The benefit of a shaft drive was apparent as the rider of the Kawasaki Versys 1000 had to lube the chain before the return trip.

BHPian cjt2012 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

This trip was on my mind for a couple of years, after having planned the trip last year, we dropped the plan a few days before the trip due to the extreme heat in May.

This year, however, we decided to venture on the trip towards the end of March.

A road trip is always about the adventure and thrill of the journey and not just about the destination. As a group of four (Parvez Patel Age 70 - 2022 BMW R1250GSA, Khodaram Zandbaf Age 62 - 2017 BMW R1200GS, Darayus Dastoor Age 61 - 2022 Kawasaki Versys 1000 and myself Clement Thomas Age 48 - 2017 BMW R1200GS); we started planning for the trip at the beginning of January 2024, a WhatsApp group was made and that was about it.

It was not until 14 days before the trip that we really sat down and did some groundwork on the possible routes and arrangements in Bhutan. One of the group members had his sister undertake the journey by air last year, so we decided to employ the services of the same travel company, to arrange our Hotel bookings, bike clearances and meet us at the Indo-Bhutan border.

Odometer Reading the day before the trip

Loading the Base attachment of the Moskomoto Reckless 80 setup

Initially, inside Bhutan we were contemplating renting Bhutan-registered RE Himalayan, however, thankfully better sense prevailed once we reached Bhutan.

Some arrangements inside Bhutan are mandatory a brief list of requirements as listed below:

• A Bhutanese tourism department-approved guide is mandatory to accompany tourists along with a Taxi and driver for the guide.
• Passports or Voter ID is required to enter Bhutan. We used our Passports which were duly stamped upon entry. Tourist must pay a sustainability fee at Immigration of Rs1200/- head/ night of stay in Bhutan (For Indians, Srilankans and Maldivians). For all other nationalities, USD 250/- night must be paid as sustainability fees.
• The tour operator has to present Proof of hotel reservations. All hotels for tourists have to be three-star and above. Travel insurance is also required which is set at Rs700/- per person for the duration of the stay.
• Original RC of the bike, Valid insurance, PUC, Original Valid Indian Driving license card, are the necessary documents for any Motor vehicle including Motorcycles.
• It is preferable to have the motorcycle in your name otherwise you may need an authorization letter from the owner permitting you to ride in Bhutan.
• Rs 4500/- per Night of Stay in Bhutan for Motorcycle/Motorcar is to be paid in cash at the Regional Transport office in Phuentsholing.
• These documents have to be submitted to the RTO in Bhutan who will then issue the Route Permit.
• Indian Currency is accepted, and the exchange rate is 1:1
• One very important point - Make sure you have your bank cards cleared for transactions in Bhutan (generally on most Indian bank-issued cards - it's written in the small print that the cards cannot be used in Nepal and Bhutan). You will be required to call your Bank helpline number and ask them to allow usage of the cards in Bhutan.
• Please also ensure that you have sufficient INR currency at hand, as everything has to be managed by cash inside Bhutan.

My bike is generally well-kitted for long trips, but I did a small service at home only wherein I, changed the Oil, cleaned the K&N air filter, Cardan shaft removed and greased, Cardan Oil changed, Checked torque values on all crucial nuts and bolts and Tyre pressure checked.

I have both Aluminium Panniers and Soft Luggage and for this trip, I decided to go with the soft luggage basically to manage the weight (Panniers tend to be heavier)

Some very essential generic requirements on the motorcycle are as below:

• USB Charging port 12V (My bike has 3 USB ports)
• Aux Lights
• Headlight guards / protectors
• The Connected cradle to accommodate the phone is a very essential requirement when using a Phone for Google map Navigation.
• In hindsight, I should have probably used a Tail bag instead of the dry bag in my Moskomoto Reckless 80 set up along with the two dry bags on the side. Pack one bag with all necessary travel essentials (preferably the tail bag) which should contain everything that you may require for the night stay at the hotel and your next day's morning routine, The other bags can be left secure on the Motorcycle itself, this saves you time and effort to get back on the road the next morning.
• Ensure you have a good set of riding gear, this is non-negotiable - I was using Klim Adventure Rally Pro Jacket, Klim Badland Pants, Rynox Gloves, Scorpion AT950 modular helmet, Rynox Dry Innerwear (Not a big fan of this product- I found it to be a little uncomfortable as it sticks to your body after sweating, I rather prefer a cotton t-shirt inside in this heat).
• All four of us were using the Parani intercom, but the pairing was not as seamless as they claimed and the four of us could never get connected with each other. Only two of us could always remain paired. I am not entirely sure if we were pairing it the correct way, but it was very frustrating after having invested in a new intercom only to see it unable to connect all four of us.

