Little bikes for big adventure
Couple saddle up for RTW trip aboard two Honda CG125s
An intrepid biking duo have sold their worldly possessions in order to set off on a round-the-world adventure on a pair of Honda CG125s.
Tom Gould, 31, and Lauren Board, 27, set off in early December, and plan to continue their travels until the money runs out.
“It’s just something I’ve wanted to do for years,” Tom told MCN. “When I first realised something like that was possible, I couldn’t work out why everybody wasn’t doing it.
“Shortly after that, I read about a chap cycling round the world and that was the first time I realised you don’t need a big budget for this.”
Both bikes have been kitted out with fatter tyres, USB chargers, and luggage racks – with the first leg of the trip seeing them ride down through France and Spain before entering Africa via Morocco.
Unfortunately, just a few days in, the pair had to return to the UK to source parts for Lauren’s bike after running into mechanical issues caused by oil starvation heading down through France. Whilst home, the pair will source visas for later in the trip.
Tom has previously ridden his 2005 CG round the North Coast 500, covered thousands of miles in Europe, and ridden to the North West 200 road races in Northern Ireland.
“They are a bit rubbish, but there’s a charm in that rubbish,” Tom joked about his CG125. “You accept that the brakes are terrible and that the forks and back end shake.”
The CG125 was produced in various guises for 33 years as basic, robust transport. Launched way back in 1975, the bike followed a simple formula of a no-nonsense singlecylinder engine mated to a basic chassis – providing the perfect entry for new riders, or cheap transport for the seasoned commuter.
“Realistically, we want to go for as long as possible and as far as possible,” he continued. “Lauren’s done one night of wild camping before and neither of us have been to another continent,” reveals Tom.
Despite the lack of experience, Lauren was excited to get going – particularly looking forward to reaching Cape Town, in South Africa.
“I’m a bit nervous, a bit excited… I guess there’s no better way than being chucked in at the deep end,” she said. “We’ll go with the flow.”
To keep tabs on their adventures, you can follow Tom on Instagram at ilike_motorbikes, with Lauren found at sunset_seeker11.
‘Just something I’ve wanted to do for years’