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Coast to Coast on a 125cc: Brighton to John O’Groats - A Slow Story
James B · June 06, 2025
5 days, 995 miles, one Vespa — and a whole lot of memories.
At the end of May, I set off on a trip that was ambitious, hilarious, and surprisingly emotional: an 800+ mile ride from Brighton to John O’Groats on 125cc motorcycles. No motorways. No big adventure bikes. Just three riders, one support crew, and a big reason why — raising funds for Two Wheels for Life, a charity using motorcycles to deliver life-saving healthcare across Africa.
Here’s how it went down.
Day 1 – Flat Batteries, Slow Starts & Fluffy Dog Helmets
The trip got off to a typically chaotic start: my Vespa Primavera 125 had a flat battery. It hadn’t seen much use in months, and after some stop-start riding, it gave up entirely at Brighton Pier. We eventually got it jumped (shout out to Dani’s flatmate for the rescue mission) and rolled out a couple hours late — which quickly became a theme.
We crawled through the South Downs, took our first rest stop just 30 miles in, and it already felt like we’d been riding for hours. I was seriously questioning how this whole thing would play out. But once we turned north and hit dual carriageways past Winchester, things started to click and the miles soon began to rack up.
By mid-afternoon we reached Caffeine & Machine — a brilliant stop. We ran a poll asking people which of our bikes they’d ride to Scotland: the Vespa, the Grom, or the AJS.
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Car drivers loved the AJS (looked “big and proper”)
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Older bikers picked the Vespa - They knew the importance of comfort (and a windshield)
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Younger riders chose the Grom - Quickest of the 3, easy to wheelie and looks fast in electric blue.
The Vespa came out on top. The Grom came last, which meant Chloe (riding it) had to wear a bright yellow fluffy dog helmet cover for the rest of the day. She wore it all the way to our stop in North Derbyshire — where we finally crashed out, late, hungry, and buzzing from a thrilling first day.
Day 2 – Creepy Antiques & Surprise Sailing
We promised ourselves an early start, but inevitably left late. First stop: Matlock, where Chloe’s partner James joined us on his Triumph Tiger 1200 as support rider. In Matlock, we did the £20 Antique Gift Challenge — a stroke of genius and idiocy in equal measure.
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I gave Chloe a shop bell, taped to her bike. It rang constantly. Through the intercom. For three days.
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Chloe gave Kane two terrifying ceramic doll figurines that rode pillion on his AJS.
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Kane outdid us all with a full-on wooden model sailboat, complete with masts and rigging, which I then strapped to the back of the Vespa. Air resistance was very real.
From there, we hit Snake Pass — our first proper biker road. I thought I’d miss my big adventure bike, but the Vespa handled it amazingly well. It was genuinely fun.
After an incredible evening sun soaked ride through the Yorkshire Dales, we reached Windermere around 7pm. The plan had been to push on through Hardknott Pass and get to our accommodation 2.5 hours up the Lake District in Carlisle by evening — but we knew it wasn’t realistic.
So we found a last-minute B&B on the other side of the pass, left Windermere at sunset, and rode Hardknott Pass in golden light with empty roads. It was magic — hands-down one of the best rides of my life. The B&B turned out to be a cosy pub with beers, snacks, and a heated game of Monopoly Deal to end another epic day.
Day 3 – Fuel Games, Glencoe, and Glorious Chaos
We finally left early, starting the day with full tanks and a challenge: the One Tank Challenge — who could go the furthest without refuelling?
From the moment we left the Lakes, it was game on.
Kane had an unfair advantage with his 19L AJS tank, so the real contest was between Chloe’s Grom and my Vespa.
We looped through the Lakes, crossed into Scotland by mid-morning with a stop at Gretna Green, and carried on towards Kilmarnock. The miles ticked by. By late afternoon, tension was rising — both our fuel lights were on, and it was a waiting game.
Then, just outside Loch Lomond, Chloe’s Grom coughed, spluttered, and gave up. She was out.
I pushed on, determined to hit 200 miles. The Vespa finally gave out at 205 — and I claimed victory.
On one tank. On a bike with the aerodynamics of a small wardrobe. Glorious.
The day was wet and cold, but it cleared just in time for the most dramatic part of the trip — the ride through Glencoe. The weather turned wild: dark skies, high winds, then sudden golden sunshine breaking through the clouds as we descended into the valley. It felt like riding into a movie scene.
We eventually made it to Fort William, soaked, tired, starving, and behind schedule. The support crew managed to grab pizzas and beers just before everything shut, and we spent the evening holed up in a bunkhouse, drying out, laughing, and feeling the distance we’d covered.
Day 4 – Nessie, Deep-Fried Mars Bars & The Final Push
Kane and I kicked off the final day with an early morning swim in Loch Lochy — freezing, beautiful, and exactly what we needed. We rode through stunning Highland scenery, past Loch Ness (no sign of Nessie), and did a 0–30mph drag race on an abandoned bit of tarmac. You can guess how underwhelming that was.
We stopped for lunch in Tain, and accidentally found the best fish and chip shop in the UK. We sampled everything:
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Fish and chips
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Scampi
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Haggis
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Black, white and red puddings
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And, the holy grail… deep-fried Mars bars washed down with Irn-Bru.
It was a Scottish feast and exactly the fuel we needed for the final push.
The terrain turned more barren as we approached John O’Groats. The wind picked up. The temperature dropped. We were clinging to the bars, pushing hard, tired but determined. And then, we made it.
John O’Groats. Sunshine. Celebration. A microbrewery with cold beer. It was an emotional moment — full of relief, pride, and a quiet sense of “we actually did it.”
Day 5 – Bonus Miles & Homeward Bound
The next morning we still had to get the bikes and the van to Inverness Airport, so we smashed out another 110 miles (with a cheeky bonus stop at Tain for one more deep-fried Mars bar). Then came the ultimate game of bike Tetris — squeezing three bikes, gear, and luggage into one van.
The crew flew home. I drove 300 miles to Newcastle, dropped Kane, then another 100 to Durham. Crashed for the night. Then another 300 miles the next day to get home.
In total:
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995 miles on the Vespa — without a single breakdown
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600+ van miles for the return leg
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Over £2,100 raised for Two Wheels for Life
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And one unforgettable ride
Final Thoughts
This trip was everything I hoped it would be — chaotic, challenging, beautiful, hilarious, and meaningful. It proved that you don’t need a big bike or a big budget to have a real adventure. Just a 125cc, a few mates, and a reason to keep going.
Huge thanks to everyone who supported us, donated, followed along, and cheered us on. You made this ride matter. Would I do it again? 100%.
Small bikes. Big mission.
