The only Bullets I saw in India were in a poor state and from everything I've read, I'd given Bullets a wide berth. Certainly many Indians prefer smaller capacity Japanese models which are more reliable, more economical and more powerful.

Have a look at this report for one idea: Ladakh, Heaven on Earth, YogeshSarkar.com

Tim

__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

Do some courses
1) rider training .. specifically 'off road touring' if you can ... I know bm do one .. buit there must be some (cheaper?) others? Note not a MX course!
2) first aid - preferably 'remote area' ... say more than 2 days at teh course .. that should give you enough information on how to deal with anything that may happen..

Motorcycle maintance courses used to be run over there .. you'll need a local comment on this..

Attend a HU meeting .. you 'll get lots of help/ideas there..

__________________
---
Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S

Don't worry too much pal. Although i would like to agree with the previous comment about doing a course but there is just NO course in this world that can prepare you to ride in india. (Except of course riding in india)

About the Enfields...
These bikes are considered Big in India. I myself ride a 500 and wouldnt ride anything else at all. Its got balls of steel. Well, ok, one ball of steel but it can take you and your luggage cross the highest of the passes. Its torquey. Its not really fast but has good enough top end. Given the traffic conditions here, you will enjoy slow riding and bullets are just what you need. You can find mechs for bullets everywhere.

Otherwise,
You can get something like a Hero Honda Karizma, which would be cheaper than a Bullet but will be much more reliable. They will take all abuse, ride fast, give better fuel economy and will run flawless.

But if in india, ride a bullet.

Thanks for the comments guys,

Tim,

I'm defiantly considering the local jap alternatives to an Enfield but, its a pro's and con's thing it seems. More reliable and faster (although faster is really not a big deal as im in no need of racing round india) verses higher availability of servicing for enfields and more low end power.

I have to admit there is also considerably more attraction in riding the enfield than the alternatives, it is more ascetically pleasing after all.

Im a big guy, 6'4" and 105kg, and little plastic jap bikes do not feel good at my size. I also wonder how a 125-180 bike will cope with me and luggage going up a steep mountain pass, also wondering how to attach that luggage to a Bajaj or Hero or similar in the first place!

The again, my girlfriend is 55kg and about 5'10, although physically very able (we are both 30) and not adverse to hard work or roughing it (god knows cambodia can be hard work and rough!)

Its almost like two different bikes would be more suitable but i have read plenty of people saying NEVER take two different bikes touring, it makes it harder. That and I doubt she would settle for a more girly bike if i got the enfield, im pretty sure she would demand one as well! (and who can blame her eh?)

Thanks for the link, i am working my way through quite a few blogs/traveloges/threads types right now to get some background.

In case anyone else is interested or reading this thread later with similar plans, then as well as Tim's link;

onwalkabout.com -- Sometimes you have to go onwalkabout!

IndiaMotorcycle - India on an Enfield A Woman's Motorcycle AdventureÂ*

http://www.BCMtouring.com

On the Edge: A Woman's Solo Motorcycle Odyssey Through India

Drunken Monkey Motorcycle - very amusing, like Hunter S Thompson round India at times! (meant as a compliment of course!)

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ing-past-37371

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-enfield-35975

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/gregfrazier/news/2000-12-22.shtml - Greg's always good to read.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...189#post106744

might be of interest/use and it saves someone else linking them all in again.

On a side note if anyone else has a link to any reading material they recommend online or offline then thanks in advance.

Frank,

Thanks for the tips, I have seen some links and reviews of the BM course in Germany and it seems pretty good and challenging so i will look to do that unless an equivalent more local option turns up.

The med course is an excellent idea, i haven't done a first aid/trauma course in about 8 years now so its well worth finding one. I know indian hospitals leave a lot to be desired and, touch wood, we wont need one if we are prepared and trained and fortunate!

I know that you can arrange informal maintenance courses over there but i would like to do as much here as i can before i go, in know once im there i wont be wanting to hang around in Delhi (or similar city depending where we start but prob Delhi) for a few weeks. Also with a year before departure it is good to have things to take my mind of the slog of working in London which give me a sense of achievement and gaining practical skills is always good.

Hope to make the UK June HU meet but need to sort my diary and make sure i am in country (work takes me to Africa and elsewhere quite a bit) before committing.

chanderjeet,

Thanks for the 'no worry' tip! I know it will be a considerable shock adjusting to Indian traffic but i am hoping my experiences in places like Cambodia will help me make a swift adjustment.

Good to hear some positive Bullet comments! As you mention its the low down power not the top end that is important when lugging me and my gear around the mountains!

The Karizma is an option although i dont know how i would add luggage to it. Also im not a big fan of the looks. The adverts for it on its website are quite amusing though!

Karizma - Always Game


lol. I understand. I hear a lot of this reasoning. A lot of "it was bad, it was annoying, it was unreliable, bits keep falling off, don't buy one" then i ask if they went back what they would get and they say "well, a bullet of course!"


Thanks again for all the input.

Do take some courses and do a lot of practice rides in busy traffic...
Yes, once in India you have to re-learn all over again and adapt to the 'peculiar' way to drive and use the road.
I posted some considerations to riding there. I don't know if others agree with me but, take a look at the entries of this post:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...in-dehli-39228

__________________
Smile

Well, having just come back from riding in india with a broken arm and broken jaw I must say it's a pretty hairy place to ride.

In some ways getting the hang of riding there is quite fun, and you do learn a hell of a lot (eg; getting sideswiped by a car and not falling off!)
However it's not a place to kid yourself about how dangerous it is.

Although the weather is insane, I would stick VERY firmly to ATGATT and despite what the locals do, 4 up with no helmets is a REALLY bad idea.

For an example of the oddity of the driving style, if for example you encounter a truck on the road, it's indicating right, you may assume this means it's turning right.
Well, it MAY be, but equally likely it's suggesting that you overtake it.
Oh and riding a bike with a headlight wired on permanently, gets a bit irritating after the hundredth guy that day tells you 'your light is on!'.

My biggest tip for driving in a foreign country would be... Do what they expect you to do as much as it's not suicidal, as I reckon it's a safe bet that most problems occur when one motorists does something another motorist aint expecting...

You may want to check out this site. 60kph.com
They are a great bunch of guys with a lot of good info on touring India on an Enfield.
My wife and I road around NW Inida and Nepal two-up on a newer 350 Bullet and had no major problems. Granted, no high speeds but it took us everywhere we wanted to go. Just bring some spare parts if you are going to a remote area.