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Across America on a Honda Cub

November 24, 2011 By

Trying to get across the United States of America on a Honda Cub may sound crazy; not far short of the scene in “Dumb and Dumber” where the two heroes cross a couple of states on a lawn-mower engine powered “mini-bike”.

But it’s a trip many intrepid travellers have made. It’s also a lot of fun if you aren’t in a real hurry. And it’s very cheap.

Now just in case you don’t know what a Honda Super Cub is, it’s what you may know instead as the Honda C100 or Honda 50.

It’s the motorbike of small motorbikes; the best-selling motorcycle the world has ever seen. And it’s 53 years old this year. The Honda Cub has a 49 cc four-stroke engine and it’s been made continuously by Honda since it was first introduced back in 1958.

To date, over 60 million Cubs have been made around the world. In many ways, the vehicle is the predecessor of all modern small motorbikes. And when the Beach Boys’ kingpin Brian Wilson co-wrote the song “Little Honda” with Mike Love (which was released by The Hondells in 1964, followed by an original recording of the song by The Beach Boys) its place in American popular culture was sealed forever.

The modern Honda Cubs are a little more powerful than their predecessors. They’re also more economical and cleaner.

You can get a brand new equivalent in the States from around $2,600 via the San Yang Motorcycle of Taiwan which re-introduced the Super Cub to the U.S market a couple of years ago.

Called the “Symba” – it’s an updated version of the Cub classic, developed by the company over the 40 years it made the Super Cub inTaiwanunder licence from Honda.

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A legendary 4×4 journey

November 14, 2011 By

One of the world’s renowned journeys to be made in a 4×4 is the Dakar Rally, also known as the Paris-Dakar.

It’s more about endurance than rallying, as the race takes over tough desert conditions and entrants can cover up to 500 miles a day.

The race started in 1978, after racing driver Thierry Sabine got lost in the desert a year earlier and decided it would make a good rally route.  The general route has always been from France’s capital, Paris, to Dakar in Senegal.  Some years, the start has been in other cities in Europe, like Marseille, Barcelona and Lisbon, and the finish post has changed occasionally, too. However, the race was cancelled in 2008 due to security threats and since 2009, the Dakar Rally has taken place in South America.

It’s a race that’s open to both amateurs and professionals, though 80 per cent of the entrants are usually amateurs.

Of all the stories that have been part of the Dakar Rally legend over the years, one of the most remembered incidents is the disappearance of then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s son, Mark, in 1982.  He, his co-driver and their mechanic were separated from a convoy when they stopped to make repairs to their Peugeot.  They were found six days after being declared missing, all unharmed.

There are three classes of vehicles that take part – Motos, Cars and Trucks.The vehicles that take part come in all shapes and sizes, and tend to be true off-road vehicles rather than modified on-road cars.

While it’s generally the domain of petrol and diesel vehicles, a Latvian team has prepared an electric car called the eO for the next Dakar Rally. Actually, the eO is one of the series hybrids that have a petrol engine that will take over when the batteries run low, so it’s not quite fully electric.  While it’s unlikely that hybrid cars will ever be more than novelty entrants in the Dakar, the Latvian team’s entry will go a long way to show how they are capable of covering the same terrain as any other car.

