Underboning the world | Around the world on a modernized 100cc Honda Super Cub

[Tenchi]

Underboning the world | Around the world on a modernized 100cc Honda Super Cub

Last year I was fortunate enough to attend a talk given by Austin Vince, who basically told Charlie and Ewan how to go around the world on a motorcycle* on their fancy BMW GS's. Other than being quite hilarious and somewhat disguised as a tongue-in-cheek endorsement of Touratech equipment, some sage advice was given there, namely that repairs and even high octane fuel is pretty tough to find in remote areas, and that you don't need fancy gear and equipment to go around the world despite what BMW and Touratech would tell you. FWIW, when I went to the IMS in Seattle last and did the quick mental math on a fully decked out Touratech model GS, the whole set up was closer to the $50k mark, which I expect is more expensive than Australia.

Colin and Re didn't have $50k so they opted to use the Honda Super Cub and a less conventional but well thought out approach to luggage. They go in to a little detail about why the Honda Super Cub (everyone knows how to work on it, spare parts are abundant), and their solutions to little problems like fuel capacity and storage - it's actually a fantastically genius idea when you think about it, but for the most part it's an entertaining read if you've ever considered going adventure riding but think the financial overhead for equipment would be too high. These guys probably spent $5-8k in total on two bikes, which for most people on this forum is likely to be more achievable than the US$50k a bike. Although it was a bunch of cyclists and not motorcyclists, a bunch of guys from Melbourne proved that you could have a great time touring Vietnam for 2 weeks only a few hundred bucks with all the luxuries they wanted and food they could eat every day.

If you get the chance, check out Mondo Enduro too, probably a good one for a PSB Beer night. Happy Australia day!

* During his talk, he ripped in to them hard for not taking on the Zilov gap; they said it was an impasse, Vince had a photo of the train crossing from below, only reachable by crossing the Zilov gap, and said it was only hard, not impossible.

[mekon]

I always wished Charlie and Ewan got a deal with KTM instead of BMW for the Long Way Round.

[inertia]

Interesting! Cheers for the link!

I followed The Postman on ADVrider forums, he's one impressive guy too!

Sydney Australia to London England on a moped. The adventure travel blog of Nathan Millward | The Postman

[Uni]

I always wished Charlie and Ewan got a deal with KTM instead of BMW for the Long Way Round.

Same, the 640 looked like a better tail blazer. The GS's look way-huge for off road work in comparison - and it showed in the LWR on the really snotty stuff.

How much off road work did/do the underbones do? (cute widdle transporters they are)