The Meteor 350 is a tribute to my father's once-owned Royal Enfield Bullet 350.

BHPian deepak.prahlad recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

In the world of motorcycles, few brands hold legacy and charisma quite like Royal Enfield. For me, owning the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 in the mesmerizing blue colour isn't just about having a remarkable two-wheeler; it's a culmination of a lifelong dream and a connection to my family's history. This isn't just a motorcycle; it's a symbol of dreams realized and a tribute to my father's once-owned Royal Enfield Bullet 350, a bike that fueled my childhood fantasies.

My fascination with Royal Enfield started in my childhood when he started riding Bullet 350. It was a bike that exuded timeless charm and left an indelible mark on my young mind. However, circumstances led to its departure from our lives, but the memories remained, igniting a desire within me to someday ride a Royal Enfield of my own.

Fast forward to today, and I find myself standing beside my own Royal Enfield – the Meteor 350 CC Stellar, bathed in blue hue. The echoes of my father's Bullet 350 resonate in this moment, and it's more than just a motorcycle; it's a connection between generations.

The Honda Hness received positive reviews, but my preference for Royal Enfield led me to consider only the Hunter and Meteor models. During the test ride, I found the Hunter's low height unsuitable for my 5'10" stature, influencing my decision.

I inquired about Royal Enfield at two different dealerships and found both offering identical rates (Rs. 206,580/- ex-showroom + 21% Road tax) and delivery timelines. Based on proximity, I selected the dealership nearer to me. However, neither seemed overly eager for business, likely due to high demand, offering no special deals. Opting for an extended warranty of 2 years beyond the 3-year ex-showroom warranty, I aimed to ensure coverage for a comprehensive 5-year period, shielding myself from potential issues.

Considering the complexity of numerous sensors, I recommend having RSA (Roadside Assistance) as they might not be serviceable by local roadside garages. Procuring insurance independently might cost approximately 10K. The approximate on-road price, inclusive of minimal accessories, would be around 2.8L.

Technical details of the Meteor 350:

Engine: Powering this beauty is a robust 349cc, single-cylinder, 4-stroke, air-oil cooled J series engine. The refined power delivery ensures a smooth and cheerful ride.

Performance: The performance is brisk, and the gears are thoughtfully spaced out. The engine demonstrates commendable performance in city rides. I am yet to explore highways as the ODO is still below 500km. Meteor can deliver a maximum power output of 20.4 PS @ 6100 rpm and a torque of 27 Nm @ 4000 rpm.

Suspension and Brakes: The telescopic front fork and twin-tube emulsion shock absorbers at the rear provide a decent ride. I felt the suspension was a bit hard though, and gave occasional jolt to your back during rough and bumpy rides. The front and rear disc brakes by Bybre with dual channel ABS provide reliable stopping power.

Likes:

• Stability even at low speed
• Less need for gear shifts in city rides
• Comfy Riding posture
• Riding comfort
• Dual Trip Meter, Distance to empty, Gear position features in the console
• Disc brake performance

Dislikes:

• Major blind spots
• Lack of storage space
• The headlamp is always ON making the LED DLR useless.
• Eccentric Console
• Inaccurate fuel gauge
• Loose Cable Management

The yellow colour on the base model (Fireball) is an absolute head-turner. The iconic teardrop-shaped fuel tank, 3D badge (available only for stellar and higher variants) and chrome finishes give Meteor a very good aesthetic appeal. I miss the old sari guard from my father's Bullet 350 though. Not sure if the current one will serve the purpose and if I can get the old one (the chrome-plated net type) and fit it into my Meteor. Your comments are welcome.

One of the standout features of the Meteor 350 is its superior riding comfort. Most of my rides till now were city rides, except a 20km highway ride. The gear shifts needed are very minimal at city rides even when the traffic is bumper to bumper. Meteor can easily cruise at 2nd gear without knocking out the engine during heavy traffic. (Not a recommended riding as per RE though) RE has successfully harnessed substantial low-end power from the new J platform engine. The bike showcases brisk performance, accompanied by well-distributed gear ratios that suit urban riding admirably.

While the engine demonstrates commendable city performance, I'm yet to find its highway capabilities. However, my initial experience on the highway indicates a decent performance level.

The well-padded seat ensures that even long rides are a pleasure. The standard seats on this bike are remarkably comfortable, and it is worth noting that I'm currently using the stock seat, not the optional touring one. The stock seats is having generous padding, and the notably wide design offers a comfortable long ride for the rider. Passenger gets a little more space than the old 2021(?) model because of the lengthening of the back rest fixtures.

The riding position strikes the perfect balance between an upright stance and a slight forward lean, giving the rider control without sacrificing comfort. The heel and toe shifter and smooth gearbox make every gear shift a breeze, adding to the overall riding pleasure. The gear indicator in the console is easy to read even during bright daylight which is bliss.

Initial apprehensions about the weight (191 Kg) faded out swiftly as I took control. Surprisingly, handling this substantially heavy machine felt effortless. Its weight became a reassuring presence, grounding me securely while riding, offering stability rather than hindrance even during my bumper-to-bumper rides in the city traffic at lower gears.

The impressive 170mm ground clearance is a boon, especially on rough and bumpy roads. It effortlessly conquers uneven terrains, potholes, and gravel paths, ensuring a smooth ride without the worry of scraping or bottoming out. This generous ground clearance of 170mm amplifies the bike's versatility, making it a reliable companion for various terrains and adventures. The suspensions are felt bit hard for me. I think I may have to adjust it in the first service.

The headlight beam (both low and high) is decent. The beauty of the headlight is notably improved by its striking ring DRL (Daytime Running Light). Yet, I find myself pondering Royal Enfield's choice to retain the low beam light alongside the DRL while the engine is running; curious about the rationale behind this coexistence.

The hybrid digital and analogue cluster on the Royal Enfield Meteor provides an extensive array of rider information, including essential metrics like dual trip meters, odometer readings, and the distance-to-empty indicator. Due to the initial half-hearted reception of the tripper console among users, RE was forced to make the Tripper Navigation an optional feature in all models. Initially, it was a factory-fitted feature except for the base model (Fireball). I heard from my fellow bikers that the tripper navigation was buggy and merely showed the directions shared from the mobile without any additional info. Purchasing a good mobile holder and using it with your mobile phone will be much better than it, IMHO. I anticipate Royal Enfield's innovative upgrades and further refinements in this feature.

Upon ignition, the console displays a numerical sequence, presumably a serial number—Let me know in the comments.

Given the odometer reading of fewer than double digits, making any remarks about mileage might seem premature, and thus, I'll refrain from doing so. However, what I can confidently express is the exceptional level of comfort and premium feel this bike offers. Like many, I anticipated noticeable vibrations at higher RPMs, yet to my surprise, the vibrations are remarkably minimal, contributing to a pleasantly smooth riding experience. Yeah! the stock mirrors vibrate, but I usually don't ride at high speed so it is not a botheration for me. Also, the blind spots are large enough to be aware of. I do scan my mirrors habitually, but you may not notice some vehicles passing you if you don't constantly scan your mirrors.

The fuel indicator seems wavy on bumpy rides. I noticed big jumps from 5 points to 7 points (Full Tank, which I am sure is not the case) You can see the volume of fuel it shows while on the centre stand, which is also not accurate. Of course, it should be more than half as I added 10Lt into the 13Lt tank while the ODO was reading 35km. I should indicate that the "Trip F" is a very good feature which will indicate how long we were on reserve fuel. The console automatically jumps to Trip F indication when it detects low fuel though it jumps back to normal owing to the wavy nature of fuel level sensors. RE recommends to re-fuel in less than 50km in the Trip F. RE needs to fine-tune the fuel gauge IMHO.

The lack of storage space in this two-wheeler is a significant disappointment for me. For long rides, you might need to buy saddlebags separately. I find this inconvenient. I may settle down with a small side bag which can hold a few of my things and some groceries I will have to purchase on my way back home during my daily rides. I still hate to have a separate bag though.

This motorcycle isn't just a possession for me; it's a conversation starter. During my visit to the dealership for the first service visit, I could make at least three new friends! Many wanted to know the first-hand experience, some wanted to know the riding experience and so on...

