Delhi - Kolkata : A ride on RD350

milindajp · 12th June 2009, 01:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by harishnayak

I think you should take your mechanic along and do a Delhi-Jaipur-Delhi stretch to check for reliability. It should not take you more than 10-11 hours.

As they say prevention is better than cure so better be prepared for adversities.

Thanks buddy for all your advice. As you all know, the bike is under full restoration now under RD guru Sumeet Mehndiratta and the process will be completed by next month at the most. After that, my friend will be driving it till Nov end during weekends and being a bike specialist, I hope if any snag developes, it will come out mean time. So by Nov end - hope my RD will be ready & tested for the run.

milindajp · 13th June 2009, 13:30

Please suggest some food joints along NH2. And also some good hotel for night stay at Kanpur and Varanasi. I don't want to go deep inside the city - anything near NH2 or on NH2 is fine.

milindajp · 13th June 2009, 13:39

I need some more suggestions -

Helmet : I will be bringing it from dubai - need some suggestion regarding which brand is good for cruise
Tank Bag: Are they of any use and do they scratch the polish
Saddle bag : which is the best brand

And, where I can get a detail map of NH2 - please don't suggest google map.

regards

milindajp · 16th June 2009, 12:58

Guys, yesterday I checked a Bike shop here in Dubai and for a Nolan helmet they are asking AED 2000 which is almost Rs.26000/-. Ari and AGV is also priced almost nearly.

So, which of the three is a better one. Any suggestion.

Sudipto-S-Team · 16th June 2009, 16:19

Last Saturday I bought an Aaron here for Rs 400 !!!

milindajp · 22nd July 2009, 12:07

Some more progress !!!

The beast is almost ready. Hope to get it delivered by first week of August.
Already collected the following items (I will post the images in this weekend) ....

Sleeping Bag - Coleman

Tent for 2 person - Safari

Half helmet - Harley Davidson

Nolan Helmet - N103 N-Com

Harley Davidson half gloves

Set of 2 (one Big and another small) - all leather Touring Bag from Harley Davidson

Black & Decker Tool Kit

regards

SS-Traveller · 22nd July 2009, 22:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by milindajp

Some more progress !!!

Sleeping Bag - Coleman

Tent for 2 person - Safari

Hi Milinda, good to know you're prepping so seriously for your run. But what on earth would you want to carry those two items for, on a Delhi-Kolkata run? and that too, on a bike?

milindajp · 22nd July 2009, 22:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

[/list][/indent]Hi Milinda, good to know you're prepping so seriously for your run. But what on earth would you want to carry those two items for, on a Delhi-Kolkata run? and that too, on a bike?

Dada, got them very cheap while checking for the other gears. Only AED 35/- for the sleeping bag & AED 29/- for the tent. They came with other camping gears as a promotional offer....

Coudn't resist the temptation.

Nitin · 22nd July 2009, 22:55

Lucky you! Congrats!
Waiting to see more pics of the bike, and of course, your travelogue once you are through with it.
Ride safe!

SS-Traveller · 23rd July 2009, 09:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by milindajp

Dada, got them very cheap while checking for the other gears. Only AED 35/- for the sleeping bag & AED 29/- for the tent. They came with other camping gears as a promotional offer....

Coudn't resist the temptation.

...and there was no offer of a free motorcycle in the package deal? Or, maybe, one for 100 AED?

musicmanaman · 23rd July 2009, 10:08

I would suggest converting the bike from points to CDI, if your machanic is good he should be able to do the same. It's been really long since I owned the TD 350 but from what I know some people who had converted from points to CDI were very happy as they don't have to adjust the points again and again.

I also don't want to sound pessimistic, but I suggest you load the bike into a train and bring the same to Kolkata, I would not suggest driving Delhi-Kolkata on an RD 350.

milindajp · 23rd July 2009, 10:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicmanaman

I would suggest converting the bike from points to CDI, if your machanic is good he should be able to do the same. It's been really long since I owned the TD 350 but from what I know some people who had converted from points to CDI were very happy as they don't have to adjust the points again and again.

I also don't want to sound pessimistic, but I suggest you load the bike into a train and bring the same to Kolkata, I would not suggest driving Delhi-Kolkata on an RD 350.

Thanks for your suggestions. I have already going for the CDI. And I know, it is a very very mad decision to ride a RD-350 from Delhi to Kolkata and all of my friends are against it. But I want to give it a try. Don't know why, but with all your good wishes and prayer, I hope to complete the journey successfully....

milindajp · 23rd July 2009, 10:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

...and there was no offer of a free motorcycle in the package deal? Or, maybe, one for 100 AED?