Other equipment carried were: Sony Action cam with loop recording charged by the bikes 12v USB port, essential tools, a Puncture repair kit, a compact air compressor (12V supply from the bike), a jump starter, Cable ties (very important), straps, bungee chords, Essential first aid and medicines, Spare Brake pads front and rear, Spark Plug set, key fob spare battery, Emergency key.

Throughout the trip, only regular fuel was used on my bike, however, my friends used 95 octane wherever possible, but as we realized on the highways it was not easily available.

The only thing unanimously decided was that we would not be riding late into the night, and that, we should find a decent hotel with safe parking by sunset.

Day 1: 24.03.24 Mumbai (MH)- Akola (MH) (583Km)

As usual, group members were not exactly on time. By the time we congregated and started the trip, it was 6:15, getting out of Mumbai in the early hours of the morning was easy, however, roads after Thane for about 30-35 km are under repairs and have a lot of diversions. Lack of route planning meant that we were just following Google and it did take us through some villages. Not a very smart idea, and we decided that the route needed to be better thought out, We all decided that, we would stick to National Highways only, and if they were not available, only then take a State Highway.

For the most part, the roads were good. We stayed at the Grand Jalsa resort off the highway at Akola.

Day 2: 25.03.24 Akola (MH) - Rewa (MP) (780km)

After the previous day's experience, we decided to only stick to NH, and the route took us via Nagpur, Seoni, Jabalpur, Katni to Rewa. By far, the best National Highway in the entire trip, first NH53 until Nagpur (absolutely brilliant roads ) then NH 44 and NH 30 towards Rewa, The roads were so good that I could engage Cruise control at 100kmph and leave it for up to 15min on some stretches. The motorcycle being absolutely planted and stable, it just gobbles up distances effortlessly. We stayed at Hotel Chandralok, the hotel is owned by a Sikh gentleman and he is a bike enthusiast. Nice hotel and good food. The festival of Holi was around and this meant that traffic on the road was not as bad, but this would impact us the next day.

Near Pench Tiger Reserve - Hydration stop

At Hotel Chandralok Rewa - Brilliant Hospitality specially for Bikers

Day 3: 26.03.24 Rewa (MP) - Muzaffarpur (BR) (530km)

Started late from Rewa due to the good hospitality, Again sticking to NH as planned we made rapid progress, However, soon we realized a serious problem, It was Holi and it was a very big festival in Bihar. So big in fact, that everything, and I mean every damn thing is closed in the entire state of Bihar. This meant that Petrol would become an issue, and sure enough, three of the bikes were down to one line on the fuel gauges (The GSA with 31ltr fuel tank was very comfortable / not concerned) and no petrol pumps were open, we had already started riding very conservatively but we were very concerned with our fuel situation.

Towards late afternoon, we found a petrol pump which was closed, however, there was a pushcart next to the pump and they were selling petrol in Black, Selling 750ml whiskey bottles filled with petrol (say about 700ml per bottle) at Rs150/-. We bargained and were able to strike a deal for one bottle of petrol at Rs110/- . We bought 6ltrs each, enough to propel us until Patna. This entire fuel fiasco meant that we wasted a lot of time trying to find a petrol station. Contrary to popular belief, Roads were very good initially via Hanumana, Mirzapur, Mughalsarai, Mohania, Arrah, Patna towards Muzaffarpur, NH30, NH135, NH35, AH1, NH319, NH922, NH22. We got some traffic on the outskirts of Patna. As dusk set in we stopped for the night at Hotel The Premier in Muzaffarpur (BR).

Don't even ask how rubbish that hotel was, but nonetheless a place to stay the night.

Near Mirzapur - road side eatery

Highway services after a Toll plaza

Day 4 27.03.24 Muzaffarpur (BR) - Bagdogra (WB) (438km)

Started later than planned, got very heavy traffic to exit the town, following NH only as planned, The roads were, for the most part, good. Towards evening, we were tired and decided to stop for the night at Bagdogra.

Route taken was Darbhanga, Phulparas, Forbesganj, Araria, Purnia, Dalkhola, Kishanganj, Islampur, to Bagdogra.

That is NH27 all the way. The section of road after Dalkhola until Kishanganj was no so good with some potholes.

The night was spent at Orbit Hotel, which had decent facilities with food.

Near Purunia - The best and simple Dhaba food experience during the trip

Day 5 :28.03.24 Bagdogra (WB) - Jaigaon (WB) (158km)

We had a leisurely breakfast and left the hotel late since this was the last leg to Bhutan, we took the most scenic and stunning northern route, surprisingly the roads were excellent and through some densely forested areas with tall trees on both sides, after which started the tea gardens, we crossed the famous Coronation Bridge on the Teesta river, which is a sight to behold, towards evening we reached Jaigaon. At Jaigaon, as we were approaching the border the roads were very bad with chaotic traffic.

