Re: K2K with my wife on a Karizma R

The same "lost in thoughts" issue was there with my wife too. My tactics were
1. Keep her camera trigger happy. She keeps shooting stuff (mostly blurry pics which were simply SHIFT + DEL later )
2. Keep talking to her in sign language or pointing out stuff (Actual talking distracts me and once led to a near death experience so I never do it now)
3. Involve her in map routing and giving her responsibilities like keeping information on last passed hotel and puncture shop.
4. On boring highways, play a number plate game with her.

Occasionally, she would still fall asleep. I made her grip me tightly and lean on me so that she could enjoy 20/30 mins sleep.

Re: K2K with my wife on a Karizma R

Have been watching this thread for some time now.
Why do people engage in these kinda experiments, I don't know. Why do people take so much risk, I don't know. Especially since there's a MUCH more convenient mode of conveyance called, car. I know this is a community of bikers but I think fellow members will understand my point. I'm with @aargee on this one. He expressed his disagreement indirectly and I'm expressing it directly . Solo loong rides (I mean the ones that last several days) are understandable. Some guys are very passionate about it but things change a looot when a pillion comes into the picture. I mean there will be so many problems. Especially if the pillion is a lady. It's a reality, especially in a country like India (I'm not a sexist. Just saying the truth). I'm only expressing my opinion, by the way.

@OP
If your wife is very excited about the trip then it means she probably isn't aware of the risks and difficulties and that she hasn't done a long trip on a motorcycle. Newly married couple doing a Kanyakumari to Kashmir trip on a motorcycle? WOW! Sounds fantastic, but think about it twice man. Is it necessary? Not discouraging you, but why not postpone it to some other time? You just got married!
@pitbull
Couple going for a honeymoon with riding gear on? OMG! I'm rolling on the floor laughing.

Re: K2K with my wife on a Karizma R

Annnaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....:O My stance is neutral!!!

What I meant to say is, there're very very few ladies (note this word, I didn't say girls) who're interested in motorcycle & rides. Most women prefer comfort over convenience. Most women don't even like to travel, but they want to get to their destination (like magical transportation). Some of them like to travel by train, but once they hop in, sit for couple of hours, they want to be at destination.

Always remember, Men are from Mars & Women are from Venus

Re: K2K with my wife on a Karizma R

Thampi , it's very clear from that post of yours that you're not as excited as some of the other guys here about that K2K dream of the OP. That was all I wanted to mention. I guess most of these guys who think it so easy have very little experience as a pillion and know very little about the psychology and physiology of Indian women.


I know many women (in fact most women I know of) who like to travel but I'm sure that none of them would want to do a '1+x' day trip on a motorcycle, getting baked under the sun. It's neither comfortable nor convenient. Riding is fun, being a pillion ain't.

To know the real difference, get a T-fort or some similar SUV (actually any car will do) and do a similar trip. The difference is like hell and heaven. I don't wanna write an essay on this but I'm sure people will understand. Please note that this is from a passenger's perspective. I'm not saying that driving a car over long distances is more fun than riding a bike over a similar distance (though I know it's true, it's completely personal I guess).

So since I've been watching this thread for sometime, I thought I should inject some sense of reality into the OP's mind. I'm not against it, but it's very easy to see things as very silly amidst all these comments made by passionate tourers. As everybody knows, even a solo Kanyakumari -> Kashmir ride wont be easy. And also considering the fact that they're a newly wed couple (and Keralites ), I just made a sincere statement. Just my opinion. I have no say in someone else's personal life.

Re: K2K with my wife on a Karizma R

Couldn't agree more. @TS: Hope you know about highway crime rates, I would suggest you evaluate your route in this aspect and take a call. I believe you can mitigate some of these risks by proper planning but you should always be prepared (don't know how though) for the unexpected.

Re: K2K with my wife on a Karizma R

Yes, not excited, but I didn't discourage him either, rather, pointed out ways in which he can accomplish his dream...IF...he still continues to pursue his dreams after taking those steps I mentioned.

