Preparing your motorcycle for Ladakh

[Yogesh Sarkar]

An arduous journey like Ladakh can take its toll, on not only the rider, but also on the motorcycle. In places like Manali - Leh highway or Zanskar Valley, a mechanical failure can spell disaster. With nearest town miles away and a mechanic even further down the road, it is a good idea to get the bike serviced properly and get the worn out parts replaced, before embarking upon a journey of this magnitude.

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[SKSy_Biker]

Great and long list of checks and items. So much so that it would scare a beginner

 

[sparsharun]

thanx for the comprehensive list yogesh...

 

[sumeet]

Looks a like full fledged Workshop

 

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Great and long list of checks and items. So much so that it would scare a beginner

hehe thats the intention, after all its better to be scared and go through this stuff then skip it and regret it later. Also majority of the stuff is applicable for most of the long rides.

 

[bhuwan singh]

thanks a ton Ygesh bhai. Am confused at one point should i get my Tyres changed or not they have already done 17 K plus just 1 Puncture in the rear tyre. Yogesh Bhai - few things can be carried on sharing basis - suggest. All other jobs DONE ready for take offfff....

 

[nilesh_sundar]

thanks a ton Ygesh bhai. Am confused at one point should i get my Tyres changed or not they have already done 17 K plus just 1 Puncture in the rear tyre. Yogesh Bhai - few things can be carried on sharing basis - suggest. All other jobs DONE ready for take offfff....

@Bhuwan - There are a few things to this. First, is any life left in your tyres? Second, will it last this trip? Lastly, how much of a compromise is it to your grip/safety if you continue with that set? Tyres typically last 25k so yours should last a good 10k more unless you have done some serious offroadish kind of riding already. The last parameter besides all this theory is how do you feel riding with these tyres in rains? If your confident, stick on cause theoritically there is still lots of life left in them. Plus, you save around 2k.

 

[bhuwan singh]

@nilesh sunder the tyres are fantastic as far as city ride or even lond ride is concerned irrespective of the season - I have been watching lots of logs of all people who have done Leh lately and after seeing the road condition this question has arised in my mind. See thunderbird is a heavy bike + I am almost 100 + luggage weight. One puncture may cause lot of delay in the entire schedule, whereas we plan to see more of Leh and area in less of time. Though you are right - I am very confident about plains even hills but Leh .... rather photographs of that track ........?

 

[nilesh_sundar]

@nilesh sunder the tyres are fantastic as far as city ride or even lond ride is concerned irrespective of the season - I have been watching lots of logs of all people who have done Leh lately and after seeing the road condition this question has arised in my mind. See thunderbird is a heavy bike + I am almost 100 + luggage weight. One puncture may cause lot of delay in the entire schedule, whereas we plan to see more of Leh and area in less of time. Though you are right - I am very confident about plains even hills but Leh .... rather photographs of that track ........?

@Bhuwan - Nothing matters more than your own safety. If you think its right to change the tyres, by all means do it. You will ride with a lot of peace of mind and atleast wont worry all thru the ride.

 

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Bhuwan if you have any doubts regarding the tyre then get them changed, last thing you want while riding your bike is having doubts on her ability to tackle that kind of terrain.

As for spares/tools etc. for our group ride to Ladakh, well they tools/spares etc. will be equally distributed.