Motorcycle in august: monsoon?

Giacomo · Jun 18th, 2006, 17:34

Hi everybody,
me and my wife are planning to visit India during august. It will be a very particular journey for her 'cause she was born 26 years ago in Mangalore, then she came in Italy when she was 4 to meet her new 'european' family, and now she'd like to find her roots....
Since it's our intention trip freely around the country, I was thinking about hiring a motorcycle, but I have some questions (Route: Mumbai-Mangalore-Chennai-Kolkata-Varanasi-Mumbai):

. am I totally insane if I go around India by motorcycle during monsoon season? I'm a biker and I'm used to low temperatures (-5°C during winter) and rain, but I think I don't have the slightest idea of what a monsoon is.

. how many km per day do you think it's reasonable? For example, once I went from Florence to Frankfurt (1100km) in one day.

. how are the highways' rates? (here in Italy are about 3rs/km)

I will appreciate very much any advice/hints.

Thank you in advance,
Giacomo.

Serena · Jun 18th, 2006, 19:04

Ciao Giacomo, welcome here!
Really I don't have an answer for you, just wanna say you hi!

Have a nice stay in India!
The only thing I can say is that if this is your first stay well I don't know it's a good idea to biking around alone.....but I am not a biker

Ciao!!!!!

MeCasa · Jun 18th, 2006, 19:30

Hello Giacomo, I haven't been to India yet, but I'm also a biker and I asked lots of questions on the monsoons during the period you asked about. Since the monsoons are tapering off (possibly) in August the best you can do is 'play it by ear' Monsoon means 'super rain' and my research says it would be VERY difficult to move around freely and comfortably in the monsoon. Every year is different so play it by ear and dcide when you are in India

Because that's the way it will work anyway

Lotsa luck

Here's one link, use search and you will find many more

Yogesh Sarkar · Jun 18th, 2006, 20:52

I don’t think you would encounter monsoon during August, heat is some thing that you would have to deal with unless you plan to visit Himalayas.

As for clocking kms, well if you are interested in exploring then any thing around 200-250kms a day should be sufficient. However if you only want to see few places of interests and want to use your motorcycle to reach there then 300-500kms a day depending on traffic, road and amount of hours put in.

One can’t really put the no’s of kms a day you can clock, the max I have done in 21hours is 936kms (Srinagar to Delhi). A friend of mine has clocked 1750kms in less then 24hours on 223cc 4st thumper (Karizma), he is the only iron butt in India.

Didn’t get what you mean by highway rate, if you are talking about toll tax then in majority of places there is no tax charged for Motorcycles.

Oh yes one piece of advice, dont even think about entering Bihar on your motorcycle.

MeCasa · Jun 18th, 2006, 21:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yogesh Sarkar

Oh yes one piece of advice, dont even think about entering Bihar on your motorcycle.

Are you talking the city or the area in general and why is that?

Thanks

Yogesh Sarkar · Jun 18th, 2006, 22:04

MeCasa I am talking about a whole state. Not that I hate it or some thing, in fact I have never been there. But the feedback I got from other motorcyclists who have traveled in Bihar is quite negative. Horrible roads, poor administration and a huge law and order problem. Just few of the things that make me want to avoid traveling in Bihar.

MeCasa · Jun 18th, 2006, 22:38

Interesting, because the area I have the hardest time getting information on is Nepal between Kathmandu and Darijling. The only alternative is dropping down through Bihar. I have read that there are many Indian troops massed on the border of Bihar to stop Nepalese from entering India but as always accurate information is sketchy at best

Nice map It's pdf. so act accordingly

PS: my apologies for treading on your thread Giacomo, but when dealing with India, I take information wherever I can ;-)

edwardseco · Jun 19th, 2006, 01:29

My only major accident in India (except for 2 other nasties) was during the monsoon. Wheels didn't grab in the rain after hitting a boulder & my beloved machine went straight for a wall. It was in pieces afterwards. I piled everything on one surviving wheel assemby and toddled several miles home in the downpour..

sunilg · Jun 19th, 2006, 01:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yogesh Sarkar

I don’t think you would encounter monsoon during August, heat is some thing that you would have to deal with unless you plan to visit Himalayas.

Sorry, but the official timing of monsoon in India is from June to September; and some of the areas that he has mentioned he will be riding receive that maximum amount of rain during the monsoon period. So, it would simply be incorrect if you say that you won't have to face rains during August.

Be prepared for the rains.

FaiyazSultan · Jun 19th, 2006, 01:47

@Giacomo: Hey buddy, welcome to India Mike

Let me first intro myself, I am a biker and have done lots of touring in India and in almost every condition possible.

The route you have decided is fine but would be really raining during Aug - Sep coz its western Ghats and would rain real heavy, please donno under estimate the rains in these area spoecially when you travelling frm Mumbai-Mangalore. This route is very prone to rain almost every time of the year and you would encounter hot/moist air blowing accross the National Highway on the way to Mangalore.

Once you cross Mangalore you will find your self in Paradise of Kerala. I would recommend you to go to Deep Keral Costs and see back water lakes there. Amazing places which would resseble amazon jungle at time. Roads from Mangalore to Madhumalai would be real bad as you would be riding into deep forest and you might need to hurry and not catch the darkness before reaching Tirunalvelli. Once there then you can visit KanyaKumari and take the eastern costal region and ride up to Chennai

For some info on Touring in South Click here

You will not encounter slight drizzle of rain once you cross Chennai and ride up north ...

