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Advice needed on a good TOURER BIKE to Leh.

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  • #1

    Advice needed on a good TOURER BIKE to Leh.

    Hi there fellow bikers . Need a small favour from you guys. Iam planning a trip to Leh from Delhi in a couple of months from now. After completing trips like Bangalore-Munnar (on the ZMA) and Delhi-Nainital (on the R1), I intend to pick up a different machine for the trip to Leh. Im hereby listing my priorities and would like you guys to suggest accordingly.

    1. Weight: I need a bike which is extremely light, features like the quarter fairing is something that I ll either avoid or simply just get it removed.

    2. Handling: Easy cornering and good handling would be an important factor since I wish to minimise the pain in the wrist as the miles get longer.

    3. Looks: Generally hardcore tourers dont really care about this, but I believe when your carrying your SLR, a good looking landscape is incomplete without a good looking bike, and ofcourse a good looking you .

    4. Mileage: Not much of a concern for me, but yeh anything that takes me longer for lesser fuel should be appreciated.

    5. Speed: I ll be generally cruising between 70-90kmph and don't really like going beyond 120. Even while touring on the R1, I had top end stats of only 150kmph or so, and even there I was cruising at 80-90.

    6. On road service: Finally, need a bike thats built for life, be it YAMAHA, TVS or BAJAJ, i guess this is where the names differ. The loss of a few parts shouldn't put the tour to a halt. Would be carrying extra set of tires though.

    Well those were some of the factors I would really consider before picking up that ride. I'm pretty impressed with the FZ16, which has a lot from above, but not sure if it can outsmart the ZMA . Anyways waiting for your replies. Below are a couple of pics from the past touring. Enjoy!



    "With great power comes great responsibility."
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  • #2
    Topic Approved.
    :)

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    • #3
      I was contemplating a Fz16 for Leh later this year since I have had the Karizma for over 4 years now. But I dont think you can match the power and smoothness of the Karizma with the 150cc.

      I would recommend the ZMA.
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      • #4
        ZMA or RTR
        http://www.bikenomads.com/wiki/index.php/Leh - All you ever need to know about getting Leh'd.
        My posting Philosophy

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        • #5
          If you have Karizma then I guess you need not look any further in the current Indian Segment. Looks might be a little older but then the Kind of power and reliability you need up there seems to be unmatched by any othe bike. Of course you could get a P220, P200, RTR Fi but then it doesn't make much sense to buy these just for looks. ZMA should be good enough.

          In extreme case, if you have the moolah then get BMW GS1200 (ONLY IF YOU HAVE TH MONEY, since you own R1). BMW GS1200 would be an excellent machine to conquer the mighty Himalayas.
          Enna Rascalla. Mind it !!!

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          • #6
            what about our own royal enfield thunderbird?
            and avenger..?
            Speak Less,Speak Wise!

            Sarcasm is my automatic response to stupidity.

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            • #7
              since you prefer riding at a sedate pace,how about a Unicorn,the only thing that goes against it is its plain jane looks.
              or a 220 may be competent tourer but comes with niggles
              Last edited by Akshay.; 01-04-2009, 08:19 PM.

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              • #8
                Originally posted by leon_nerd View Post
                If you have Karizma then I guess you need not look any further in the current Indian Segment. Looks might be a little older but then the Kind of power and reliability you need up there seems to be unmatched by any othe bike. Of course you could get a P220, P200, RTR Fi but then it doesn't make much sense to buy these just for looks. ZMA should be good enough.

                In extreme case, if you have the moolah then get BMW GS1200 (ONLY IF YOU HAVE TH MONEY, since you own R1). BMW GS1200 would be an excellent machine to conquer the mighty Himalayas.
                1200 GS for power and features-yes
                for everything else no.
                remember it weighs more than twice of most indian bikes,one mistake and you will be in trouble.
                its my dream machine,and one of the best touring machines on the globe

                but for touring and that too for leh,desi bikes make much more sense

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                • #9
                  For touring Zma is best , then Pulsar 220 comes next .

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Akshay. View Post
                    1200 GS for power and features-yes
                    for everything else no.
                    remember it weighs more than twice of most indian bikes,one mistake and you will be in trouble.
                    its my dream machine,and one of the best touring machines on the globe

                    but for touring and that too for leh,desi bikes make much more sense
                    or better get Victory Vision!!
                    Speak Less,Speak Wise!

                    Sarcasm is my automatic response to stupidity.

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                    • #11
                      Did I read that right or there is a typographic error when you said you want to go to Leh 2 months from now? That would be March!!! For all practical purposes that is going to be REALLY tough unless you take a hovercraft!

                      Everyone here seems gung ho about Zma. I too really like the Zma for touring and especially for reliability! And the new Zma R looks better than its predecessor as well. There is one little glitch though if you are looking for high altitude riding. The moment you start crossing 2800 metres, (read 9186Feet for the more British inclined), this bike will start missing its strokes. It comes back to normal the moment you come back to lower altitudes. At higher altitude, if you are on a Zma, you will get blown even by a Blaze (Read touring in the GIR Leg I Section). This is a personal experience and recounts from various riders as well who have done several high altitude rides with the Zma. But then no other bike is as reliable. You can try the RTR machines which are quite reliable as well. But would you be comfortable doing long bad stretches with clip-ons?

                      These are aspects that you need to look into I think.
                      The Wheel was a great invention; Two Wheels with a Motor in between was even better!


                      BMW Motorrad Days 2011

                      Xbhp's Indo-French Kashmir-Ladakh Tour

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by ken cool View Post
                        Did I read that right or there is a typographic error when you said you want to go to Leh 2 months from now? That would be March!!! For all practical purposes that is going to be REALLY tough unless you take a hovercraft!

                        Everyone here seems gung ho about Zma. I too really like the Zma for touring and especially for reliability! And the new Zma R looks better than its predecessor as well. There is one little glitch though if you are looking for high altitude riding. The moment you start crossing 2800 metres, (read 9186Feet for the more British inclined), this bike will start missing its strokes. It comes back to normal the moment you come back to lower altitudes. At higher altitude, if you are on a Zma, you will get blown even by a Blaze (Read touring in the GIR Leg I Section). This is a personal experience and recounts from various riders as well who have done several high altitude rides with the Zma. But then no other bike is as reliable. You can try the RTR machines which are quite reliable as well. But would you be comfortable doing long bad stretches with clip-ons?

                        These are aspects that you need to look into I think.
                        I Agree
                        a free flowing filter fixes this
                        even just removing the snorkel works for it

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                        • #13
                          the zma does it without a hitch. We had 3 zma's on our Leh ride and every day we would just get ready, tie the bags and off we would ride. With choke, the bike would start with the first press of the starter.

                          just ensure you take off the air filter element when you hit higher altitudes ( I did it beyond sarchu) and you should have no issues navigating the rest of the ride.
                          For immediate sale - PM me for a quote and/or more info - xbox 360 elite edition plus an assortment of game CD's.

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                          • #14
                            Thanks for the quick response guys. Majority says ZMA. But i still have that itch for the fz16. Anyways ZMA would be a wise decision. Time of travel is yet to be decided, will keep you guys posted on that.
                            I still wonder how would the BMWs and KTMs perform in such touring. Dream bikes in this situation would be something like these:


                            2004 KTM 660 SMC


                            2008 BMW R 1200 GS
                            "With great power comes great responsibility."

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                            • #15
                              my choice .. ZMA , avenger 200 and P220 ..

                              RTR is waste for touring

                              BTW bmw looks good .. if you have the bank balance
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