DETOUR ISSUE NUMBER ONE
ROAD TO WRANGLER I
ISSUE NO.
ONE ROAD TO WRANGLER
04 | FOREWORD
I had to put down my beer and slap my face to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.
0 6 | D AY 0 1 : T H E T R AV E L
But is “wandering” really about going to an exotic location and taking the road less traveled?
2 6 | D AY 0 2 : T H E T R AV E L
Your’e the guy who was all muddy and dirty that went to Bordeos last time right?
4 0 | D AY 0 3 : T H E R O A D
I think it’s about time that I tell you about the story of the road, because if not for it I won’t be able to go anywhere.
5 4 | D AY 0 4 : T H E I S L A N D S
I will be riding a different mode of transport today, a small boat.
72 | REVIEW : HONDA XR 125
It’s affordable, sturdy, kind of ugly and rugged.
76 | CUSTOM: WANDER ONE
Ever since I started riding, I have always dreamed of having my own custom motorcycle.
82 | PEOPLE: MARVIN GERONIMO
I don't find myself interesting. What really makes my travels interesting are the people, places and the once in a life time experiences.
Cover: The 2015 Wrangler True Wanderer prize, a KTM Duke 390, re-designed and called Wanderer 390.
Detour Moto x Travel is an online publication under the No Barriers Just Horizons Moto Journal project. Motorcycles, travel and stories of people told in a humble and curious manner.
PHOTOGRAPHY DESIGN C O N C E P T U A L I Z AT I O N WRITING
by Marvin Geronimo
C O N TA C T
Facebook: @detourmotoxtravel Website: www.nobarriersjusthorizons.ph E-mail: no.barriers.just.horizons@gmail.com
Humble in tone, genuine in cur iosity.
ISSUE NO. ONE | PUBLISHED AUGUST 2016 C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 6 © D E T O U R M O T O X T R AV E L , A L L R I G H T S R E S E R V E D
FOREWORD
WANDER by MARVIN GERONIMO
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After finishing 5 days of travel we were given an extra day to polish all of our entries, then comes the voting (waiting period). I did not campaign for myself anymore, I felt that I will just leave it up to the people on wether or not they think I deserve to win. Also I was going through some financial problems that needed my attention more than the competition, so in a way I just completely ignored it. After a couple of weeks I was second to the last of the 10 finalists in terms of votes. The first one was around 2000+ votes while the second one was around 1,700 at the back of mind I thought “Damn, people must really like what they did”. Then I got an e-mail from the organizers inviting me for an evening of drinks, food and the awarding of the winner. Due to traffic I got to the place quite late. Most of the finalists were already there having fun. After a couple of drinks and some beer, the big boss of Magnifico Jeans told us it’s time to announce the winner. There were a lot of TV screens and one of those was showing an MMA fight, being an avid follower I was fixated at that screen. So I was not paying attention to what she was saying, then she said a quote from the winner. I was so engrossed in watching the MMA fight on the screen, that I was not able to hear it properly. It was until she said my name that I realised that I was the winner. I had to put down my beer and slap my face to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. Then they gave me the keys and the gift cheques that they promised and we proceeded down to the motorcycle to have a photo. I had a photo with all of the finalists, then after that a photo with the organisers. Since I had the key, I started the engine and began revving it inside the bar, people started wondering what was happening. Then I was asked to take a video of myself with the bike, after that an interview, it all happened very fast. Then they asked me if I want to take it home, I said no. By this time I was already on my fourth beer and I did not bring any helmet or jacket with me, I just told them that I will just drop by their office to get it tomorrow.
DETOUR
ISSUE NO. ONE
THE ROAD TO WRANGLER
D AY 0 1
T H E T R AV E L WRANGLER TRUE WANDERER It sounds counterintuitive – I joined a contest about being a wanderer yet I traveled to a place where a lot of motorcyclist go to… But is “wandering” really about going to an exotic location and taking the road less traveled? To be totally honest, I’m not sure. But I do know one thing, every ride is different from the last one and I’m pretty certain that this will be as good if not better than the others.
