Delhi - Leh - Delhi, Lay Man to Leh Man on Bikes (29th may - 14th June)

SamtheLeo · 16th June 2010, 21:13

A few more pics of Zojila.

akshay4587 · 16th June 2010, 21:14

Interesting.
You were indeed lucky,that you found a Mech,who was ready to work on a 535.
Where did he get the piston from?
what size was it?

535 always had reliability issues,and Cylinder kits are rare and cost a bomb.
I am hooked,waiting for updates.
I guess you guys came back from Srinagar,as manali-leh is still closed.

SamtheLeo · 16th June 2010, 21:28

Dear Akshay,

Thats correct we dont get 535 parts easily. We did not changed the piston, we only changed the cyclinder sleeve & rings.
Yes you are right we planned come from Manali, but came via Srinagar how, thaat is also a story which i will certainly tell ahead.

SamtheLeo · 16th June 2010, 21:41

If you think Day 5 adventures are over then you are in for a big shock because they are just about to begin.

After crossing Zojila, we were crossed Matiyan ( a small village) then came a brdge on which one side lay huge boulders to block the way as the road was repaired. After crossing the bridge there was a herd of sheep which was crossing the road & between those sheeps, I enjoying the beauty of nature could not notice a bolder lying on the road. Suddenly a loud noise

THUD

and as i look below i see 535 clutch cover broken in to pieces like egg shell

Oil was spilling & bike was start & coould see clutch winding & coil revolving

.

It was 3:30 pm,Turned off the bike & started to think what to do now!!!!

Stopped an Army truck for help who told us to go & check at Drass if something can be arranged. We decided , I would stay & rest two will go to Drass to find details.

Now What??? Thats the question in my mind. What if we dont get it in Drass. Only Time will tell!!!!

simply_sunny001 · 16th June 2010, 22:04

nice pics Sam,

and this suspense is killing me, First the world cup and then this thread

come on post something, buddy

cheers

sanjaykaul · 17th June 2010, 16:43

Wow, this is better than world cup. Keep writing.

SamtheLeo · 17th June 2010, 20:31

Well after sitting in the wilderness & spending two hours made me realise that this place is as treachrous as beautiful. The clock was striking 5:30 pm. No news from my two fellow travellers, till then i was joined by Sidhant (our fellow traveller, pics below) who started from Srinagar. Suddenly we realised we should do something about it, stopped a half loaded truck who gave us a option of lifting & loading the bike in to the truck

.

Suddenly my eye were lit bright , a tractor came with a empty trolly. Sidhant befriended an army guy who thankfully gave us telephone wire to make a rope (as rope was on another bike). We did 4 folds & starting towing the bike.

4 kms down the raod we met the remaining two , they hired a Tata Mobile to fetc the bike to Drass. This means Bad News!!!!

I was told, there is no mechanic / Spare in Drass, they called a mechanic in Kargil which is 60 kms from Drass & even that does not have the spare!!!!

We decided to tow the bike to Drass & then discuss as the sky was becoming clouded & it was starting to drizzle, We reached Drass at 6:30 pm & it started to rain. The sky got gloomy & so were our moods, what to do now!!!

Did the JKTDC guest house at Drass, highly recommended. Had some sleep & discussed various options with out coming to a conlusion.

sudev · 17th June 2010, 21:01

Wow what grit and determination.

When I crossed Panipat toll on 29th I did see your thee bikes parked next to toll offices and was feeling envious and telling my friend "I need to do this journey one day"

SamtheLeo · 17th June 2010, 22:04

After the nights rainfall, the sky was clear & sun shining bright. We also woke up with so much positivity in our thoughts.

Next Step :

Called our friend in Leh name Ghulam, found that clutch cover cannot be found in Kargil & Drass.
He can ship it to us but will take 2 days to reach.
However there is something which really made us smile. His friend was in local police station. We contacted him & he was like a God send messenger. He told, " U Go ahead & leave for Leh, i will load this bike in a truck & transport it to Leh"

WOW

what else we could have asked. We started unpacking / packing on new bikes & left for Leh around 1 pm.

