Andrew Charnley is the kind of person who makes you want to quit your job and ride into the sunset. Between 2012 and 2013, this British adventurer strapped his gear onto a Honda PCX 125cc scooter — a humble commuter bike — and rode it overland from England all the way to Thailand. The journey covered tens of thousands of kilometres across two continents, proving that you don’t need a big adventure motorcycle to have the adventure of a lifetime.
The Man Behind the Ride
Andrew Charnley, known online as „Snoopy“ in the Honda PCX community, had a simple but audacious goal: ride from his home in England to Southeast Asia on a small-displacement scooter. Armed with camping gear, a sense of humour, and an extraordinary amount of determination, he documented the entire journey on his website and later wrote about it in his book On Two Wheels. His story resonated with motorcycle enthusiasts around the world, and this guy really is a legend.
Countries Visited
Charnley’s epic overland route took him through an impressive list of countries across Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia. Here is the route he followed on his Honda PCX:
Europe
- United Kingdom (England) — Starting point of the journey
- France — First leg through Western Europe
- Belgium — Crossing through the Low Countries
- Germany — Through Central Europe
- Austria — Into the Alps
- Slovenia — Through the Balkans
- Serbia — Continuing south-east
- Bulgaria — Approaching the Turkish border
- Turkey — A vast transcontinental country bridging Europe and Asia; testing conditions began here
Central & South Asia
- Georgia — Through the Caucasus mountains
- Iran — Across the Persian plateau
- Pakistan — Into the Indian subcontinent
- India — One of the most complex and rewarding legs of the journey
- Nepal — In the shadow of the Himalayas
Southeast Asia
- Myanmar (Burma) — Through the golden land
- Thailand — The final destination, completing the epic overland journey
The Bike: Honda PCX 125cc
What makes this journey truly remarkable is the machine Charnley chose. The Honda PCX is a practical urban scooter — not a rugged adventure bike. With a 125cc engine, automatic transmission, and underseat storage, it’s designed for city commuting. Charnley modified it with luggage panniers and camping gear, and rode it across some of the most challenging terrain on the planet. The PCX performed remarkably well, winning the hearts of Honda enthusiasts worldwide.
The Book: On Two Wheels
Andrew Charnley documented the entire adventure in his book On Two Wheels, available on Amazon. It’s a first-hand account of the road, the people he met, the breakdowns, the border crossings, and the sheer joy of long-distance motorcycle travel. If this kind of adventure speaks to you, his book is a must-read.
Watch the Video
The original YouTube video that inspired this post has since been removed, but Andrew’s legacy lives on through the Honda PCX community and his book. You can find more information at andrewcharnley.com.
Original blog post: http://www.andrewcharnley.com