For me, Every twist of the throttle, every mile covered on this wonderful machine Is about fulfilling a dream nurtured over years, a dream that connects me to my father's legacy and passion for motorcycles. Every ride on this beast feels like a tribute to my father's Bullet 350. A nostalgic nod to the past while embracing the innovations and refinements of the present. The thumping engine, the distinctive low exhaust note, and the sheer joy of being on the road encapsulate what riding a Royal Enfield truly means - it's not just a journey; it's an experience. I'm not just living my dream – I'm creating a legacy of my own.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Royal Enfield has done a great job with the weight distribution. I really couldn’t tell this was a 196 kg motorcycle at any point.

BHPian rahulcmoulee recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Finally got a test ride of the new Himalayan 450 albeit a very short one on city roads. Here are some observations from a Meteor 350 owner's perspective:

Seat and Ergos

Being used to the 765mm seat height of the Meteor, I expected to face some difficulty getting my feet down. But surprisingly even with the seat set to the tallest height, I could easily get both my feet flat on the ground. The seat itself is very comfortable and I could see it remaining that way for long durations. The Ergos were also very comfortable. Spacious seat with room to move around, legs didn't feel cramped, Body was nice and upright, bar was nice and wide with good leverage. The standing ergos were pretty good too. The only thing I would change would be to get some handlebar raisers as I felt the bars were just a tad bit too low for my personal preference.

Engine

This was the aspect where the bike felt most un-RE-like. The bottom end is quite dull and I even ended up stalling the first time I tried setting off. Being used to the tractor-like torque from the J series engine, this was the area that needed me to retune the way I ride. But once I got used to it, it was a pleasant engine to ride at city speeds under the 4000rpm mark. Go past the 4k mark and the bike comes alive and pulls in one clean sweep till the redline. Performance is super strong and this will be more than adequate for touring in India. I managed to get upto 90kmph in 5th gear and there was only a mild buzz in the pegs and bar. Nothing that would be cause for concern.

Suspension

The absolute highlight of the bike for me. This suspension is just set up to perfection for Indian conditions. Small-medium size bumps are barely felt and the bike just glides over them effortlessly without any need to even think of slowing down. The larger potholes are also dealt with utmost composure and confidence. Barely felt the need to stand up over Bangalore’s potholed roads.

Weight

On paper, the Himalayan seems like a heavy bike compared to its chief rivals but apart from when I had to put it on the center stand, I really couldn’t tell this was a 196kg bike at any point. The weight is distributed well and the bike is very well-balanced. Once on the move, the weight is excellently masked and I could thread through traffic surprisingly easily.

So to sum up, in my opinion, the Himalayan makes for a very very good one-bike garage option. Priced well for what it offers, I think this is the perfect bike for Indian conditions. As per Teknik Motors Bellandur, some colours (I think Slate Poppy Blue and Slate Himalayan Salt) are readily available. Other colours will take up to 4 months to deliver. I can definitely see one of these in Slate Himalayan Salt making its way into my garage in the future. For now, I still have some memories to make with my Meteor.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I struggled to find the ideal sitting position on the Himalayan that I've grown accustomed to on the Meteor.

BHPian Met_Jazz recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The perspective of a relatively new rider on the New Himalayan, transitioning from the Meteor 350:

The Meteor 350 is my first experience in both bike ownership and riding. Consequently, my perspective is that of a novice rider, transitioning from a cruiser and exploring an adventure tourer for the first time.

With the holidays upon us and no significant plans for the day, I decided on a ride to explore the nostalgic beauty of Bombay and capture some pictures of my bike. Additionally, a craving for the delicious Bun Mask at Jimmy Boy fueled my motivation. Following this plan, I set out from home, reaching Jimmy Boy only to find it entirely occupied by Harley riders. Opting to skip it, I turned back home.

On my way back, my motorcycle caught the eye of some enthusiasts, and she couldn't help but blush!

With half of my plan successful (riding to town) and half drowned (missing Bun Maska at Jimmy Boy), I decided to head home for lunch.

Nevertheless, fate had different plans for me. On my way back, I noticed a couple of new Himalayans parked at the Royal Enfield FMS in Worli and thought, why not take a look at the new Himalayan?

Though I was convinced they wouldn't grant me a test ride, I entered the store, fully prepared for a potential refusal. To my surprise, there was no one around when I arrived. Understandably, it was 10:00 AM on a Christmas holiday. Eventually, a salesman greeted me, and we exchanged pleasantries. After discussing a few things, I sat on the bike to get a feel for it and casually inquired if a test ride was possible. Much to my surprise, he responded with a confident "Yes."

In Hanle Black:

The store impressed me with its cleanliness, classiness, and functionality. The accessories section reflected the Royal Enfield Heritage. After the formalities, the sales assistant handed me the keys and guided me on a 4 km route, telling me to "enjoy". It was an amazing experience at the store.

Filled with enthusiasm, I stepped outside, examined the bike in its Kaza Brown scheme, donned my helmet, and hopped onto the saddle. I embarked on a pleasant 4-kilometer ride along a relatively open road, and here are my observations. I won't delve into technical details, as they have been thoroughly discussed in this thread. Instead, I'll share my personal experience.

Initially, the upright sitting position may take a few minutes to adjust to, especially for a newbie or someone transitioning from a cruiser. Once settled, confidence builds, and the enjoyment begins.

Adjusting to the gear shift took some time due to my familiarity with the Meteor's gear lever. However, the Himalayan's gear shifts were noticeably smoother, and the setup felt better than the old Himalayan. The gear ratios were also improved.

The engine's punchiness became evident with sufficient traction. I experienced no lag, and the acceleration was impressive, delivering a satisfying riding experience.

The seats on the Himalayan are incredibly comfortable. In contrast, one drawback I've encountered with the Meteor is its less comfortable seats for the pillion rider, requiring some adjustments to get used to it. The Himalayan surpasses this issue by a significant margin, ensuring both the rider and pillion can enjoy a comfortable ride without experiencing those bothersome "post-ride body pains."

The suspension was well-tuned, instilling confidence even on rough patches.

The only aspect I didn't particularly like was the seating position of the Himalayan compared to the Meteor. I want to clarify that this might not be the case for everyone. Since the Meteor is my first bike and the only one, I've ridden thus far, my body has grown accustomed to its specific configuration. Even after riding for 20 minutes, I struggled to find the ideal sitting position on the Himalayan that I've grown accustomed to on the Meteor. Additionally, as mentioned by some bhpians, there's a bit of discomfort with the foot pegs' position when both feet are down, requiring careful adjustment. For context, I'm approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, and I could keep my feet flat. I'm uncertain whether the seat height was altered or if it was in its original configuration.

In conclusion, I truly liked the way they designed the new Himalayan. It's distinctly different from the current model and is undoubtedly an upgrade from the Royal Enfield 350s/410s series.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Royal Enfield has also made some changes to the Stellar and Supernova variants.

Royal Enfield has launched a new variant of the Meteor 350. The new Aurora variant is positioned just below the top-spec Supernova variant and is priced at Rs 2,19,900 (ex-showroom, Chennai).

The Meteor 350 Aurora comes with a large windscreen as standard and an LED headlight with a chrome bezel. The bike has a stepped seat with a pillion backrest and rides on spoked wheels.

The Meteor 350 Aurora is available in three retro-style colour schemes: Green, Blue and Black.

Powering the Meteor 350 is a new 349cc, fuel-injected, single-cylinder engine that produces 20.2 BHP @ 6,100 rpm and 27 Nm @ 4,000 rpm. The engine is mated to a 5-speed gearbox.

Royal Enfield has also made some changes to the other variants. The Stellar variant now gets Tripper navigation, while the Supernova gets an LED headlight and aluminium switch cubes.

My Royal Enfield returned me a fuel efficiency of 40 km/l on the highways which I think is decent enough for a motorcycle of this weight.

BHPian Meteormariner recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The need for a solo long trip in order to relax, rewind and rejuvenate myself had been creeping into my mind while I had been on board one of the foreign going tanker vessels, ferrying tonnes of refined petroleum from Russia to the Far East.

It had been a hectic 5+ months as chief mate on board and as soon I signed off I started planning the ride. The plan was simple, the ride would have to be long but not tiring, hence I planned to halt and call it a day every 350-400 kms. I hit the gym every day as a part of the preparation and carried out a few strengthening workouts for my back, abs, glutes etc.