The new plan one will ride pillion with Sidhant & luggage will be distributed on the other two bikes.

Now thats where we felt We will Do it!!!!

P S : Saw Tiger Hill en Route

SamtheLeo · 17th June 2010, 22:51

After 5 days the journey started to happen at the pace we wanted it to happen originally

Drass to Kargil was issue less but full of scenic beauties & spots.

Some were

Tololing Range
Drass War Memorial
Harkabahadur Memorial
Wall which safguards NH 1 from eyes of Pakistan

A couple of short breaks, tank up in Kargil & then food 10 kms after Kargil made clock struck 4 pm

SamtheLeo · 17th June 2010, 22:57

Drass to Kargil pictorial journey

SamtheLeo · 17th June 2010, 23:03

We were over charged to reach Leh but kms & time was not our side,
First came Namikala Pass
The tarmac on the climb was good for some time & then it was non existent

black12rr · 17th June 2010, 23:12

That's horrible ,a seize on first day ,first show ! .

Some pics of the cracked clutch case ? . Next days log please , soon !

harishnayak · 18th June 2010, 05:19

That's one roller coaster ride that you guys had. I can never imagine my ride breaking down mid journey. Looking forward for more pics..

schitre05 · 18th June 2010, 13:43

Waiting eagerly for updates!!
one question what was your new found friend siddhant riding???

16th June 2010, 21:13	#31
SamtheLeo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 451 Thanked: 26 Times	Day 5 A few more pics of Zojila. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

16th June 2010, 21:14	#32
akshay4587 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chandigarh/Mohali/Ambala Cantt Posts: 4,151 Thanked: 4,525 Times View My Garage	Interesting. You were indeed lucky,that you found a Mech,who was ready to work on a 535. Where did he get the piston from? what size was it? 535 always had reliability issues,and Cylinder kits are rare and cost a bomb. I am hooked,waiting for updates. I guess you guys came back from Srinagar,as manali-leh is still closed.
	() Thanks

16th June 2010, 21:28	#33
SamtheLeo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 451 Thanked: 26 Times	Dear Akshay, Thats correct we dont get 535 parts easily. We did not changed the piston, we only changed the cyclinder sleeve & rings. Yes you are right we planned come from Manali, but came via Srinagar how, thaat is also a story which i will certainly tell ahead.
	() Thanks

16th June 2010, 21:41	#34
SamtheLeo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 451 Thanked: 26 Times	Day 5 If you think Day 5 adventures are over then you are in for a big shock because they are just about to begin. After crossing Zojila, we were crossed Matiyan ( a small village) then came a brdge on which one side lay huge boulders to block the way as the road was repaired. After crossing the bridge there was a herd of sheep which was crossing the road & between those sheeps, I enjoying the beauty of nature could not notice a bolder lying on the road. Suddenly a loud noise THUD and as i look below i see 535 clutch cover broken in to pieces like egg shell Oil was spilling & bike was start & coould see clutch winding & coil revolving . It was 3:30 pm,Turned off the bike & started to think what to do now!!!! Stopped an Army truck for help who told us to go & check at Drass if something can be arranged. We decided , I would stay & rest two will go to Drass to find details. Now What??? Thats the question in my mind. What if we dont get it in Drass. Only Time will tell!!!! Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

16th June 2010, 22:04	#35
simply_sunny001 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London & Rohtak Posts: 1,340 Thanked: 18 Times View My Garage	nice pics Sam, and this suspense is killing me, First the world cup and then this thread come on post something, buddy cheers
	() Thanks

17th June 2010, 16:43	#36
sanjaykaul BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Noida Posts: 149 Thanked: 24 Times	Wow, this is better than world cup. Keep writing.
	() Thanks

