Motorcycle touring is a popular outdoor activity accepted worldwide that allows a rider to explore new places, enjoy the ride, and avail a true feeling of freedom. Hence, the selecting the right type of motorcycle is important which has significance on the overall traveling experience. Therefore, those who plan for motorcycle touring often pick small motorcycles but experts often discourage long tours on small-capacity motorcycles. Consequently, here we will try to know why experts typically do not recommend long tours on 125-200cc motorcycles.

Why Experts Typically Do Not Recommend Long Tours On 125-200cc Motorcycles?

The riders who frequently plan for long travels for extended days on unpredictable terrains or territories often pick small-capacity motorcycles. Smaller capacity motorcycles are lighter and much more convenient for city rides or daily rides in tight traffic conditions. For that reason, some traveler also prefers those motorcycles for their long travel purposes but experts often discourage for long travels on smaller capacity like 125-200cc motorcycles. Consequently, here we have some reasons.

125-200cc Motorcycles Have Limited Power And Speed

One of the main reasons experts don’t recommend 125-200cc motorcycles for long tours is their limited power output. These bikes very commonly produce the engine power between 12 to 18 horsepower, which is quite sufficient for short distance commuting or daily city rides but in real the power range is imperfect for highway rides or long rides.

In the long travels, a rider may require to ride at higher speeds for longer hours, needs to overtake speedy vehicles, may encounter a variety of terrains including steep inclines, and chase the stretches of varied weather conditions. Hence a healthy amount of engine power is needed for riding comfort and maintaining overall safety. Consequently, experts discourage the 125-200cc range of motorcycles for long travels.

Reduced Comfort On Long Distance Rides

Smaller capacity motorcycles like 125-200cc motorcycles are actually designed for short commuting, not for long-distance riding for longer hours. These motorcycles usually come with smaller frames, shorter wheelbases, and have basic suspension systems, narrower wheel setups, commuting focused seat, and other controlling mechanisms.

Hence spending long hours on such motorcycles for long travels surely would be physically exhausting for the long travelers. In such cases, the poor ergonomics of those smaller motorcycles will cause fatigue, discomfort, back pain, and even potential injury to a rider in the long hour rides. Therefore, experts discourage to use of smaller motorcycles for traveling.

Engine Stress And Reliability Concerns

Long tours on motorcycles undoubtedly require reliability from the motorcycle, as the rider may ride hundreds or even thousands of miles in a day over varied road and weather conditions. While 125-200cc bikes are designed for short-distance commuting that may be used for a few weekend hikes. But those are not designed for extended high-speed rides which put extreme stress on their smaller engines.

Hence maintaining higher speed for longer hours on highways or uphill terrain gets much challenging for those motorcycles. In such conditions, those motorcycle engines will overheat, wear faster, and cause engine or other mechanical failure on the road. That’s why experts do not recommend such smaller capacity commuting machines for long travels.

125-200cc Motorcycles Have Limited Luggage Capacity

Motorcycle touring commonly requires to carry many things like touring gear, clothing, camping equipment, tools, and other emergency supplies. Hence, proper touring motorcycles need to be featured with proper luggage and supply carrying ability and capacity.

But small capacity commuters like 125-200cc motorcycles have no such luggage carrying ability or capacity rather simple daily life belonging carrying capacity. Moreover, those motorcycles can’t carry such heavy loads of luggage like saddlebags, panniers, and top boxes without compromising the bike’s balance, handling, and overall performance. Therefore, experts often discourage using smaller bikes for long touring.

125-200cc Motorcycles Have Lower Fuel Range

125-200cc motorcycles are commonly much fuel economic but they come with comparatively much lower fuel capacity. For this reason, those motorcycles have a shorter fuel range and can go a shorter distance with a full tank of fuel. Hence in the case of long rides, those motorcycles require frequent refilling which is inconvenient on long rides especially when traveling through remote areas. Moreover, frequent refueling can slow down a rider and create unnecessary delays in his/her ride. Hence, experts avoid using smaller bikes on long trips.

Inadequate For Passenger Carrying

Many motorcycle travelers love to ride with pillions. Hence carrying a passenger and also the touring gears and other luggage require a capable motorcycle which obviously should be powerful as well as large enough. In such situations, small capacity motorcycles like 125-200cc motorcycles have limited carrying capacity and that can’t cover long distances in fully loaded conditions and definitely those have performance and safety limitations to tackle such situations. Therefore, those are not a suitable option for stressful long rides.

Lacks High-Speed Stability

Smaller capacity motorcycles like 125-200cc motorcycles are commonly designed for short distance commuting and those come with commuting focused design and ergonomics. That’s why motorcycles come with lighter frames, shorter wheelbase, narrower wheels, and most basic suspension and baking systems. Hence all those basic features are arranged to minimize the cost of the motorcycle but on the counter, those make the motorcycles much unstable at higher speeds, tackling encountering crosswinds, on uneven roads, and in tough weather conditions. That’s why experts advise to avoid smaller motorcycles on the long travels.

Safety Concerns

Safety is one of a key concerns in motorcycle touring or traveling. That’s why every rider should select a capable motorcycle to roll safely on their long rides. Meanwhile, entry-level motorcycles like 125-200cc motorcycles come with narrower wheels, less powerful brakes, and basic suspension systems, which make them less capable to handle varied surface and weather conditions. Moreover, those motorcycles have very limited safety features which makes it risky to chase emergency situations on long rides. That’s why experts suggest to avoid such small capacity motorcycles.

So, these are the most considerable reasons why experts typically do not recommend long tours on 125-200cc motorcycles. It's true these motorcycles are excellent choices for city commuting and short distance rides due to their fuel economy and affordability. But, generally, they are not features for long-distance touring and it's not that much safe to do tough and long rides with those smaller capacity entry-level motorcycles.