I had a bucket list of places to visit plus reels on insta made it easy to choose destinations. I had chosen Gokarna for its serene beaches, the trip had to cover a place of Shiv Worship (Me being an ardent fan of lord Shiva) hence Murdeshwar, a visit to Coorg had long been overdue hence Coorg (Madikeri) was put on the list. As I was not willing to ride more than 400 kms a day I was looking for a stay in a place some 400 kms from my home city Madurai, which could be Calicut or Mysore, I had been to Calicut in the past but had never been to Mysore, so Mysore was finalised as my first stop.

The trip was planned as below

• Madurai ----> Mysore -----> Murdeshwar -----> Gokarna -----> Coorg -----> Hasanur -----> Madurai
• Approximate distance- About 2000 Kms.
• Vehicle to be used: Royal Enfield Meteor 350

I got my motorcycle serviced at Madras Motors, Madurai. Generally, I avoid carrying out any major repairs prior to any long trip, be it in a car or a bike. This being a new motorcycle just 10 months old with just 4500 kms on the odometer, there was nothing major as such, just got the oil changed and the routine air filter, spark plug, brakes etc. cleaned. I wanted to try the fully synthetic Motul V 300 on my motorcycle but the service centre refused to use anything other than their own Liquid gun semi-synthetic. I am not a big fan of the liquid gun but had to settle with it as I did not want any issues with the warranty claims if anything arises, plus lab test results of liquid gun from a trusted youtuber were assuring.

Packing for the ride was carried out with all the safety gears, as a measure of contingency I had packed a puncture kit, a hand pump, a clutch cable and chain lube.

The initial plan was to begin the ride at 4am in the morning in order to reach Mysore before the mid-day sun could cook me inside out, but sleep being so intoxicating, I could start only at 6am. I had planned fuelling only at trusted petrol pumps or if in doubt then Shell, as I had once suffered with water-mixed petrol on one of my rides.

Speaking of Shell, I have carried Unleaded gasoline (Petrol) and Gasoil (Diesel) on my ship for Shell plenty of times. The way they vet the ship, the cargo tanks, the competency of the ship's officers, is of a totally different level, only a few such as British Petroleum / Chevron comes close to Shell in terms of such practises. So I could trust Shell with no second thoughts.
Shell petrol on my motorcycle, hmm I would say did not work wonders but I do agree the engine felt a lot smoother at speeds greater than 80kmph in comparison to fuel filled from other outlets, but the fuel average did not change significantly with Shell fuel.

Got the baggage strapped on the pillion seat with a few bungee cords and began the ride. First hour of the ride went fine when a slow but nagging pain started developing on my forehead (slightly above my forehead). I could make out; the pain was due to my newly purchased AXOR helmet. I had gotten used to my lightweight Vega and this new purchase was a 1650 plus 50 grams and the foam on the insides being new put a lot of pressure on my face and head.

I called up the accessory shop and told him about the pain I was facing, he assured me that it was a common occurrence and the helmet would free up with use. The helmet did free up a bit, but that took some 3 days. Lesson learnt the hard way- do not use brand new helmets on a long ride until it has been used adequately and freed for a comfortable fit. Anyways with the pain from the helmet continuing, I reached Mysore by 3pm, Mysore was a lot cooler and more pleasant than my home city Madurai.

Stay at Mysore

I had booked my stay at Hotel Roopa, after confirming if they had a safe place to park my motorcycle. Hotel Roopa was located near to the Palace, the stay was decent. If you are someone accustomed to staying in Marriot, Sterling or other such places then you would call it average. The restaurant on the terrace was a pure delight; the food and the ambience were top-class. After a few hours of rest at the hotel, I took a stroll around the city lanes, had good food at the terrace restaurant and called it a day. Something about Mysore keeps putting a smile on my face, I liked Mysore for its pleasant weather, good food, and wide roads.

Next day started at 7am from the hotel and reached Sri Chamundeshwari Temple on the Chamundi hills. The crowd was moderate, took the 100 rs ticket lane and got a good dharshan of the goddess. Mysore Palace was next on the list, an absolute delight, a piece of architectural marvel, as the day was a working day, the crowd was not much and I could leisurely click photographs and enjoy the spellbound marvel. After a happy visit to the Mysore palace, it was time to fuel myself, so returned to the hotel and had lunch followed by a quick nap.

The place to visit next was either the zoo or the Somanathapura temple, considering the distance and the shortage of time, the Somanathapura temple was dropped instead I visited the zoo. A trip around the zoo took me around 2 Hrs, I was able to view and photograph the animals without any issues as the zoo was less crowded. The evening was spent at the Brindavan Gardens, I wanted to view the light show but then came to know that light shows at the Brindavan had been called off until further notice.

After breakfast, the next day, started my ride towards Murdeshwar at about 9 Am.

This travelogue will never be complete without the mention of the vehicle that has carried and put up with me all along.

The RE Meteor 350 was an absolute delight on the highways, a mile muncher that can easily cruise all day long without straining itself, I was cruising at around 80 -90 kmph on the 5th gear and the bike had enough juice left to manoeuvre a overtake without downshifting gears. The throttle response was quick, and the heat management was very good, I never felt the engine heat on my legs(on the highways), nor did the engine stall after continuous long rides. The brakes had enough bite to bring the speed under control whenever needed; the working of the ABS was flawless. The long wheelbase coupled with the weight of the motorcycle kept the motorcycle well-planted on the roads. I had opted for touring seats and those did help in preventing a sore back during long rides.

The Cons to mention are the shortage of space on the seats, with luggage on the pillion seat or with a pillion there is hardly any room left for comfort, the positioning of front foot pegs though in a cruiser fashion does put some stress on the knees which was felt after a couple of hours of the continuous ride. The factory-fitted rear view mirror is absolute rubbish, it gives an inadequate view of the rear and it shifts if ridden on bad roads and more than once it fell loose and I had to stop and use a size 14 spanner to tighten it. I will have to invest in touring mirrors prior to my next ride, as this is a huge hazard on the highways.

The power produced by the motorcycle is just enough and it would have been better if the torque numbers had been a little higher as overtaking on steep terrains as in the never-ending twisty roads that fall between Mysore and Mangalore along the hills of Coorg demand some additional power to overtake those long sleeper buses before they approach the next turn. Other than that the motorcycle was all fine with nothing much to complain about.

The RE Meteor 350 returned me a fuel average of 40kmpl on the highways which I think is decent enough for a motorcycle of this weight. At the end of the ride (2015kms) I had to top up some 150 ml of engine oil, I believe the loss of oil was purely due to evaporation and not due to oil passing the piston rings. Respected members correct me if I am wrong.

Ride to Murdeshwar

This ride from Mysore to Murdeshwar is worth mentioning owing to the complexity of the roads. The road from Mysore until the start of ghat roads at Coorg is a single-lane road passing through a number of small villages so there will be slow-moving traffic and the ghat section along the Coorg though is filled with green vegetation on either side of the roads giving a serene feel, has lots of twists and turns, giving it a never-ending feel, if you happen to get stuck behind a heavy vehicle it would be long before you get a clear patch to overtake that vehicle. Once you clear the ghat section and start proceeding towards Mangalore, you will find road construction work in progress, limiting your speed and heavy vehicles ahead would be spewing dust on you. Only after you clear all this, would the NH66 clear up facilitating you to cover some significant ground.

I was on a motorcycle and hence the twists and turns along the route did not bother me much, but if I had been driving a car, the route would have tired me, hence the mention of this route on the write up as anyone planning a drive along this route can prepare adequately for the topography.

Stay at Murdeshwar

I reached Murdeshwar by 4.30pm, I had booked my stay at RNS Residency, which was right next to Shiv ji’s statue. These bookings for the hotels that I stayed all along the trip were done just the day before as the trip by itself was meant to be non-compelling and flexible. The rooms were priced a bit on the higher side, but that made sense and I felt were worth the penny once I parked my motorcycle and checked into the hotel. I would say that this place is one of the few quality stays that one can find in Murdeshwar, it is located on the seashore just a few meters from the temple.

