The Aprilia RSV4 Factory competes with the Ducati Panigale V4 S.

Aprilia has launched its flagship superbike, the RSV4 Factory, in India. It is priced at Rs 31.26 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Aprilia RSV4 Factory is based on a dual beam aluminium frame suspended by an adjustable 43mm USD Ohlins fork at the front and an electronically adjustable Ohlins mono-shock at the rear.

The RSV4 Factory has an aggressive-looking fairing with dual LED headlamps, a colour TFT display, clip-on handlebars and a narrow tail section. It is equipped with features like lean-sensitive traction control, ABS, engine brake control and six riding modes.

The superbike is powered by a 1,099cc, liquid-cooled V4 engine that produces 214 BHP @ 13,000 rpm and 125 Nm @ 10,500 rpm. The engine is mated to a 6-speed gearbox via a quickshifter. Braking is handled by twin 330 mm front discs paired with Brembo Stylema calipers and a 220 mm rear disc with Brembo 2-piston calipers.

It is a very forgiving motorcycle. On the other hand, my Ducati 848 EVO is razor-sharp and I need to get every input spot on to get rewarded.

BHPian SnS_12 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

While Bianca (848 EVO) got most of the attention towards maintenance and upgrades in the last year, Bluebird had to be happy with just a Sprint filter replacement done during the annual maintenance service along with the coolant change and all fluids being replaced.

Also, it turned 7 in late February and it still feels like yesterday when I got her in 2017. It’s such a forgiving motorcycle and the engine on it is up for any challenge thrown at it at any time. While Bianca is razor sharp all the time and you need to get every input spot on to get rewarded or else it will throw its tantrum at you and the worst being riding it slow in stop-go traffic. Bluebird on the other hand is chill in any situation and will turn into a beast the moment you command it too.

Some pictures…

The Sprint replacement filter. Fingers crossed and hoping it restricts dust intake just like the OE filter.

Celebrating Bluebird's 7th birthday with a pastry.

Rode it to one of our regular hangouts where the staff got the pastry out and were equally surprised to see a birthday celebration for a superbike.

Took the Mrs for a spin after ages.

Mandatory pic with The Bank

Went for a spin today as had to take Bluebird for its detailing maintenance to OCD. Waiting at my friend's colony.

Bombay Coffee house scenes. Better to reach at 9 to get a table as this place attracts quite a crowd.

At OCD. The regular challenge for the guys is to make a clean bike cleaner.

Finally decided to take off the clear tank pad except for the bottom piece as it started yellowing

Taking off the residue glue left behind for a clean look.

Benefits of getting a good detail done from the right guys. The other Busa is three years younger than mine but looks older in comparison.

All done and shining like new. Will have a few more heads turning on the return journey back home.

Now I have to take out time and enjoy riding it before the monsoon hibernation…

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I have been stopped multiple times on the Yamaha R1 and the Triumph Tiger too.

BHPian krishnaprasadgg recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Originally Posted by V0rtex:

Honestly, I understand why the cops are strict in Kerala. It is because of a few people that put these ridiculously loud and annoying exhausts in their scooters, Duke 125, NS etc.. that the cops have been strict about exhausts.

Precisely, when you tend to do things just to show off and be a general nuisance to others on the road, the authorities or even the general public are never going to stand with you or appreciate you. At the same time, try being respectful and slip under the radar, and the experience is the polar opposite by said parties.

Originally Posted by V0rtex:

If you get caught by the MVD for an exhaust, I don't think that there's anything you can do to escape from the punishment. Have you had any trouble with cops because of the exhaust? An exhaust change would be the first change I'd make to any bike, it makes a hell of a difference.

You'd be surprised.

I have been stopped multiple times on the R1 and the Tiger too. Mostly just normal checkpoint stops. I never antagonize the cops or the officer, answer to them respectfully, if they call you out on anything, accept gracefully, and show an understanding that they are also there to do a job. Arguing or teaching them the "law" as you see it is never met with a welcoming smile.

I have passed through numerous checkpoints throughout Kerala and Bangalore city and have yet to face any issues. I don't rev my bike and make noise deliberately, in the city I just mind my own business and putter along drawing as little attention as I can and I don't engage in ego clashes that bait you to do stupid things where you are caught in an incriminating situation.