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Four fascinating roads

October 24, 2011 By

The world is full of incredible places to visit, and for those who love to drive, we’ve found four of the most fascinating roads in the world. With more and more people nowadays opting for a fuel-efficient Honda, UK drivers may also want to enjoy the advantages of a Honda hybrid vehicle when they are travelling along one of these beautiful roads. Not only will it save fuel costs, but it also produces fewer greenhouse gases in the process, as hybrids are low emission cars. That way, travellers will help to preserve the beautiful environments they’ll be passing through.
Guolian Tunnel Road, China
In the Taihang mountains in Hunan province in China, a team of thirteen local villagers built the Guolian Tunnel Road in only five years. Some died in the process. It was opened to traffic in 1977 and is carved through the mountains.  The tunnel is 1200 metres long, 4 metres wide and 5 metres high.  It’s a beautiful scenic route but is also very dangerous.  Consequently, it has become a tourist must-see highlight in China.
Florida Keys Overseas Highway, USA
Constructed in 1938, the Overseas Highway runs along the length of the Florida Keys, joining the islands with 42 bridges.  It follows the route of a former railroad that had been destroyed by a hurricane.  It takes about four hours to travel its length and is a perfect place to see spectacular sunrises and sunsets.
Oberalp Pass, Switzerland
This road is located high in the Swiss mountains and forms an important route joining central Switzerland and the Graubunden Oberland.  It’s only open in the summer to vehicles, as it would be too dangerous for traffic to attempt it in the winter.  In the winter, it becomes part of a ski resort as it is used as a toboggan run and ski slope.
Iroha-zaka, Japan
Joining central Nikko and Oku-Nikko is a winding road called Iroha-zaka.  It is actually made of two roads – one to go up and the other to come back down.  Each side has 48 curves to it, and each corner is matched to one of the 48 letters in the ancient Japanese alphabet.
These are just four of the world’s most breathtaking roads that are there just waiting to be driven.

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Roads to adventure

October 5, 2011 By

If you’re looking for adventure, but also love driving, you could combine the two by making your next holiday one of the world’s classic road trips.  Of course, how far you’ll be able to go depends on how much time you have, but you can always do portions of these routes if you haven’t got enough time to do it all.
There are endless possibilities of where to go and each continent offers different landscapes and different driving challenges.  Here are just a few examples.
You could choose to drive any number of routes across the length and breadth of Africa.  Drive a ‘bakkie’ (South African for pick-up) and see amazing coastline and mountain scenery, and go through game parks to see incredible wildlife on your way. By driving, you can avoid tourist hotspots and get away from the beaten track and discover the real Africa for yourself.
In the Himalayas you can drive the length of the Spiti Valley.  Only open to foreigners since 1992, this is one of the world’s most adventurous driving routes.  The Spiti Valley is one of the most remote inhabited regions of the world and was described as ‘a world within a world’ by Rudyard Kipling.
For much of the year the valley road is cut off by snow, and wind erosion has created a moonlike landscape and challenging driving conditions.
There’s adventure to be found in Europe, too. The Transfagarasan Highway runs over the Fagaras mountain range at 2000m in Transylvania, Romania, and has been described as one of the most exciting roads in the world to drive. Unlike many of the adventure driving routes in Africa and Asia, it’s a road that can be driven in any car, although going in a new car offers peace of mind as there’s less chance of breaking down and getting stranded. The road is closed during the winter, so timetable your trip with care.
When picking your vehicle, make sure you’ll cause as little environmental impact as possible. It’s true that some of these routes require specialist vehicles, but if not, try and drive one of the many low emission cars that are now available.

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Cleaner, greener cars

September 26, 2011 By

Although you may think it’s easy to spot a hyper green clean car from a polluting monster vehicle, you may be surprised when you look more closely at new cars’ carbon dioxide emissions. It used to be that 4×4 cars were amongst the biggest culprits for fuel consumption (and therefore emissions), but that’s no longer necessarily the case.
Take for example the Mitsubishi ASX, an urban crossover which looks like an off-roader but actually is front-wheel drive.  The 1.6 litre petrol version has CO2 emissions for 135g/km and a fuel economy of 54.1mpg.  The 1.8 litre diesel carbon dioxide emissions are 145g/km, with a fuel economy of 42.2 miles per gallon.  So, although it’s not actually a 4×4, it still looks like one and is set to rival the Nissan Qashqai. On emissions, it scores well in comparison, as the Qashqai 2.0 dci has CO2 emissions of 177g/km with a fuel economy of 42.2 miles per gallon.
But CO2 emissions aren’t the be all and end all of whether a car is green or not.  Although these are the only emissions that new cars have to have stickers displayed on them in showrooms, there are other emissions to worry about.  These include diesel particulates – obviously linked to diesel engines. Other toxic emissions that cars produce include nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide.  While the difference in the level of carbon dioxide emissions produced by different cars ranges from 100g/km to 300g/km, the difference in some of the toxic emissions can be much greater from car to car. For example, the Nissan Pathfinder diesel produces toxic emissions of 1,150mg/km compared to the Skoda Yeti 1.2, which produces 49mg/km (Vehicle Certifications Agency statistics).
However, for the time being at least, it’s only CO2 emissions that have to be displayed in the show rooms, and it makes for easy comparison between makes and models of car. If they opt to buy hybrid cars UK customers will find they score well in the green rankings, as they have low emissions. For example, the Honda Insight IMA ES-T Hybrid CVT has CO2 emissions of 105g/km.

