Planning trip to Southern India, area, bike and equipment help requested!

[jefnvk]

Hi all,

I am currently trying to plan a trip to Southern India this August (coming up soon, unfortunately for planning) for a friends wedding. I have about 5-6 days before the start of the wedding ceremonies that I would like to use to tour on a motorbike, and am looking for any advice/help I can get.

I am looking at renting a bike for my trip (at this point in my life, I don't have the time or money to ship my bike over, which I'd prefer to do). The wedding is in Bangalore, and I need to be able to drop off the bike in Bangalore, as I won't have more than a day at most after the wedding before I fly out. I don't mind flying into Chennai or Mumbai (or any other towns that may be a better choice) and doing a one way rental. I am looking for any reputable rental agency that can get me setup before I arrive (don't want to spend limited time looking for a bike). If anyone has used any agencies in the past, and can recommend anyone, it would be appreciated!

I understand this isn't really the crowd that rents bikes for trips, but I was hoping I'd find someone that could advise. The only place I have been able to find on my own searching is a place called India Bike in Mumbai, if anyone has experience with them I'd be interested in hearing it.

Also, if there is any must see things in the area, I'm open to suggestions as well (haven't really had time to dig around the forums yet looking for an exact route/interests, that'll come after I find a place to rent a bike from). I'm probably going to head south from Mumbai (assuming thats where I start) to at least Goa (gotta swim in the Indian Ocean, to make 4 oceans I've been in), possibly Mangalore, before heading inland to Bangalore. I'm not so much of a plan ahead person, more of a I'll have some ideas and we'll see what happens when I start driving person. Trying to keep the legs to a max of about 200 miles a day, to account for exploration time and wiggle room for me being in a not familiar environment, and for not completely exhausting myself during my vacation.

As far as bike rental, it would be my dream to ride an Enfield around India, but since I am a just-out-of-college, still somewhat poor guy, I am liking the deposit on the Baja Pulsars a lot better, given limited time to save for the trip, and not having a few hundred dollars more tied up in a deposit. Any advice on how well one of those will pull around a 180lb guy with a duffel bag? They seem to be just as powerful as the bigger Enfields, and more reliable.

Equipment, I'm set with my normal helmet and riding coat (FirstGear Jaunt, warm, yes, but waterproof, and not unbearable if moving). I'm debating between overpants and pants worn alone. It will be near the end of monsoon season apparently, so waterproof is a concern, as much as me not wanting to be injured in a foreign country. I don't mind dropping some money on pants, but I realize most future uses of these pants will be as overpants, so is there anything that can function as an overpant and pants worn alone? Right now, I'm looking at the FirstGear TPG Escape pants, as I'm happy with my FirstGear coat. Depending on whats available when I order, I've also been looking at the Aerostich Darien pants in the specials/cloeout section of their website, for roughly the same price.

Boots, are they recommended? I looked at some touring boots, and they don't look much more substantial than my Red Wings, only difference seemed to be a thin piece of plastic over the ankle. I have no desire to go full motocross style, as I want to walk in the boots without having to change back and forth.

Finally, any advice on a decent travel insurance agency with good coverage on medical care and evacuation? Don't care so much about the trip cancellation stuff, but I don't really want to spend 6 months in an Indian hospital cause thats all I can afford....

Thanks in advance for your assistance!

-Jeff

EDIT: Forgot to add (I think) that this is my first big motorbike trip outside of the US, so keeping it fun, simple and safe is my primary concern!