Touring on a CB125F, riding to Dover (France 02)

[@777interesting]

That was great, I am an Aussie, I motorhomed around the UK, Ireland, France etc. in 2023 & we stayed at Cox Hill, same you waiting on the morning ferry, its a credit to the young couple who own that campsite, it is fantastic, we had pushbikes & road into town for a look around & an ale ..... enjoying your vids >>> as I said my wife rides same bike you, I ride RE Himalayan & also RE Guerrilla, she is also watching your videos ..... cheers from Downunder ... 🦘🦘🦘

[@raskfel555]

It's funny how the French Crit'air sticker has GB on it and you have to have a UK sticker on your motor now :D

[@ralfhoffmann2487]

It always amazes me just what 125's are capable of. I don't think that I could undertake such a journey - driving round London would freak me out! Looking forward to seeing the rest of the trip.

[@BN1960]

I like your style Richard. Good cinematography and narrative. Soooo many people throw a crappy old GoPro on and think they're the BBC You've got it right

[@sataomm]

Thanks, that's very kind. It's only a DJI Action 4 and my phone, but adding extra angles and things seems to help. Takes ages to edit though!

[@BN1960]

@@sataomm proper editing and the considerate use of music is what makes a really good video. So often you see a vid that's got 9 views and when you watch it you know why - they have crappy sound, zero cut-shots, masses of wind noise and an absolutely inane commentary full of ummms and ahhhs and rambling rubbish. Sorry, this sounds like a critique of everyone else And I guess it is! 😀

[@shephardphoto7352]

@@BN1960 My pet peeve is on a how-to style video, when they put the camera down because they can't do the thing while holding it, then come back and say "well I've done the thing..." when that's the ONLY bit I needed to see on the video.

[@andypaddon8531]

Great video - thanks

[@sarahpeaker8404]

Brilliant video! Has made me rethink my journey up to Scotland with the timings! I live in Aylesbury and know the roads well where you rode ❤

[@George-js4vf]

Great job, really shows what you can do on a smaller engined bike! Never took the bike to mainland Europe but it's on the list. Cheers!

[@roadwarrior8560]

been on my list for 12 years, still never done it!

[@peterwerckx9110]

Great job Richard,keep it up

[@alanalan3290]

Kudos to you as I ride a Suzuki 650XT Vstrom and everyone I ride with ride bigger bikes but it shows what is possible on a relatively small bike and you still enjoy yourself

[@roadwarrior8560]

650 vstrom is a brilliant bike.

[@rockclima]

Not far from Hitchcocks I see Richard, My Himalayan has just gone after a super 1000 mile trip from Birmingham to Glencoe and Fort William I've had lots of bikes over 44 years but most memorable was my CBF125 m b 2012 bought new I owned it for 2 years and I regret selling it it's still on the road with over 31,000 miles a looks to be passing it's Mots with advisories I done Paris and St Jean de Mont in 1991 on my Yamaha 350LC that was eventful trip..... Have a great safe trip on your reliable 125 I am tempted to get another 125 as a 5th addition. Safe Biking

[@fuglbird]

Printing maps? Ha! You are such a kid. In the seventies we bought paper maps, preferable 1:200,000. My girlfriend and I went camping from Denmark through Deutschland, Schweiz and France to Monaco and back on my two stroke three cylinder GT550. We never had any problems finding our way. We did not have an intercom but signalled by touching each other. That was fun and often very inspiring!

[@alix6028]

here in southeast asia they just treat this bike like crap. It gives me a warm feeling that you've maintained this bike well,, kept it looking great, and going on long road trips with it to France. 👍 take care!

[@sataomm]

Here too, I imagine as a typical learner bike few people really look after it before selling it on. Thanks!

[@TheAZ3R]

Don’t worry about breakdowns you are on one of the worlds most reliable bikes there 👌

[@T3sh1k]

I am 58 years old and totally remember the days before satnavs and google maps. Maybe its my failing memory but i dont remember going the wrong way so often back then. Satnavs seem to get it wrong so often.

[@roadwarrior8560]

Yeah a sense of direction and having the bigger picture in your head, I still carry a paper map.

[@youcanadventure2]

Nice presentation, subscribed.

[@Sr.D]

I love 125cc bikes, my first motorcycle was a CBR 125f, I used to call it the little bicycle. I really regret selling it. Now I have a Sportster 883, but I still like 125s. I remember my first trip was in 2012, and we did it with a map. I'm going to check out your trip, it will be very useful for me. I've never left Spain on a motorcycle, but I'm thinking of going into France and Portugal, and doing it with a tent, which would also be something new for me. Greetings from Spain.

[@sataomm]

Sounds great. Thanks for watching and good luck with your travels. I want to do a video about what to pack at some point - hopefully in time for you.

[@PaulTaylor-p8n]

Great video thanks, I have the same bike and love it, nice to think that it can do a long tour, keep it shiny side up

[@sataomm]

Thanks! Yes it's a very reliable bike and can do long distances, but I wouldn't recommend trying to keep it (or any bike) at top speed all day long, that's all. So 50-60 mph and we're quite happy.

[@loicader56]

Thank you for this video. Can you give me details on the top case you chose and on the reservoir bag?

