Video: Biking through the Himalayas - The National

Video: Biking through the Himalayas - The National

A trip of a lifetime for a common man but a pilgrimage for a motorcyclist.

All I can say words fall short to describe the amazing ride to this enchanting land. If you are well experienced rider, have the skills, the stamina and determination to ride long hours every day then make a note in your motorcycling diaries things to do before I die and this trip has to be one of them. by maddogdave

 

Riding Solo To The Top Of The World -Trailer

The Bike

Royal Enfield was the name under which the Enfield Cycle Company, a division of the British arms-making company ‘Royal Small Arms Factory’ in Enfield Lock. It made motorcycles, bicycles, lawnmowers and stationary engines. This legacy of weapons manufacture is reflected in the logo, a cannon, and their motto ‘Made like a gun, goes like a bullet.’ In India, you will rarely hear anyone talk about the machine as ‘Royal Enfield.’In popular parlance it is known as ‘Bullet.’ Royal Enfield Motorcycles has been a pioneer of powerful four stroke technology in India since 1955. It is one of the oldest motorcycle companies in the world and is a division of Eicher Motors Limited.

EngineSingle Cylinder, 4 stroke, Twinspark
Displacement499 CC
Bore x Stroke84 mm x 90 mm
Maximum Power 27.2 bhp @ 5250 rpm
Maximum Torque 41.3 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Transmission5 Speed (left foot gear shift)
Ignition Digital Electronic Ignition
Speed130 Kmph

The Challenge

Magevael's Channel

The Team

 

The team line up, well 4 hard core bikers and seasoned travellers, unfortunately a bit of a renegade attitude and an overdose of adrenaline in the veins, which my result in some fun moments, not that the Royal Enfield is a rocket, but I bet the four of us will end up racing along the way… I even heard Abadeen is ordering a jetting kit!

The Itinerary

11 Days Ride across breath taking views of Spiti Valley & Manali - Leh (ranked 4th toughest biking route by Discovery) Mostly off road, Ice, Mountains, Slush, Mud, Dust in Ladakh, India on the world’s Highest Motor able roads.
Itinerary for 11day Ladakh Ride

Day 1 -Transfer from Delhi to Chandigarh by road for a night stay & briefing for the ride next Morning (350kms).

Day 2 - Ride begins from Chandigarh to Shimla(the summer capital while the British Ruled India) to familiarize with Indian traffic sense and site seeing (160kms).

Day 3 - Leave behind the highways onto narrow roads, ride through villages with a day full of lush Green Mountain views from Shimla to Kalpa (220kms).

Day 4 - The ride moves in spiti valley with off-road riding to cope up. Visit to Moon Lake Village of Nako and Tabo Buddhist monastery on the way from Kalpa to Kaza (195kms).

Day 5 - Cross Kanzumla pass and then take 28kms detour to pristine Chandertaal Lake before reaching Chhatru (145kms).

Day 6 - Crossing the pass of Bara Lach La & camp at 14000ft in Sarchu (182kms).

Day 7 - Make your own way on 48kms of dirt road through Moore’ plains crossing Lachlung La at 16,616 ft / Tanglang La at 17,582 ft and speed up on 80kms of tarmac roads from Rumste to Leh (240kms).

Day 8 - Visit Leh Palace, Shankar Gompa, Shanti Stupa , Shopping and rest in Leh.

Day 9 - Ride to world’s highest motorable road, Kardung La at 18380ft, ride through Nubra valley spotting double hump camels and camping in the evening at Hundur (125kms).

Day 10 - Ride back across Kardung La to Leh, shop & celebrate the Adventurous Ride (125kms).

Day 11- Flight from Leh to Delhi & connect to your respective destinations.

How it all started!

Back in the early 80's, I got a glimpse of the first Paris-Dakar, which send my thoughts wandering around the Globe on my Red Yamaha DT 125.  Unfortunately such adventures do not come cheap, nor can you always plan ahead, on when you will have a family! As the years passed by,  I was fortunate to experience some of these adventures around Europe and the Middleast (http://kuwaittobeirut.blogspot.com/).  About six month ago. I was browsing Dubizzle and fell on ad hyping a trip to the Himalaya, my immediate reaction was to send the link to a couple of friends and judging by their reaction, I knew we were on track for the next motorcycle adventure. New Delhi to Himalaya!