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t’s a holiday, I left early in the morning to avoid the motorcycle rush. Most likely a lot of riders are thinking of the same thing, to go out and experience the cool breeze and the amazing scenery of Infanta, Quezon and of course the seemingly never ending twisties. I have ridden this route over a dozen times already yet I come back again and again. For me it’s all about perspective, I always try to approach a location with fresh eyes, it helps me see the minute details and the subtle changes that makes travelling very interesting. When you go to a place more than once you start to establish a connection with the locals, sometimes those connections evolve into a relationship of some sort, you sometimes feel like you are a far relative of some kind. Stopped by “Marquez Bulaluhan” to satisfy my already growling tummy. There were a lot of riders already and the kitchen was in a mild frenzy. When I saw “Nanay” I immediately said “Hi!”, she stopped what she was doing and directed her attention towards me, I started telling her why I was there. Her reply caught me off guard. “All your solo rides have finally came full circle. I wish you good luck.” All I could say was, “True!” My breakfast… “Adobong Bayawak” (monitor lizard) was quite a delicacy. It was really tasty and full of texture, but it was a bit bony. I always thought that the skin was going to be hard and would give me some difficulty in terms of chewing but as it turns out, it was quite soft and delicious. The serving was good for two people and so I decided to just pack the remaining half and order another set of rice so I would have something for lunch. After that hearty meal I went on my way.
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Seen on the side of the road. Early morning routine, giving the horse a bath.
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D AY 0 1 : T H E T R AV E L
You will see a river as you descend down to the lower parts of Infanta, it’s a beautiful site from the top, but it is even better when viewed up close. It was quite a challenge to find a path going to this river and by looking at it from the top, I’m pretty certain getting there wont be easy. I found a road that was a mix of dirt, mud and rounded shape rocks. There were tire tracks that were deep and fat while others are narrow and shallow indicating that motorcycles pass here as well as small trucks but the tracks only go a certain point. Excitement filled me as I saw the the river but my expectations was exceeded as I saw much more than that. There were make shift shelters and as I got close I noticed people inside mostly children but there were also two female adults, one was still breast feeding while the other one seemed to be a bit older. I tried to make small talk by greeting them good afternoon in Tagalog and they replied in Tagalog as well, which made me extremely happy as it means we can have a conversation.
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SIDE STORY
I have been trying to look for them before. (I have actually written a story about my first attemtpt to find them.) I’ve met some during our outreach program but it was in a different setting as they were not living as nomadic as this family. Why am I looking for them? Prior to my PH tour, I took up some survival training. Just incase something bad happens, I would have the skills and knowledge to over come it. I do practice them from time to time, but I always felt that there was something missing. I need to be trained by people who actually do this in their day to day life. I was told before that the nomadic ones are a bit shy when it comes to interacting with people from the city. I was very fortunate that this family welcomed me and even allowed me to photograph them. She also told me about how they live and thrive in these environments, how they get their food and what they do to earn a living.
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I noticed that there weren’t any men around so I asked where they are, the older lady told me that they were either hunting or doing jobs elsewhere so they can come back with food. I asked them if it was possible for them to teach me how to hunt or at least just some of the basics things that they do to survive, she said “Yes, when the men come back you can talk to them about it. I’m pretty sure that they will be interested to teach you.” hearing those words made my day from good to amazing. I stood up and started taking photos, it seems the children are quite curious and eager to see what I’m going to do. So I walked around and documented their shelter, one thing that struck me the most would be the lack of food, I went through the three shelters and theres no sign of food anywhere. I went back to the elder and asked if they have already eaten, much to my surprise they said they haven’t yet. They don’t seem that hungry but the lady that was breast feeding seemed lethargic, I’m guessing it’s because she has not eaten yet. This was already pass noon, even I was hungry. Then I remembered I still had some of those adobong bayawak with me and some emergency canned foods, so I went back to the bike to get them. I handed it to their elder and she asked what was in it. I told her it was some left-over adobong bayawak she then asked me where I got it. I told here that I just got it from a resto on the higher part of Infanta, she just nodded and said “Thank you.”
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While we were chatting with each other, I noticed this boy was holding is a makeshift spear. I asked what it was used for, she told me that it’s used to catch fish in what they call the “Agos,” which is the river. You will be amazed at the next thing that I’m going to show you. Ingenuity, creativity, craftsmanship, that’s all I can say. The goggles that you are looking at are hand made. The one on the left seems like it was carved of a PVC pipe while the other was carved from wood with glass pieces to help see through the water. The children said something to each other in their “Katutubo” dialect, I have no idea what it was. But they just started running and boy they were fast. By the time I got to them they were already jumping into the river and was having a blast, in this day and age wherein most kids that you see are doing something with their tablets and smartphones this was really refreshing to see.
