motorbike tour

ventes1

anyone have info + suggestions on how + where its possible to rent or buy motortbikes in mumbay?what the costs are....
thanx
peace

-m2-

Sorry, can't give a very good answer to your questions, but will try and give you some leads.

I bought a 2nd hand Enfield in New Delhi in '95 and put around 10,000 problem-filled kms touring from Himchal Pradesh south to Kerala and back up to Goa, where I sold it at a huge loss just to get rid of it. I'm more of an expert on what not to do, perhaps, but despite it all, it was a great trip. Most tourists do choose Enfields, and most seem to have Delhi registration, but there should be no shortage of used bikes in Mumbai and there is probably a 'district' where there are many close by. There are perhaps better alternatives to the Enfield today -- depending upon how far you are planning to ride, and whether you are riding alone. Bajaj and Honda have 150-180cc 4-stroke models that are modern, well-built bikes (brakes that will stop you, gear-shift on the left, easy to start etc) that will out-run an Enfield in every way while using around 1/2 to 2/3 the fuel. For less than, say, 4 months it probably makes more sense to rent as both the buying and selling transactions will take some time and you will lose even more if you appear 'rushed' (as in, I have a plane to catch)

Renting is very easy in Goa as so many people do it -- say 150rp/day for a Yamaha 100cc or Honda scooter (the most popular short term bikes) to 300/day for an Enfield -- with better rates for longer terms (except hard to find in Christmas/New Years high season). Many, many bikes for sale in Goa as it is a convenient place to wait while you sell and the Wednesday market in Anjuna is a perfect venue. Decent looking, later model Enfields $500 on up -- more in November, less in February. New prices (Mumbai) 55/63,000rp for 350/500cc models.

The following site has a lot of general motorcycle touring info and has several good links -- including Mumbai dealers and prices.

http://www.indax.com/enfield2.html

Well, if nothing more, this post will bump up your query -- since you posted this in 'Introduce yourself', rather than in the transport area, it might not get much attention once it falls off the front page.

cheers,

mike

indiamike

***thread moved to correct section***sorry I was asleep at the wheel

Architect

It might be difficult to find a bike for hire from Bombay. But you could get a second hand bike. You will need to know how to choose a good bike and identify for any problems. You could indeed get it inspected by a mechanic. Enfield indeed would be a good choice for longer journeys as its very stable and sturdy. But if fuel economy is your concern then you could go for other 150 cc bikes from Bajaj or Hero Honda.
New 150cc bikes will range around 50-55 grand in indian rupees where as Enfield will cost you over 65 grand in indian rupees

Second hand bikes could cost between 20 and 40 grand in Indian rupees depending upon the usage and condition of the bike.

steven_ber

the following 2 sites may have some usefull info.

http://www.indiabike.com/

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/

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archits

OP - what is the budget you have in mind..new ones go from thousand us dollars to 2000 us dollars.

what do you wish to do with the bike ? buy and sell..travel within mumbai or...

-m2-

Herby: if you are really determined to buy an Enfield, particularly used, beyond the usual concerns about mechanical condition etc., the most important thing to look for is the front brake. Until very recently (late 90's), most Bullets came with a really, truly, useless front brake -- it will not even slow you down, let alone stop you in a hurry. Since most of a cycles braking should be done by the front wheel (as weight transfers forward under braking) this is a monumental problem while travelling Indian roads where traffic *will not allow* you to leave a reasonable distance from the vehicle ahead -- someone will pass you and fill the gap. Following 10 ft behind a bus which might stop at any minute, whose brake lights probably don't work, you can't see ahead of, and the road has no useable shoulder, and your brakes are shvt is not a fun experience.

the 'better' brake is larger and is a self-energising, 2 leading shoe unit -- it's easy to tell the difference if they are side by side, but difficult to describe. Some bikes have been retro-fitted with this unit and it would definitely be worthwhile to look for one and pay the extra. it's not terrific, but it is a vast improvement.

I'd still look for a Bajaj 'Pulsar', either the 150 or 180cc model, if you could swing it. I've seen a lot of them around this winter and they are a very good unit -- as mentioned in earlier post -- a fully modern well-built bike. a 5 speed trans that shifts, disc brakes that stop, a 4 stroke engine that starts, maintains tune, sips (rather than gulps) 30rp/liter petrol, and a good ride. ...but that's just me, and i've already had my Enfield adventure

back to your question -- if you're starting in the east, might as well start looking in Calcutta -- might be some tourist bikes around Sudder St. If not, there's a Bullet dealer nearby on Chowringhi St. who could probably direct you to a mechanic or an area with bike repair shops that deal in used. One consideration regarding bike registration -- unless you are selling to another tourist when you leave, you must sell the bike to a resident of the state it's licensed in. It is possible to get a 'NOC' (no objection certificate) from the state of license, but this is an added bureaucratic hassle, difficult to do at long distance i.e. selling a West Bengal licensed bike in Mahashastra or vica versa. That is why tourist bikes are often Delhi registered, and the paper work rarely completed -- you just pass on incomplete registration and a bill of sale, original 'book' showing road tax paid in whoever's name, and hope for the best.

lot's of luck

mike

picklepak

I bought a '95 Enfield 350 in Delhi for about $700 USD, it was from a dealer who specializes in them (particularly, vintage exports!) in Karol Bagh (sp?). The engine and gearbox was comletely rebuilt just for me, I saw them build it up from the frame and I picked all the accessories (including the much better front brake from the 500, the old-style seperate seats with springs, the color, the oversized petrol tank...)

Aside from the usual 100-and-1 little problems that are associated with Enfields (take at least an adjustable wrench, a pliers, a knife and a flat screwdriver with you everywhere), I had no major engine or gearbox problems and was never stranded in about two months of travel. Not a long time to own the bike, I know, but the bike is still waiting for me... it's stored at a friend's place in Delhi for me to someday return.

I know that doesn't help with your search in Mumbai but I thought I'd let you know the price I paid anyway. I'd planned to sell the bike in Anjuna (Goa) at the start of the high season but I fell in love with it too much. Next time, I hope to travel India with a girl on the back.

Keep in mind, if you're in a hurry you can always take it on the train as freight (but it's expensive).