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**AnirbanB** · 05-12-2013, 12:04 AM

Re: KTM Duke 200. Ladakh. Solo.

Originally posted by Ankitvile View Post

again awsumm stuff bro.

I see u went with slick tyres there...were they satisfactory in terms of traction on wet and rough varying roads?? by how much margin should i think off road tyres would be better than these slick ones on that road??
Also temp would be down there still did radiator fan kicked in quite frequently??
And the biggest fear of touring Puncture!! Did you witnessed one?? If did...you had a puncture kit or?? if you didnt had any its great then...still if a guy goes without a kit and winesses a puncture in a remote area what would be solutions then??
even im planning on my duke in upcoming year so it would really help. Also which spares did to took with yourself??
Also soloing advantages disadvantages you think now and witnessed then.
Coool ride again you had bro....
cheers.

Hey Ankit, thanks a lot mate. Terribly sorry for the late reply.

Let me answer the questions to the best of my ability. Tyres - stock ones are definitely leh'ble. But demands more concentration from the rider on gravel/dirt/mud than say, dual purpose ones. I'd suggest you to try them out and check how far can you push them on dirt. But specifically for Ladakh, dual purpose tyres would definitely make your ride a whole lot easier. Its off-road country.

Yes, the fan did kick in even at 18,000 feet. But that happened only a few times during the whole ride mainly when I was riding at 15-20kmph because of decreased airflow.

Punctures - learn how to fix them man! Its incredibly easy with tubeless ones.

Just get yourself a repair kit and a foot pump, and ask your local puncture guy to show you. I even have this little tool which is specifically made to get the nail out of the tyre easily.

Spares, I carried a whole lot. My previous touring machines were 220fi and Bullet std. 350, so I'm quite used to carrying spares.

I had all 4 levers, throttle/clutch cable, extra spark plug, fork seals, fuses, even a roll-over sensor! Big list, cant name them all. Plus a big tool kit, chain spray, WD-40, extra coolant etc. I know, it maybe is a little too much but knowing that I had them and I could use them, gave me the much needed peace of mind.

About riding solo, advantages and disadvantages are really too long to list. Try doing both, see which one you like. But I wouldn't recommend riding solo, if you're riding in the himalayas for the very first time.

Originally posted by rarest_kind View Post

(Y) on the self-actualizing experience and achievement!.. and thanks for the journey blogs and photos, made me feel as if my own journey [planned but never confident enough to made it so far though] as well to throttle in right away there!!! And a good description about your KTM Duke, riders reviews of which I've been looking for since couple of days and have decided to book one tomorrow. Gonna drive her for my scheduled South trip in December to Coorg and Kerala.Will be good to have any further note on Duke!

Thanks a ton man! Hope you're having fun with your Duke

Originally posted by steed View Post

Absolutely brilliant stuff! Very well written travelogue. This inspires me to get Leh'ed as well

Thanks you steed, Glad you dig! Hope you get leh'd soon

Originally posted by vimalnair4u View Post

Pics are Magnificient. Looks beautiful like the desktop wallpapers. Which Cam were you Using?

Hats Off to you for this Solo tour....

Thanks Vimal! Glad you liked them. I used a Nikon D5100.

Originally posted by Khagesh View Post

Excellently done travelogue. Your efforts in telling your story and pics is really appreciated by many enthusiasts.

All the while reading your travelogue I was wondering how I would do this solo trip next year with a 100cc bike and me 53 years. Reading a lot on Leh - Manali section solo trips. As usual very little is written or photographed, as I can understand, this section demands the total concentration skills of the driver.

How do you think in your option me and my 100cc bike would do especially Moore Plains, Rothang and Changla which seems to be points of worry?

Cheers!

Thank you!

About riding on a 100cc bike, although not impossible but will be challenging. About doing Ladakh solo, it depends on the rider's level of confidence and quite a sizable amount of that is derived from the machine. But if you're physically fit, sure. Plan well! Biking Trip Guide | MAX: Motorcycling Academy of xBhp: Powered by Castrol Power1

Originally posted by purshotam77 View Post

ani, hats off to your steely resolve to go solo..have been following up on threads on duke 200 on this forum. the description, the pics were truly amazing and has inspired me ( many of us i think!!) to leh...
can u pls inform which camera did u use, lens etc ?