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Are 4x4s environmentally unfriendly?

September 13, 2011 By

Are 4x4s environmentally unfriendly? Well, the short answer is “definitely maybe!”

4×4 cars have received something of a bad press in recent years. Drivers driving a 4×4 without any other passengers in central London have, on occasion, faced protests from “green” campaigners.

And this is certainly not without justification – for the main part anyway. After all, such huge gas-guzzling monoliths aren’t designed for a one-mile round-trip to Sainsbury’s with just one person at the wheel. There are healthier, and much greener alternatives! And they take up a lot of room in our towns and cities’ narrow, traffic clogged roads, which can – to say the least – be both problematic and highly aggravating for other drivers.

But there are times when 4x4s can justifiably claim to be green options, so be careful before you cast that first stone!

For example, an increasing number of 4×4 hybrids are coming onto the market – which of course have very sound green credentials – even if they are on the large side.

Also, 4x4s can be designed to run on alternative, environmentally friendly fuels such as bio-diesel, or ethanol. Again, this is to be commended by the environmentally concerned community as a step forward.

But if you have a 4×4 which isn’t alternatively-powered, then at least try and make sure you make the best of a bad deal by using the vehicle for essential journeys only and by carrying as many people as you legally can, whenever you can.

Also, always drive the car steadily and gently so as to conserve fuel, and keep the tyre pressures at the optimal level and the car well-serviced. This will help minimize fuel consumption and harmful emissions.

One more thing – give way to oncoming traffic more than you would in a smaller car!

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Get the right clothing to explore the outdoors

September 8, 2011 By

With autumn just around the corner, if you love nothing better than exploring the outdoors, you’d be wise to invest in some warm clothing to see you through in the colder months.

Whether you love white water rafting, mountain climbing, or just having a stroll in a local country park, the right fleeces will serve you well, whatever the weather throws at you.

If it’s a bit nippy when you head off on your latest exciting adventure, you’ll need to have some clothing which will definitely keep you nice and warm and fleece jackets can do just that.

The right clothing is particularly important if you’re planning to go camping around the time the seasons start to change – the nights are especially cold during autumn, so you’ll struggle to spend the night in a tent if you don’t have the correct attire with you.

Once you’ve chosen the right warm items though, you’ll be ready and raring to start exploring once again.

Before the wintry weather really hits Blighty, you should try and don your walking boots to tackle the Three Peaks challenge. You could climb some of the highest mountains in the UK for charity, or just for your own amusement, but either way you’ll be sure to have an adventure en route.

You’ll need to head to Wales to tackle 1,085m-high Snowdon, before making your way up Scafell Pike in England and the impressive 1,344 peak of Ben Nevis in Scotland.

If you’re on the hunt for a new challenge at the moment, that could definitely fit the bill, especially since you need to do all of the treks within just a 24-hour period ideally – upping the ante somewhat there!

Whether you decide to tackle the Three Peaks, or do a more ground-level activity, you should be sure to kit yourself out with some warm clothing beforehand.