I will take this chance to put out a situation I had in Cochin on a Sunday morning while I was on the Tiger, it had the arrow exhaust on and all the touring accessory support brackets(no panniers or top box) on it and I was fully kitted out. I was flagged at the bottom of a flyover and 2 cops came running apart from the officer who pulled me over and started accusing me of not stopping at a previous checkpoint and that I ran away from them. I politely greeted them and told them they might have been mistaken as I did not pass through any checkpoint and filled them on the route I took and that I was travelling from Palakkad to Cochin. They did not agree and told me I should not lie as the consequences would be dire. I reiterated stating that they are welcome to radio the officers at the previous checkpoint and cross-verify that the bike or rider description is the same or not as I have not passed the said checkpost they were talking about.

This seemed to calm them down a bit and they again stated that it had been reported to the higher-ups the vehicle would be impounded and I'd have to report to Cochin on short notice at any point in time. To which I said no issues, I am willing to wait for any amount of time to clear up the confusion. 15 minutes of waiting the officers had fully calmed down and we got chatting about the bike, its cost, and from where I got it, and why I was t Cochin, by that time they officers at the other checkpost had given communication in that it was indeed a white bike (Tiger was white) but it had no number plates on and had a pillion along with it with some colourful helmets and were dressed in t-shirts and jeans. Clearly, they understood that I was speaking the truth and by then the amped-up officers had cooled down and we were having a friendly chat, they apologized for the inconvenience to which I responded by saying I understood the nature of their job and I was not inconvenienced at the slightest and I moved on.

So there is nothing special about being Kerala (I am a Native myself) cops or MVD apart from the fact that they are just doing their job and are expected to hit quotas almost like they are salesmen, while that doesn't warrant fake penalties some bad apples don't represent the entire force. But when the offender/citizen gets in their face and tries to be the wise man and starts antagonizing them, they can put you in a spot of bother. So be respectful and move on, if you are penalized at the end of the day for an aftermarket exhaust(road legal or not), accept it, pay the fine, and move on ahead.

So the moral of the story is, that being nice and respectful can go a long way and things are not always as black and white as you might think.

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The Indian Superbike League will include separate classes for Professionals, Amateurs, Rookies and Women riders.

The Indian Superbike League has been officially announced. Registrations are now open for riders looking to take part in India’s first superbike racing league.

Sanctioned by the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs in India (FMSCI), the Indian Superbike League will be held at race circuits across India. Additionally, there will be an international round. A minimum of 3 rounds of racing will be conducted among multiple teams with separate classes for Professionals, Amateurs, Rookies and Women riders.

A teaser video has just been released on the official Indian Superbike League website. That being said, the technical details of the bikes are yet to be revealed. We expect to learn more during a press conference that will be held soon.

Its been 6 months since the last oil change and decided to go ahead and try the engine ice(finally) as well.

BHPian Xaos636 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

To start with, wishing a very happy new year to one and all!

The Brembo M4 was promptly ON and it makes a huge difference in bite and feedback from the brakes. I feel that this works much well in tandem with the RCS19 Corsacorta and some fresh brake fluid looks to have solved my braking issues. The ABS light was flashing before the Caliper change, however more on that later.

It's been 6 months since the last oil change and decided to go ahead and try the engine ice(finally) as well. My trusted buddy's F Motors was the first choice as I was in KL during this time and headed over there just after Christmas day. The roads from Calicut to Cochin on a super sport will really test your patience.

First, look at the Brembo M4's ON.

As always, hooked up @krishnaprasadgg by tempting him for an early oil change on his R1.

Replaced the engine oil with the same Motul 7100 FS, but used 10W30 this time instead of the usual 10W40. I decided to try this as the 10W30 was finally available in India and also comes recommended by Honda. Also here goes the old coolant(Honda Coolant) to welcome the Engine Ice.

Used a 5L distilled water can to flush out the old coolant and sucked out the remaining in the coolant reservoir(overflow reservoir). No points for Honda for placing this reservoir in the toughest place possible. To remove this, one will have to remove the rear shock as well as the swingarm

Cleaned the throttle bodies, and air filter and installed new plugs as well. As always, a big thank you to Adhil Salim from Bigwing Topline Cochin, who arranged for the spark plugs as it's really really hard to get these when you need them. I would like to thank HMSI too for arranging the spares for the Blade whenever asked for. Also thanks to Abhishek from Bikers Lounge, Calicut for helping out on my Knitty gritty works on the Blade.