As it was just a short walk I visited the statue and the temple once in the evening, and twice the other day, each time I visited I spent a significant amount of time in the temple atmosphere for the calming effect the atmosphere was providing and below the statue for the feel of sitting at the foot of the majestic lord Shiva. Dining needs were taken care of by the sea view restaurant located inside RNS Residency, they serve only vegetarian food but the taste and the ambience were good. Evenings were spent in the lobby viewing the sea and listening to soothing music. I did take a leisurely stroll around the coastal hamlet, it is just a small hamlet with nothing much to describe.

Ride and stay at Gokarna

The ride from Murdeshwar to Gokarna is a short 85 kms ride along the NH66, the NH has little to no traffic with fantastic roads, and I reached my hotel in no time. I had booked my stay at Blue Ocean Resort. The caretaker was a young lad about my age, he gave me an itinerary, that was when I realised I should have booked a stay at a place closer to the attractions. I had to ride at least an hour in order to get to one of the tourist attractions be it the beach or fort.

I rode to the yana caves, a trekking spot, packed a few snacks and began the trek. It was a short trek and not a very difficult one. Reached the absolutely stunning caves, a slight drizzle painted the atmosphere with loveliness. Clicked a few photographs and returned back. Mrijan Fort was next- a historical fort with great views all around. The Gokarna temple doesn’t allow men without dhothi (which was not known to me), so I was denied entry inside the temple, took a walk along the main beach which I did not like as the beach itself was dirty.

Om Beach was next, and I rode there. It is one of the best beaches of Gokarna, one can visit Kudle Beach on the way or trek to Kudle Beach from Om Beach. It was beautiful, the entire evening was spent there cherishing the lovely view while listening to some timeless music on the air pods. There is a café situated right on Om Beach, a café from where you can view the ocean while enjoying your favourite meal. Finished my dinner at the café and headed back to my resort.

I had checked google maps and the maps had suggested a time of about 25 minutes to head back from Om Beach to the resort, as it was just a 25-minute ride I leisurely started from Om Beach at 9.30 Pm and took the route suggested by google maps. The route was totally deserted with no human in sight, and the route was dark with thick with vegetation on either side of the road, to add to my woes my motorcycle was running low on fuel (I had planned to fuel on my way back to the resort) all this combined was at times sending shivers down my spine.

The deserted road took me to a place where the road was closed (literally I should say “the road was open”) meaning the road in the night opened for the ferries to pass and the path was closed for vehicular traffic. Google Maps was showing me no other alternate route, I had to take the same deserted road again and with no human in sight I just kept riding, all the time praying to find a fuel station somewhere. I then found an Indian oil petrol pump, filled my tank got directions and headed to my resort, it was a 45 km detour and reached my resort at around 11.30 pm, called it a day.

The resort I was staying at was on Nirvana Beach, in order to spend some quality time on the beach, woke up at 6.30 am and headed to the beach which was right behind my resort. As I set foot on its sandy shores, I was greeted by a breathtaking panorama that captivated my senses. Spend 2hrs on the deck chair on the beach doing nothing but just enjoying nature. Once the resort in charge informed me of the breakfast, I headed back to the resort, had my breakfast and commenced my return journey towards Coorg.

Ride and stay at Coorg (Madikeri)

The ride to Coorg was uneventful, I stopped just once for lunch at Mangalore, NH 66 till Mangalore was quite open and I could easily cruise at 90Kmph, after Mangalore the road construction and the ghat roads slowed me down limiting my speed to 50-60 kmph. Finally reached Madikeri at 4.30pm, checked into Hotel Regalia Grand. The hotel offered safe parking and ok-ish rooms, the best part of the hotel was that it was located at the centre of the town and was close to most of the tourist attractions. That evening after checking in was spent in the town doing small shopping.

The next day got my motorcycle water washed at a local garage and headed to Abbey falls, took some photographs and went to Raja’s tomb, Madikeri fort museum and Raja’s seat. I liked all the places but absolutely fell in love with Raja’s seat, a huge garden sparsely crowded with pictorial surroundings let me immerse in the soothing embrace of nature. I liked the place so much that I paid a second visit in the evening (after all I am a solo traveller with no commitments). I also visited the Omkareshwara temple. At Madikeri, my dining needs were taken care of by hotel Paakashala, offering decent vegetarian food and Hotel Paris offering mouth-watering non-vegetarian food, I should really appreciate their lemon chicken the taste of which lingers in my mouth to this date.

Breakfast was done and commenced my ride towards Hasanur (Talamalai forest) which lies on the Tamil Nadu side of the border.

Riding techniques adopted

• Throughout the ride, I perceived myself (anyone on two wheels irrespective of the size of the motorcycle) as the most vulnerable on the road.
• Kept my situational awareness at all time high by constantly scanning the road, road conditions, surrounding road conditions etc.
• At all times maintained an adequate buffer one with other vehicles, in order to leave enough space to manoeuvre, react to sudden situations and have an escape route if necessary.
• Avoided getting into the blind spot of large vehicles especially when moving in and out of traffic jams, where one would have to pass inches from large vehicles.
• Made my intentions clear to other road users, such as when changing lanes, taking a turn etc.
• Constant risk assessment: Identifying risks and mitigating risks as much as possible. The possibility of cattle/dog crossing the road is always there on Indian roads, though not foolproof, I try to avoid riding on the road shoulder and instead place myself in the middle of the lane which I believe would offer me time to react in case an animal crosses or tries to cross. Especially when there are shrubs or other similar vegetation on the side of the road that could hide an animal.
• Kept myself hydrated at all times and similarly kept a check on the health of the motorcycle, especially the drive chain, fluid levels, and heat dissipated from the engine.
• Avoiding straining any particular muscle and carrying out constant self-evaluation to relax any such muscle, especially the shoulder muscles get strained when one tightly holds on to the handlebars.

Ride and stay at Hasanur (Talamalai forest)

There is nothing much to mention about the ride to Talamalai forest, except for the sighting of a few deer and a wild boar on the road, the resort that I had booked was Peace valley view located inside Sathyamangalam tiger reserve right at the forest check post beyond which entry for private vehicles is not allowed. The resort that I had booked in the middle of the forest had no other guests, which meant I had the entire resort including the swimming pool for myself.

The locality itself was untouched by the hands of modernity; I was more than content with my stay at such a spot. I had instructed the kitchen in charge to cook up some chicken and chapattis for the dinner for which I was served abundant quantities of the same which was freshly purchased and cooked for their only guest.

On the other day, I happily had my breakfast consisting of dosas and eggs to order and began the last leg of my journey towards my home city Madurai.

Reached home by 5 pm after a 7-hour long ride with a head full of memories, a mobile full of photographs and a mouth full of words to describe the trip.

This ride across Royal Palaces and hidden havens has certainly given me memories of a lifetime and I am looking forward to my next ride, which would be only after I come back from my next sail for a vacation.

Thank you all for this long read.

Here are a few photographs from the trip

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

My friend with a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 also tagged along for the 12-day road trip.

BHPian rawjat_ recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My love of bikes started when I was a young boy. Getting a ride around the locality on my father’s ~~Bajaj~~ ‘Kawasaki’ Boxer just before he left for work was a daily affair. Apart from the brief stints of sitting on the tank and clutching the accelerator, the Boxer was also the bike that I learned to ride on when I grew up (beaut of a machine, btw). Since then, I have had extensive experiences on Hero Honda Street, Honda Activa, Honda Shine SP, Royal Enfield Classic (UCE) of my friend’s, and several short-lastings on other bikes. One good thing that came out of the pandemic was that I was able to save enough at home to get myself a Meteor 350 in March 2021. I had been an avid admirer of the Thunderbird while growing up but could never see myself owning a heavy bike as that. It was until I test-rode the Meteor that I knew we were meant to be together.

Fast forward to now, it’s only the next practical step for a motorcycle owner to dream about riding his/her machine to the remotes of the world. Luckily I have another friend, Anshul, who shares my interests. He owns an Interceptor 650 with Powerage Exhausts (’nuff said). We had taken a week-long trip to Bir, Himachal Pradesh back in August 2022 which was basically just an induction into a rider’s life. The dreams of leaning against the curvy roads to the views of the mountains were curbed by harsh & heavy rain. We didn’t get to see a lot either, view-wise. But it did teach us a lot about preparing better.