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We don’t have access to education because we can’t afford it, our children will probably die the same way as our ancestors did… uneducated.”
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The dumagat children were a bit shy, but was really friendly.
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It’s time to swim!
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I will come back, I really hope your’e still here when I do.
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We don’t have access to education because we can’t afford it, our children will probably die the same way as our ancestors did… uneducated.” I then asked them if they have ever been in the city, she told me that she has not, nor anyone in her family as they are scared. “We don’t know anyone there and chances are people might just throw us into jail or something”. “How can I help?” I asked. She told me that they need just basic things, some cookware and machete’s and then she showed me what she was using. A small piece of steel, clearly a leftover of a bigger size machete with a makeshift wooden handle, she mentioned to me that it was their most important tool.” My heart melted hearing those words. I asked them, “Do you think you will still be here by next month?” She said definitely and I answered the best way I know how, “I will come back, I really hope your’e still here when I do.”
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D AY 0 2
THE STRANGER WRANGLER TRUE WANDERER One of the porters who were loading my motorcycle recognised me and said “Your’e the guy who was all muddy and dirty that went to Bordeos last time right?” I said “Yes” and we all just laughed.
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I
arrived at the port of Real, early in the morning to find out what time the boat will leave for Polilio. Apparently the earliest just left, but there’s going to be another one which is will be at 10 AM. “Not bad.” I told myself, waiting for the next boat will give me ample time to sort out my posts. I found an internet shop about 15 mins away from the port, but it was still closed when I arrived. I had to wait for it to open which will be a good one and a half hour wait, then it started to rain. Thankfully there was some cover, I sat there waiting for them to open like a homeless man waiting for his next meal. But I like this, I like the feeling of sitting beside the road not sure what’s going to happen next. I feel free during moments like this. The shop finally opened when the crew arrived. They were a bit wondering what I was doing there, I told them that I needed to use their internet connection ASAP and mentioned the competition to them. They were all very kind and accommodating which made my predicament quite light and easy to handle. I finally got to finish all my posts with a small wriggle room to get to the port. After paying for all the fees I want on to board the boat. But there was something else… some of the porters assisting me recognised me and said “Your’e the guy who was all muddy and dirty that went to Bordeos last time right?” I said “Yes” and we all just laughed. I told them why I was there and they all wished me good luck, then they started loading up my motorcycle. When I took out my camera to take a photo of them loading the motorcycle they all decided to stop to take a pose, which I found funny and a bit nerve wracking since they were in the middle of transferring the bike. I guess I never got used to the idea of my motorcycle being transferred to a boat on a plank of wood that just about a foot wide.
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D AY 0 2 : T H E S T R A N G E R
Boat rides have always been a challenge for me, I get sea-sick which makes me want to vomit my insides out, in this instance I have to hold it for 3 hours. This has become a really big deal for me, I have already devised a way to prevent me from puking. Either I lay down which makes the boat movement pleasurable or I find a way to get some fresh air and cool breeze for some reason those two things helps a lot. When I got to the island I was already famished, I grabbed something to eat and went on my way to look for the family that opened their home to me the first time I was here.
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SIDE STORY
The first time I was here, I had to look for both fuel and a place to stay. Their idea of a gasoline station in these areas would be a small hut displaying 1 litre Coke bottles that are filled with different coloured liquids varying from regular unleaded gasoline to premium ones. A middle aged lady came out as I parked my motorcycle to be re-fuelled, we talked for a while. Then after finishing I said “Thank you” and mentioned that I’m looking for a place to stay for tonight. She told me that theres a resort somewhere and gave me directions. I bid her farewell and tried to look for it. The resort was not that far away but it was a challenge to get to, the roads were so small that I reckon only motorcycles can get there. The resort was empty, I walked around looking for a caretaker or something but no one was responding, it felt as if the whole resort was deserted. Since no one was around to prohibit me from exploring I went in and checked it out. It was a fancy resort, air conditioned rooms and facilities that can cater a large group of people, definitely out of my budget.
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You are Jiggy Manicad!
