Re: Start a motorcycle touring business from kolkata

Approved!

Sidhartha, I'd advice you carry in depth research since you said you're not overflowing with cash. Have the website up with proper SEO and trackers and bots, see how people respond. You can advertise the same in print and social media and while you're at it, gauge the response. This way you might get a chance to see if you'd be able to break even or suffer losses or flourish.
Also, there are bound to be legal sides of this as well. In case of breakdowns, you need to support the tourers (3rd party partnership maybe), warranty claims and hospitalization in case of accidents etc.

In case there are any such tourism businesses in India, try to study their model and arrive with the analysis.

P.S - My pointers might be lame too.

Re: Start a motorcycle touring business from kolkata

Showcase yourself to be a customer. Get a bike and do the whole tour. Calculate all the expenses. It will give an insight into the Operational Margin you want to keep. also introduce you to different dealers for fooding Lodging etc. Also another aspect will be security and medical facilities. You have to note down the hospitals and also the police stations. Along with that also talk to banks regarding a traveler's insurance or any sort of coverage they can provide your goods along with the customer. We actually wanted to do the same business. I am from Kolkata and an have some experience in Operation. After chalking down all the details it was too cumbersome.

Re: Start a motorcycle touring business from kolkata


Thanks for the approval and the suggestions Mod.....!!!!

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Pranjal....I know a Tour operator who runs tours in the hills of Darjeeling, Sikkim, belt. How feasible would it be to tie up with his company and share profits, however keep an individual company identity.....As far as insurance, accidental claims, etc vendors in delhi do not offer such. They take a deposit for the vehicle and daily rentals. Any damages to the vehicle during the tour is borne by the renter.

Re: Start a motorcycle touring business from kolkata

Sidhartha, I'm from Kolkata too. In Kolkata, there are no good motorcycle touring agencies.
Please let me know which area do you live in or which area you are planning to start your business from so that I can provide a few inputs!
And yes, Best of Luck!

Re: Start a motorcycle touring business from kolkata

Krishna- I actually stay at Kharagpur which is 100kms from Kolkata. However I plan to start and run the business from Kolkata. Have not zeroed in on location, etc for the shop. I believe rather than the shop the promotion is more through online, media, word of mouth advertising, and services provided. If I have a good rapport and brand image I can set up the shop at any location in Kol. And yes I am totally aware that Kol does not have good motorcycle touring companies and the locations are untapped.

Friends thanks for the inputs given so far, appreciate it !! However I still do not have comprehensive inputs on financials, costs, risks, etc. Experts and members who possible are into the business or know someone please share your thoughts.

Re: Start a motorcycle touring business from kolkata

Guess what siddhartha, I just got into this stuff.
I have a local bike group. I head the group and I dont wish to do job or any shitty caged stuff like that.

So started taking my group seriously. Printed out registration forms at 1000rs per head with a Free Tshirt right away. Thats about the group.

I just came back from a Gangotri solo ride and lots of people i met and got acquainted with. Made good friends at hotels and dabhas and talked with them regarding the accomodation and food etc charges. Next time im taking few riders along. Im planning it soon. Ive listed down the charges and the expenses that will occur along with the margin ill get. Although ill be earning fair not big but its a start.

As per finances are concerened biker tour groups take a sum of money as a whole at first. That may include several stuff like accomodation, food, petrol etc.
For the meanwhile if ill be taking 5-6members on my first organised ride...bikers will be having diff bikes with diff cubic capacities. Henceforth for the meanwhile i would be charging only for accomodation food etc stuff. Im excluding the petrol, this will be from the rider's own pockets.

This business is all about what riders/customers that chip in have revieved after pating the amount. So you need to give them a little of goodies. That might include nice DSLR pics for everyone of them. A ride movie or a documentary of our own with the fellow riders would be awesome. A copy of that to every guy would be great...stickers etc are also an option. Thats all about giving them.

For yourself keep a nice margin between the spent and the earned. If youre a tourer yourself and have been to places and if would be leading the tour etc it would be good. You need to be profound in what you do so that the people riding along have something they can rely on.

Risks etc are of having engine breakdowns off tours etc or accidents at worst. Engine breakdowns are only due to unserviced unchecked vehicle prior starting the tour. As per accidents they can be a avoided upto an extent by framing out few rules and regulations for driving long and in pattern. You need to have two experienced riders one at the very front as a lead rider and one at the very back as the drag rider. And the fellow riders/customers in between. I see you are starting the business so you wont be having a backup vehicle with extra fuel and spares etc. This will also cone into picture later when youll earn and earn and progress gradually. If you can arrange it right away putting lots of investment then great.

Then on long term plans. You can provide them gears only for the ride. And later bikes too. Then things will keep on coming idea will come....some will be dumped some will be implemented.
Im a newbie too in this field. Hope this helps a lil.

