Bike Road Trip Checklist for India in 2024

We all want to have safe biking, but there is something that is overlooked by the riders most of the time. This article is technical, and this is one of the aspects we shall want to bring out.

1. Reliability

Perhaps the most critical aspect of the Bike and often overlooked by riders. Reliability can be said as the ability of your Bike to resist failure. Imagine if you take your Bike for a Laddakh tour and any component of it fails on the way, leaving you stranded on a secluded highway. You can’t resist cursing your choice.

It is easy to tackle when you are in the city but take it of the highest importance when choosing the Bike for long journeys. It is not advisable often to select a newly launched Bike for longer tours as the Reliability is not known over a period of time. 

2. Engine Power

Why care for engine power? Most of us often look at CC or the Cubic Capacity of the engine to arrive at the conclusion of how much power the Bike will deliver, which is only half true. BHP or Brake Horse Power is the resultant power delivered by the engine, which is only the energy that will take us ahead! Let us see in more detail-

 BHP =    IHP-FHP

Where BHP means Brake Horse Power, IHP is Indicated Horse Power (Total power produced by the engine), and FHP      (Friction owing to rubbing of internal parts inside the engine) is Frictional Horse Power.

Now you understand the power. How to select how much power I need for my tour? Answer: It depends. You need to ask yourself: Am I going to ride uphill? Are there off-road conditions between the route? Bikes that need to be driven in these conditions require more power than Bikes subjected to plain and rosy roads.

3. Stability

Again neglected by many of the riders often. Stability is the essential feature of the Bike that makes you able to ride your Bike. The more stable the bike, the less fatigue you feel while driving. Engineers define it from the CG (Centre of Gravity) point of view. As a thumb rule, heavy and bigger-sized motorcycles are considered more stable than their lighter counterparts. 

4. Fuel Capacity

Check how much your Bike can carry the fuel in its tank. You will be surprised that most of the Road Side Assistance demand comes due to empty fuel on the way. Calculate the total miles you will cover in one go with a full tank. Keep the fuel station data with you before starting the trip.

Some tracks like Laddakh need riders to carry extra fuel as there is no filling station on the way after Manali. You must anticipate your fuel requirements. Ask your rental agency to provide a custom larger tank if possible. There are extra charges, of course! 

5. Mileage

It is all about the mileage we think about before buying any vehicle in India. Right? But here, we are not concerned about that. You need to check what mileage your Bike delivers to anticipate your fuel requirements accurately. Don’t rent a Bike that gives too little mileage than it should, as it may be the warning of a failure on the way. None of you wants to dial RSA during your fantastic trip. 

Check bike rentals in Varanasi or any city you like for the best mileage delivering bikes.

6. Comfort

Do you feel tired after riding a few miles? If the answer is yes, please change your Bike. It would be best to stay away from the Bike, which is sick of too many vibrations, noise, abnormal smoke from the exhaust pipe, or insufficient stability. All these factors may pose your spine with considerable discomfort, especially during longer rides. 

7. Luggage Carrying Capacity

The Bike should have sufficient provisions to carry the luggage per your requirements. You can choose to have some extra accessories for your luggage requirements. Ask your rental agency if they provide custom luggage provisions for the Bike you selected. If you need to tie your luggage, tie it in a cross pattern to keep it stable while you enjoy riding. 

8. Tyres

Another critical aspect. Tyres give the Bike a kind of grip when you apply the brake or take turns. You must check the tyres thoroughly against some common defects. It should not be completely worn out. (If you can’t see the Tread, it is to be changed) Apart from wear, tyres must be checked against cuts, bulging, and cracks. If everything looks good, go ahead.

9. Off-Road Capability

Check if you are going to have bumpy rides. Normally Bikes with long shock absorbers and robust tyres are considered best to drive over bumpy terrains. Taking a pure Off-Road Bike is unnecessary, but look out for these features while you select the bike for your tour.

10. Legal Requirements

Check for your Driving Licence. Are letters visible? Are you authorized to drive the kind of bike you will drive? Check for the expiry of the Registration Certificate, Insurance, and Pollution Test documents. And most importantly, the engine and chassis number mentioned on the documents must match what is given in the documents.