HOW TO PREPARE FOR LONG BIKE RIDE IN INDIA - POINTERS

With my Royal Enfield Classic 500 customized and me enjoying riding to the hilt, I decided to ride along with fellow riders to Rider Mania 2014 and represent our club Cruising Godz, Enfield Riders Club of Nashik.

But, before I could depart on the longest and most adventurous ride of my life, I needed to make sure that I was prepared.

Long distance bike riding is unique in many aspects and needs careful planning.

Top Tip: Some important aspects to consider are:

Safety – You need to be in full safety gear. Don’t, under any circumstances, compromise on your safety gear. Also make sure you have tyre with enough rubber and proper brakes. 

Space – Space is at a premium as you can maximum carry a saddlebag and another smaller bag strapped on the back seat. So plan what is essential and what can be skipped or arranged for during the ride.

Spares – You need all the important spares, which you may need during the ride. Remember, you will find plenty of mechanics in every village in India, but spares are hard to come by and no mechanic can help you without the correct spares.

My riding preparation began almost a month in advance. I had to plan for many things and take into account worst-case scenarios. 

   Top Tip: List of things you need to carry include:

Safety Gear –

• Helmet (With a spare visor)

My Helmet - HJC IS-17

• Safety jacket
• Gloves (2 pairs, in case you misplace or damage one set)

• Kneepads and
• Riding boots
• Personally I also prefer wearing a cotton quality baraclava under my helmet. It keeps the helmet clean and also reduces the wind noise. Woolen quality baraclava for winter riding are also commonly available. Remember to carry 2-3 nos. of these for long rides.

Spares – The list of spares is long. But the most important ones are:

• Tyre tube for both front and rear tyre as per tyre size.
• Fuses of all voltage. Check your fuse box for the different fuses needed.
• Spark plugs (2 nos. minimum)
• Spare bulbs for headlight, brake light and turn indicators
• Bike duplicate key
• Spare bungee cords
• Complete tool kit
• Chain cleaning and lubricant spray
• Cutting tool like blade or knife
• Spare electrical wire
• Flashlight

Food – Make sure to carry some chocolates in case you need a quick sugar intake. Also carry easy to eat things like biscuits, noodle packets, dry fruits etc. in case of non-availability of food, especially in remote areas.

Clothes – Keep the clothes to a minimum, as this is the easiest way to save on space. Be prepared to wash your clothes on non-riding days. Also, carry quick drying / disposable clothes wherever possible. Remember, rolled clothes take much lesser space than folded clothes.

Medicines – Cary all the necessary medicines, for every eventuality you can think of. Keep the common medicines like Band-Aid, sanitizer, stomach and cold medicines in your pouch for easy access. But make sure to keep medicines for stomach pains, muscle relaxers, headache medicines etc. in your luggage.

Sleeping Bag – I carry my sleeping bag for long rides. It helps in sleeping outdoors or even indoors, as many hotels on highways in India really don’t have clean enough beds to sleep in. The sleeping bag acts as a great bed sheet.

Cash – Carry limited amount of cash. ATMs are around everywhere and most fuel stations, hotels and restaurants accept credit cards.

Documents – Make sure all documents required by law such as Registration, Insurance, License, PUC etc. are present in the bike. I also keep a copy of all documents in my pouch for easy reach.

Some miscellaneous pointers to be kept in mind- 

• It is recommended to keep expensive things to a minimum to avoid unnecessary attention and chances of theft. For example, your mobile phone can be used for calling, music and GPS. So there is no need to carry 3 gadgets. Also, wear an inexpensive watch and remove any jewelry such as rings, chains etc.
• Keep some additional space as clothes always expand after using and you may want to get some souvenirs during the ride.
• Always carry drinking water on you, as drinking water on Indian highways can be extremely unhygienic.
• Remember to cover your saddlebags by thick plastic in case you are riding in the rain or even in fog. The last thing you want is for all your contents to get damp.