Thank you so much purshotam77, glad you liked the photos

I used a Nikon D5100/18-55VR/55-200VR/35 1.8 on this trip.

Originally posted by punit84jadhav View Post

Hi Anirban,

Good to See you on Xbhp.... O sum Clicks.

Actually we have meet up at Leh hotel we were on Silver CBZ ... if you remember ..... Good to See your Post....

Hi Punit! So glad to see you here man. Hope your ride went well too!

Originally posted by inder.cool View Post

Best KTM pics thread!! Good job with the photos Anirban

Haha, Thanks bro!

Originally posted by raven20 View Post

Great log... very nice pics...

Thanks a lot!

Originally posted by gentelman10 View Post

Hats off to you sir ,,, wonderful pic and great log .. Gave me inspiration and now is the tough part,

Convincing my wife to let me do this run on bike.

Thanks gentelman10! That is an art, let me tell you

It took me one whole year to convince my parents. You know, in installments

But in the end, I could not have done it with out their support. That is how the cycle has always been for me - convince, ride, repeat.

Originally posted by Gaurav Patil Flamedust View Post

Too good! The duke does not dissapoint.

Thank you. No Sir, it certainly does not!

Originally posted by Rockfella View Post

Great pics Anirban.

Thanks Rockfella.

Originally posted by Nizam_ul_mulk View Post

Banarjee Saab..Awesome Pictures,Congratulations! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks a lot going through the logs Nizam_ul_mulk, glad you liked!

Originally posted by Naughty VaIsH View Post

brilliant photo log brother .. superb no words .. please share with us what all are the gears used for the photographs shared here with us.
thank you for sharing mate

Thank you so much, Naughty VaIsH! Nikon D5100/18-55VR/55-200VR/35mm prime/CPL/ND filter/A tripod. That's about it!

Originally posted by saquib3005 View Post

awesome pics... again inspiring me to go for it

Thanks saquib3005, so glad to hear that. Hope you get leh'd soon!

Originally posted by HeartBrokenBiker View Post

You downloaded KTM duke wallpapers and posted it right.. right?

Amazing captures

Hahaha I actually got asked couple of times while I was shooting at pangong whether I am working for KTM. :P Glad you dig, thanks!

Originally posted by diffuser911 View Post

Can you please share the pros and cons of the Duke for this ride, if not done already in this thread? Sorry if I missed it! I would love to see how the bike fared on a mix of roads that you rode on, for a possible purchase.

Ahh, in short really fun on good tarmac and twisties, pain in the a$s on imperfect surface. Literally. Love the riding position. Suits me really well. That is it.

Originally posted by srinidhi1530 View Post

Bro this is the coolest blog about getting Leh'd that I have seen till now....simply amazing...photography is just off the world...which camera do you use..? Just by looking at the photos can make anyone jealous of you

Could you share more info regarding the transportation of bike from Bangalore to may be Chandigarh from where we can start the ride..?? I have bullet Electra 350...seriously craving to get Leh'd after seeing your travelog.

Thank you so much Srindhi1530!

About transporting your bike by train/transporter, just google! Many comprehensive guides are there, quite a few on Xbhp too.

Originally posted by pincyfly View Post

Stunning images there...and it very well written. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thanks a lot pincyfly for going through the logs. I appreciate it.

Originally posted by thedreamer09 View Post

The first picture made my day.. Awesome pics out there.
I would like to travel to this place some day

Thanks mate, hope you do!

Originally posted by Nirupam Biswas View Post

Anirban Da .... I am new to biking but tomar travelouge and the photos are just breathtaking.
It is one of my dream to go there, hope I can also stride to this trip SOMEDAY

Thanks for inspiring me

Hey Nirupam, Thanks! So glad to hear that man. This forum has always been a constant source of inspiration for me as well. Hope you get Leh'd soon!

Originally posted by whymail View Post

stellar fotos & as always, the leh / ladakh terrain & brutal grandeur.., never fails to amaze us!
great trip.
terrific courage & determination.
all in all, a super duper experience.
ride on pardner, ride on!

Thank you so much, whymail!

Originally posted by vishnurajanme View Post

Hi bro, may I know which cam you used, what was the wide angle lens? And the zoom lens? Please reply with max aperture ranges. Thanks

55-200VR as telephoto, 18-55 as wide. Although I got myself a ultra-wide last year after returning from Ladakh. So the next ride report shall be much wider.