I don't know how to thank my good friend Sanju(F Motors, Cochin) for his clinical precision when working on motorcycles. People like him with ultimate attention to detail are hard to come by these days.

One more change was the grips. I am a sucker for the Yamaha R series grip, but really thought of a change to OE Blade grips when I rode a friend's Blade with the stock ones. These weren't as bad as I thought. Pretty decent to say the least. Costs a bomb though.

Out goes the R grips.

In comes the OEM CBR Fireblade grips.

One more thing that was bothering me was ABS switching off at times. This would make the ABS light flash and this phenomenon makes the front brake lose its bite. Removed the ABS sensors to find them pretty muddy and dirty and whatnot. Cleaned them with brake cleaner and the issue has been resolved.

Before cleaning. Greasy stuff on the sensor led to it being unable to send proper signals

Cleaned.

A pic from our return ride. All good and well.

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The biggest mistake is to go for something which doesn’t suit your body style, height weight, and the city you are going to ride it in.

BHPian saksh4 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Introduction:

Embarking on the journey of buying a pre-owned superbike is both thrilling and challenging. While the prospect of owning a high-performance machine is exciting, it's crucial to navigate the process with caution. In this guide, we'll walk you through the essential steps to ensure a smooth and rewarding experience when buying a pre-owned superbike in India.

Research and Shortlisting:

Begin your journey by researching the models you're interested in. Consider factors such as performance, maintenance costs, and availability of spare parts. Shortlist a few models that align with your preferences and budget. Buying the crowd favourites is generally a good idea such as a Benelli 600, Kawasaki Z800, Kawasaki Ninja 650, Triumph Street Triple and Daytona to begin with.

The biggest mistake in this regard is to go for something which doesn’t suit your body style, height weight, and the city you are going to ride it in. Road conditions, and service availability along with climate can also be considered.

Takeaway points: go step wise instead of jumping onto a big bike. And buy something which can be easily fixed with parts availability.

Verify Paperwork:

In India, thorough documentation is crucial when buying a pre-owned superbike. Check for the following documents:

• Registration Certificate (RC): Ensure that the bike's registration is valid and matches the seller's information.
• Insurance: Verify the insurance details to confirm coverage and expiration dates.
• Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate: Check for a valid PUC certificate for compliance with emission norms.
• Service History: A well-maintained superbike should come with a comprehensive service record. The service record need not be only company maintained but also by famous mechanics can suffice.
• Claim history: A pre check for previous history of the bike in company showroom will be enough for you to know whether any claims have been done or not.
• Grey market: Stay away from Tukda tukda bikes, grey markets and illegal imports.

Physical Inspection:

Meticulously inspect the bike's physical condition to identify any potential issues:

• Bodyline: Check for dents, scratches, or signs of accidents. Irregularities in the bodyline may indicate previous damage. Any repaint of any part is generally due to some damage. Overall small damages may obviously be there considering Indian roads and traffic issues, however the bike should not be completely repainted or should not have any chassis repaints.
• Frame and Chassis: Inspect the frame and chassis for cracks or bends, as these can compromise the bike's structural integrity. Any chassis repaint is a red flag before purchase.
• Engine: Start the bike and listen for unusual noises. Check for oil leaks and ensure that the engine runs smoothly. A cold start generally will be noisier, however after 50 degrees Celsius or more the bike idling should settle down.
• Gearbox: Test the gearbox by shifting through all gears. Ensure smooth transitions without any clunking or resistance.
• Electricals: With the advent of multiple electronic sensors, be sure that no errors are on the console. Also after 100 degrees Celsius the radiator fans should turn on by themselves and also turn off once the temperature comes down. Check engine lights can turn on for multiple reasons. However get them checked (usually error numbers are seen on console) by googling or by a scan tool from a mechanic.

Test Ride:

A test ride is essential to assess the bike's overall performance. Pay attention to the handling, braking, and acceleration. Test all controls, including lights, indicators, and brakes, to ensure they function correctly.