It was time for a longer trip with more stops and better preparations for sun, snow, and rain. It was time for the Himalayas yet again. I think we chose the perfect time of the year to go to northern Uttarakhand; March. Places that were closed for the winter were opening up but not seeing tourists pouring in; the perfect setting for people who just want to sit down and take it all in without any rush (hint: me). Plus, the discounts you get along the lines of an affordable trip. I started from Gurgaon whereas Anshul started from Chandigarh. Our route was:

Gurgaon/Chandigarh—Dehradun—Dhanaulti—Uttarkashi—Harshil—T ehri—Chopta—Rishikesh—Gurgaon/Chandigarh

A total of more than 1300 kms in 12 days.

Preparations

Safety Gears

• Jacket— Rynox Urban
• Gloves— Rynox Urban Leather
• Helmet— MT Thunder
• Knee Guards — Pro X
• Shoes — Quechua Trekking shoes from Decathlon (no budget)
• Rain Protection — Rucksack cover from Decathlon, backpack covers from Solimo and Skybags

Bike Modification

Prior to this trip, I hadn’t made any additions to the bike to prepare for the long rides. I relied on the above-mentioned safety gears, my rucksack, and 3 bungee cords. But this trip would require more clothes, insulation, and better lighting owing to the various weather conditions and the sheer length of the tour. I had two major things on my mind — getting saddlebags and a good light setup.

As I had the regular service done just 2 weeks back, I didn’t need to worry about any bike-related challenges.

Auxiliary Lights

I am personally not a fan of LEDs. I know they are the more practical choice but I am just repelled by them. I was instead looking at a good option of halogen fog lights for the bike. After some reading and browsing around, I found Vaishnu Fog Lights (Vintage Edition). The price is reasonable, the output is great for the price, and an aesthetic complement to the Meteor is the cherry on top. The wiring kit from Vaishnu is pretty good too; it comes with good insulation, a relay, a fuse, and a switch. The lights + wiring kit cost me around Rs 2200. The result is really great for the price.

My friend’s Interceptor hones a set of Hella LED lights which he sourced from the US and it cost him around Rs 8000. We did stand our bikes side-by-side at one point to compare the lights. While the Hella setup was definitely better, we did agree mutually that it wasn’t good enough to justify the 4x price vs the Vaishnu Halogens. The Hella setup would also be more efficient with better wiring, which was a fault on the Mechanic’s part. We are reserving the final verdict on the lights for now.

Luggage Carrier

I was looking to install a pair of saddlebags which means I had to get a set of saddle stays as well. I was looking for slimmer options for the latter but to my disappointment, almost every variant on the market is quite bulky and protruding from the bike’s frame. Thanks to my procrastination, the trip was in the next 2 days and I didn’t have the option to order online. So I headed to Karol Bagh. After searching for some time, I found reasonably-priced saddle stays for Rs 1300 which catered to my preferences. As for the Bags, I found a pair of Scoyco saddle bags for Rs 4500. After spending some time with the bags during the trip, I found the quality to be horrible. The enthusiast market is already overpriced; I can’t make sense of how the companies still have the audacity to cheat the customers by providing cheap quality at a premium price. My fault is that I should have researched more before making the purchase.

Miscellaneous

Leather grips on the handles have always appealed to me. I bought a pair from Leatherzoid on Amazon. They are cheaper than their counterparts and the quality is good. The supernova brown is well complemented by the tan-coloured leather grips.

I bought a detachable GoPro mount from Amazon. The same product was available at different prices by different sellers. I was able to find the cheapest of the lot. The velcro-based mechanism worked really well. It never impacted the closing of the visor and the videos turned out to be pretty stable as well.

The Ride

Day 1 — Gurgaon to Dehradun

I started from Gurgaon on March 11, Saturday around 8 am, and was meeting my friend from Chandigarh in Dehradun. The Delhi-Meerut expressway has banned 2-wheelers, so I had to find an alternate route via the Rajpur Extension—Modinagar. When you have to manoeuvre through the crowded roads at the very beginning of a trip, it can bring down the high spirits to a temporary halt. Why can’t we have a small lane on the expressways exclusively for two-wheelers? I doubt anyone would be unwilling to pay the toll rates. Enough has been said about this topic, so I won’t elaborate much.

With occasional stops for chai and breakfast, I was running a little late but managed to reach Dehradun by 2:30 pm. Anshul and I met at a Subway, had supper, and soon started on our way to Dhanaulti. Don’t trust Google Maps here. We were being shown a road 22 kms long but as we touched the foothills, government milestones showed that it was 65 kms away. We were a little disheartened as we wouldn’t be able to reach in the daylight but it was also an opportunity to test the investment we’d made on the aux lights. We reached Dhanaulti around 7 and were able to find a good bargain on a room. A couple of easy-going guys with no need for luxury meant huge savings. We roamed around the main road for some time and clicked some great photos of the night.

Day 2 — Dhanaulti to Uttarkashi

We woke up to the beautiful view of the Dhanaulti ranges and directly headed to Suwakholi where the nearest Petrol pump was. After filling the tanks, we had breakfast nearby and went back to our hotel. We checked out but placed our luggage in the care of the lovely staff, as we were planning to cover the nearby Surkanda Devi Temple and a few other places before leaving for Uttarkashi. We wrapped up the temple visit, at an eco-park in Dhanaulti, and were to ready to start on our way to Uttarkashi by 1:30 pm. We are a bunch of laid-back travellers, so never in a hurry to cover things quickly. The hotel staff informed us of the various ways to Uttarkashi and suggested which one we should take. We took the turn that diverges from the Dhanaulti-Mussoorie road just short of Suwakholi. As soon as we climbed down a little, the bad roads started. Combine that with the rains that the area was receiving, the ride was just horrible. It was a long stretch of bad, uneven roads (or whatever was left of it). The Meteor’s speed had been limited to a maximum of 3rd gear.

We passed a lot of small villages on the way and only after 4:30, did we find roads where you would not have to worry about changing gears every 2 minutes. This road was just breathtaking. We also signalled each other to stop and tell each other how beautiful the valley was. We continued leaning against the curves of the roads, with me occasionally switching on/off my GoPro. The Meteor leaned into it all (both literally and metaphorically). Shortly afterwards, we started spotting a thin blue stream on the foothills in the distance. After riding a little more, we could see that it was the Ganga (or Bhagirathi). We stopped to admire the beauty of the legendary river. Har Har Gange! It started raining at this point. We were reconsidering our journey to Uttarkashi and pondered the option to stay at a nearby village. We were working remotely the next day and thought we could cover the remaining distance to Uttarkashi the next morning. But after riding a little more, our minds changed and we decided to cover the whole distance that evening itself. Who’d want the headache of waking early the next day (it was a Monday)? Soon after, we descended on the BRO roads and oh boy was it amazing. It was raining, and the sun had set but the beautiful roads combined with our light setup gave us enough confidence to cruise around the speeds of 80 km/h.

We reached Uttarkashi around 8 pm but finding a hotel was a task as a lot of hotels had not opened. After some wandering around, we found a good place and decided to stay there. The best part— it was on the bank of Ganga and you could hear the water from your room. We had dinner at a nearby hotel and retired to sleep shortly. Having a full Indian meal after a tiresome day is something that no poems have been written about; I wonder why…

Day 3 — Stay in Uttarkashi

It was a Monday and we had work. We decided to stay at Uttarkashi and make our further journey the next day. I mostly worked the whole day from my hotel room while my friend covered the nearby Nachiketa Taal as he didn’t have any pressing tasks. There’s not much to talk about this day; it was pretty mundane.

My friend consulted about the weather at Harshil and we decided to buy a pair of good leather gloves. I was carrying the Rynox riding gloves and a pair of fleece gloves from Decathlon. But it’s always better to be safe than sorry. So we decided to invest in the leather gloves.

Day 4 — Uttarkashi to Harshil

We started early morning from Uttarkashi to Harshil. Checked out, paid our dues, and started the ride. The day was sunny, with no traces of upcoming downpour sessions. Around 10 km outside Uttarkashi, We saw a filling station that mentioned that it was the last one we’d find. We filled our tanks.

