Road trip with my wife on KTM 390 Adventure: Pune to Rajasthan & back

We encountered heavy traffic at multiple places but there was this guy in a Toyota Corolla who just refused to let us pass.

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Inception

Circa 2017, Routes mapped, Vacation Planned, Heart-Pounding, Excited to travel but Chickened out of a Solo Trip to Rajasthan from Pune.

That's how this story started, It had been a dream of mine to ride from Pune to Rajasthan for a few years now and yet a bike without ABS and my apprehension about travelling solo meant I had to park the idea for the time being. Life moved on and this idea would eventually raise its head again in 2023 when the missus decided we had to visit Rajasthan again in Dec-23. Little bit of convincing and it was decided this one would be a road trip.

Routes

I had already travelled tiil Vapi and was aware of the route so we decided to take NH48 towards Rajasthan via Gujrat Instead of the Indore route.

Pune to Vadodara - Approx. 530 KMs

Pune > Lonavala > Panvel > Thane Bypass > Vasai Creek > Vapi > Navsari > Bharuch > Vadodara

Vadodara to Udaipur - Approx. 330 KMs

Vadodara > Halol > Godhra > Modassa > Kherwara > Udaipur

Udaipur to Jodhpur - Approx. 265 KMs

Udaipur > Nathdwara > Deogarh > Jadan > Jodhpur

Jodhpur to Vadodara - Approx. 561 KMs

Jodhpor > Pali > Sirohi > Abu Road > Palanpur > Mehsana > Ahmedabad > Vadoara

Vadodara to Pune - Approx. 530KMs

Vadodara > Bharuch > Navsari > Vapi > Vasai Creek > Thane Bypass > Panvel > Lonavala > Pune

Preparation

Old Riding Gears made way for new upgrades and the bike got a few accessories like GPS Mount, Mobile Mount, Saddle Stay etc. Full list of all items is mentioned below along with a summary of my experience with the item.

• JB Racing Saddle stay (Purchased from bandidos for 2300 INR) (Awesome buy fits well and keeps saddle steady. Not one rattle in 2.5K KMS tour and not to forget cheap.)
• Bikers Billet GPS Mount - 800 INR (Good thing about this is I did not have to remove the cover for GPS mount on the bike, it fits using the side screws and looks good.)
• BOBO Mobile Holder - 2K INR (Well cushioned and waterproof, touch capable)
• Zana Backrest - 1300 INR (Horrible, I will cover that later in the blog)
• Liqui Moly Street Race 15W50 (Used it based on past experience but did not hold well during the ride.)
• KTM OEM Sintered Front Brake pads - 2.6K INR (Marvellous, improved braking performance 200 times over, I could pretty much utilize the absolute max of the brakes.)
• Raida Airwave Gloves 2 Pairs - 3.3K INR Each (Comfortable after breaking-in, has Knox armour on palms so that's a plus.)
• LS2 Storm II Helmet 1 Full Face (Size M) + 1 Convertible(Size L) - 25K INR Approx. (Perfect fit, Hate that it comes without D-Rings, Integrated Goggles. Overall Good)
• Raida Knee Guard - 3K INR (Good Mobility but you have to fix it pretty snugly for them not to slip)
• Raida Riding Pants - 7K INR (Great, CE2 Protection, Rubber coating on the bum end so you don't slip.)
• Raida Rover Riding Boots - 6K iNR (Found them good, decent mobility after breaking-in)
• Saddle Bag Purchased from Amazon - 2.5K INR (The brand is not on Amazon anymore and I have forgotten the name. Decent pair have held on nice for 2 years now without any issues.)
• Trek n Ride Empoacher - 1.5K for a Pair (Amazing, I mounted them on engine guard and they performed well. Increased my carrying capacity by 16-20 litres.)

We already had CE2 riding jackets from Solace(F) and Scala(M) purchased for 11K and 13K INR Approx. and they are great jackets.

Hotels we stayed at are mentioned below, I will also add our review later in the post.

• Sayaji, Vadodara
• The Chronicles Hotel, Udaipur
• Ratan Vilas, Jodhpur
• Hyatt Place, Vadodara

The First Leg (Pune - Vadodara/22-12-23)

We commenced our journey around 8 AM, and by 9:15 AM, we were passing through Lonavala. We took a mandatory tea break and encountered heavy traffic on Lonavala's narrow roads. I made a navigating mistake near the section where bikes have to go on the expressway and kind of circled back to Khandala. Corrected the course and pushed on towards Panvel on this beauty.

We passed through Panvel and opted for the Thane Bypass en route to Vasai Creek. The roads were in good condition this time, not too heavy traffic, we managed to make decent progress. Midway, the rising temperatures prompted us to take a break near Vasai Creek especially since we were wearing riding thermals. Decided to refuel the bike and ourselves at the Shell Petrol pump on the Eastern Express highway. Combination of Cheese Maggi and Amul Buttermilk recharged us both and the clean & hygienic washrooms were a plus. We stopped there for about an hour and then off we went.

Crossing Vasai Creek, I was expecting the road to get better compared to what we had encountered so far, however, I would soon be proven wrong. The roads beyond Vasai Creek had numerous patchwork done which resulted in the roads being anything but smooth, Also the amount of traffic confused me whether this was a highway or a normal road. One observation worth noting which surprised me as well was Heavy Vehicles running on the Middle lane and keeping the fast lane free of clutter, Some even gave way to us. Was surprised by the lane discipline for this leg of the journey.