Avoiding Social Media Fakes:

In the age of social media, be cautious of fraudulent sellers. Avoid transactions solely based on online interactions. Meet the seller in person, preferably at their residence or showroom, and thoroughly inspect the bike before finalizing the deal.

A lot of fake pictures also get circulated about any vehicle being crashed or accidental, however before taking them as a gospel truth, get the bike history verified and get the vehicle checked as most of these are done to malign any store by their competitors.

Usually service centers give a diagnostic health report if the preowned vehicle is taken to them and can be the final word on the purchase.

Conclusion:

Buying a pre-owned superbike in India requires a careful blend of research, inspection, and verification. By following these steps and staying vigilant against social media fakers, you can make a well-informed decision and hit the road on your dream machine with confidence. Happy riding!

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The Speed Triple 1050 is his daily, while a Ninja ZX-10R does the weekend rides, track days & touring.

BHPian krishnaprasadgg recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

But wait the bad day had just started, so now that I had a plan in place for what needed to be done with the R1 I still had to be in Kerala the same day anyway, while I was weighing my options I had pinged a few friends abt what happened and one of my friend offered me his spare bike to made the ride home, for some added context, my car was in Kerala so I did not have that option with me...

So continuing off this post, the bike that I had for the trip ahead was a bike I had ridden before and fallen head over heels for and no it is not a supersport-faired ballistic missile but rather a super naked gut-wrenching torque monster the 2014 Speed Triple 1050 with the Arrow slip-ons for some added aural pleasure!

And yes, for many this bike might not be a stranger, this has been featured on this thread itself before and the bike belongs to fellow bhpian @wolfy. Who graciously donated his daily (yeah, you read that right! With over 36k km on the odo the Speedy is his daily bike, while his 10R is reserved for everything else from weekend rides, track days, and touring) for an open-ended trip to Kerala. Friendships made over motorcycles are strong let me tell you!

A filter coffee stop at Salem, Not sure if it's evident from the pic but the ride from Bangalore till Salem was a super wet one as it was raining heavily for the entire 200 km stretch, and I was drenched to the bones, so the coffee stop was worth it.

Well, there's not much more to say about the bike other than it's packed with some gut-wrenching torque, how fast it goes is irrelevant but it'll get you there quickly and with plenty of drama! The angry and deep snarl of the triple and decel pops is a treat to the ears! But yes, the wind blast is a downer, but it's the nature of the beast, it's super naked after all.

I'll let the pics do the talking.

Anyway, after a few days in Kerala, I had to return the bike to @wolfy, even though he was gracious enough to tell me to keep it till I wanted, I couldn't stomach keeping the speedy away from him considering how much he loves it and also because it's his daily rider for commutes. Meanwhile, I also got word that a temp fix for the R1 was ready the details about which are already mentioned in the post above.

So I made the ride back to Bangalore, which made my time with the speedy for almost 2000 kms of riding, 1k now and almost as much from previous rides and I can say my love for this bike has only increased.

I finally was back home and took a few hours rest before handing over the bike to @wolfy.

Post returning the bike, I went over to collect it. I have been super lucky to be able to ride quite a few of these beasts and that too over longer distances because of awesome riding buddies I appreciate and love almost every bike I have ridden, but no matter how many km I ride and enjoy the other bikes, as soon as I swing my leg over the R1 and start riding it again, the feeling of pride and love I feel is just on another level. I just love my bike and that cross-plane engine that much!

Finally, the R1 was back home, and here is where the ODO meter stood, with that, I was all prepared for the 500 km ride back home and for the milestone I was about to hit with the R1.

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have been adding parts which can help, so this time the focus was just to make sure to add the parts which will help it run cooler.

BHPian Athek recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

It's been sometime I updated the thread as Mark 13 has been running happily and there was nothing special to report or update the thread.

It was time for yearly service last month and as always every yearly service I decide to add a couple of parts to the Mark 13 and this time I was determined to add performance parts. Brembo RCS19 corsa corta which I had added last time made an amazing difference to the braking of the bike.

The servicing was done at Indimotard this time and I opted for there Gold service package which includes the below checkup.

The service was routine affair and rear brake pads, rear wheel bearings and Sprocket bearing were replaced. Good I went with Gold service as that is the only service in which they remove the wheel and check for bearings. Went with Putoline Engine Oil this time.