The ride to Harshil was around 70 km and would take us around 3 hours, the entirety along the Ganga. You can never get tired of this road. As the river goes through different terrains, the view keeps getting better as you move closer to the source. We made a small stop to put on our thermal layers as it had started getting chilly. As soon as the snow-covered ranges started making cameos on the curving valleys, we knew we were in the Himalayas. I wish I had enough talent to describe in words how I was feeling. Cue the Bollywood song — “Aaj main upar, aasmaan neeche, aaj main aage, zamaana hai peechhe”.

We reached Harshil around 12:30 pm. There were few hotels that had opened up. After browsing for an hour, we found a place that met our expectations within the budget. Deboarded the luggage from the bikes and immediately got some chai and pakodas. I had to start work and was already running late. We had reached by noon and had the whole day to relax, barring the effort of some office work. It was a good, humbling day.

Day 5, 6 & 7 — Stay at Harshil

We stayed at Harshil from Wednesday to Friday. There was a lot to cover nearby and the next destination (Tehri) would require a whole day of travel. Due to work, we couldn’t travel that long and decided to stay in Harshil and cover the nearby areas.

Harshil may be one of the most beautiful places I have been to. It’s a small settlement with beautiful houses, a small army contingent, and the beautiful blue Bhagirathi with vast banks. The food and accommodation options are limited but enough for everyone to find something. There IS a problem with power cuts in the afternoon; had to face some heat from the office for that.

During these 3 days, we covered our way to Gangotri (25 km away) and Saat Taal (a 3-4 kms uphill trek from a nearby village). The extremely chilly weather would have us ditch the protective gear while riding and just have the thermal layers and -10°C jackets on us. The knee protection also manages to block a great deal of wind falling onto the legs; the tightening velcros stop the air from seeping in.

Everything was closed in Gangotri, including the temple, but a couple of shops. Tourist season had not started and we saw a maximum of 30 people in the 3 hours we stayed there. The gentlemen who prepared us breakfast had just arrived at the lodge he ran and was set up in the morning. We also met with a gentleman who takes care of the Tapovanam Hrianyagarbha Art Gallery. He walked us through the art gallery which comprised a great collection of photographs taken from the region by Swami Sundarananda ji. After some time there, I filled an empty water bottle with one of the most unadulterated Ganga water, as per the demand of my parents.

The other place we went to was Saat Taal. We did that on Friday and were facing downpour the whole time. Not being used to the altitude and multiple layers, we resorted to multiple breaks during the trek. We reached the 1st taal in around 1.5 hours. It was after this pond that snow had enveloped the land. We went a little ahead but I decided to stay back. Anshul wanted to cover some more distance but I was happy with the view I was getting. He managed to cover 4 more taals, and only returned when his spirits were killed by the footprints of a bear on snow. We trekked down shortly after and treated ourselves to Maggi and chai, yet again! The evening that followed was good; tourists were settling in for the weekend with dancing, booze, and bonfires.

Day 8 — Harshil to Tehri

It was a Saturday. We had a light brunch and started on our way to Tehri. We were planning to reach by the evening. As we started descending down the Harshil Valley, the beautiful expanse of the valley soothed us yet again. We maintained slow speeds on our motorcycles and took as much in as we could. THIS was the reason motorcycling was developed. THIS was the reason uncertain folks embark on unplanned journeys. Remember those motorcycle ads from a decade back that celebrated motorcycling as a way of life? It didn’t seem an exaggerated depiction now; we were living it.

It started pouring just as we were a little away from Uttarkashi. The road to Tehri was a turn before Uttarkashi. It kept on raining. After we climbed a few ranges, the serene valley enveloped by the clouds urged us to a stop. Cups of chai (yet again) and bun maska kept good company. When we resumed the ride, the forthcoming road would be covered with fog for a good half hour. Google Maps was unreliable on this road. We were at a loss. Thanks to the constant help of the locals, we found the right way to reach New Tehri which would have enough options for accommodation. It was around 8 pm at this point. We found a nice hotel and put our mud & rain-drenched gear to dry. The dinner prepared by the lady in the hotel was just lovely. Like the food at home prepared with love and care. After having KitKat that we had procured on the way for dessert, we retired to a long, snoring sleep.

Day 9 — Tehri to Chopta

With 4 days left on the trip, we were expecting rain the whole time. However, the day started out sunny and bright. It did lift our spirits up. Nothing is as exhausting as riding with 4 layers on, in the rain. We put Chopta on the map and started riding. While we were having breakfast, the locals let us into a shortcut that the map didn’t show; through the Tehri Dam. The CISF is strict, so be sure to put down the action cameras and phones mounted on the handlebar.

Just after Srinagar, we stopped at a small place to have some snacks. That is when we met an enthusiastic family who was returning from Chopta. A young man who’d recently purchased a Meteor 350 himself rushed to us to ask about the bike, its performance, and how our experience had been. We had a lengthy conversation with the whole family about riding, our gear and how much it cost, places we’d already been to, and a lot more. It’s always great meeting people and hearing a little admiration for a few choices we’ve made.

We were glad that this would be the first whole-day ride where we’d be able to reach the destination before sunset. We stopped just before Chopta to enjoy the sun setting behind the distant ranges. Oh boy, were we wrong! There are two ‘Chopta’s in Uttarakhand. Both with a Tungnath temple. And as our luck (or the lack of it) would have it, we were headed to the wrong one. After passing Srinagar, and Rudraprayag, and finally reaching the wrong Chopta, we were told by some locals that we were in the wrong Chopta. We were looking at another 2.5 hours of riding. Alas, never reaches before day fall. We set out on our way to Agastyamuni. The both of us planned to stay there and make the journey to Chopta the next day. It had been a long day. As we entered Agastyamuni, the crowded and jostling town had a different tone from what we’d been seeing the past week. We decided against staying there and instead planned to make our way to Ukhimath. As we reached Ukhimath, we were impressed by a grand hotel that caught the eye from a distance. After being impressed by the immense rooms and hospitality, our heads turned to each other when prices were revealed. I started looking for some accommodation options in Ukhimath as well as Chopta. Turns out we were headed to Chopta. Another 30 minutes of riding and we were on the outskirts of Chopta. The hotels and stays start long before it. One thing to keep in mind — there’s no network since 10 kilometres from the place. We had dinner at a nice cafe. The food was good. The owner’s friend tried to sell their rooms to us, employing every marketing technique he knew, and also scared of snowfall happening in Chopta. We told him we’d take our chances.

We continued on our way to Chopta in the rain, which was about 15 km away. We came across a patch where mud had accumulated on the road, solidified, and became slippery. The Interceptor made its way across on the 1st gear. When it was my turn, I forgot to downshift to the 1st, and the bike’s rear tire kept skidding forward despite the brakes. Slowly and slowly, I realised I won’t be able to keep the bike upright. So I gave up and the bike was in the mud, left-side down. I honked for my friend to come to help me up. We somehow managed to get the bike up, drag it out of the patch and start it up. There was no injury or tear but a load of dirt on the left saddlebag. I started the bike and we carried on.

All the accommodations are tents or small rooms with the least basic amenities. After looking at 3 places, we settled into a room having given up on any more bike time. There is no electricity in the area, lights are powered by solar panels and are only available from 6 pm to 10 pm. We got out of my drenched and muddy gear and settled into the 2 layers of thick blankets.

Day 10 — Tungnath Trek in Chopta

We had been riding with wet shoes for the past 2 days. My army dad had told me tales of the times when he was posted in snowy regions and would come to the barracks with trench feet. I was living those stories now. One trick we used during these situations was to stuff our wet shoes with newspaper. While it doesn’t help with drying in the chilly and moist weather, it does take the extra droplets away from the inner paddings of the shoes, leaving them damp at best.

We had breakfast at the camp and went off to the Tungnath base. Parked our bikes, got two walking sticks, and started on the trek. Having been a little used to the altitude now, we were treading faster than the Saat Taal trek. We had some Oreos, Munch(s), and Salted Peanuts for the energy boost. After covering around 2 kilometres, the snow started appearing on the stairs. Another 1/2 kilometre in, it was the first time I experienced snowfall. It’s much better than rain, tbh. Munchies in the Snow was a different kind of high. We reached Tungnath around 3. The temple was closed but we managed to climb a fence and see the temple from about 15 metres away. We also wanted to cover Chandrashila and also made our way further to another 600 metres. But after a point, there was no sign of any stone or way; everything was white. It was wise to turn back and return.