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It’s getting late, I need to find shelter soon. I remembered seeing a small hut beside the house where I refuelled, I decided to make a gamble of going back there and asking them if it’s possible to camp beside their house for tonight, so I went back. The middle aged woman which we will now call “Nanay” was surprised to see me again. Then I told her why i came back and awaited her answer to my small request. She said “Yes, sure you can camp by the side of our house.” I can’t remember how many times I thanked her for that. Thats when she dropped the bomb on me, she said “I know you!” this caught me off guard. “Your’e the TV guy, what was his name again?” she paused. “Your’e Jiggy Manicad” and I’m like “Seriously?”. Back to the present, thats how I got to know “Nanay” and her family. Lastly no, I’m not Jiggy Manicad. That happy incident happened a while back, now here I am asking her for the same thing and I’m very happy that she said yes again. After setting up my tent, I decided to go for a walk by the seaside. There are no resorts here, just white sandy beaches and a few fishermen’s hut. A perfect place to gather your thoughts as no one will disturb you. Before leaving we had our breakfast together and her daughter, who was pregnant at the time I first came here, asked if I could become the ninong of her baby in baptism. “It’s going to be held next month, same with the fiesta. I hope you can come and visit us again.” I guess there’s going to be part three of this island trip…
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RIDE, REVIEWS AND REAL STORIES. www. n o b a r r i er s j u s t h o r i z o n s . p h
D AY 0 3
THE ROAD WRANGLER TRUE WANDERER I have told you stories of ethnic tribes, boat rides and Filipino hospitality. I think it’s about time that I tell you about the story of the road, because if not for it I won’t be able to go anywhere.
D AY 0 3 : T H E R O A D
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I
had to leave early. After having breakfast with the very hospitable family I started packing my things, this time I had to make sure they’re really tight and secure as the roads ahead will be a challenge. The road going to Bordeos, the last town in the island of Polilio, goes from bad to worse depending on the weather. Wet, you will encounter a lot of sticky mud, dry and you will ride through loose sand. And if trouble occurs it would take a while to get help, as houses here are very far apart. Before leaving “Tatay” advised me that I should keep a low profile as much as I can. It got me curious so I asked him why he gave me that advice. That was when he told me a story of a traveller similar to myself, the only difference was he was travelling because of work. He spent the night at their place just like me, then come morning he went on to travel to Bordeos taking the same path that I’m going. Then they heard about him again two weeks after he left their house. But it was a grim news, his body was found buried somewhere the road going to Bordeos. They think it was a case of mistaken identity, this part of the island is similar to a no mans land. People who have committed crimes and are fleeing the authorities usually reside in these places as not a lot of people go here. “Tatay” told me that most likely he was mistaken to be an asset of the authorities and that was enough reason to put him down. He also told me that not too long ago there were some rebels in this area, but the military presence in the area somehow lessened their numbers.
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The scenery, the ocean to your right and coconut trees to your left. This is the bayside route, apparently there are three routes going to Bordeos, this the first one but also the farthest. It was pretty sunny, which is good as it’s a sign that I will most likely not encounter muddy terrain. The bad part is, the sand is dry and loose and I have a track record of dropping my bike on these kinds of terrains. Low and behold, I did not disappoint myself. Just before entering the really difficult part of the route, you will encounter, “Bato” Beach a famous for picnic grounds for locals. The natural rock formations are amazing, although I’m not sure of the history of these big stone structures, come to think of it I should have asked.
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Mind the gap. This route is connected by wooden bridges similar to this one, it’s a good idea check it before crossing. You might encounter a nasty surprise if you don’t… my boots for scale, I’m a size 9.
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When you think things are going your way, the sky turns grey.
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You will be passing two hanging bridges, yes you heard it right, a “hanging bridge”.
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Getting to the other side was a big relief. But its not over yet, the rain was a big help when going through sand but it’s entirely a different story when your’e going through mud. A portion of this route is covered by mud and rocks, you have to muscle your way through it, there’s just no other way to do it. The mud was so bad it was sticking everywhere. My tires were not having any traction anymore which caused me to drop my bike a couple of times. It’s just the reality of travels like this. After the ordeal I had to stop to check the bike, there was a point wherein I thought my clutch wasn’t working anymore, but I know this bike we have been through a lot worse before and I’m pretty sure that she would just shrug this one off. Mud, sweat and cheers. A challenging ride as always. Got to Bordeos in one piece and the bike intact. Time for us to both take our rests. There will be no riding on Day 04, why? Turn on to the next page to find out.