Dada, nice one.

Lots of replica bikes were for sale also.... and I got one. A Harley Davidson FatBoy model...

. Battery operated but size in life 3.5 ft.

Sudipto-S-Team · 23rd July 2009, 16:24

Harley makes more money from selling merchandise (mostly made in China) than from selling the all American dream bikes. I had once bought a pair of their steel toe boots as a memento of my trip to America (Harley being a symbol of America blah blah). To my utter dismay I found later that they were made in China !!!

By the way, keep a pair of full gloves if you plan the trip in winter. It will be freezing cold.

milindajp · 23rd July 2009, 17:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sudipto-S-Team

Harley makes more money from selling merchandise (mostly made in China) than from selling the all American dream bikes. I had once bought a pair of their steel toe boots as a memento of my trip to America (Harley being a symbol of America blah blah). To my utter dismay I found later that they were made in China !!!

By the way, keep a pair of full gloves if you plan the trip in winter. It will be freezing cold.

Sudipto da, you are right. But this is not only for Harley, most of the European and American companies are manufacturing their staffs in China & Tiwan (even iPhone is also Tiwan Made), putting their logo and selling it. However, though it is a replica, but the finishing is excellent and I got it very cheap too....

Do you have any idea about tank bags? Are they good or are they going to remove the polish? Please shed some light dada.

13th June 2009, 13:30	#17
milindajp BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Highway Posts: 213 Thanked: 206 Times	Please suggest some food joints along NH2. And also some good hotel for night stay at Kanpur and Varanasi. I don't want to go deep inside the city - anything near NH2 or on NH2 is fine. Last edited by milindajp : 13th June 2009 at 13:44. Reason: Same post coming twice
	() Thanks

13th June 2009, 13:39	#18
milindajp BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Highway Posts: 213 Thanked: 206 Times	I need some more suggestions - Helmet : I will be bringing it from dubai - need some suggestion regarding which brand is good for cruise Tank Bag: Are they of any use and do they scratch the polish Saddle bag : which is the best brand And, where I can get a detail map of NH2 - please don't suggest google map. regards Last edited by milindajp : 13th June 2009 at 13:44. Reason: spelling mistake
	() Thanks

16th June 2009, 12:58	#19
milindajp BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Highway Posts: 213 Thanked: 206 Times	Guys, yesterday I checked a Bike shop here in Dubai and for a Nolan helmet they are asking AED 2000 which is almost Rs.26000/-. Ari and AGV is also priced almost nearly. So, which of the three is a better one. Any suggestion.
	() Thanks

16th June 2009, 16:19	#20
Sudipto-S-Team Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kolkata Posts: 1,320 Thanked: 290 Times View My Garage	Last Saturday I bought an Aaron here for Rs 400 !!!
	() Thanks

22nd July 2009, 12:07	#21
milindajp BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Highway Posts: 213 Thanked: 206 Times	*Some more progress !!!* The beast is almost ready. Hope to get it delivered by first week of August. Already collected the following items (I will post the images in this weekend) .... Sleeping Bag - Coleman Tent for 2 person - Safari Half helmet - Harley Davidson Nolan Helmet - N103 N-Com Harley Davidson half gloves Set of 2 (one Big and another small) - all leather Touring Bag from Harley Davidson Black & Decker Tool Kit regards Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

22nd July 2009, 22:55	#24
Nitin Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 3,294 Thanked: 20 Times View My Garage	Lucky you! Congrats! Waiting to see more pics of the bike, and of course, your travelogue once you are through with it. Ride safe!
	() Thanks

23rd July 2009, 10:08	#26
musicmanaman BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: kolkata Posts: 927 Thanked: 25 Times	I would suggest converting the bike from points to CDI, if your machanic is good he should be able to do the same. It's been really long since I owned the TD 350 but from what I know some people who had converted from points to CDI were very happy as they don't have to adjust the points again and again. I also don't want to sound pessimistic, but I suggest you load the bike into a train and bring the same to Kolkata, I would not suggest driving Delhi-Kolkata on an RD 350.
	() Thanks

23rd July 2009, 16:24	#29
Sudipto-S-Team Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kolkata Posts: 1,320 Thanked: 290 Times View My Garage	Harley makes more money from selling merchandise (mostly made in China) than from selling the all American dream bikes. I had once bought a pair of their steel toe boots as a memento of my trip to America (Harley being a symbol of America blah blah). To my utter dismay I found later that they were made in China !!! By the way, keep a pair of full gloves if you plan the trip in winter. It will be freezing cold.
	() Thanks