We trekked down, had yet again chai, and returned to the camp. The evening view from the camp was great. The vast Himalayan ranges in the distance and numerous tents in the foreground meadows. We were treated to a tasty meal of Daal-chawal and aloo-gobhi, enough to put you to a sound sleep.

Day 11 — Chopta to Rishikesh

It was a long ride from Chopta to Rishikesh. The roads were great and we kept cruising at good speeds the whole time. It was still raining. Our feet were still soaked. But the roads made us forget the woes. Some chai stops now and then, and we reached Rishikesh around 7 pm. It was a great feeling seeing shops, options, and people in general. We had almost completed the trip.

The bike had started making some noise from the chains. It had endured enough with the rain and dirt. It was time to get a wash. But I decided to get it done the next morning. We found a cosy little stay/cafe and retired there. For dinner, we were looking for something other than chawal/roti and came across a South Indian restaurant. The dosa was amazing. I would still go back just to have the dosa again.

Day 12 — Rishikesh to Gurgaon

It was the last day. My friend and I would part ways after Hardware.

I woke up early in the morning, freshened up, and went out in search of a bike-washing facility. After asking some locals and taking wrong turns. I finally came across a small mechanic workshop in the busy market. I told him about the chain noise too. The guys were lovely. They tightened the chain, cleaned it, and also applied gear oil to it. Having read about the chain-lube alternates, I was glad it was gear oil. They washed the bike and when I had to pay them, they didn’t charge for the chain treatment. The wash cost 100 rupees but I tipped them another 50 for the added effort as a thank you. As I started the bike and rode forward, it felt brand new. These minor things are what they mean by taking care of the machine, I reckon.

I went back to the hotel. My friend was ready by then. We had breakfast just outside the place and started boarding our luggage on the motorcycles. Soon after, we were on the long roads, rode to the outskirts of Rishikesh, and then bid each other farewell with the promise of sending the pictures soon.

I passed Haridwar, Muzzafarnagar, and Meerut to be met by the traffic of Modinagar—Rajpur Extension traffic yet again (sigh). Nothing like that at the start and end of a journey. I kept going and finally reached my place in Gurgaon around 6:30 pm.

To sum it up

Likes

• If you’re wondering why I didn’t mention my bike a lot, the reason is simple: the Meteor is a lovely little machine. It will take you anywhere you need to go. You don’t really realise that you’re dependent on a machine to take you places. And the Supernova Brown variant looks handsomely masculine against any background!
• The attention — with its imposing cruiser look, one could confuse it for a heavy Harley on the rearview mirror when it’s loaded to the full with saddlebags.
• The comfort — initial rides had me adjusting my position every 20 minutes, occasional backaches and putting my feet down from the footpegs to dangle freely above the road. But this time I was pretty comfortable, almost never adjusted myself and always felt in command.
• The Vaishnu Fog lights — With the Interceptor leading and Meteor behind it, we lit the roads bright with our combined light output. It instils great confidence in moving forward.

Dislikes

• Scoyco saddlebags— I have mentioned it before. The quality was pathetic. I would urge everyone to research more and go for better brands like Rynox, Viaterra, or others.
• Tires — It wouldn’t be fair to bash the stock of CEAT tires. They do a decent job most of the time. But if rain is what you’re concerned about, there are better options in the market. Do suggest some that you’ve tried. Might look to change them in some time.
• Suspension — It’s great for highway riding. But bad patches force the rider to slow down to turtle speeds. Standing on the footpegs is not an option either. But this is not something we can modify a lot, given the riding triangle.

Learnings

Need to get waterproof, high-ankle boots going forward. I am planning to get a custom leather boot made for my feet' measurements. Better if I could have zips instead of laces. Better yet would be to carry an extra pair of shoes especially when traveling in the rain.

Carry even more pairs of socks and undies. They’re never enough if you’re going to ride in the rain.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Understood "Honda refinement" when a 15k km test bike felt incredibly smooth to ride.

BHPian asmr recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Alright!

I finally got to ride both the Meteor and the H'ness today! My wife was not able to join me but I decided not to delay the rides any further. I can always go back and do one more TD if needed.

First stop - Royal Enfield Meteor 350.

Talked to the SA there, who gave me the license and phone number (no paperwork?), got the keys and headed out with the Supernova variant that was parked outside.

The first impression: The weight shows! Moving it when standing on the ground was a pain. I am not attuned to it, since I have been driving an Activa for most of my adult life. It was like I needed to put in the effort and there was a lag before the vehicle actually moved. But once I got into the saddle, it was pretty fine.

I was very apprehensive about driving a geared motorcycle after decades. I fired up the engine, slotted into 1st gear and mildly let the clutch go without turning the accelerator. The bike moved pretty nicely. Switched to 2nd gear, throttle a bit and still, it was smooth enough. Every time I closed the throttle, while changing gears or before braking though, the front of the vehicle dipped down. Weird.

At an open stretch, I decided to see how fast this machine can accelerate. It was going fine until 4th or 5th gear. When accelerating beyond 60, there was a horrible noise coming from either the engine or transmission or the wheel chains. It stops when the throttle was closed and then comes back when it is opened beyond a point. That and the vibrations. Yes, this was a test vehicle with 9K on the odometer. I felt that sound and vibrations were unacceptable. I am not sure why but I found myself adjusting my seating position twice or thrice since I felt like it was sliding to the front somewhat.

The gear lever on the Meteor was nice since I didn't have to move my heel back to be able to push the lever to 2, 3, 4 or 5th gear. Anyway, a 2.5 to 3km ride later, I got the vehicle back to the store. They wanted to discuss the quotation and I said I pretty much have it configured on my RE portal and it shows Rs.2.6L on the road, including all the accessories. I informed the SA that I will get back with a decision in 2 weeks’ time, thanked them and left for the next TD.

Second and last stop - Honda H'ness 350

(just a few buildings down from the RE showroom)

The place is just dusty but this time I was met by a smiling SA, who waived off the paperwork for the TD. Gave my license, took the keys and was shown to a Matte Grey DLXPro in the parking lot.

Took the vehicle out of parking, keyed in and started the engine which roared to life with the unique H'ness sound. So far so good.

Slotted the gear to 1st (I was surprised at how little effort it needed, compared to the Meteor. It is easy on both but easier on the H'ness), let the clutch go and the machine started rolling. Handled the bad pavement very well when getting out to the main road. The gear lever seems too long even for my foot (and I do not get footwear that easily except with Crocs or Hush Puppies), with me having to move my foot back to be able to push the thing to 2nd gear. I noticed that a car that wanted to overtake me on the right decision not to for whatever reason.

Went up to 3rd gear before a left turn and opened up to 4th and 5th which came in quick succession. Here is where the "refinement" that everyone talked about hit me. This was a test vehicle with 15K km on the odometer I think and it was incredibly smooth. The horns on the H'ness were phenomenal, compared to the Meteor. The braking was very good and the machine did not do any head dip when the throttle was closed. It just rolled along nicely. After a couple more stretches, a mix of broken roads, speed breakers and open stretches, a few more honks, a nice-sounding ride and I was back at the parking lot of the showroom. The SA was waiting there. He saw me with my grin and said "Sir, this looks perfect for your height and build". I was like "Not booking today, my friend" but I had to agree, this bike and its ride felt really nice.

I met the manager of the facility, was given a quick tour of the service centre on the top floor (it was neat!), discussed quotes, and informed the SA that I am interested in getting the new BS6 Phase 2 bikes and the new kits. He didn't have any information on either but wanted me to make a booking right then and there. I asked him to be patient and that he will hear back from me in 2 weeks but also that he keeps me informed on the 2 requirements I had. Then I headed out to get back home.

The verdict

Honda H'ness wins, hands down. There are a few panchayats to be had in the family before this vehicle comes home. So, I will keep this thread updated if there are any developments.

Thanks for all your help thus far!

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I've owned a few motorcycles in the past, with the last one being the Bajaj Avenger 220.

