Query Approved

@Dan: In my opinion, the best bike for Ladakh is the Hero Impulse if you are going without pillion. Sure its under powered compared to the competition but with a little "wire in carburettor" mod in the hilly areas (a 20 min job at max which can be done by a road-side mechanic) it changes colours amazingly. I have been to Ladakh in my pulsar 220 Fi and on a CBR 250 while my fellow riders have been on the Impulse, the karizma and the pulsar 220 Carb. The Impulse is too much fun with its dual sport tyres and long travel shocks. While we were carefully negotiating rough sections and snow/ice/slush - The impulse rider was in a moto-cross mode at 18000 feet. Its upright riding position and comfortable seating ensures that there is no fatigue. A small issue could be the limited fuel but the 12 liter tank manages something like 40kmpl in the mountains which is fine for the regular riding routes.
Only issue could be your height but i think you can manage reasonably ok with some practice.

Who said RE is not reliable now ??
Are you talking on buying or renting ?

Mik, thank you for your valuable suggestion. I also thought about the Impulse but as you have pointed out, its a lil too tall for my liking. Since you have been to Ladakh a few times in your pulsar 220 Fi and on a CBR250..wch of the two is more comfortable during those journey?

Somen1984, I am thinking of buying a new one but cannot decide which one should I buy. I have three friends who own two RE Classic 500 and one TB350. They said the bikes need maintenance every one or two months and the quality is below par compared to other indian bikes. We all love the looks and the sound of the Royal Enfields but the bikes need some more improvement in quality and reliability. Your suggestions are welcome.

@Dan: I am 5 ft 8 inches and had no trouble with the Impulse. So you must take it out for a test ride before putting your money on something else. Infact, this year i am toying with the idea of buying an Impulse for Ladakh myself

About the bikes you mentioned

CBR250R - with stock shitty Contigo tyres - is a problem in the slush/ice/rain/gravel. Many owners i know echo the same feeling. If you can source better tyres(pirelli sports demons - very rarely available) for it then it will be a delight with its generous torque and Fi advantage at higher reaches. Think about this, on my 220 with wife in tow in far worse conditions i had no dicy moments. Last year in far easier circumstances without pillion i fell thrice !

Pulsar 220 Fi - Bajaj has discontinued the Fi version. But boy it has its advantages. My fellow 220 Carb rider was struggling a bit while i was zooming ahead with my wife as pillion 220 Carb is also a very competent bike but pulsar 200NS (Have some 500 km experience on it) is a far superior handler than the 220. Being carb bikes, do go in for the "wire in carb" mod at Leh before you attempt a khardungla or changla. I know that a few 200NS without that mod had struggled while climbing Chang La.

Bullets: No comments :-P (Yes! have ridden my friends electra for 6 months and a 500 too)

Just in case you are interested, a friend of mine is urgently selling his immaculate condition 20k km run Silver 2008 Pulsar 220 Fi (but in Pune).

RE has different stories with different people. Drop it then.

Buying something only for leh/Ladhak is not advisable. Later what will you with that bike ?

There are following options which can be good for leh/ladhak as well as city with long tours !!

Test ride CBR 250 and 150 it should be good to ride, as well as they are Fi bikes. Good for tour and city.
As you have height issues, else NS200 would have been also one good bike to tour in 1L.

antz.bin, thanx for the information...but i am interested in buying a new one. thanx agn.

Mik: My first choice would be the CBR250 with pirelli or michelin tyres. The second would be the pulsar 200NS. Thanx to you...I will take the CBR250r.

somen1984: Yes, RE has different stories with different people..thats why I have some doubts over the quality n reliability of its bikes.


If money is no consideration (upto 3.5 L), wch bike will you recommend?


Thanx for the suggestions.

Dan Use the below marked icon for answering multiple posts:



Most sensible and practical investment in India would be CBR250R ABS. 2.10L approx. rest 80K would be saved and can bring riding gears for 10-20k. CBR spare parts cost and availibity won't be an issue.

If you want to spend only on bike then anytime Ninja 250R. But spare parts are expensive.


While touring leh/Ladhak means off roads, bad roads and need comfort at the first priority.
Because you have to ride 100's of kms in those hilly region. So nothing beats TB500 in this purpose along with daily city/high rides. In this you get a FI engine with dual disc and mamooth torque to ease your climbing.

Any bike can be maintained if you follow the periodic service. But somewhere you need to take a bit more care for RE. On same hand you enjoy the comfort and torque ride of RE.

Well, I haven't done the Leh thing so far but if asked to, my vote would surely go with the Impulse. From whatever little I've ridden, this one's really an Ossum (like my mallu cousin would put it) bike for any kinda rough terrain (thanks to that fantastic front suspension, ride height and light weight). I almost purchased one last month but took a 11th hour decision to get the Duke instead, mostly because Hero didn't instill enough confidence in me with their sales & service (here in Bangalore).

I'd like to think that speed isn't the primary factor on the Leh journey and that it's more about enduring and enjoying the ride over unpredictable terrains, which I strongly guess, the Impulse should take like a fish to water. And given the overall uncertain & often pathetic state of roads in our country, this bike surely makes a whole lotta sense for everyday use as well (to me, at least).