We have a friend who is a businessman and an avid motorcycle rider at Jaigaon, so we had a good evening tea and snacks while we waited for our Guide to take us into Bhutan.

After the immigration process, we proceeded to Hotel Gardhen, Since Parvez was tired and exhausted, he decided that he would not be riding the motorcycle inside Bhutan and instead sit in the car with the Guide and Driver, and to give him company, Khodaram also decided that he will also not ride inside Bhutan. Both the bikes were left at Jaigaon with our friend and only Darayus and I got our bikes into Bhutan.

As mentioned in the beginning, we were contemplating renting Bhutan-registered RE Himalayan, but when we saw the bikes on offer, we quickly changed our mind and decided to use our own bikes.

The difference between Jaigaon and Phuentsholing is stark and you will be amazed at how clean and quiet Bhutan is.

Tea Gardens in West Bengal

Jaigaon/Phuentsholing Border Entry gate to Bhutan

Day 6 : 29.03.24 Phuentsholing - Thimpu (150km)

We checked out of the hotel at 9:00 am and went to clear immigration which was a time-consuming process, Indians make up the bulk of the tourists who visit Bhutan, and Immigration clearance took about 1.5hrs.

Then we went to file the route plan and clear the paperwork for the two motorcycles which we intended to ride, it was also a slightly lengthy procedure which took about an Hour to complete, we paid Rs22500/- per bike for the 5 nights route plan inside Bhutan.

Formalities completed, and we started our trip to Thimpu. The quality of the roads is excellent and they are completely built and maintained by the Border Roads Organisation, the roads are totally winding in nature and are a real pleasure and fun experience.

On the way we stopped at Takthikoti canteen operated by BRO on the invitation by Chief Engineer of Project Dantak, towards evening we reached Thimpu and checked into Hotel Nordenma.

One of the fellow riders knew Kelly Dorji (Actor and Model), he invited us to his Restobar in Thimpu called Grey Area, we had some great food with impeccable hospitality from Kelly. A huge thanks to him for inviting us.

Enroute to Thimpu - Kawasaki Versys 1000 and the BMW R1200GS

Day 7: 30.03.24 Thimpu Local Sightseeing

Started the day visiting the Buddha Dordenma, Simply Bhutan, Royal Takin Pzeserve (Takin is the national animal of Bhutan), Bhutanese Cuisine at an authentic restaurant, and some local shopping.

Buddha Dordenma at Thimpu- Angels look mesmerizing

Day 8: 31.03.24 Thimpu - Punakha (73km)

Again a day on the motorcycle, with excellent roads and breathtaking scenery, The two of us on the motorcycles would take off using Google maps and reach the pre-determined meeting point. as discussed with the guide, driver and our two other friends.

We stopped at Dochula Pass which is a monument with 108 stupas in memory of the fallen soldiers. The bikes always generate a lot of interest among the public wherever we stop, At Dochula, we saw a lot of tourists, specially a group of "Ladies only" tourists group from various parts of India, we ended up meeting the same group a few times more along the trip in the next couple of days.

We also met a group of three German riders who rented RE bikes locally and were exploring Bhutan.

Onwards we rode to Chime Lhakhang " The Divine Madman temple", whilst there, we witnessed a freak accident, burning down and gutting the Monastery which was being newly constructed for the Monks, we chipped in to help in any way we could to remove combustible material from the immediate vicinity. This put us behind schedule to visit a few more places in Punakha, We later went to our Hotel and called it a day.

We stayed at Hotel Lobesa, it had a beautiful view outside the windows, a good balcony and big rooms, by far the best hotel we stayed at in Bhutan.

Punakha Fort Entry - Note the large honeybee comb

Day 9: 01.04.24 Punakha - Paro (115km)

Started after breakfast, since we missed a few sightseeing locations the previous day due to the fire at the Monastery, we went to the Punakha Fort. This is an impressive structure with unmistakable Bhutanese architecture, a sight not to miss is the school of Trout fish which you can see from the bridge leading to the fort, after spending some time at the fort we were on the road again back along the same road for most of the way.

Stopping again at Dochula Pass, the cafe is very good and since the sky was a bit more clear than the previous visit, we were able to see a few of the tall Himalayan mountain peaks at a distance.

The highlight of the day was our invitation from the Chief Engineer of Project Dantak to visit the headquarters. We were deeply honored and thrilled to have received his Invitation, we had a very good interactive dialogue with the Chief Engineer, who was kind enough to explain the various aspects of the BRO's mandate in Bhutan, the history behind the entire project and the Museum.

We were presented with a coffee table book consisting of the entire history of Project Dantak. Deeply honored and Salute to our soldiers who work in such extreme terrains.

We then took to the road leading to Paro, as usual, the roads were brilliant with swooping curves at every turn.