BHPian ramgkulkarni recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Fellow BHPians, I intend to take this opportunity to let you know a small story along with What bike? question to you all. So, let’s get started.

Beginnings:

I started riding 2 wheelers when I was in class 6. My tuition teacher would allow us to use his Kinetic Luna which was barely faster than my cycle at the time. But it kindled a fire that is hard to put out. Soon my brother (Seday Guy) and I were riding anything with 2 wheels on them. Closer to class 10, we had already started riding our dad's Bajaj Chetak secretly and sometimes not so secretly too.

First 2-wheeler - Kinetic Honda (Old rusty)

Finally, when I was 16, my dad gave in and allowed us to use a Kinetic Honda which a kind cousin had handed over to us before he left the country. It was CH registered moped in Bangalore used by 2 very curious 16-year-olds. A recipe for disaster! I have cried, begged, and escaped numerous cops in Bangalore with whom this Kinetic had become a regular. Any cops who served during 2005-06 in the Vijayanagar/Rajajinagar area will know us. Being twins, we even entertained some cops before we were set free to take the bike out of the police's hands. After costing a bomb in fuel and Fine money, my father was set on getting us something more economical. Btw the engine seized as well while we owned it, but hey! we were 2 teenagers eager to ride that bike out to the moon.

First new bike: Bajaj CT-100 Deluxe

My father told us that he would get us a new bike depending on how well we do in our mid-terms in 12th. So obviously my brother and I forged a few copies of marks card and did so amazingly well. Nobody was hurt and we were getting a new bike! After a lot of negotiations with my father, we ended up with CT 100. The options that were considered are still engrained in my memory like I had this chat the other night. First up we asked for the last gen 5-speed RXZ or RX-135. It was straight-up rejected because of fuel consumption. Disappointed and hurt, asked for a Pulsar 150. Also rejected. In a wain effort, we were bargaining for Bajaj Discover 135, hoping my dad will see some sense. Alas, it was he who was paying for it, and we were getting the CT-100. As much as I hated the old man for buying us the absolute lowest spec of a 2-wheeler, the bike would bring in a lot of memories and would eventually find me the future mother of my son. And it did give 90-95 km/l in the initial days we had it. The bike became an integral part of our growing up and helped us roam corners of this city because of the generous mileage. That bike has seen so much abuse and never once died on us. We put in some local headers to make it sound cool, and ridiculous! The bike never rode with less than 2 pillion riders, worst case even 3 pillions. It gave us a lot of good memories. It was a conversation starter with my future wife as well whom I met when I was 17 years old!

The first bike I bought on my own: 1999 Yamaha RX 135

Cut to the chase, I was now earning and wanted to realise a lifelong dream of owning an RX. I bought one from a dear friend of ours and it was everything I wanted. It stayed with me from 2010 till 2012 when I had to move abroad for work for a year. My brother took it to Bombay where he was working at the time. He had his time with it too. he decided to come back home after his few years in Bombay. We decided to do a nut and bolt restoration and it turned out great. Used that bike till 2017 and finally decided to part ways with it as it had become a bit of an oil burner and also needed too much upkeep. I still regret selling it though.

Final Bike: Bajaj Avenger 220

This bike was being sold in electronics city by a friend of a friend. He was moving abroad and had barely used this bike for 2k km in the full 1.5 years he had. I blindly wrote a cheque and brought it back home. The red avenger was an absolute treat with zero issues/niggles. I used it for over 6 months and clocked just over 5k km before I had to leave for another stint abroad.

What I realized with Avenger was that even though it is an amazing-looking cruiser, it lacked the weight to be driven on the highway. It didn’t have high-speed confidence compared to a bullet. At the same time, my brother bought an Enfield as his daily commuter. So, there was a real-time comparison being driven by us. After my final stint abroad, I had given up riding bikes to the office. Relied on office transport or the car thereafter. Since the avenger wasn’t being used, I sold it for around 14K km.

Some pics of that bike:

Next up - A series of un-entertaining scooters.

• Bought Suzuki Access 125 for my father as a retirement gift and he barely used it. Kept it around for 2 years and eventually sold it
• Bought Yamaha Ray-z which currently does the duty at home.

So why a new bike?

My wife recently went through an old album of our days in college and reminisced about some of the odd bike trips we did. She always wanted to go on a small ride on the avenger but time never allowed us to do it. As I am turning 35 years old early next year, she said I should get a new bike and we should make new memories while we still have some pepper left in the hair. As a petrolhead, you take your cues when they present themselves even if they appear half heatedly. When it is so direct, you just grab the opportunity. The icing on the cake, she wants to buy it as a birthday present. So, I am going to get my old leather jacket dry-cleaned (hopefully I still fit into it) and prepare myself for my mid-life crisis bike.

Requirement:

1. Needs to be a cruiser. The avenger spoiled me with its seat and posture
2. Want to have that Royal Enfield-esque heft to the bike. Gives amazing stability out on the open road
3. Hopefully below 3 lakhs
4. And should be usable in the city traffic

What I have seen so far:

1. RE Interceptor: What a beast! It was fun driving this around on a test drive. What I noticed is that it is a bit handful in city traffic. My brother who riding a pillion was jumping back and forth to stay put in the seat. I feel it's just not going to work in Bangalore Traffic. It doesn't come under 3 lakhs but I would have brought it if it matched my requirements.
2. RE Himalayan: Doesn't perform the same as the 350. Found the low-end torque down compared to 350. Not sure if it was the test ride vehicle issue or not
3. RE Meteor: Superb sitting comfort for the rider but not that great for the pillion. I am ok with this as my wife fits perfectly well. I found the 350 suits the city and highway need very well. The fit and finish along with the new engine are unlike the old RE. I found the paint to be absolutely gorgeous, maybe better than my old swift as well.

RE Meteor 350 has clearly won my heart but I want to make sure I review other options as well.

Other options:

• Honda H'ness CB350: need to test drive
• Nothing else has come close to my imagination. I haven't been up to date with the bike mark.

Request some of our biker Bhpians to chip in their valued inputs.

Thanks again, folks!

Update: I also want a good city commuter as well. This will include short school pickup drops and maybe even the occasional office visits.

Interceptor is a beast! It's not for me though. I can manage very well with a 350 and it's adequate for me. The top speed runnings will always be in the 4-wheeler for me. This is as I said a mid-life crisis bike till the enthusiasm wanes off or I discover a newfound love for motorbikes.

The new RE is quite the looker. The seats are quite comfortable, especially the touring seats, so I will check that out.

Here's what BHPian AtheK had to say on the matter:

Try the Hunter 350, it is a great bike to ride as well, how comfortable pillion is, you will need to figure that out with your wife, take her along and see if she is fine. It is light and nimble and should work great in the city.

I ride the interceptor in the city all the time now, it is easily manageable, does get heated up a bit but it is fine. The only big downside is the mileage of around 20-21 Km/l in the city. That said I still have it as me and my wife can easily head out to highways and it is just such a pleasure to ride it on highways with a pillion.

If you are ok with the 20-21 km/l mileage in the city I will recommend the interceptor for sure, as memories eventually would be made on the highway rides and not in the city!

Here's what BHPian shancz had to say on the matter:

Since you mentioned the cruiser as a requirement:

The Super Meteor can bring you the Interceptor powertrain in an even more premium and expensive cruiser package but for what you want to achieve with this motorcycle, the Meteor is the optimal choice.

But do definitely ride Honda CB350, maybe you like that stance better for two-up riding and if you do check out the Classic 350 as well.

Here's what BHPian iamahunter had to say on the matter:

At this age, my suggestion would be to get something which will keep you both happy for years to come. I am the same age and I can understand the "pepper" reference. That's how I justified my big bike purchase to my mom and close relatives.

Do not think below the Super Meteor if you plan to hit the highway, I know it will be over your budget, but consider it as an investment for happiness. Yes, the 350s are good (Honda and RE both), but I would not consider it an upgrade over your Avenger. I think you should take your time to think about it before you take the plunge.

Here's what BHPian ajay0612 had to say on the matter:

Your choice is between RE Meteor and Honda CB350. Try Honda CB350 and maybe you will be able to decide more quickly. If your height is 5'6" plus and the BigWing showroom is not far away, I would suggest CB350. It is almost flawless and simple.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.