The best part of motorcycle touring in our country is the fact that we have such diverse terrains and climes. Of the three places we tour, the Himalayas remain as elusive as ever. The best time to tour Ladakh and Spiti is between June and September since earlier or later can be too cold for comfort. Even in the best of weather, there are a lot of uncertainties in the weather and landslides are a common sight. As for the worst: the terrain is simply not motorable due to snow in the high passes.
Being a vast desert, the best season for riding in Rajasthan is from October to February when the weather is forgiving. However, mercury dips in the night and can send shivers down to your bone if not appropriately clothed. As for the worst: having experienced it first-hand, I would not recommend anyone to visit Rajasthan in the summer, except to masochists.
Best time to visit the Western Ghats and Malabar Coast is after September (following the monsoon) when the hills and valleys are lush, rivers and falls in their full splendor and the roads black and inviting. Overall the weather is bearable, if not pleasant for the most part. Ideal season for touring here is between September and March. Avoid traveling in May when the summer is at its peak.
Q
Anyone who has been on India's roads knows that they can be very hazardous, at least next to Western roadways. What advice do you have for people who have never driven in India and are contemplating a motorcycle trip – and what advice do you give people so they are safe when on a trip?
A
While driving in India can be very rewarding for an experienced motorist, it can be absolutely daunting for a first timer. India is one of the few countries where holy cows, kamikaze dogs, pedestrians and every other domestic species assume the right to share our blacktops with erratic motorists that are oblivious to the impending hazards.
Exercising caution is the key to survival on our highways – more so on rural roads. If riding in a group, make sure all the riders in your group are aware of group riding etiquettes, signs and formations. Never push yourself beyond your comfort level. Hire a tour guide or tag along with a group of riders that has some experience riding in India. Most of all, wear protective riding gear like Helmets, armored jackets, gloves and boots while on the tour – even while riding slow.
As for those who have no experience riding a motorcycle: Please take up a crash course (pun unintended) in your native country – better still, ride pillion or in a car.
Q
What do motorcycle tours cost and what do they include? How would a tourist evaluate different motorcycle tour operators to find the best fit for him or herself?
A
As a ballpark, all inclusive guided motorcycle tours that stretch for a week can cost upwards USD 800. The cost is proportional to the choice of bike, class of accommodation, food and other optional facilities like onboard mechanic, cook and backup vehicle.
These days, tourists are quite well informed - thanks to Lonely Planet and Web 2.0. In my opinion, following are a few pointers that tourists should have in mind while evaluating motorcycle tour operators:
1. Places to visit and route. 2. Duration of the tour. 3. What is included/not included in the tour? 4. Total Cost of the tour versus perceived value. 5. Experience and reputation of the tour operator.
Q
How does seeing India on a motorcycle differ from "regular" sightseeing via planes, trains, automobiles, buses and rickshaws?
A
So much has been said by Steppenwolf, Robert Pirsig, Jim Rogers and other self-confessed philosophers-in-leather about this mode of travel, that whatever I say would end up a terrible cliché.
To me, motorcycling - in India or anywhere in the world for that matter - is a journey to my inner horizon where every new sensory experience fuels my fervent quest for knowledge and qualifies the sense of being one with the world. I believe none other than biking will ever be as spiritually rewarding.
Published: January 2008
Karthik J is the founder and tour organizer of Motorcycle Getaways – an adventure touring company that operates guided motorcycle tours in the Himalayas, Rajasthan and South India. Also a photography enthusiast, Karthik records his getaways on blog titled Roadtrippin’. Karthik is also an experienced creative professional and heads the creative team at a rich media advertising firm.
