Newbie with 10 days in India. But where should I go and how should I do it?
 

Having spent the last year or so trawling through this site and listening to the many pearls of wisdom on pretty much every subject out there I've finally decided that it's time to sign up and get involved. I've been riding for years (sports bikes) and have toured Europe a few times but have really been converted and inspired by this site to start looking further afield.

I have 9-10 days spare at the end of April/beginning of may and the chance to go to India where a friends work contract is ending. Whilst we could just fly out and see the sites our first choice naturally would be to take this opportunity to grab some Enfield Bullets etc and hit the road, but how to do it, where to go?

Most organised tours seem to be for longer periods and are pretty expensive so I'm leaning towards hiring some bikes. I'm also aware that the weather may well be a factor in different parts of the country (monsoons etc?) and I assume there are other factors I've not given proper (any) consideration to.

Your thoughts as to where to go, how best to do it, who to use, what to consider and anything else you care to mention would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

If you've never been here before
then it will blow your mind, it doesnt matter
where you go, youve only ten days, but get out
of which every city you land in and enjoy

Ask at Venture On Wheels - Motorcycle and Adventure Tours in India Based in Pune

John

B***** Hot!
 

Are you OK with 60 centigrade in the sun and 45 in the shade?:eek3:

We natives are, take care you don't melt! I take it you have not ridden here before. Night riding here is not for you!:nono:

Hire a car and go where you wish. Cheap, with driver, airconditioned. You'll enjoy it more (All this from somebody who detests cages).

Have a nice trip!

Where in India will you be?
 

India is a huge country and it will be hot in April - any plans you are thinking of will depand on your starting point.

I'm going to be heading to India in late April or early May. I'm from the central valley in California, so I'm used to it being over 40C/100F. A friend of mine has an apartment in Varanasi, so I'm hoping to acclimate (temperature and traffic) before my bike shows up. I'll be there for a few months.

--Dave

Just head to the Himalayas, nice scenic roads and relatively cool climate.

10 days in India....
 

Hi
Do Not,repeat DO NOT ride at night!!! Its mental and you will be run over!Other than that Its the most intense addictive riding experience on the planet.Its a vast country so with only 10 days you will have to pick where you want to go.If your flying to Delhi hiring an enfield is no problem(go to Karol Bargh and take a big bag of spanners with you,you`ll need them!)but think about something more modern and reliable like a Baja.Then head to Rajasthan (Jaipur,Jodphur etc..absolutely stunning places)No shortage of places to stay, however at that time of year(pre monsoon)it is very very hot and sticky and that affects what riding gear you will want to wear(dont scrimp on the safety gear you take,youll need it)Alternatively you could head north to the punjab then to Shimla,Kulu Valley,Manali (a lot cooler)Whatever, enjoy it,it will blow you away!

A1arn, I once saw 55C on a thermometer in the shade in Lucknow in early May. :freezing: Not a pleasant experience!

At those temperatures, though, you have the road to yourself. No trucks, no pedestrians, no dogs, no cattle!

Night riding is quite safe once you get a HID lamp fitted (preferably a spot lamp) which allow you to see the road in front of you even when looking into 12 sets of high beams. Once switched on, oncoming traffic aborts dangerous overtaking passes/other idiot maneuvers that would push you off the road, and tourist buses with 6 :eek3: headlamps set on high beam even dip their lights! Oncoming traffic becomes sane and civilized! (All this has something to do with the "might is right" pecking order on our roads - something that can effectively blind others allows the bike to punch well above it's weight)

In our Yahoo group, we call them niceness makers but with just 10 days at hand, fitting them on a rented bike is not an option, so night travel is inadvisable.

Yogesh's advice would help you stay comfortable (well, sort of). The plains would be very hot.

The HID lamp is a great idea. Any chance they'll work on 6-volt bikes? I don't know if I have enough time to upgrade my bike to 12-volt.

There should be people who can do it without much problems here. Yamaha's most popular 2 stroker (RX 100) came with a 6V electrical system - one of the first things many owners did was to chuck it out, and fit a 12V one in it's place.

It may not be a bolt on fit, but I guess you can easily spend a little time machining the necessary bits (cheap here, like all labour).

I'm amazed that you advise someone to blind other roadusers, who may well retaliate or swerve into the bikes when dazzled.

Ground realities differ
 

Fine, if you ride here, you are most welcome to dip your lights when something with 6 high beams comes your way on your side of the road, overtaking something else with 4 high beams. Better have prominent ID tags though, makes it easier at morgues and hospitals to identify mangled bodies and notify next of kin.

Oncoming trucks /buses/cars do not WANT to hit anybody, but they could not care less if they do. A glancing impact with a bike is neither here nor there for them. But the one thing that unfailingly gets their balls in their mouth is getting one wheel off the road - it's the prelude to turning turtle. Blinded, they do not see the road any more - hence slow down/ abort lunatic overtaking maneuvers that WILL kill you. And as you have the switch at your fingertips, there is nothing to stop you from switching off the HID lights for those who have dipped their lights.

It's foolish to think the rules in your part of the world apply elsewhere AND ADVISE PEOPLE AS PER THAT:thumbdown:. Especially so if you are not aware of the ground realities.

I dont think you should call me foolish after your deeply worrying "advice", though I feel you are no stranger to the word.

Nor do I think you should assume what I know or dont know of what you charmingly call "ground realities". I assume you mean the carnage of Indian roads.

I live here, I ride here (quite a bit), and I know what works here.

If the advice sounds "worrying", that's something I'm not really concerned with. I'm simply telling you what works here, FWIW. Better be prepared to leave a lot of your road rules/concepts such as "right of way" back home, or you will learn soon enough about what works here, the hard way.

There is a method in the madness or "carnage" (if you prefer), and not switching off your spot lamp or HID when oncoming traffic keeps the high beams on is simply one of them.

It will be difficult, but we will just have to manage without you here. It would have been so nice to have you here in India sharing your vast store of knowledge with the misguided (and with those who have 6 headlamps).

On the brighter side, as you will not have to apply your philosophy here, at least you stand no immediate risk of being squashed to the thickness of a chapati prior to going topsides (or wherever).

Have a nice day.

What he said :thumbup1:

did you go?
 

Monsoon season just kicking off, very hot wet and sticky but fewer tourists, Take uk license and hire a bike. We rode at night time, I know you shouldn't but how do you get out and about for night bazarre, meals, bars etc just take it easy and ride half the speed of everyone else.
Further north the seasons are nearer to our own

Monsoon season is a bit later, about 4th week of May in the south, and much later up north. That said, I do not have a Phd in predicting the weather:innocent:.

Up in the mountains will be cooler at this point of time.

I had a seizure. The good part was the doc thought I broke my back but the radiologist said it's not broken. I have to postpone India so instead of leaving for Delhi on May 21st, I'll leave end of July. I don't have a date picked out yet. I was hoping to get there before the monsoon season but hey, everyone likes a good hot shower.