By around 4 PM in the evening, we were nearing Surat, completely unaware of the challenges awaiting us. Google Maps shifted to orange and then to red. Despite maintaining a speed of 95+ KMPH after Vasai Creek to compensate for any time lost, the ETA remained stone-cold at 3.5 hours after Surat. The stretch from Surat to Vadodara felt like riding in a video game, Constant manoeuvring between all three available lanes (with due caution and following traffic rules always). Any slowdown would result in tailing vehicle flashing the pass lights. It was especially bad after daylight faded, KTM 390 ADV headlamps (white LED) were useless on the highway at night making it difficult to ride in the dark. After this debacle, we reached Hotel Sayaji by 8:45 PM. While I was in decent shape my S/O was completely drained, the day ended with us enjoying a great dinner buffet and then falling asleep.

The next day we visited Laxmi Vilas palace and Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, the Palace was marvellous and we were in awe of the luxury kings would have lived in. Pictures were not allowed inside both the palace and museum so could only capture the beautiful exterior.

There was a wedding being organized in the palace during our visit, the costs I guess would be mind-numbing.

After visiting both the palace and museum we returned to Sayaji and rested for the remaining day. Our Stay in Sayaji was pretty good, the rooms were clean and the staff (Except reception) was very helpful and prompt.

The Second Leg (Vadodara - Udaipur / 24-12-23)

Started out early morning 7:00 AM from Vadodara towards Udaipur, The roads on the Halol Godhra route were pretty nice even if there were only 2 lanes. Traffic was minimal and the highlight was the Narmada canal along the way. We travelled parallel to Narmada canal for about 30-40 KMs and it was one of the most pleasant parts of the journey.

Once in Rajasthan, we primarily traveled on NH48 (Golden Quadrilateral) and were impressed by the excellent road quality that inspired enough confidence to maintain triple digits Unfortunately, my action camera's battery died, putting a stop to further recordings. In Udaipur, the city traffic was in sharp contrast with the highways, dissuading me from riding for the duration of my stay.

Our stay at The Chronicles Hotel was pleasant, the food and staff were great and the Rooftop Dinner on Christmas Eve in chilly weather set to mood for the evening. Highlights of our visit included Udaipur Palace, Bagore Ki Haveli, Hathi Pol Market, Gangor Ghat, Saheliyon ki Bari, and Sajjangarh Palace, with Bagore ki Haveli and Sajjangarh Palace, leaving lasting impressions. The climb to Sajjangarh Palace was both breathtaking and a bit unnerving.

Recommended dining spots include Raaj Baag Restaurant near Fatehsingh Lake and Cafe Edelweiss beside Bagore ki Haveli, both offering excellent food and scenic views.

Below are some pictures from our visits.

City Palace

View from Gangor Ghar

Lake view from Raaj Baag Restaurant

Atop Karni Mata mandir PS. Use the cable car and you won't be disappointed

The Valiant Maharana Pratap

The Third Leg (Udaipur - Jodhpur / 28-12-23):

We hit the road from our hotel at around 8 AM, making sure my trusty KTM, Pochita, was topped up with fuel. Google Maps decided to take us on a detour through village roads and through the heart of Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Manoeuvring through quaint villages and sharing the road with some curious wildlife, we eventually found ourselves in Pali, where a straightforward stretch of road led us to Jodhpur. Upon our arrival at Ratan Vilas, we were pleasantly surprised by the warm hospitality.

The hotel manager gave us a rundown of the place, including its rich history and the ongoing Polo tournament in Jodhpur. We decided to check out the tournament, and boy, were we in for a thrilling experience. After a day well spent, we returned to the hotel to unwind with some local music, a chilly evening breeze, and a delightful surprise anniversary cake. The following morning, we explored the Mehrangarh fort and treated ourselves to some delicious local cuisine (Gatte ki Sabzi and Kair Sangri) at the fort's restaurant.

The Return Leg 1 (Jodhpur - Vadodara / 30-12-23):

We set out at 8 AM on the Pali route, enjoying smooth roads and minimal traffic until the Rajasthan-Gujarat border. After lunch a few kilometers into Gujarat, our progress slowed considerably due to the narrow highways and traffic. Notable events included Zana Backrest breaking off near Mehsana and frustration due to the Hyatt Place staff's handling of guests on motorcycles. They wanted me to walk up 3 flights of stairs with 30 KGs plus of gear and luggage after riding for approx 600 KMs. After complaints, our luggage was picked up and delivered to our room after having been rummaged through in the name of a security check. We did not have enough energy in us to give them a piece of our minds and dozed off after some light dinner.

The Return Leg 2(Vadodara - Pune / 01-01-24):

After starting the last leg, we were curious why so many trucks were lying stationary and lining up the highway. Soon we found out it was due to truckers' protest. A good 20-odd KMs were traversed off the tarmac and on sidewalks sometimes. Met a guy in a Toyota Corolla who refused to let us pass (he just had to move enough to open the sidewalk side of the road and he had enough space on the right side). Deboarded my Wife and circumnavigated his particular car and continued towards our destination. Heavy traffic near Vasai Creek delayed us quite a bit and we crossed Mumbai at approx 6 PM and reached home about 8:30 PM.

Looking back we are really glad that this trip was incident and heart-in-mouth moment-free. I could not have completed this trip without 3 essentials (1. My S/O, 2. My KTM 390 ADV, 3. My Colleague's catchy advice "Jinko Jaldi thi wo chale gaye").

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