One of the best things about being a motorcyclist is the constant urge to ride and explore. This itch often leads one to some of the most beautiful people, places, and experiences. I have been riding for a while now and I also suffer from this itch. And to scratch that itch, I often find myself in some really beautiful places. Being a MotoVlogger as well, I also love to share my experiences with my audience. This is the story of another such ride.
For any motorcyclist, Himachal Pradesh is a staple of their appetite. One of the most picturesque states in India, I have been fortunate enough to have visited various places in the state. The landscape is captivating and there is so much on offer that one is tempted to visit over and over again. It is almost like a second home for me now. For this particular ride, I decided to explore Dharamshala, the Winter Capital of Himachal Pradesh. But before that, some background.
I have been following xBhp’s CEAT xPlorer project for a while. It enables riders like us to travel and explore different places and cultures with support from xBhp and CEAT Tyres. So when I got to know that xBhp was looking for another CEAT xPlorer, I just had to try my luck. Imagine my joy when I learned that I was selected to ride to a destination of my choice! I shared my ride plan with the team and we were ready to go.
I ride a Royal Enfield Himalayan for which I got the Gripp XL Plus tyres from CEAT Tyres. Right from the get-go, I could tell that these tyres were going to be an absolute charm to ride on. Just by looking at the tyres, it was evident that they’d be ready for almost anything that a roadtrip to Himachal Pradesh can throw at one. I will share more about the performance of the tyres later and consolidate everything in a review at the end.
After getting the tyres installed, it was time for me to get this show on the road. Destination: Dharamshala. Dharamshala serves as the administrative headquarters for the Kangra District. That means that a fair bit of it is a commercial centre for the region. But despite that, Dharamshala is one of the most tranquil places you can visit, especially upper Dharamshala. The weather is enchanting and the rich heritage of the spiritual Tibetan culture is apparent everywhere. As tranquil as it is serene, this is one place that you have to visit at least once.
While I had planned to start early from Delhi, some unforeseen circumstances delayed my departure to 7 AM. The goal of starting early was to avoid the Delhi traffic. Regardless, despite being slightly delayed, I was able to avoid major traffic snarls. Reaching the Singhu Border took me less than an hour and I just avoided the serious rush hour traffic. After this, I took a break to refuel and then pushed on towards my destination.
One of my major concerns was the weather in the mountains. I had heard of frequent landslides in the mountains but Dharamshala is known for its relatively safer route even during the monsoon season. So I had a fair bit of faith that my journey would go smoothly. Moreover, my more immediate concern was the heat in the plains. Despite the relatively brisk highway pace, the heat was taking its toll.
Riding on the Karnal Highway, other than the heat, was a pleasant experience. The roads are well-maintained and the CEAT Gripp XL Plus tyres accentuated the experience. The straight-line grip and stability on offer were exceptional. The amount of confidence that these tyres inspired was enough for me to maintain a decent pace. Despite the tardiness in the morning, I was a little surprised to have reached Ambala by 10:30. This was our next break after the Singhu Border. Some tea later, I was back on the road.
Riding on the highways can get a little boring but thanks to the tyres, I had enough room to play around and keep myself entertained. The Himalayan puts out a decent amount of torque and despite some spirited throttle-play, my motorcycle never lost its composure, thanks to the fantastic grip offered by the CEAT Gripp XL Plus tyres. My next stop was Roopnagar. By the time we reached, it was lunchtime and so, I decided to indulge myself with a scrumptious Punjabi platter at a local dhaba.
The food was delicious and the ride had been fun so far but the heat and humidity were still a bother. I was yearning for some cool mountain breeze. After the halt at Roopnagar, I decided to hit the road once again to reach Dharamshala by late evening. After a few more hours of riding in the heat, I could tell that the mountains were closer. The temperature was steadily dropping and I was getting more and more comfortable.
While the weather in the mountains was encouraging enough, it had been a long ride so far and another break was nigh. My next stop after Roopnagar was the Chintapurni Mata Mandir where I had another cup of tea to rejuvenate myself and get ready for the final stretch to Dharamshala. Refuelling and a little bit of rest later, I was back on the road. It was not all rosy from here on though.
En route to Dharamshala, I encountered some challenging road conditions. Construction work meant that my path was not a lot more than just slush and gravel. Now, the Himalayan is meant to tackle these kinds of conditions but its capabilities were enhanced further by the CEAT Gripp XL Plus tyres. Despite the road conditions, the tyres held their own and I was more than comfortable traversing this terrain with a lot of faith in the tyres, faith that was not misplaced!
Nearly 15 kilometres of such roads and not one moment where there was even a hint of loss of control. Such was the performance of the tyres! After safely navigating the conditions, I finally reached Kangra and our destination, Dharamshala, was now just 12 or so km away. After another little break, I decided to get ready for the final push and reached Dharamshala by around 8:30 PM.
It was a long day of riding with almost 500 km covered and some of them on pretty rough roads. I was fairly tired and decided to retire to my stay, Dreamwood Stays. The next day was spent exploring the main city and then the quaint upper Dharamshala. Dharamshala is one of the few places in India where the contrast between a city and a mountain town is very apparent. Yet, it all blends seamlessly, making Dharamshala the charming place that it is.
Tyre Review: CEAT Gripp XL
My experience with the tyres was nothing short of exceptional. I have been riding my Himalayan for a long time and with so many kilometres under my belt, I have encountered some really rough roads as well. This journey was no exception but with the CEAT Gripp XL Plus tyres installed, my confidence was greatly enhanced. On the highway, these tyres are unstoppable. From acceleration to braking, the fantastic grip on offer is evident on the tarmac. But their highway heroics do not compromise their grip in other riding conditions either. When I was traversing the very broken patches of roads full of slush and gravel, the tyres held their own and despite the awful road conditions, I was still able to ride with enough confidence to keep the pace up. Trust me when I say that the Himalayan is a very capable motorcycle when it comes to these kinds of riding conditions. But you also have to trust me when I tell you that CEAT Gripp XL Plus tyres are one of the best you can get for your Himalayan. From touring to the unpredictability that new roads offer, these tyres are more than equipped to deal with almost anything. And once you get your hands on tyres like these, you can let go of everything else and just enjoy the ride!
