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Congrats for your saddle sore plan,
By the by ,the route(road) you mentioned is lot of traffic,with mostly 2/4 lined,and rash drivers between ernakulam -tvm stretch .Probably the total kilometer is less than you mentionedfor a saddle sore attempt,you have to know the entire route very deeply,wt abt trying madurai-chennai route

Thanks alot bro... for approving.. and i've browsed the forum for a while looking for a suitable saddlesore but the thing is that there's nothing near my location(Kollam).

I know bro, but the thing is am abit young so you see there's abit of limitations .
Thats why i was looking for a route near to Kollam...
Would be real helpful if everyone here could guide me in finding a perfect route to make this happen..

I have thouthts of doing saddlesore . I am from trivandrum. I have started preparing by doing long trips.

My first suggestion - If you want to do saddlesore without much troubles, take TN roads. Keep away from KL roads, that way, you'll keep half the trouble away.

Here's a little tip - Start from K'Kumari & ride all way upto Chennai & back, you would've completed atleast 1400 Kms. Roads are more than excellent & you can certainly keep up the required speeds.

Yes,i too have the same opinion. Starting from trivandrum, to NH 7 And riding till half distance(somewhere near to banglore) and then returning. Can anybody explain about Nh 7 in brief,from kanyakumari till chennai?

Back in action guys.... Got one more partner, Vaishak. He's from TVM.

We'r planning to do it somewhere between December last and January first.
So whats the best advice'able route for doing continuous 110~120kmph riding??? It's abit better if the route started from kerala(abit closer to kollam would be more than fine.).

And also what are the things we should carry along???

Frequency of Fuel Stations: Even before you start, surf the net or ask people who travel very often along that particular stretch of road on the frequency of fuel stations. Though, most of the National Highways have such stations situated all along the route, there are certain stretches which will leave you suffering when you really need to fuel your bike.

Check the Air Pressure: The air pressure in the tyre will play a vital role during long cruises. See to it that it is properly maintained all along the journey.

Speed Comfortably: Find the speed that you are best comfortable with. Every rider will have a speed at which he /she (I don’t wanna ignore the opposite sex) can cruise at ease. This will of course vary from rider to rider. Once you find it, cruise comfortably at the same speed. This will also enhance you on having a complete control of your bike.

Choose the proper bike: It is very important that you ride the right bike. It is not advisable to ride around 500 kms or so at one shot in a basic commuter bike. It’s just because that these bikes are not designed to cater this purpose. If you are about to travel more that 1000 kms, prefer a bike with liquid cooled engine or oil cooled engine, say the Yamaha YZF-R15 or a Pulsar 220.

Check for the lights: Before you are all set to begin your journey, just check once if your headlamp, tail light and the turn indicators are working properly. All these 3 lights are damn important when you go for a long ride. Do not take things for granted. Not functioning of even one out of these 3 will lead to confusions to the other riders on the road and above all is not safe for you as well.

Basic kits: There will be a tool kit and a first aid kit in the small area allotted for tool boxes in your bike. All bikes will come up with these two basic kits. Make sure that both of these are in place. The tool kit will contain the essential tools which you will require at times of breakdown or a puncture. Similar is the case with the First aid kit. Though, very basic stuff only are available in it, it will come in handy at the time of a mishap on a highway.

Rest a Little: It is advisable to halt every now and then all along the journey. Stop for tea breaks which would enable you to stretch yourself. This is important as this would offer you a sense of relaxation, thereby offering you a better riding experience.

Safety is Prioritized First: The last point is that it is not at all advisable to race along or cruise at very high speeds. This would suck off your energy literally and you will not be in a position to continue your onward journey. Wear your helmet all along. If there is a pillion rider, it is mandatory that he/she wears it as well. It is also appreciable to wear other safety wears like a fully protected jacket, boot and gloves.

Source:Internet.

I've already said before & I'm saying no more on this - take TN roads, you'll save half the troubles, IF, you want to complete it successfully!!!

Anyway, adding Kollam, since you specifically asked, do this route & you'll succeed - Trivandrum, Kerala, India to Kollam, Kerala, India - Google Maps OR Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India to Trivandrum, Kerala, India - Google Maps. Don't get into Chennai city, if required, I can assist you bye-pass Chennai city connecting from NH45-NH4 towards K'giri.

Aneesh@4GHz - The routes mentioned above covers more than what's mentioned in the internet article; this is why I keep insisting on TN roads, the second best to GJ.

Aargee's advise is spot on. For people from Kerala wanting to do a Saddlesore or Iron Butt, TN highways make it a lot easier and less riskier when you are going for the record books. Kanyakumari to Chennai is a wonderful route. With all due respect to Kerala's beauty and charm, the kerala roads are just not worth the risk for a Saddlesore. I am not just referring to the crazy buses or other road users, but also the numerous twists & turns of narrow roads which will considerably reduce your overall speed. Even if you want to start from kollam or Trivandrum to Kanyakumari, the stretch between TVM and Kanyakumari is very bad with lots of traffic which will slow you down terribly. So better to start from Kanyakumari.

This is a video shot on the Kanyakumari to chennai road and its the same for the whole distance.

video6 - YouTube



Dec/Jan is a nice time but always be prepared for the odd shower/rain and carry some rain gear (just in case) since you are gunning for the record books and dont want to stop for the rain or to be riding in wet clothes for a long while.

On a lighter note "Kerala is gods own country, but bus drivers treat it like hell!!"

Agree with Aargee and Haroon, Kerala roads are meant to be relished and not for an endurance ride (No offense)...

Stick to Kanyakumari - Chennai route to ensure an event-free Saddlesore, all the best

PS: About the documentation and other questions, try to be as clear about the route, stops and receipts, more the supportings the easier it is for IBA to certify. Remember they are there to certify and not to reject.

Is this the route you guys planning to take ?

Kollam - Madurai (NH 208) -- salem - krishnagiri (Nh 7) - Vellore (Nh46) - chennai (NH4). comes to 836kms one way as per google map.

Personally I am not aware of the road condition between Kollam - Madirai (NH 208), after that its 4 lane all the way.

Good Luck with the attempt. Ride safe.

Wishing you guys success in this endeavor !!
And after watching Haroon bro's video, the roads seem perfect for a saddlesore, i guess..
If you guys make it, it will be a great inspiration for many riders from Kerala(like me) to go on such rides. All the best again!