Maybe we will cross paths at someplace. A loose plan we (2 couples plus two without pillion) have is a 7th to 17th trip from Del - Manali - TsoMoriri - PangongTso-Leh-K'la-Zanskar- SRI-DEL. Or, we might do it the other way for a change(last year was anti clockwise)
My army biker friend would love to meet you i am sure.

We will surely meet.

Say hi to him on my behalf

I know this is not the perfect place to ask this question.

But is it possible to ride from Leh to Srinagar by cycle?? Basically, what is necessary is that they should be places to stay every 50 odd kms. Some light on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

bike transport for leh ride

Hi Guys, Me and one of my friend are planning to leh trip this june 2012, since we are from Mangalore(karnataka) We are planning to book ticket on Amritsar express which starts from Kochuveli and Last stop is at Amritsar. It passes from Mangalore every wednesday night 8 30 pm and this Train is there only once a week. Our Bikes are P220 and Ninja 250R We want to send it by train directly To amritsar. We are planning to book tickets for June 13th 2012. I am now confused how to take the bike, Some of my friends are telling that send the bike as parcel in train in 1 week advance.It will reach safely in amritsar parcel office.will it be safe ?? Since train doesnt start from mangalore. I am confused now Please help me out !!!

@ The Monk

Yes it is possible! A friend's group rode from Srinagar to Leh on cycles. They would cycle the whole day and rest at government guest houses. They had previous permission in the form of one single letter. They showed this letter at every govt. guest house and stayed overnight. I am not clear about where they got this permission letter from but if you are interested, I will look up the email id and then you can shoot him a mail directly. Also I am not sure how frequently these guest houses turn up (i.e might be more than 50km intervals).

Hello Vicky,

You are right in your apprehensions; as the train does not originate from Mangalore, there is no guarantee that the luggage van will have space for 2 bikes. In this scenario, the best bet is to send the bikes up as early as you can so that they are waiting for you at Amritsar station when you reach there.

One note. There is a 6 hour window which is free of charges from the time the bikes reach Amritsar parcel office. After this 6 hour time is up, you will be charged Rs 10 per hour as holding charges. Yet, even if you have to pay Rs 200/300 extra, there is the assurance that the bikes are at Amritsar before you!

When you load the bikes, speak to the luggage in charge staff on the train. You might need to "look after"him to ensure that your bikes are not off-loaded at any random station enroute to make way for more urgent cargo.

Hello The Monk,

It is not only possiblw but is the favoured way of seeing J & K by many foreigners; even way back in 1996, I used to see them struggling up Khardungla on snazzy multi-geared and multi-coloured bikes!. On this route, every little town and village has accommodation if you ask nicely. One needs to speak to the village headman (sarpanch/gaon boodha) and you will be accommodated in the house of some courteous Kashmiri. Be sensitive to the religion and to the women folk.

At the larger towns, there is no dearth of formal lodges/guest houses/hotels.

The standards of physical fitness for this enterprise need to be of a superlative nature...

Thanks Plasma.

I presume the letter in question was for the govt guest houses and not for travelling in those parts. Right?

Thanks. Just the answer I needed Thinking of either the Spiti circuit, Manali to Leh or Leh to Srinagar.

Lets see how it goes.

Thanks a lot Icemang for the info, Well i need one more information. They will charge Rs 10/hr ? are u sure even if i send it as a parcel, I spoke to coolie guy who is Incharge in Mangalore Railway station, he told it will be unloaded in Amritsar station safely. He also told me that you can take the bike along with you on same train while travelling. But he didnt guarantee. So i thought of sending bike in 1 week advance like on june 6th. And we will be travelling on June 13th on same train. We will make them load the bike on train on June 6th infront of us and Destination to unload is the last stop that is Amritsar. I have already got in touch of a luggage packer guy.. He told he will make sure and he will place the bike in luggage van at some safe place.. he is asking for 400 bucks for packing and loading of bike

Destination while booking the bike, It will be amritsar.. Which is last stop of the train.. now the question is since Ninja 250 is included .. i hope it is safe if it bike is properly bubble wrapped. Loading will be done infront of us. Will the bike remain safe at Amritsar station ? Since we are planning to send 1 week advance.. Totally mind is confused becz its first time

Dear Vicky,

Relax and don't get worked up.

1. It seems that you did not read my earlier post and if you did read it, you did not understand. You CAN take the bike on the same train in which you are travelling. Your train does NOT originate from Mangalore but passes THRU it. So, there would already be some cargo in the luggage van. If it fills the van, what will you do??? The answer is that to avoid such a scenario, you send the bikes a few days in advance, depending upon your own journey date. Say you are boarding the train on 13 Jun and reaching on 15 June. Start thinking of sending the bike from 8th to 12 June so that it reaches BEFORE you reach.

2. The charge of Rs 10 per hour is AFTER the first window of 6 hours closes. Example: Suppose the bike is unloaded at Asr at 1200h on 10th June. The window is open till 1800h on 10th June. From 1801h, you will be charged Rs 10 per hour. Suppose you take delivery on 14 June at 1200h. The time it spends @ Rs 6 per hour is 84 hours = Rs 504 @ Rs 6 per hour. That is a silly sum to pay for the assurance that your bike does not delay your trip! One pizza less from Pizza Hut...

3. The bikes will be safe on the railway station. Who can guarantee the handling skills (or lack thereof) of the labour? You are in India, bro, no guarantees, no warranties for your LIFE, forget your bike

Thanks for the info icemang
Well I am Planning to book the tickets of June 13 th.. It passes through mangalore at 8 30 pm and Reaches Amritsar on June 15th 23:55. It runs on every wednesday.
So 1 week before that is wednesday June 7th. Same time 8 30 pm We will load our bikes on train. and it will reach Amritsar on June 9th 23:55.. And we will be going to railway parcel office on June 16th at Amritsar..
Will this plan go proper ? Here the only problem is no daily train to these places.

Your plan is sound. Remember to "look after" the luggage van in charge with some Gandhi fotos

@ The Monk

That's right, it is a permission letter to stay in the govt. guest houses.

Anybody wants a 3500 km used fz eurogrip rear tyre for leh please contact me

Dear Friends, if anyone wants a 3500 km used fz eurogrip rear tyre for leh trip please contact me on 9545596686.
I want to change back to stock tyre.
Regards, Girish

Girish,

Please have better sense than to post this completely OT post here. You don't seem to have read the rules of xBhp at all. There is a Buy and Sell thread for such stuff.


Thanks.