Paro is a beautiful town located in the Valley, this is also the town with the International Airport. Towards evening we reached our Hotel. We stayed at Hotel Ratna Vara, a decent hotel, However, the food could have been better.

We retired early as the next day was the big trek to Tiger's Nest.

Day 10: 02.04.24 Paro Local sight seeing

We left the Hotel early to the Tiger's Nest base, but before that, we stopped and had a refreshing breakfast at a local diner.

Tiger's nest by far symbolizes Bhutan, it's a must-do trek for tourists arriving in Bhutan. It's by no means easy, and definitely not for the faint-hearted, and you need to be relatively fit to attempt such a Trek.

The base camp is at 7300ft and the Nest is at 10500ft, the trek itself is about 5.5km, Parvez, the oldest among us chose to sit this one out, We started climbing at about 8:40 am and finally reached the summit at about 12:00, spent about an hour in the temples on top, the view of tiger's nest from any direction is breathtaking and beautiful. The trek consists of trails and steps both paved and stone steps.

The cafe midway is a good place to rest your legs and re-energise.

The trek down was also quite daunting, by the time we reached the base it was about 2:30pm, and we were all tired and decided to head back to the hotel.

In the evening, we went out for a bit of souvenir shopping.

Tiger's Nest - A Bhutan trip - "must do trek"

Day 11: 03.04.24 Paro - Phuentsholing

We had a leisurely breakfast and then headed back on the road to the border town of Phuentsholing. We again had the same invitation to refresh and recharge at the Takthikoti GREF canteen which we accepted. Reached Phuentsholing towards evening, and headed to the same Hotel (Hotel Gardhen). Parked the bikes and came out to Jaigaon to have tea at our friend's place. After that, we headed back to the Hotel in Phuentsholing and retired early since we planned an early start for the return road trip.

Day 12: 04.04.24 Phuentsholing - Darbhanga (BR) (530km)

The previous night's food did not seem to go down well with my gut. I felt sick in the stomach and threw up a few times in the night. My friends did not think I was fit enough to ride, but, that was not a choice. The friend in Jaigaon was also riding with us for a few hundred kms on his Triumph Tiger 800, he offered to take me to a hospital on the way.

By 10:00am my condition had worsened, I had thrown up about 5 times and was feeling severely dehydrated, I spoke to a doctor's friend, and she prescribed Tab Ondem and an Antibiotic to fight the food poisoning. The tab immediately helped and I was feeling a lot better, thus decided to continue as much as possible, and took the same roads back so we knew that the roads were good.

By nightfall we were in the town of Darbhanga and decided to stop for the day at Hotel Garcia International, It was a very nice hotel and we had a nice peaceful night.

Day 13: 05.04.24 Darbhanga (BR) - Hanumana (MP) (500km)

I felt a lot better in the morning, starting at about 8:30 am roads were good as we were taking the same road back, the afternoon heat was too much and we were stopping often to hydrate and stretch our legs as we were having cramps.

Passed UP in the evening, it was very sad to see the lack of any hotels after Mirzapur, by nightfall we had passed Mirzapur but could not find any hotels, so we kept pressing ahead, it was only after entering MP we saw a newly built hotel, we took the rooms even though it did not have any AC, it was about 9:30 pm by the time we reached the hotel, had dinner and retired for the day.

We stayed at the Highway Treat Hotel.

Day 14: 06.04.24 Hanumana (MP) - Nagpur (MH) (598km)

Road were as good as they could be, made rapid progress. These bikes on such wonderful roads are really a treat and a dream ride. The skies were overcast and that also meant that the heat was a little lesser than usual.

Reached Nagpur by sunset and called it for the day.

Day 15: 07.04.24 Nagpur (MH) - Wadner (MH) (370km)

Since we were not in a tearing hurry to reach, we took it easy with the riding, the day time heat had again started to rise, the roads were excellent and by early evening we decided to stop for tea at a roadside hotel which had just newly launched, since rooms were available with AC we decided to stay put there. Stayed at Hotel Gurukripa.

Day 16: 08.04.24 Wadner (MH) - Mumbai (MH) (520km)

Started around 7:30am and took a slightly different route than when we had left from Mumbai, using NH53 passing through Bhusawal, Jalgaon, Dhule then onto NH60 towards Malegaon, Nashik, Igatpuri, Thane and Mumbai. NH60 was good but every intersection has multiple speed breakers and as such has to slow down.

The real agony was the poor condition of roads leading to Thane which starts about 30km before Thane and the afternoon traffic with the scorching heat was really unbearable. Finally reaching home by 6:00 pm.

The epic round trip was about 5500km, In hindsight, we could have accomplished this trip in 2 weeks, but with a group of riders, we have to cater to the pace at which everyone is comfortable.