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Head on an eco-friendly road trip this year

August 31, 2011 By

Short weekend breaks are becoming the norm for Brits, as the effects of the economic downturn continue to have an impact on people’s finances.
If you decide to head on a road trip this year, either to save some money or just because you fancy doing something different, you should try to do it in the greenest way possible.
Camping is a great way to save some money – you could pitch up a tent in a nice site with minimal fuss, living under the stars for a few nights, in very eco-friendly accommodation.
But if you really want to have a green road trip, you should be driving a hybrid car to reach your destination.
With plenty of hybrid vehicles on the market, you’ll be able to find one which is the right size to meet your needs.
These models are all far more fuel efficient than their conventional counterparts, so you can be sure you’ll be doing your bit for the environment if you travel in one of them. As well, they use far less fuel and with petrol and diesel prices rocketing ever higher regularly, this is a huge bonus if you’re trying to save some cash.
There are so many different places to visit around the UK, so you’re highly unlikely to be stuck for things to do if you head on a road trip this year.
Even though summer is drawing to a close, you could keep your fingers crossed for a few warm weekends in the weeks ahead to make the most of the weather on a camping trip.
Whether you head to the Yorkshire Dales or the South Downs, there is some great countryside to explore here in Blighty, as well as plenty of cultural and educational attractions, so you definitely won’t run out of great ideas to keep you entertained.

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Campground Etiquette

August 30, 2011 By

Inconsiderate neighbours are bad enough at home but when you are on holiday, and particularly when you are camping, the neighbours from hell can turn your long awaited break into a nightmare.
Follow a few simple rules to make sure that you are not spoiling anyone else’s enjoyment and hopefully they will return the favour.
1.    With no bricks and mortar between you and your fellow campers, noise can be an issue.  Noise even from inside tents can carry a long way. Make sure you follow camp ground rules regarding quiet times and, whilst no-one wants to stop your kids having fun, they might be better off having that noisy game of football in the camp site playground. If you have a radio with you keep the volume low.
2.    If you are a large group try to pitch your tents away from others.
3.    Don’t leave rubbish lying around and make sure when you are taking down your tent you carry out a final check for stuff that belongs in the bin.
4.    If you have your dog with you make sure it isn’t left to bark, don’t let it wander into your neighbour’s space (they may not be dog lovers) and clear up after it.
5.    Respect others’ personal space. You wouldn’t wander through your neighbour’s garden at home so don’t cut across your neighbour’s pitch.
6.    Communal campsite facilities are just that – there for everyone. Don’t spend hours in the shower especially at peak times and leave all facilities clean and tidy.
7.    Respect the campsite speed limit. No-one wants to be responsible for knocking a child over.
8.    You may not like the rules imposed by the campsite management or even understand their purpose but the likelihood is that they are there for a good reason so abide by them and help everyone have a happy and harmonious holiday.

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Making a Campfire

August 30, 2011 By

If times are hard and money short you can still have a great holiday camping. All you need is a cheap tent, a sleeping bag and a sense of adventure. Many camping shops have a regular tent sale so keep your eyes peeled for good deals.
There’s nothing quite like a camp fire to engender a sense of camaraderie, as well as providing warmth, somewhere to cook and a bug deterrent. However, where should you  build it, what should you use to burn, how do you get it started and what safety tips should you be aware of?
Bare rock or ground with no vegetation are ideal places to build your fire. Alternatively you can dig up the turf and replace it afterwards. Fire rings can be made with rocks but flying sparks are still something to be aware of.
To start a fire you need some tinder such as tree bark, pine needles or dried grass. The next requirement is kindling which can be the thickness of your finger right up to wrist thickness. To keep the fire going you are going to need plenty of logs and, depending on where you are camping, this can be easy or almost impossible to find. It can be worth bringing a good supply from home if you have room in your car or van.
There are all sorts of ways to build a fire but regardless of design, make sure you have plenty of matches. A skilled fire builder will pride himself on only needing one but all sorts of things can make your fire difficult to light including damp wood, rain, wind, and lack of oxygen.
Always have water available to pour on the fire or dirt to shovel on, should it get out of control. Make sure your fire is nowhere near overhanging branches or anything else which could catch fire. Finally make absolutely sure that your fire has been extinguished before turning in for the night.

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