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125cc Motorbike in India?? Ladakh trip 125cc Motorbike in India?? Ladakh trip
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West and South Asia From Turkey to Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Ladakh and Bangladesh
Photo by Ellen Delis, Lagunas Ojos del Campo, Antofalla, Catamarca

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Ellen Delis,
Lagunas Ojos del Campo,
Antofalla, Catamarca



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  #1  
Old 16 May 2013
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125cc Motorbike in India?? Ladakh trip
hi guys,

desperate for some help and advice here!

basically i'v organised my whole trip to india going to delhi and renting bikes to do the northern trip around the himilayas in June.

However at the moment i am renting a 350cc Royal Enfield which i am struggling to find insurance on seeing as i do not have a UK license.

My question is, can/should i try find a 125cc (would they be powerful enough for the off-roading etc...) or does anyone know of an insurance company that doesn't require a license to cover me.

for an idea of the roads i'm doing the same trip as my brother did and here is his video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV9aEdcRmP0

Thanks!

fred
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  #2  
Old 16 May 2013
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If you have a provisional license you'll be fine in India, they don't know the difference. I've done this run myself and I really think you'll struggle to get over the high passes on anything much smaller than a bullet, don't forget, it's not just you, but all your luggage as well. Good luck.
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  #3  
Old 16 May 2013
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G'day. I did the trip from Delhi up to Leh, Khardung etc on a 500 Enfield. It was quite adequate. We did see a lot of locals on small bikes all the way, with pillion plus well loaded up. They seemed to cope ok, but their riding did'nt appear to be that pleasurable. I'd tend to think the 350 would be the minimum engine cap if you want to enjoy the ride as well as the scenery. Doing Khardung, the 500's were gasping a bit one up, no luggage. good luck. best. Geoff.
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Old 17 May 2013
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180 pulsar is a good option
efield 350 sucks no power in the mountin iff 2 people then it sucks big time some mountins not even posibol whid 2 people one it renting one to xspensive yuo loking att around 500 rupies a day minimum tray to buy a second hand pulsar 180 ful power in the mountin and the coast off a second hand pulsar 180 is around 20.000 rupies then spend around 10.000 thusand to modify it then yuo have a bike that whil overtake any enfield in the mountins new tiers and lugage raks handelbars and mudgard in the front lugageraks is 750 rs sadeal about 1000 mudgard 250 tiers arond 4000 front and back some spear parts then ready to rock the mountins remembear to put a biger jet in the carburatear and a smalear front sproket sea yuo in the mountins i am one a 650 honda grean and blak att the moment manali leh is closed but srinigar kargil leh is open
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Old 22 May 2013
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thnks guys think i'm going to go with the 350cc one, pulsar doesnt seem like the right ride for this trip.

my only problem is my travel insurance won't cover me if i crash etc unless i have a full motorbike. been looking for cover but hard to come by. anyone know a good company uk?

thanks
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  #6  
Old 17 Jun 2013
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The Post Office do some good travel insurance, which includes motorcycle cover as standard, but I doubt any insurance will cover you on a motorcycle for which you don't hold a valid UK license!
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My Route 66 trip: http://www.thehandys.co.uk/blog
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  #7  
Old 18 Jun 2013
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most of the people renting enfields don't even check for a licence, and if they do, like the police, they do not know what the different licence categories are..

double check the terms and conditions of travel insurance policies as most only cover riding up to 125cc.

Only problem is if you run over a kid or suchlike and it all went to court.

I know of several people riding up there now with no bike licence.

Don't be put off by the difference between a 350 and 500 Enfield, both will do it, and learn how to twiddle with your jets... and don't overpack....less is more, but it is cold up there..

take a tankbag to try and to get some of you heavy things in there.. those huge racks the tourers have are bad for the bike handling..
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  #8  
Old 20 Sep 2013
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Responsible travelling
Only ride a bike that you have a valid licence and insurance for! I guess I'm a bit late on this thread but come on guys, whilst India might be a bit behind the times do the right thing. Insurance and a valid licence is a must. Forget all the drop outs travelling tosh and do the right thing. In whatever country you might be from ask yourself the question how you would feel losing a relative / damage from an unlicensed Indian on a bike in your country?

I've done that route several times on 150cc bikes and if a 125 is all you're allowed to ride it'll be fine just crack on - legally!!!!!!!!

I'm back here for another 6 months so any questions please ask.
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  #9  
Old 20 Sep 2013
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Hi,

Quote:
Originally Posted by fredleeming View Post
My question is, can/should i try find a 125cc (would they be powerful enough for the off-roading etc...)
I used a 125ccm bike to ride around Southamerica and therefore can say yes, the bike is powerfull enough for off roading and you dont look like money to the locals, if you ride the same bike as they do. You also get parts for this kind of bikes much easyer in third world countrys as for big ons: http://motorradtouren-suedamerika.de/

Update: Yes India with 125cc was great: http://schoene-motorradtouren.de/?report=en_mumbai
Last edited by ta-rider; 12 Jan 2018 at 08:10.
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Old 21 Sep 2013
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100cc
when I was in sri lanker I ended up with a 100 cc baja did a 1000 ks in a week 2 up with minimule lugage it managed and there was some steep climbs I have a full bike licence but or travel insurance would only cover to 125 [ pressure from the missus] would bother me but she insisted, I road an old type 350 bullet and I recon the baja wasnt much slower and had much beter brakes, much lighter if you drop it
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