Accessories:

So in my quest to see how I can make this bike run a bit cooler, I have been adding parts which can help, so this time the focus was just to make sure to add the parts which will help it run cooler, hence I decided to add the below two parts.

Samco Hose Pipes with Samco Clips.

Titanium Midpipe to decat the bike and make the last time installed Slip on convert into full system.

Installation for both was done at Indimotard, though I found the cost of accessories installation at a bit higher side, I am very happy with the worksmanship and how I was kept informed during Installation. During Installation I got to know that the servo buddy that I had got from US is not going to fit as sockets are different for EU spec bike compared to US bike. Had to order Healtech servo Eliminator to take care of the check engine light.

US Servo Buddy:

Healtech Servo buddy:

Bike getting the midpipe installed, notice the samco pipes Installed.

Bike has really come in it's own after the full system Installation and now breathes fire (literally) and makes pops and crackles when you cut off the throttle at speeds, it is an Aural experience and a sure shot invitation for cops to come looking for you. The bike sounds very loud during cold starts and then settle downs in a decent Aural experience, I will be putting the DB killers back though.

A screenshot taken at the right time, just for fun.

More then the Aural experience it is the weight reduction that is pretty evident, while the stock catcon would have easily been 7 kgs the current titanium mid pipe weighs around 750 gms, the weight loss has made the bike even more nimble. Other big advantage is the ground clearance, earlier while I had to be very careful to not scrape the bike on small speed breakers also, now the bike just glides through them, it is the bigger one where I have to be a little careful and they are also much easily tackled now.

With the catcon

With Catcon Removed (Notice the ground clearance)

Coming to the biggest question - have these mods helped with Heat? Answer to that is Yes, but it is very marginal I expected a temperature drops of 8-10 degrees after catcon removal but in real world it is close to 3-5 degrees in same riding scenarios as before. This is not much, but then I will take what I can, sometimes I think I should get rid of ducati spacer heat shield maybe it is holding back much more ambient heat then it should. The next upgrade might well be Carbon Fiber subframe covers, pictured below, these might help a bit with the heat.

Once the installation was complete and everything sorted, next was the usual visit to my friend house for a round of detailing and he did what he does best, get the bike back to shining red as it should be. Leaving you with few pics after the detailing and Mark 13 looking mesmerizing as always.

I have pretty much run out of all the mods, except maybe an upmap to compliment the fullsystem, which I would contemplate in next few months. I will probably be installing few more Carbon fiber parts during next service and that will also be the year of Desmo service as I am now closing to 24K Kms mark. I just decided to make a list of all the mods that have gone on the bike, and below is the list, I might have missed a couple of parts but in the overall story this should be more or less all of them.

• Zero Gravity wind screen
• Mirror blockers with indicators
• Bar end mirrors
• Carbon fiber rear guard
• Carbon fiber seat cover
• Carbon fiber heel guard
• Carbon fiber shock guard
• Carbon fiber exhaust guard
• Termignoni exhaust slip on
• Titanium mid pipe ( Makin system a full system)
• Ducati performance seat ( for touring)
• Frame sliders
• Rizoma front fork protector
• Rizoma sliders swingarm protectors
• Frame plugs
• GB racing engine cover
• Spools for paddock stand
• Brembo RCS19 master cylinder
• Samco Hose Pipes
• Healtech Servo Buddy
• LED headlight low beam
• Tank Pad
• Traction Pad
• Ducati spacer heat guards

It is closing to 3 years of the ownership of this bike and I have nothing but only good things to say about this HOT bike, it has been a pleasure to own and ride this Italian steed, and let us see what is in store next.

Until next time, take care and stay safe.

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The training sessions will be held at the Madras International Circuit.

The California Superbike School will be conducting training sessions in India next year. The sessions will be held at the Madras International Circuit on January 26-28 and February 2-4, 2024.

The training has been divided into two packages. The 3-day package for Levels 1, 2 and 3 costs Rs 75,000. Riders who have completed the first three levels can opt for the Level 4 package, which costs Rs 1.30 lakh. The prices include insurance, fuel, food and 18% GST.

Each weekend will include four slots. The organizers will offer motorcycles to those who do not bring their bikes. However, these are limited in number and will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis.

