Best time/region to ride in India?!!
 

Hi all,

basically i'm really keen to do a bike trip in india this summer. i have from June to mid September to do a 4-6 week trip.

i've heard of so many different amazing places its impossible to keep up. My main question is that, with my time period, where and when am i best to go in India.

I've looked at a (very indirect) Delhi to Mumbai route but at the moment its all speculation for me.

any advice would be very much appreciated. At the moment i'm looking at renting 350cc enfields seeing as i'm on a budget of about 1500 pounds incl. flights

thanks!

fred

I don't think that this is a very good time for most of India, it is monsoon season so very wet and humid, the exception being the mountains where it is the best time for exploring the Himalayas.
Others might have route and bike hire advice but that is my tuppence worth on what part would be best.

June - September / Ladakh

+1 for Ladak.
Last September/ early October we travelled for 3 weeks on rented enfields from Royal India Bikes (500 classics) very reliable and cheap. Picked up the bikes from Chandigarth rode to shimla, Manali, over 4 high mountain passes to Leh, rode the highest road in the world from Leh to Nubra valley, also Leh to Pangong Lake and returned to Chandigarth via Kargil, Srinagar and Amristar. With six weeks you can do more side trips which would be good. Ladak is a very beautiful and special place and the weather at that time was perfect for riding although a little cold on the high passes.

june??
 

the north looks like the right place for me, at the moment it looks like i'm only going to be able to get a month off for june, do you think thats going to be a problem?

thanks for the replies

That should be long enough, take a look at some of the organised tours and see when and where they go, not to take one but they are the experts at getting the most out of a shorter time there and the weather in different areas.
I cannot advise on rental but suggest getting some personal recommendations and don't pay anything until you see the bike, you might not get what you have paid for and believe there is plenty of choice, if you haven't paid up front and you are offered crappy rubbish you can walk away and go elsewhere. Seek information on what scams are out there regarding bike rental, take your own helmet, riding gear and lock.

The beauty of your schedule
 

. . . is that you're pretty much limited to Himachal Pradesh or Katch (though that would be rather hot, then).

Looks like you're riding to Leh.

Yes, we are also planning to ride in India. Guess September would be a good month to ride the north, Leh and Ladak. Anyone has used a rental company for Enfiileds 500?

India.
 

Hi.

I did the same area as Gerran. Fantastic trip during July August. Weather great. After August though it can become uncertain depending on where you are. Some roads end up impassable for weeks. Regards. Geoff.

India
 

I would recommend the North around Manali, Shimla, Nako, Kaza, Keylong, Leh any of that area a month would be awesome. Bike rental in Manali from Anu. Royal Moto Touring - Anu Auto Works He uses good parts and has good bikes. He is fare and can give you lots of advise as well.

Rentals in Manali
 

Hey you can also look up some places in old manali and there is one place in Vashisht , i think its called bike rentals manali. They have newer bikes then the garage others are talking about. and had much cheaper rates then Anu.
also i had a friend who had terriable experience witht his chap named anu. so be carefull what you choose. Also ride to
ladakh and
around its really beautifull. Did the tour last year.

good luck with the trip and u can find these guys i think here.