The bikes which accomplished this trip were the real gems, each of the motorcycles did not miss a beat or give us any kind of mechanical trouble.

The benefit of shaft drive was amply apparent as the Versys chain needed to be lubed before the return trip. The superior comfort of the GS/GSA is also something I wish to highlight, the suspension is truly an engineering marvel.

Without a doubt, the BMW GS/GSA is one of the best motorcycles ever made.

I wish here to thank my fellow riders for such a great trip, a memory etched forever in my mind.

Before I conclude, I have to say that our Highway systems have seen a remarkable improvement, they were simply fantastic.

One takeaway for anyone planning a road trip - stick to the National highways for as long as you can before you consider altering to SH or any other roads.

Few more photos for your viewing pleasure

Enroute to Thimpu - On Arguably the best purpose-built motorcycle

At Takthikoti GREF Canteen

Enroute to Thimpu

One of the Few waterfalls on the route to Thimpu

With Mr Anil, Road trip back to Mumbai somewhere in the forest of Jalpaiguri

All the bikes in formation, a nice photo opportunity

William Tell is aiming for the Apple on the head of Mr Parvez

Finally After an Epic trip - Odometer on arrival back home

A small Bhutan sticker to highlight the achievement

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

TVS has been producing the BMW CE 02 in India since October 2023.

The TVS Motor Co. has commenced exports of the made-in-India BMW CE 02 electric scooter. The company shipped 924 units to overseas markets in the last fiscal.

TVS has been producing the BMW CE 02 electric scooter at its Hosur plant since October last year. The e-scooter was designed and developed in collaboration with BMW Motorrad.

The BMW CE 02 is powered by a pair of 2 kWh lithium-ion batteries paired with a 15 BHP electric motor. The e-scooter has a top speed of 95 km/h and can travel up to 90 km on a single charge. BMW also offers a single battery version with a top speed of 45 km/h and a range of 45 km.

Both versions can be charged using either a 0.9 kW standard charger, which takes 5 hours and 12 minutes to charge both batteries from 0 - 100%. The BMW CE 02 is also compatible with a 1.5 kW fast charger, bringing down charging time to 3 hours 30 mins.

I purchased these tyres for my BMW G 310 R. The rear one is 18 months old whereas the front tyre is more than 3.5 years old.

BHPian WhiteBlu recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello, and hope you are having a great day!

I have been wanting to upgrade my tyres for a while now. I currently have the Pilot Street Radials on my bike and I have had a few hairy incidents when I was pushing it hard. The tyres do not have a great edge grip, and they greatly reduce my confidence while leaning. This led me to purchase a pair of Road 5s from Pathpavers a week ago. They arrived today and to my dismay, the front tyre read 3020.

Yes, the front tyre I received from them is more than 3.5 years old. So I called their manager promptly and asked for a newer tyre to be delivered to me. He had to check with the storage, and when he called back, he told me that the newest one they could arrange was one manufactured in 2021. Now I need advice from more experienced riders... What do I do?

I need tyres that are great with grip in all conditions, money is absolutely no matter; Do I return these tyres and accept the 21 manufactured ones? Do I return these for store credit and get a tyre that you could recommend? (I really have nothing else I want from them, and the manager is refusing a refund that isn't store credit.)

Some other details:

• I live in Bangalore, and if my past suggests anything, it is that Bangalore will decide to pour down every time I take my bike out during the monsoon months. This is why I wanted tyres that perform great in good and bad conditions and hence went with the Road 5s.
• Called multiple physical stores in Bangalore and no one seemed to have Road 5s.
• The rear tyre is 18 months old.
• The tyres have no sign of damage or drying, but they have also not been under load yet.
• The motorcycle is a BMW G 310 R.

While the manager from Pathpavers is responsive and trying to help, I am strongly disappointed with my purchase.

Here's what BHPian FURY_44 had to say about the matter:

Road 5s are in strong demand due to supply issues, I have been checking with Madhus, Cherrys and other reputed dealers in Bangalore for the last 3 months and none had a pair in stock, either they used to have the Rear or the Front. What you have received from Pathpavers is obviously old stock, you could have enquired about the manufacturing date before you went ahead with the purchase. You can get the '21 stock, I bet that's the freshest you can get right now.

I gave up on the Road 5s, not worth the hassle, and bought myself a freshly manufactured '23 TVS Eurogrip for my RR310.

Here's what BHPian gautam109 had to say about the matter:

I once spoke to a senior figure in the European tire sector (commercial tires segment, not car or bike tires) some years back on this. Their view was that a well-stored tire stays fresh and "good as new" for 3-5 years, though the convention is that once it crosses 3 years, they discount and try to sell it off just to free up the shelf space.

Emphasis is on "well stored" - dry, clean area, away from sunlight, corrosives/oils/abrasives and excessive heat.