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D AY 0 4
THE ISLANDS WRANGLER TRUE WANDERER I will be riding a different mode of transport today. A small boat that will take me to different islands on the last sitio in Bordeos, which is San Rafael. I was fortunate enough to meet a family who went out of their way for me to experience this.
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A
f ter arriving at the lodge, I asked the owner on how to get to the different islands. This place is unlike other popular destinations in the Philippines. Actually it is not popular at all, nor well developed. Island hopping is something that you have to pro-actively ask rather than being offered to you. The owner of the lodge we will now call “Nanay” told me that her family can take me out island hopping tomorrow. She then introduced me to her daughter, I told them about why I’m here and that got them really excited, apparently they like travelling as well so, we then swapped travel stories. Then they told me that they are looking forward to take me to those islands and show me how beautiful it is to be there. I woke up early the next morning to prepare everything that I would need for this once in a lifetime experience. I made sure all the batteries were charged, the memory cards formatted and all my camera’s to be on their top condition. I walked up to “Nanay’s” store to greet her good morning and ask her if it’s ok to leave now. She said sure my grandson will take to the port. I thought it would just be a short travel to where I’m staying but turns out it was a good 40 mins rainy and bumpy ride.
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Before going to the port, I was introduced to “Nanay’s” daughter’s husband, he told me about how much everything is going to cost, I asked them if it’s going to be ok for them to also bring food I will just add a certain amount for it. Gladly he said yes, so on we went. Upon arriving I was greeted by a happy bunch of fishermen. I then started to ask questions about the islands that I am about to visit. “Tatay” told me that he frequently visited those islands when he was younger, he also told me that you can travel to any island unrestricted as no one really owns it. They mentioned that not a lot of tourists go there but once they do, it really leaves them with a lasting memory of the place as it is really unique. I have to admit I was really excited. I don’t know what to expect, in front of me is a vast ocean and behind me are two very experienced fishermen or are they?
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A happy bunch of fishermen.
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I came to find out that this is really not their line of work, to them this is more like a hobby than a source of income. Apparently they own pockets of land in Bordeos which they farm and they also have some small businesses which is their real livelihood. They told me that boat that we are currently riding is their means of entertainment, a way to unwind, they also told me stories of “Tulingan” fishing and how exciting it is to do. Lolo said “You have to watch the waters, see those little things that suddenly glisten as they jump out of the water? Those are little fishes, that’s a good sign that there are Tulingan’s nearby. They are jumping out of the water because they are being chased by bigger fishes. Now is not really the season for fishing them, but when its in season there’s a fishing frenzy here. It’s like a race everyone is trying to catch them, bumping boats quite common. It’s good fun and exciting.” I was amazed at what he said, I could just picture it on my mind, its like a water based extreme sport. We arrived at the first island, from a far it just looks like a rock sticking out of the ocean. As we came closer that’s when I got to see it’s real beauty. Two big rocks surrounded by sand that’s it! And it was amazing to look at! I liked the feeling of how deserted it it is and everything seems to be so minimal. But the island is full of activity there are children running around and a family that’s having their lunch. I started to wonder what all the commotion is all about.
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I swear I haven’t taken a portrait of a person that’s as perfect as this, by far he is the most photogenic fisherman that I have ever met.
This man came up to me as I was taking some photo’s and asked why I was there, after that I asked him about the island. He then told me that someone’s going to get married here tomorrow and they are here to prepare the island for it. I asked if I could take his photo and he just stood there posed and here is the outcome.
I swear I haven’t taken a portrait of a person that’s as perfect as this, by far he is the most photogenic fisherman that I have ever met.
To be continued on the 2nd issue, which will be released on the second week of November
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WE BUILD MOTORCYCLES T H AT E M B O D I E S BOTH FORM AND FUNCTION. P R O J E C T: F E N R I R OWNER: KARA SANTOS
FA C E B O O K : @ D E T O U R M O T O R C Y C L E S
REVIEW
HONDA XR 125
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by MARVIN GERONIMO
I
was set on to use the Honda CB110 as my 2015 Philippine tour motorcycle, it’s light, cheap and parts are readily available however lacks on one thing, off road capability.