Originally posted by sreerama View Post

:O !!! Mind blowing Pics ....

Thank you, sreerama!

**chaosaddict** · 05-13-2013, 05:16 PM

Re: KTM Duke 200. Ladakh. Solo.

Spectacular, tantalizing.... oopsie!! am runnin' short of words

. Praise worthy feat of endurance bro!!! And most definitely looking forward to any of your upcoming picturesque projects.

**purshotam77** · 06-30-2013, 11:00 PM

Re: KTM Duke 200. Ladakh. Solo.

Dear Ani,
am unable to see the fabulous pics taken and posted by you..

this is the umpteenth time i am reading your post

**AnirbanB** · 07-04-2013, 03:23 PM

Re: KTM Duke 200. Ladakh. Solo.

Originally posted by chaosaddict View Post

Spectacular, tantalizing.... oopsie!! am runnin' short of words

. Praise worthy feat of endurance bro!!! And most definitely looking forward to any of your upcoming picturesque projects.

Glad you like. Thank you so much.

Fag end of the season this year, hopefully!

Originally posted by purshotam77 View Post

Dear Ani,
am unable to see the fabulous pics taken and posted by you..

this is the umpteenth time i am reading your post

Hi purshotam77, really sorry about that. Photobucket allows 10gb of free bandwidth each month, seems that my account has exceeded the limit. Don't know when will they reset and allow fresh bandwidth.

Have not uploaded them anywhere else except FB, here's my profile link, you can find most of them under photos. http://www.facebook.com/pseudo.showcase

**broken87** · 08-29-2013, 09:48 PM

Re: KTM Duke 200. Ladakh. Solo.

Breathtaking, Inspiring... Truly Amazing. Hats off to you sir.

**Anantrocks** · 09-03-2013, 05:59 PM

Re: KTM Duke 200. Ladakh. Solo.

Hey guyz..please help me out.The pictures are not displaying on my phone so if possible,can you give me the link..?It would be of great help.Regards,anant

**sujoy** · 10-12-2013, 01:59 AM

Re: KTM Duke 200. Ladakh. Solo.

Dudee this was an awesome travelogue. Amazing photographs..

**Sachit Malhan** · 12-30-2013, 05:56 PM

Re: Part II : To Hunder

hats off to you man, you are lucky to complete studies and passion together. god bless you and keep such threads coming, so informative too. thanks

**sujitkp** · 02-17-2014, 03:28 PM

Re: KTM Duke 200. Ladakh. Solo.

owwsome pics, great ride....i m still waiting for my turn.

**zestbiker** · 02-28-2014, 08:26 PM

Re: KTM Duke 200. Ladakh. Solo.

Anirban-none of the pics are visible now?

**zestbiker** · 03-02-2014, 07:23 PM

Re: KTM Duke 200. Ladakh. Solo.

nice write up- but the photo's -which coming from a Flickr rides winner have to be awesome-are not showing?

**zestbiker** · 03-08-2014, 09:42 PM

Re: KTM Duke 200. Ladakh. Solo.

got the pic's opening-gr8 clicking Anirban-actually your talent absolutely flatters the D5100-keep ridin'-keep shooting!

**DKGbond3** · 08-12-2014, 02:54 AM

Re: KTM Duke 200. Ladakh. Solo.

দারুন!

I wanted to read those small sentences in between those beautiful pictures (won't have distracted much), but the pictures just didn't let me. Awesome photography. Awesome HDR, and great compositions! Thanks Anirban.

(BTW, one nOOb question.. what camera gear?)

**Minisoda** · 08-16-2014, 02:26 AM

Re: KTM Duke 200. Ladakh. Solo.

Sir congrats on the trip. You take some amazing photo's and you sure do love your machine. That duke is perfect your you.

OT: I noticed in one of your photo that you are a bit taller than the average Indian. I hope I am right? Could you clarify if you don't mind of course.

The reason I ask is that I am tall too and also love the Duke just as much (if not more) than you do. Thanks a lot sir!

**utsavchs** · 08-16-2014, 09:40 PM

Re: KTM Duke 200. Ladakh. Solo.

Awesome log and amazing photography brother!!

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KTM Duke 200. Ladakh. Solo.

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