He said discounts for tires less than 3 yrs old are rare and that commercial users they sell to are not too fussed with tire age provided it is a reputed brand backed by a credible manufacturer warranty.

Check for any sidewall cracks or bulges periodically, to be safe. If the tire was badly stored, it will show up. Else don't let it spoil your mood. If they work well and assuming you will use them up in 2 or 3 years (i.e. 6 to 7 years total age at end of life), the performance / experience will not be materially different from a new tire.

Here's what BHPian ebonho had to say about the matter:

In my experience, once you use a tyre, and take it off, then reuse it months or a year or two later, it hardens up (glazed) and becomes considerably less grippy. Not so in an unused or barely used tyre that's stored or even just fitted and the bike garaged.

Anthony Hopkins famously raced across the salt flats of Utah to set a speed record or a set of decades-old tyres with grooves hand cut out of them. As the legend goes.

Here's what BHPian Ratan Prabhu had to say about the matter:

For peace of mind, since the shop is ok to replace the tyre with 2021 model, get it done (also ask which month of 2021).

And next time if you are ordering tyres online, make sure you confirm the month and year of the tyre (on mail or text as proof) before making payment.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The motorcycle has a very nice commanding riding position and the suspension setup is at another level.

BHPian BudgetFailure recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Got the delivery today. The delivery experience at BMW Motorrad Kormamgla (operated by JSP) was seamless. The bike was ready at the showroom when I reached. I was able to get hold of the bike within 20 mins.

Few things I noticed based on my 50km city commute.

• It would take some time to get used to a tourer-type bike in which the headlight doesn't move.
• Bike gives a very nice commanding position
• The levers are extremely smooth and can be easily operated with one/two fingers.
• Engine heat sink fan switches on very frequently and the hot air hits the ankle side a lot (nothing to worry about though)
• Headlight throw is good but the intensity could have been better (I had upgraded my NS headlamps thus the complaint), would eventually get aux lamps
• Suspension is simply at another level, glad I went ahead with this bike.
• Need to learn to handle the weight of the bike well in traffic.
• Parking the bike for me gets a bit tricky at times due to the seat height, but is manageable
• Side stand is weird, and requires slight slanting of the bike in the opposite direction.

Looking forward to numerous trips on this in the coming years.

One question, I will have to leave the bike unused for 10-12 days after two weeks, any precautions I should take? I intend to take the bike for 1000km/1 month service next month.

One important thing I forgot to mention, I managed to stall the bike 3 times. Still getting accustomed to the throttle response and gear ratios.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The 2-day training program will be held at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida.

BMW Motorrad has announced its Track Training program in India. It is designed to help riders improve their overall riding skills and understand the limits of their BMW bikes. 

The 2-day training program will be held at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, UP. The first session will be conducted on March 23-24, followed by another set on April 20-21, 2024.

The training program has been divided into Level 1 and Level 2 sessions, comprising 6 theory and 6-8 track practice sessions. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from some of the most skilled trainers with 12+ years of experience and National Championship titles. The curriculum covers everything from basic handling and manoeuvring to advanced racing techniques. Sessions are based on understanding and mastering techniques of braking, balance, vision, cornering, and throttle control.

The BMW Motorrad Track Training program is exclusive to riders who own a BMW S 1000 RR, S 1000 R, S 1000 XR, F 900 XR, F 900 R, G 310 R and G 310 RR. Participants are required to hold a valid driver’s license and should get their motorcycles serviced before the event. All riders must have suitable track riding gear, including a full leather racing suit, racing helmet, racing boots and gloves.

I've been having some lower back pain while riding this bike so I got a pair of handlebar risers for the US.

BHPian VellVector recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Second Service

Took the bike in for its second service (one year) to JSP Mottarad. No issues with the bike - just that the one-year interval had come up.

Two extras on the bill - First maintenance of the drive shaft, I always get the shaft of the 1250s cleaned and greased at every service even though that isn't part of the required maintenance.

Second was the fitment of the handlebar risers. I've been having some lower back pain while riding this bike. After trying a lot of adjustments, I gave in and got risers. Ordered the risers from Illium Works in the US.

The risers match the OEM colour of the handlebars and are well-made. Have not yet had a chance to ride the bike for any significant distance with the risers but riding back from the service centre felt more comfortable.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

BMW plans to launch 19 new products, including 13 cars and 6 motorcycles in 2024.

BMW Group India recorded its best-ever sales in 2023. The company sold 14,172 cars and 8,768 motorcycles during the January-December period.

BMW sold 13,303 units, registering a growth of 18% compared to the previous year, while Mini sold 869 vehicles, 22% more than CY2022. 

The BMW iX and Mini 3 door Cooper SE were the brand’s best-selling EVs in 2023. According to the company, EV sales increased three-fold with 1,474 units in CY2023.