17th June 2010, 20:31	#37
SamtheLeo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 451 Thanked: 26 Times	Day 5 .... Well after sitting in the wilderness & spending two hours made me realise that this place is as treachrous as beautiful. The clock was striking 5:30 pm. No news from my two fellow travellers, till then i was joined by Sidhant (our fellow traveller, pics below) who started from Srinagar. Suddenly we realised we should do something about it, stopped a half loaded truck who gave us a option of lifting & loading the bike in to the truck. Suddenly my eye were lit bright , a tractor came with a empty trolly. Sidhant befriended an army guy who thankfully gave us telephone wire to make a rope (as rope was on another bike). We did 4 folds & starting towing the bike. 4 kms down the raod we met the remaining two , they hired a Tata Mobile to fetc the bike to Drass. This means Bad News!!!! I was told, there is no mechanic / Spare in Drass, they called a mechanic in Kargil which is 60 kms from Drass & even that does not have the spare!!!! We decided to tow the bike to Drass & then discuss as the sky was becoming clouded & it was starting to drizzle, We reached Drass at 6:30 pm & it started to rain. The sky got gloomy & so were our moods, what to do now!!! Did the JKTDC guest house at Drass, highly recommended. Had some sleep & discussed various options with out coming to a conlusion. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

17th June 2010, 21:01	#38
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	Wow what grit and determination. When I crossed Panipat toll on 29th I did see your thee bikes parked next to toll offices and was feeling envious and telling my friend "I need to do this journey one day"
	() Thanks

17th June 2010, 22:04	#39
SamtheLeo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 451 Thanked: 26 Times	Day 6 After the nights rainfall, the sky was clear & sun shining bright. We also woke up with so much positivity in our thoughts. Next Step : Called our friend in Leh name Ghulam, found that clutch cover cannot be found in Kargil & Drass. He can ship it to us but will take 2 days to reach. However there is something which really made us smile. His friend was in local police station. We contacted him & he was like a God send messenger. He told, " U Go ahead & leave for Leh, i will load this bike in a truck & transport it to Leh" WOW what else we could have asked. We started unpacking / packing on new bikes & left for Leh around 1 pm. The new plan one will ride pillion with Sidhant & luggage will be distributed on the other two bikes. Now thats where we felt We will Do it!!!! P S : Saw Tiger Hill en Route Attached Thumbnails Last edited by SamtheLeo : 17th June 2010 at 22:07.
	() Thanks

17th June 2010, 22:51	#40
SamtheLeo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 451 Thanked: 26 Times	Day 6 After 5 days the journey started to happen at the pace we wanted it to happen originally Drass to Kargil was issue less but full of scenic beauties & spots. Some were Tololing Range Drass War Memorial Harkabahadur Memorial Wall which safguards NH 1 from eyes of Pakistan A couple of short breaks, tank up in Kargil & then food 10 kms after Kargil made clock struck 4 pm Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

17th June 2010, 22:57	#41
SamtheLeo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 451 Thanked: 26 Times	Day 6 Drass to Kargil pictorial journey Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

17th June 2010, 23:03	#42
SamtheLeo BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 451 Thanked: 26 Times	Day 6 We were over charged to reach Leh but kms & time was not our side, First came Namikala Pass The tarmac on the climb was good for some time & then it was non existent Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

17th June 2010, 23:12	#43
black12rr Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ridin earth now Posts: 1,278 Thanked: 339 Times	That's horrible ,a seize on first day ,first show ! . Some pics of the cracked clutch case ? . Next days log please , soon !
	() Thanks

18th June 2010, 05:19	#44
harishnayak Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: DELHI Posts: 1,396 Thanked: 125 Times	That's one roller coaster ride that you guys had. I can never imagine my ride breaking down mid journey. Looking forward for more pics..
	() Thanks

18th June 2010, 13:43	#45
schitre05 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 457 Thanked: 176 Times View My Garage	Waiting eagerly for updates!! one question what was your new found friend siddhant riding???
	() Thanks