I’ve been actively touring on motorcycles and doing cross-country rides for a good part of the last decade or so. However, one place that remained elusive for one reason or the other was Ladakh.

BHPian Added_flavour recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

This is a travelogue of our motorcycle ride from Bangalore to Ladakh and back, in September 2023 on a Honda Africa Twin 1100 and a BMW R1250 GS.

I follow my heart … and it usually leads me to the motorcycle!

Annual ride 2023 from Bangalore to cover the Leh-Ladakh circuit has been a phenomenon that's going to stay in our memories for our lifetime. It was massive in terms of the distance covered, number of days taken, variables in terms of weather, altitude, terrain, road conditions, some days of extreme off-roading, etc. The toughest part for us riders (Deepak and I) was the fact that we rode heavy ~250 kilo motorcycles in some of the toughest terrains our Country offers along with pillions and luggage on the motorcycles.

Of course, a big shout out to our pillions Sandhya & Varuni for being on the saddle for 3000+ km in extremely tough conditions! It's not easy at all... And clicking some amazing pictures and videos for us to cherish these memories!

No tour operator, no backup vehicle etc. implies that the plan has to be meticulous and precise. It's an amazingly satisfying feeling to plan the intricate details, routes, and hotels over 18 days and to see it all fall into place! Like they say, fortune favors the brave and we were able to stick to the plan every single day!

No amount of pics/videos can do justice to what we experienced..

Some stats below for all of you fellow nerds!

• 18 days
• 14 States/UTs - Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, (a small part of) Rajasthan, New Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh
• 7,600+ Kilometres
• 10+ High passes - Zoji La, Fotu La, Khardung La, Tsato La, Kaksang La, Photi La, Umling La (Highest motorable pass in the world currently), Lachung La, Barlacha La, Nakee La
• 2 bikers and 2 bikernis
• 2 legendary Motorcycles!

If you’ve come to this post, read on!

I’ve been actively touring on motorcycles and doing cross-country rides (Technically another neighboring Country too) for a good part of the last decade or so. However, one place that remained elusive for one reason or the other was Ladakh. And due to this, the joke within my close biker circle was that I wasn’t a “biker” yet (Hey I hadn’t got Leh’d on a motorcycle! ).

Jokes apart, it is indeed true the Ladakh circuit is considered the holy grail for motorcyclists in the Country, and it is for a good reason, considering the challenges and uncertainties it offers in terms of terrain, weather, altitude and more. Having covered Spiti valley a couple of years back, I was itching to cover the Leh circuit soon. Since my better half couldn’t join my Spiti ride back in 2021, she was smitten by the pictures and stories and was very clear that she wants to cover the mountains on the motorcycle next time around.

2023 has been extremely erratic in terms of the weather in the mountains. The shoulder season which usually stretches till May went on till June/July this year as it continued snowing intermittently leading to a lot of ambiguity. And then it poured like there’s no tomorrow across Northern India and Himachal Pradesh bore the brunt of it in the form of devastating floods and resulting destruction in and around Manali and Kullu.

With all of these variables and more, our plan was set around September with the hope that the weather will be relatively stable, and we will be able to visit all the places we intend to. It’s taken me a decade to ride there, who knows if/when it’ll happen again!

The plan and the people:

On a trip of this magnitude, I always prefer to ride with a small group of seasoned, experienced, and level-headed riders and more importantly reliable people, who I have known both on and off the saddle for a long time. A big group ride with strangers is just not my thing!

The plan started with 2 couples – Myself and my better half, and my cousin Deepak and his better half. On a casual morning ride a few months back, my good friend Mahesh (bhpian Roomy) discussed his intent to do the Ladakh circuit along with his wife, and soon, the 6 of us were discussing the dates and draft plan over dinner at my place. In the next couple of weeks, the plan was finalized.

• The gents were to ride all the way from Bangalore and (if everything goes as per plan) back to Bangalore as well. However, if we got delayed in the mountains, plan B was to ship the bikes on the return from Delhi and fly back to Bangalore in time for Ganesh Chaturthi.
• The ladies were to fly to Delhi and back to Bangalore. So they would be on motorcycles from Delhi to Delhi through the entire Ladakh circuit.