BMW’s motorcycle division, BMW Motorrad, recorded a growth of 20% compared to the previous year, with 8,768 motorcycles sold in CY2023.

BMW also recorded a successful fourth quarter with sales of 4,306 BMWs, 287 Minis and 1,990 motorcycles. The month of December also saw the highest-ever monthly sales for BMW and Mini.

BMW will be hoping to continue the momentum into the new year. In 2024, the carmaker has confirmed its plans to launch 19 new products, including 13 cars and 6 motorcycles.

The BMW M 1000 RR was launched in June this year at Rs 49 lakh (ex-showroom).

BMW Motorrad India has commenced deliveries of its flagship superbike, the M 1000 RR.

The BMW M 1000 RR is a track-focused superbike. It was launched in June this year at an eye-watering price of Rs 49 lakh (ex-showroom).

The M 1000 RR is powered by a 999cc, inline 4-cylinder engine that generates 209 BHP @ 14,500 rpm and 113 Nm @ 11,000 rpm. It enables the superbike to hit 0-100 km/h in 3.1 seconds and a top speed of 314 km/h.

The 2023 BMW M 1000 RR features a lightweight carbon fibre fairing with new aero-optimized winglets that are said to generate more downforce than before. The bike is available with forged or M Carbon wheels.

Customers can also opt for the M Competition Package, which includes the M milled parts package, M Carbon package, a 220g lighter swingarm, DLC-coated M Endurance chain and M Aero Wheels Covers.

The ride was something I had been looking forward to and preparing for a long time, and this sudden setback was indeed a shock.

BHPian praruaaa4 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

As I was preparing for an extreme ride that would cover 7000 kilometers, a mix of both perfect asphalt and extreme off-road terrains, the anticipation was high, but little did I know that a surprise was waiting for me.

The Unexpected Hurdle

Just when I was gearing up for the ride, I encountered an unexpected hurdle. The front ESA strut (Telelever front suspension) of my bike developed a leak. With only 20 days left for the trip, procuring the part on time turned into a stressful race against the clock. The ride was something I had been looking forward to and preparing for a long time, and this sudden setback was indeed a shock.

Fortunately, the required part was already in transit from BMW Germany. A rush order was created to expedite the process. The wait was nerve-wracking, but luck was on my side. The part arrived exactly 6 days before the start of the trip.

The Relief

The new part was promptly installed, replacing the faulty one. Thanks to the extended warranty from BMW, the replacement was covered under warranty. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

With the major issue resolved, I decided to go a step further to ensure my bike was in perfect condition for the tough journey ahead. I opted for a full annual service for my bike. The service cost me Rs. 17184/-, which included an oil change and air filter replacement.

Ready to Roll

With all hurdles crossed and my bike in top-notch condition, I am now all set for the ride. It’s going to be challenging, but with my trusty bike by my side, I’m ready to conquer both perfect asphalt and extreme off-road terrains covering 11 States, 1 Union Territory and 1 country (Nepal). I will write a separate post regarding the trip.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The sports tourer is well-suited to fill the place between my two other motorcycles - a Harley Road Glide and BMW R1250 GS Adventure.

BHPian VellVector recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Seeing a thread title with R1250, the first reaction must be – great another guy with a BMW GS. Then the last two letters RT – what’s that?

The BMW R1250RT

Introduction

The role that the RT was bought for was to fill the gap between two bikes already housed in my garage, a full-dress heavy cruiser in the form of a Harley Road Glide and the poster child of adventure bikes the BMW R1250 GS Adventure.

The new bike we were looking for would have to fill a place between the two – something with good suspension and decent ground clearance but also comfortable for longer highway rides.

A sports tourer seemed to be well suited to this role. At just this time the news came out that BMW would launch the updated R1250RT in India soon. I loved the GS and the incredible boxer engine – this bike seemed to be the perfect fit.

Following the news, began discussions with the various BMW dealers on when the bike would launch and be delivered – only one had placed an order for the bike and promised us the first delivery in the country if we booked with them. So never having seen the bike, we made a booking with the BMW dealer in Chandigarh.

Important to note that this would not be the first R1250RT in India but the first of the facelifted model.

The R1250 RT

BMW Motorrad began manufacturing the Reise-Tourer (travel tourer) or RT as the R100RT in 1976. The RT was built as a full dresser with a fairing derived from the R100RS and a large windshield.

The R100RT. Wikipedia Image.

In 1996 the R1100RT was introduced as the successor to the R100RT – here the bike received the paralever and telelever suspension made famous by the GS. The RT was considered the flagship of the R1100 family.

The 1100 to 1200RT - 6 Generations. Wikipedia Image.