Re: Start a motorcycle touring business from kolkata

Hey Ankit, thanks a lot buddy for the inputs and experiences. I know how it feels to be a corporate ass. I am done with the same. The startup would not have been much of a problem if I would have been in Delhi. I have a lot of biker freinds who might be interested in the venture. And also I have toured extensively in Himachal and Uttarakhand.
Geographically I am new to West Bengal. Though born and bought up here have not stayed in the state much. There are splendid locations to be captured in the hills here.
Startup and running costs are another problem since do not have an extensive budget. My family thinks I have gone nuts at my age. I am 37 and married. Married guys in the forum will understand my predicament. However I believe this is my calling and am hell bent on doing it.
Will have a conversation today or tommorow with a local tour operator for profit sharing operations. Let's see how that goes !! Also do the bikes I purchase for renting need to be registered as commercial vehicles ?
Thoough I love RE's and they are best for touring purposes, enjoying the legacy nationally and internationally, they have their own share of problems. The UCE block is different however electricals and other aspects are there which are prone to breakdown and maintenence. I would love to provide my customers a hassle free ride and experience. Was considering Pulsar's as my fleet. You can criticize Bajaj to the core but I own a P220 and have done extensive touring without a hitch. 200 and 220 are dependable rides and also cost less for purchase and maintenence as per RE's.
I have to start this rolling soon !!

Re: Start a motorcycle touring business from kolkata

Hey, just a small suggestion.
First of all, ride yourself to the places which you would take the customers to. That way, you would get a fair idea of what to expect. Like Ankit did, talk to hotels on the way, note down addresses of mechanics, hospitals etc. and note the overall expenses for the trip. Only then you could keep in mind the starting price with your share in place. I think talking to local tour operators should be done after that.
And all the very best. I really hope you succeed in your wish.

Re: Start a motorcycle touring business from kolkata


Hey nadz11.ns I intend to ride very soon as get first hand experiences. Was intending to get the local tour operator in the loop since he runs tour packages to all the places in this circuit. He will have first hand knowledge of the best deals one could get. BTW he is a family freind so will not give incorrect info.

Any members from Kolkata who can share some thoughts. Am also open to partnership depending of compatibility of wavelenghts and mindsets.

Re: Start a motorcycle touring business from kolkata

Dear Sid I am very happy that someone has at least thought of taking biking seriously in Kolkata as business. There are different problems you may need to cater. The first thing is you stay in Kharagpur so you will be operating it from there ? or you will be shifting to Kolkata?

I have certain things in mind:

1. Location.
2. Marketing of your agency.
3. Basic things required to start with.
4. Man power and other requirements.
5. Capital investment.

Next month I will be shifting to Kolkata. I am looking forward to see you soon.There are several other bikers also who goes for ride some are here as registered some are not. So I believe you will get a good number of enthusiasts. Let me know if I can be of any help to you.

Re: Start a motorcycle touring business from kolkata

I have one colleague who runs a small tour business. I have spoken to him today and will let you know further as soon as possible. We are having very high work volume now so please give me some time.

Re: Start a motorcycle touring business from kolkata

No they dont need to be registered commercially just get the documentation straight and you are good to go.

And a huge yess to the RE thing. I think too RE is an old way of touring and i dont know if i should call it sheepwalking or what but every new tourer ends up buying an RE. RE is very limited as per touring. I perfer high ground clearence dirt bike sorta thing.
Anyways Pulsars are great. Easily repairable mendable and way easier to handle than a RE. And the rule of thumb is whatever the vehicle may a maintained one doesnt breakdowns out of the blue. Be it then Pulsar or RE.

Re: Start a motorcycle touring business from kolkata


Ankitvile I think the model you are working on is great. I am thinking on these lines. There are a couple of advantages to this :

1. There is no cost of purchasing the bikes. The tourer gets his own bike and pays for the fuel. Accomodation, fooding, and other charges can be taken care of. This would be cost effective.

2. The participants would be people who love to tour on bikes and share like minded thoughts. You would not want a newbie on the highway not knowing road manners. You can surely accomodate exceptions.

3. Maintenance charges of vehicles can be taken care of by owners themselves. Guidelines can be set to include bikes which are serviced and have their papers upto date. One can surely take care of breakdowns on the road. I would be spared of maintaining the fleet.

How are you managing a sweeper for the group and an emergency breakdown vehicle ?

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Krishna..thanks for the effort. How feasible is this model in a place like Kolkata ? How is the biking culture here ? Do people tour on bikes here ?

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I would not turn this thread into a brand bashing debate. Each bike has its pros and cons. RE's are great for touring with loads of torque to carry stuff without a sweat. Have been an RE owner myself for 5 years. People have also tripped to Ladakh on a Platina. The ideal vehicle would have been the Impulse if it came with 250cc mill. Check this link...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9NJ5s6_yVc...

Re: Start a motorcycle touring business from kolkata


Maady ...I am willing to take biking seriously as a business in Kolkata if people here are serious about biking. Being in Delhi for 12+ years I have my own networks and know the biking culture. The problem here is the apple fell from the sky at the wrong time !!! I quit my job in Delhi and moved to Kol since my parents live here. Coupled with this I am a married man, no kids though. I had my wife leave her job as well and move here. Now the entrepreneurship bug has bitten me since I am done being a corporate bum!
I have enough vela time here since the job market is amazing. This had my mind thinking of starting my own venture. Have been a hardcore biker for many years, but running a business is a different ball game.
Still enthusiastic of getting into this .....!!