[@sataomm]

Thanks for watching. The top box is the Givi E300NT2. With the rest of the luggage it was enough, but on it's own I might go for the next size up. And the tank bag is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5zThqeOorOGbbs

[@camouflage962]

nice simple camp ground

[@sataomm]

We don't need much, hey? Clean toilet and show and a water tap really.

[@brucemichailidis8951]

Great videos . Has anyone noticed how loud the gears are on this bike ? I’ve got a black widow exhaust and I still hear the gears in 5th lol ?

[@ashleyproverbs3653]

Class! A real world proper vlog! I ride exactly the same bike for my daily commute - cheap, economical and accessible to nearly all...what accessories have you added for the journey....Looking forward to the next vlog. Nice one pal.

[@ashleyproverbs3653]

Sorry, just seen the other vids

[@sataomm]

Thanks! I've been commuting on it too, but I only work 2.5 miles away so I don't really need to. If I could add an accessory that doesn't exist on the bike it'd be a thermometer. I know I've gone on about temperature in this video but I think it's really good to note which gear is suitable for which weather for you.

[@roadwarrior8560]

Subbed.

[@stevegibson2620]

Hi. Just found your video and I'm thinking of doing a similar thing on a 1987 MZ 125. The tough bit will be getting to Dover so interested in your through the centre of London route. (not sure my bike is ULEZ compliant!) I'll follow how you get on to Paris. Only negative comment I'd make is the wind noise on Mike is very offputting, don't know if there's a fix for that as it only really started once the incidental music stopped. Cheers Steve

[@sataomm]

You're so right, it's annoying! Turns out putting any microphone in a plastic helmet flying through the air at 50 mph is not ideal! I think the helmet has a lot to do with it. Less knobs and buttons makes it smoother through the air. Good luck with your plan. I'd just be careful particularly with an older engine not to run it at full RPM for long periods. I kept mine at 50 mph when it could do more.

[@Motosbymonty]

Great video Richard. Well edited. On bike sound could be improved though. Not sure what sort of mic set up you would need. Thoroughly enjoyed it anyway.

[@sataomm]

Thanks! I've got the DJI mic 2 inside the helmet with the windshield on. I did try the noise reduction settings but in my opinion they sound pretty harsh. Perhaps I'll do a comparison video - that'd be interesting.

[@Motosbymonty]

@richardshephard yes listening to different people there seems to be a difficult compromise. So many variables. But still loving the content.

[@andygray4418]

What boxes have you Richard? I'm eyeing these up for my little cb125f. They're not too big or clunky and seem to suit the bike nicely.

[@sataomm]

Givi E22n. There's a video on fitting them on here. They were the only hard luggage option I could see actually. I must do a review but the short version is, I like them very much, but don't go thinking because they're hard that they're secure. The locking mechanism is plastic. I'm pretty sure you could rip them open by hand if you tried. Certainly jam them open with a stout screwdriver. Mild deterrent against casual thieves stealing your jumper and sandwiches, but I woudln't leave anything valuable in there.

[@AsusSusu-o3x]

How is CBF taking it going over 60 miles over a long period of time? I've heard they shouldn't be cranked to the maximum for the sake of longevity.

[@sataomm]

It did great. I don't think 60mph was necessarily maximum for the bike, but that depends on a few things. Yes I wouldn't recommend running it at full power all day long.

[@AsusSusu-o3x]

@@sataomm Thanks, gonna pick one up soon!

[@alicankarakaya2770]

Is it easy to cross the border? No visa needed?

[@shephardphoto7352]

I expect it depends on the passport but for a British one yes, if you're "on holiday", no problem at all.

[@youcanadventure2]

I have to ask , as a rider who is thinking of thinking of making trips into Europe what is the disc you are putting on your bike?

[@sataomm]

Disk lock you mean? It's the Kovix KD6

[@youcanadventure2]

Apologies for my lack of clarity. The purple disc in the tax disc holder

[@sataomm]

@@youcanadventure2 Sorry, obvious now you mention it! It's a Crit'air sticker which is needed for Paris, to do with emissions. There are details on the previous video.

[@youcanadventure2]

@@sataomm I have applied though the website. I will have a look through your back catalog

[@austinmatthews347]

Why 125

[@sataomm]

I didn't buy it for the trip, it's just my bike. Lots of reasons why I've stuck with it so far like economy, size, weight. But I may change one day.

[@YA-kl7ny]

What was your consumption on that ride

[@sataomm]

Looking at the petrol fill-ups it was about 150 mpg. Bike was a bit heavier than usual, but I was probably going slower than usual, so that's a typical value for me.

[@YA-kl7ny]

@@sataomm great Bike great Ride

[@loicader56]

Thank you for this information. I watched the video. Unfortunately I am 1m92 tall and after watching the video kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoXaYpaXrLqmg8k at 3:12 I realize that this bike is too small for me. As I want a Honda for reliability, I will fall back on the cb125r.

[@sataomm]

Sounds like a smart choice. Be sure to sit on one in the shop before you decide. Thanks for watching!

[@loicader56]

@@sataomm To keep the CB125f's straight-back position but with a much higher seat, I'm going for an XSR125.

[@peacebrother-u9f]

Well, it was quite a nice video until the unnecessary raucous music got to me and 5 minutes and 42 seconds and I am gone out of this. Honestly, if I wanted a music video I would have gone looking for one.