As the GS became BMW’s flagship motorcycle – the RT has followed with the same family with new models pairing each new family of the GS.

In 2018, BMW launched the R1250RT – adopting the new 1250 Shift Cam engine and a range of new electronics. In 2021, BMW released a facelift of this bike which featured a new look, new infotainment suite and a range of new electronics.

From the BMW release on the facelift

The highlights of the new BMW R 1250 RT:

• Authentic boxer engine with BMW ShiftCam Technology for variation of the valve timings and valve stroke on the intake side.
• Powerful response across the entire engine speed range, exemplary fuel consumption, emission levels, running smoothness and refinement.
• Output and torque: 100 kW (136 hp) at 7 750 rpm and 143 Nm at 6 250 rpm.
• Knock sensor system for optimised travel suitability.
• New BMW Motorrad Full Integral ABS Pro as standard.
• Three riding modes as standard.
• New “Eco” riding mode for particularly economical riding as standard.
• Riding Modes Pro with additional riding mode “Dynamic” and new engine drag torque control (MSR) as an ex works option.
• Dynamic Traction Control DTC as standard
• Dynamic ESA “Next Generation” electronic suspension with fully automatic load compensation as an optional extra.
• Hill Start Control Pro (HSC Pro) with extended function as an ex works option.
• Newly developed front fairing with optimised aerodynamics.
• New LED headlamp as standard and new full LED headlamp with adaptive turning light as an ex works option
• Connectivity: New multifunctional instrument cluster with 10.25-inch full-colour TFT screen and numerous other features as standard.
• New “Comfort telephony with extended smartphone connection” option.
• New Audio System 2.0 option.
• New double tone fanfare as standard.

Delivery

Months had gone by since the original delivery date of early 2022 with no concrete answer for when the bike would be delivered.

Certain parts of the bike like the engine crash guard and lights had already arrived and were waiting for the bike.

In late August we finally got news that the bike had been shipped and the paperwork for delivery began. Unfortunately, the way the dealership handled this part of the process (the paperwork and registration) left a lot to be desired and left me with a bad taste for the whole experience.

However, I have said it in earlier posts as well – this is also a dealership I trust. Having had good sales and service experiences there before.

The bike packed and ready to ship from the dealer

Because of this trust, I didn’t even go down to Chandigarh to look at or take delivery of the bike – all the paperwork was couriered and a good friend who runs a transport company had the bike picked up from the dealership and trucked to Bangalore.

The bike was shipped straight to my factory, where we unloaded it. This was the first time I had seen the new R1250RT let alone ever sat on or ever ridden one.

Unloading the bike in Bangalore

A little bit of assembly later and it was ready to go.

The first facelifted 1250RT in India

The Walk Around

The first thing that struck me about the RT was that it’s a pretty big bike. Sounds moronic when you say it out loud – but I was expecting something a bit smaller.

The bike with the aftermarket top box attached.

The bike has an interesting modern – retro look to it in my opinion, it has smooth-flowing lines from older generations complemented by straight angles which give it a modern look.

The panniers are a standard fitment for the bike and are remote lockable from the handlebar.

The front profile of the bike looks modern and big.

The new adaptive headlight released on the facelift

The BMW Badge is prominently displayed and catches a lot of attention.

Coming around to the rider’s side, the massive 10-inch display is the first thing that stands out. The fairing is wide and has the mirrors integrated into them.

Both the brake and clutch levers have quick adjustment dials

The switchgear is of high quality and similar to the GS. Here you can see the cruise control controls and adaptive cruise button. Also the height control for the windshield.

The right side has the remote lock for all the storage, riding modes and engine on and kill switch.

The engine has a plastic shroud across the back.

A din port is located on the right side of the fairing.

The left side of the fairing has four programable favourite buttons. I have not found these to be of much use to me.

The pegs are wide with a rubber grip and the brake lever is also wide and easy to find.

The tank cap is keyless which I think is a big mistake. I have had an issue in the past where in the middle of the Spiti Valley the tank lid of my GSA stopped opening. The only way to continue using the bike was to unscrew the lid with a Torx key - fill it up and assemble the whole thing again. A flawed design for a critical component.

The exhaust is chrome from the head till the end. The bike also comes stock with a centre stand.

The rear wheel is shod with Michelin Road 5 GT tires.

Finally, the rear view. Due to the matt black plastic used on the panniers, the width of the bike is not visible on the road. Add on reflective tape or lights are a must.

The bottom holes in the fender are meant for a larger license plate. They make a sore sight exposed with the Indian HSRP design. BMW should have thought of a cover here.

Quick note – I will be making some comparisons to the BMW GSA since that is what most people ask me about this bike. The GSA has been reviewed in depth on this great thread.

My two boxers - the GSA along with the RT.

Continue reading VellVector's review for BHPian comments, insights and more information.