Everything changed when I saw this dual-sport motorcycle, it immediately caught my attention because it looked very similar to those motorcycles used by budget adventure riders who I follow on-line. After sitting on it and realizing that I can reach the ground with both of my feet, (even if I’m tip toe-ing a bit)… I decided to research more about it. Turns out that it’s marketed as a farm bike in South America, some might be turned off by this, but not me. I thought it was great asset, why? If something is being marketed as a farm work-horse then it must be good at hauling and navigating very challenging terrains, as one might see on a farm.. So I thought this will be perfect for my 2015 PH tour (Plus! I get to look like a budget adventure rider)
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REVIEW: HONDA XR 125
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QUALITY
It’s a Honda but it’s made in China. I have to admit, I had my reservations knowing it came from there. The market has been flooded with cheap Chinese motorcycles that aren’t exactly known for their reliability. Even after owning it a couple of months I still feel the same about it. The welding is not top-notch and after just 3 months of owning it, one by one the bulbs started to get busted. The joints are showing signs of rust, it was just really disappointing to look at. But everything changed… I have traveled more than 18,000 kms on it, 7,200 kms of which was from the 2015 PH tour. Not even once did the engine failed, I was riding with loads of more than 30kgs on my rear and the sub-frame didn’t have any problems, 9 hours of riding which had just one 15 minute rest and the engine didn’t even overheat, dropped it countless times on different terrains and it’s still solidly intact. I must say, it’s one hell of a motorcycle. PERFORMANCE
The XR 125 has a lot of low-end power, it can get you moving easy even with really heavy loads. Low and mid-range is where it shines, forget about the top end as it has nothing spectacular to offer. Although some might not believe me but I have managed to go as fast as 120 kph on this, but that was on a very long stretch of road and it took a really long time to get there and you can really feel the engine struggling, so I wouldn’t recommend doing it.
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Handling on the street is really good but not great, avoid getting a larger front wheel as it affects the steering greatly. I’m no off-road guru but from my experience, it has handles pretty well and has enough power to get me through really tough terrains. One thing that it excel’s on would be fuel economy, I’m averaging around 30-40 kpl on it. The 12-liter tank with its 2.5-liter reserve will guarantee to get you far, though you might want to monitor your trip meter as this does not have a fuel gauge. STYLE
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It looks ugly, the headlight with its soft protruding features just doesn’t fit well with its rugged character. Compared to it’s Yamaha counterpart the XTZ 125, the XR looks like its shy often quiet cousin. AFFORDABILITY
For a 125 that’s not an under-bone I would have it’s price is pretty reasonable. I got it for 82,000 php which at that time is the cheapest dual-sport motorcycle from a known brand. The parts are quite cheap as well, although during the first year of owning it some of the parts are a bit hard to find, like the interior rubber of the front tire and some other consumables. Luckily I found a shop called Metro Cycles in Cubao, Quezon City that stocks some of these parts. The owner, Victor Ty, even listens to the needs of the riders and tries to find ways to get the parts and they ship too! AVAILABILITY
From what I know, some are still available today. But I think they are just trying to deplete the remaining stocks as it’s being replaced by the newer Honda XR150. It might be a challenge to find one now, also you might want to think twice because some stores sell the XR 150 about 2,000 php cheaper than the XR 125. R E C O M M E N D AT I O N
This is a long term review and I would have to say that the Honda XR 125 is a very capable machine for the budget motorcycle traveler. It’s affordable, sturdy, kind of ugly and rugged. It’s a machine that would go through hell and back with you… intact. I loved it so much that I decided to retire it and turn it into a custom scrambler called Wander One.
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WANDE CUSTOM
WANDER ONE MOTORCYCLE BUILDS Ever since I started riding, I have always dreamed of having my own custom motorcycle. After 5 years, I finally have one.
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fter winning the Wrangler True Wanderer competition, I told myself that this is the perfect moment to turn this dream into reality. As if the stars have aligned, I have a spare motorcycle, a concept, a theme and a brand to say “Thank You” to. It’s also time for my trusty companion to have a different life, as it has served me well all throughout my Philippine tour and the competition. Honestly if not for her I would literally and figuratively, not be able to be where I am today. To be true to its origins, Wander One has to perform well both on and off road. It’s main purpose will still be to travel, so we made sure that it can still tackle different types of terrains may it be rocks, mud or the open road. The first ride turned out better than I expected, because of the changes that we made. Wander One became very light and maneuverable making it easy to handle in the corners. Off-road became more forgiving as it’s low enough that I can have my feet flat on the ground, giving me a lot of confidence when negotiating with tough terrain.
