Planning a bike trip or otherwise in Himachal in April

biswajit_27

I am Indian and am returning back to my country after a "boring" (sorry) 11 month stint in US of A...I desperately feel the need to touch base with all the "dhabas" & the laid back places in Delhi and Himachal. .

I hope to get some of my old friends to go on this trip, and a third friend is actually from Himachal, so maybe we will get to visit his village and stay there. Even if the plan with friends bomb, I am still going alone.

My plan is something like this:

If I alone, I will go by bus/train.
If I get 1 friend, I will go by bike. (I am going to buy an Enfield "Bullet"...those are the real bikes)
If I get 2 or more friends to travel, I will go by Bus/Train.
(yeah I am a programmer)


The objective of my journey is not the sight (which will be incidental), but imbibing the atmosphere (if you get my meaning).

I live by the concept of "the more the merrier".

Anybody interested?

There is another thing: I am not planning to stay in the Hotel Carlton or Hilton either.

PS: Though there would be booze nights, junkies are not something I am looking forward to include. Of course, (as usual) females are more welcome than guys.. (I call them civilizing influences)

JIMCORBET

Hi

Well that what i was looking for today ,,,when i camein this site .
I might be intrested

Bullettaurean

Biswajit i totally agree with u regarding the bikes thingi... can say this as i also own one of those beasts (as i like to call it)...
when do u plan to do this trip... i am game if u plan this on a bike... only a bike can actually give u the panromic view that we all desire... & the mountains just look a lot lovely when u feel the cool breeze on ur face...

biswajit_27

I am going ahead with my plans at the end of April. :-)

I will take a break from office when I get back in India, laze around a while and buy a spanking new bike, then at the end of the month, we go for a ride.


I will keep ya all posted.

But meanwhile, I would like to know how the bikes perform in the hills... I have heard they perform fine, but has any of you done it previously?

Bullettaurean

I cant comment about the other bikes but can surely tell u abt bullet... it takes every curve in its stride... i must confess i dont have a lot of exp but i have done 2 trips one to chamba (one with the dam), rishikesh & beasi... & other to nainital, pangot & kilbury...
but if u just check out other threads on this site... then u can easily notice that some of the guys have done loooong trips on pulsar, honda etc...

Yogesh Sarkar

It's not the bike that matters, its the rider.

Have done fair bit of touring on my almost five year old Pulsar 180 and that include two trips to Ladakh. Just get a bike and take it to the highway, you shouldn't have any problem as long as you take care of your bike and ride within limits.

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My Travelogues | My Blog | Ladakh Travel Guide

biswajit_27

You are rite.

Am for me, I can say that, I travel 25 Kms in 20 Mins in Delhi on a daily basis. The Caliber I ride, isn't built for longer rides though (I think that holds true for Pulsars too).

After riding 100 Kms, your tail bone makes you think about taking a break.

By the way, I was checking out the Enfield Bullet website, and didn't see any 500cc machines being touted.

The thunderbird does look good, and I dont think that the sound it makes is anything equivalent to a Bullet; but on a more practical level, is it better or worse? In terms of comfort and reliability.

Yogesh Sarkar

Now you tell me! You should have told me this before i did Srinagar - Delhi (936kms) in 21hours

Leaving sarcasm behind, its all a matter of practice, most of my group members are used to riding for 12-18hours a day (with breaks of course). And yes we do have chap who has done extensive touring on a caliber not to forget Sanyog who took his 80cc moped to Khardung La and has earned a place in this years Limca book of record.

The STD500 is available for sale and costs close to 1L on road Delhi and comes with an electric starter and disc brakes.

biswajit_27

After reading the reviews for the all the various bullets, I am more confused than ever, Thunderbird is cool looking , but has the performance of STD350, whereas both have oil leak problems, Thunderbird has lower oil leak problems than STD350 or STD500.

STD500 provides more power, but has oil leak problems, and the design is tht of a ramped-up 350. All the bullets are hand-made and how well ur bike will do is upto the hand of destiny/fitter.

Maschismo is a great looking bike, but it seems that the pillion rider has no place in design, either on the drawing board blueprint or the actual outcome .

My requirements are as follows:-
1. It should be a bit reliable, i.e should start when kicked...lol...esp not die on me on the highway.
2. It should has minimal maintainence.
3. Left-side gear (graduating from Caliber, what do you expect)

In light of the above requirements, which bike would you suggest?
I kinda like Maschismo (without the front windshield of course), but have heard people talking about the oil leakage problems, plus mileage (though not a big problem) is very low from the begining, I imagine what it would be when I grow older.

PS:Thunderbird looks cool, but I have serious doubt about the seat comfort level for long rides.

Bullettaurean

Hi Biswajit, i drive a bullet electra... this is the same bike on which i have done my 2 trips... decent bike... low maintenance... 35-40 average...left side gear(5 speed one)...hasnt died on me so far... TOUCHWOOD...
lemme tell u abt 1 fact... all bullets i repeat all bullets have oil leakage problem... i havent seen a single one which does not have oil stains...
but u dont need to worry abt that... just get ur bike (any bike for that matter) serviced before & after a gud ride & that shud hold u through...
i have a frnd who has done long & really long rides on calibar... so dont worry...

biswajit_27

Thanks Bullet.

Which one of the bullets do u like the most?


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Dr.Barai

I have done lucknow-khardung la in june 06 and lucknow-spiti in sep06 on my caliber and with a pillion. Faced no problem. Caliber can do it but ofcourse bigger bike will do better.

Bullettaurean

Hi Biswajit,
i have driven machismo (both with left side gear & right side one) & electra (both with left side gear & right side one)... i find electra (both of them) to be a little better in terms of pickup, max speed & cornering... my 2 cents goes to electra with disc brake... one peice of advice, if u really plan to go on long rides dont get alloy wheels fixed... i have already broken my set due to the extra good conditions of road in some hilly areas...
but must tell u one thing the older bullet without the Euro 2 norms is the best bet... although the older one gives a little less average but their engine is very very good as compared to the bullets available presently...

biswajit_27

I am back in Delhi now, and my plans have hit a small glitch.

My ex-roommate has gotten married and is living his life "peacefully" (as can be :-) ..), and I am now the proverbial thorn in the side as I do not have any alternate housing plans before I got here.

I will be trying first and foremost to get an apartment, shift my things and then settle down, after which I can fructify my plans for going anywhere. Damn!!!!

Yeah, I am hear the empathy from you all.

zackalope

Actually the real bikes are the kinds with pedals. What's wrong with your legs, softie?