Jun 18th, 2006, 17:34	#1
Giacomo Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pisa, Italy Posts: 4	Motorcycle in august: monsoon? Hi everybody, me and my wife are planning to visit India during august. It will be a very particular journey for her 'cause she was born 26 years ago in Mangalore, then she came in Italy when she was 4 to meet her new 'european' family, and now she'd like to find her roots.... Since it's our intention trip freely around the country, I was thinking about hiring a motorcycle, but I have some questions (Route: Mumbai-Mangalore-Chennai-Kolkata-Varanasi-Mumbai): . am I totally insane if I go around India by motorcycle during monsoon season? I'm a biker and I'm used to low temperatures (-5°C during winter) and rain, but I think I don't have the slightest idea of what a monsoon is. . how many km per day do you think it's reasonable? For example, once I went from Florence to Frankfurt (1100km) in one day. . how are the highways' rates? (here in Italy are about 3rs/km) I will appreciate very much any advice/hints. Thank you in advance, Giacomo.

Jun 18th, 2006, 19:04	#2
Serena Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Bologna, Italy Posts: 282	Ciao Giacomo, welcome here! Really I don't have an answer for you, just wanna say you hi! Have a nice stay in India! The only thing I can say is that if this is your first stay well I don't know it's a good idea to biking around alone.....but I am not a biker Ciao!!!!! __________________ http://namasteindia.blogspot.com/

Jun 18th, 2006, 20:52	#4
Yogesh Sarkar Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Delhi (India) Posts: 1,070	I don’t think you would encounter monsoon during August, heat is some thing that you would have to deal with unless you plan to visit Himalayas. As for clocking kms, well if you are interested in exploring then any thing around 200-250kms a day should be sufficient. However if you only want to see few places of interests and want to use your motorcycle to reach there then 300-500kms a day depending on traffic, road and amount of hours put in. One can’t really put the no’s of kms a day you can clock, the max I have done in 21hours is 936kms (Srinagar to Delhi). A friend of mine has clocked 1750kms in less then 24hours on 223cc 4st thumper (Karizma), he is the only iron butt in India. Didn’t get what you mean by highway rate, if you are talking about toll tax then in majority of places there is no tax charged for Motorcycles. Oh yes one piece of advice, dont even think about entering Bihar on your motorcycle. __________________ My Travelogues \| My Blog \| Ladakh Travel Guide

Jun 19th, 2006, 01:47	#10
FaiyazSultan Aderenaline Rider Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 129	@Giacomo: Hey buddy, welcome to India Mike Let me first intro myself, I am a biker and have done lots of touring in India and in almost every condition possible. The route you have decided is fine but would be really raining during Aug - Sep coz its western Ghats and would rain real heavy, please donno under estimate the rains in these area spoecially when you travelling frm Mumbai-Mangalore. This route is very prone to rain almost every time of the year and you would encounter hot/moist air blowing accross the National Highway on the way to Mangalore. Once you cross Mangalore you will find your self in Paradise of Kerala. I would recommend you to go to Deep Keral Costs and see back water lakes there. Amazing places which would resseble amazon jungle at time. Roads from Mangalore to Madhumalai would be real bad as you would be riding into deep forest and you might need to hurry and not catch the darkness before reaching Tirunalvelli. Once there then you can visit KanyaKumari and take the eastern costal region and ride up to Chennai For some info on Touring in South Click here You will not encounter slight drizzle of rain once you cross Chennai and ride up north ... __________________ LADAKH INFORMATION \| ADRENALINE RIDER CLUB \| Faiyaz Sultan \| ONLINE MOTOR MAGAZINE \| JOURNEY ACROSS INDIA

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Jun 18th, 2006, 19:30	#3
MeCasa Account Closed Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Texas/New York Posts: 959	Hello Giacomo, I haven't been to India yet, but I'm also a biker and I asked lots of questions on the monsoons during the period you asked about. Since the monsoons are tapering off (possibly) in August the best you can do is 'play it by ear' Monsoon means 'super rain' and my research says it would be VERY difficult to move around freely and comfortably in the monsoon. Every year is different so play it by ear and dcide when you are in India Because that's the way it will work anyway Lotsa luck Here's one link, use search and you will find many more

Jun 18th, 2006, 22:04	#6
Yogesh Sarkar Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Delhi (India) Posts: 1,070	MeCasa I am talking about a whole state. Not that I hate it or some thing, in fact I have never been there. But the feedback I got from other motorcyclists who have traveled in Bihar is quite negative. Horrible roads, poor administration and a huge law and order problem. Just few of the things that make me want to avoid traveling in Bihar.

Jun 18th, 2006, 22:38	#7
MeCasa Account Closed Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Texas/New York Posts: 959	Interesting, because the area I have the hardest time getting information on is Nepal between Kathmandu and Darijling. The only alternative is dropping down through Bihar. I have read that there are many Indian troops massed on the border of Bihar to stop Nepalese from entering India but as always accurate information is sketchy at best Nice map It's pdf. so act accordingly PS: my apologies for treading on your thread Giacomo, but when dealing with India, I take information wherever I can ;-)

Jun 19th, 2006, 01:29	#8
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,910	My only major accident in India (except for 2 other nasties) was during the monsoon. Wheels didn't grab in the rain after hitting a boulder & my beloved machine went straight for a wall. It was in pieces afterwards. I piled everything on one surviving wheel assemby and toddled several miles home in the downpour..

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