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After knowing that it's well capable of doing what we intended it to do, we then decided to improve the aesthetics a little bit more. So we brought it back to the shop and detailed it to finalise it's identity. It then went on to do the following. Got featured on the Motorcycle World magazine Won the 2016 Motobuilds Pilipinas below 200cc Scrambler Category Displayed at the Inside Racing event at the World Trade Center Participated in the 2016 Honda Convention Motorcycle competition. Will be featured on the up-coming History Convention later this August. Honestly, winning competitions and being featured in magazines and events was not the highlight of my Wander One experience, you might be wondering what then? The real highlight would be the people who come up to me and tell me that Wander One was their inspiration in turning their small displacement bike into a custom motorcycle. Hearing that makes me feel like I have actually accomplished something with this build.
The detailed story of how we built Wander One, will be featured on the 2nd issue of Detour, coming out in November.
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PEOPLE
MARVIN GERONIMO content creator of NO BARRIERS JUST HORIZONS
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'm just a guy on a motorcycle travelling to different places with no labels or expectations, looking for challenges to help me become a better version of myself.
I’m Marvin a 30 something year old graphic designer from Manila, Philippines. I got my first motorcycle 5 years ago and ever since then I never looked back. A couple of months after buying my first motorcycle I stumbled upon these two guys travelling the world on a motorcycle. Their names are Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman they travelled the world together and did The Long Way Down and The Long Way Around. It was my first glimpse as to what adventure motorcycle riding is all about. After watching all the available episodes in Youtube about their motorcycle adventure I began to dream. That dream was to be on a motorcycle adventure, traveling, documenting and exploring my own country. But that dream was short lived, or was it? Reality check, I only have a few months of riding experience under my belt, I barely knew anything about motorcycles or how it works and lastly I don’t have the financial capability to do it. But one thing was for sure, I need to do it.
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I'm just a guy on a motorcycle travelling to different places with no labels or experctations, looking for challenges to help me become a better version of myself. That was 5 years ago.
I have come a long way… after 4 motorcycles, 2 cancellations, a dozen or more so interviews, research, training, I finally did it. Some say “Just do it”, as you will never get to do it if you just plan and plan, there is some truth to that. But during those 4 years of preparation I have learned a lot of new skills, met a lot of interesting people and more importantly gained confidence to purse my long time dream. The real journey for me started way before the first kilometer of my travel.
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by MARVIN GERONIMO
I received an e-mail one morning from Wrangler congratulating me for being a finalist and that they are inviting me to a small send off party but before that, I should drop by at the Glorietta to pick some clothes and meet the other finalists. The schedule was really tight, I received the e-mail just two days before the party and a day after that were going to have to prepare for our 5 day journey. Excited was not really the feeling that I was having, I was stressing myself a lot since theres a lot of things to finish at work and I also have to plan for the ride all at the same time. The timeframe was so short that I have to cram a lot of things in one day. I got to meet the other finalists while picking up clothes that we are going to use on our 5-day ride. Then we were taken to a bar somewhere in Taguig for a small sendoff party. I know we are all vying for the same thing, that is to win the competition. But that night didn’t really feel like I was sitting around people who I was competing with, rather it felt like I was around people who I would go riding with. At one point someone said that it doesn’t really matter who wins the KTM Duke 390, just being here can already be considered a win, which I nodded to. We all went our separate ways as we all have work the next morning. On the cab, I realised something very important. I have been stressing myself out trying to figure out how to win that it already felt like that I was losing myself and I didn’t like it. I stepped back a bit and just told myself, “Just do what you do and do it the best way you can, because in the end you don’t win by losing yourself." I arrive home relaxed… and ready for the 05 day ride.
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Humble in tone,genuine in cur iosity. ISSUE NO. ONE | PUBLISHED AUGUST 2016 C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 6 © D E T O U R M O T O X T R AV E L , A L L R I G H T S R E S E R V E D