Soon, leaves were planned and applied, all the motorcycles were prepped with the preventive maintenance and checks done and air tickets were booked for the 3 ladies who were to fly to Delhi and join us on the motorcycle for the ride onwards. We had also booked flight tickets for the gents in case we were to ship the bikes. However, sadly, after all the preparation, Mr. and Mrs. Mahesh had to pull out a week before the ride due to some work-related commitments. This was a disappointing blow. The only positive in the sad scenario was, foreseeing and planning for the worst, we had ensured to book air tickets under different PNRs to ensure anybody can cancel their tickets without affecting the others.

The final plan looked like this:

That brings us to the steeds and the bikers+bikernis on the ride!

1. Deepak (Tbhp handle ‘Deepak Saligram’) and Varuni on the BMW R1250GS a.k.a Maximus

2. Suhas (Yours truly) and Sandhya on the Honda Africa Twin 1100 a.k.a Bagheera

Day 1 to Day 3: Marathon Riding from Bangalore to Delhi

Day 1 Stats:

Distance covered: ~900 kms

Start time: 4.30 AM from Hebbal, Bangalore

End time: 5.30 PM at Kakaku guest house, Adilabad.

The first three days of a ride of this magnitude will always be marathon mile munching. The idea is to cover distance efficiently as the bodies and minds are fresh. We also wanted to ensure that we reach Delhi on day 3 well before the ladies land in Delhi. As usual, I had a lot of butterflies the day before the ride. All the packing was done and finalized by 8 PM. But as expected, I couldn’t sleep well and kept waiting for the alarm to go off at 3.30 AM. And then the annual ride 2023 began!

Heading off from home!

A quick breakfast stop before Kurnool.. and the regular questions around the motorcycles answered!

Soon after Kurnool, we encountered a huge traffic jam on the highway. Later we realized that this was due to some construction happening and a big trailer carrying a windmill blade had broken down on a narrow stretch of the under-construction section of the highway. Cursing our bad luck and fighting through traffic at high mid-day temperatures, we proceeded towards Hyderabad.

Every South Indian motorcyclist who travels across the Country will agree that Hyderabad is the toughest and most frustrating city to pass through, because of the senseless blanket rule of not allowing motorcycles on the outer ring road. Due to this, we are left with 2 options. Either ride through the city in the maddening heat and unruly traffic or take the service road of the outer ring road. During my previous travels across the country, I have tried both and they are equally bad in their own ways. The ORR service road was in tatters the last time I tried it in 2021 and it even discontinues at multiple places making you take remote kaccha roads in these sections consuming a lot of time and tiring you out. Between the two, the city traffic ironically seemed the lesser evil.

However, Deepak came up with a seemingly brilliant 3rd option the day before the ride. He happened to notice that in the ‘bike mode’ of Google map was deviating left just before Hyderabad and directing us through Shabad and Sangareddy. We discussed this and decided to ask around on the WhatsApp groups if anybody had taken this route. Luckily, some of our fellow riders responded saying it’s the best possible option to bypass Hyderabad and the road surface is also decent. One gentleman even gave the exact route and the specifics of where we need to join the NH towards Nagpur after Hyderabad.

This is the route we took: Kurnool – Jadcharla - (Deviate left at) Shadnagar - Shabad - Sangareddy - Narsapur – (And join back the NH at) Toopran.

This experiment was a grand success for us! The roads were decent enough for most parts of this stretch, traffic was sparse, and we ended up saving a lot of time and energy. As soon as we joined back the highway at Toopran, we stopped for lunch at a restaurant and thanked our friends who had guided us on this route.

At a much needed hydration and chai break post lunch

From here on, the roads were fantastic through Nizamabad, Nirmal and Adilabad. We were able to keep up good average speeds and reached the accommodation for the day in Adilabad by 5.30 PM. We had covered 900 kms in about 13 hours today. There was a small thought of continuing further towards Nagpur, but we shelved it as our hotel was already booked at Adilabad and more importantly, we knew the roads at the Telangana-Maharashtra border were not in great shape and there was no point tackling them in the dark after a long day on the saddle. Starting and finishing a long riding day early always pays off. One gets to rest well and rejuvenate before the next day, and you also get the evening off to explore some of these small towns which would otherwise be only a pit-stop for the night.

Continue reading BHPian Added_flavour's travelogue for more insights and information.