While it's true that riding as passenger or being a co-driver is boring, there're several ways to make it interesting; it's much easier in driving than on motorcycle. For instance, one can take notes when being a co-passenger in car (or even truck), click pics etc. But on a motorcycle, there's nothing much to write other than clicking pics. Point is to pick up some activity rather than simply sitting because, it simply is not possible to keep staring (A.K.A enjoying the drive/ride) the path all day long.

Coming on to topic, it's not dangerous, it's not impossible, it's not ridiculous, but requires well planning & is certainly an herculean task to accomplish such feats, especially when you're recently married, the first opposition comes directly comes from your in-laws & from your own family. If you can convince them, then 50% of your issues are solved. Try doing that first.

Re: K2K with my wife on a Karizma R

To me the basic advantage is that you can sit on a proper seat with back support without getting baked under the sun. And let me add some more points to your list. The passenger can take a nap if she wants to, watch movies, listen to music or just rest on her hubby's shoulder .
And I think what he's trying to do is dangerous. It really is dangerous. Reasons are several and are known by most. I'm not discouraging him either but I want him to understand the magnitude of danger and difficulty. Doing something like that for the sake of doing it, is like inviting trouble.

Re: K2K with my wife on a Karizma R

Yes, everything has some amount of risk in it; driving a 18 wheeler also has associated risk but less compared with two wheels. Proper practice & gaining knowledge narrows down the risk to some extent.

Re: K2K with my wife on a Karizma R

Couples even go on world tour on 2 wheels. When a person or more want to feel adventurous, they like to do things differently and they will, just to make it standout of their other various typical journeys. Outgoing activities always have varied levels risks or dangers involved with them, some are too minor to even consider but some are pretty big. Even flying on an airplane is a dangerous thing and that is something, as a passenger, is completely out of your hands if something goes wrong at 37000 feet in the air!! I personally feel that bungee jumping is an idiotic sport but some people do it still, for adventure.

The point is, let the guy know of inherent risks and dangers of such a trip and if possible, guide him on how to plan the trip as safely as possible. Eventually, let him decide if it's dangerous for him and his wife. By pure scale, riding across India isn't as risky as going on a world tour and covering countries and continents that a person is not even familiar with and then it don't matter if you are on a motorcycle or in the safety of a cage! A big vehicle can even limit your mobility in certain situations when you might need it the most!

And no matter how neutral you try to make it sound, but you guys are discouraging the thread starter when you tell him that what he is trying to do is dangerous. There's a difference between in letting know the risks and telling outright that it is dangerous. This is not for you and I to tell him, tell him of the possible risks and guide him with safe routes and preparations, and let him decide whether he is ready to go or not.

Everyone is aware that a car provides more safety in general than a 2 wheeler, not just on long tours but even when commuting daily to work. But let's not make it sound like it's hilarious to even contemplate a long motorcycle tour with the better half.

Re: K2K with my wife on a Karizma R

I don't want to start an argument here, but some points need to be clarified. Comparing a motorbike with an airplane is too much optimism. How many flights take off and land safely every day? How many motorbike accidents happen every day? And who controls the airplanes? Trained professionals. Who controls that bike on the street? Chotu.

When a person decides to ride a motorbike from Kanyakumari to Kashmir with his inexperienced wife all of a sudden, people would say it's a risk. Risk doesn't always mean probability of death. There are many other bad things that can happen to someone.
Yes! People have covered countries and continents on a motorbike. If you turn on the TV, you can see even more adventurous deeds by people but that doesn't mean you can just jump out of your house and do all that straightaway. These kind of journeys need a lot of experience and planning.

I'm sure that none of us had any intention to discourage him but no matter what some people say, there are risks involved in this. And I stand by what I said.

The guy hasn't got a ton of experience behind him. His wife probably hasn't done any similar long rides on a motorbike.
I just asked him whether he should do it NOW? If his intention is to achieve something like this, it's better to gain some more experience. I mean he should do relatively short trips first and make sure that he and his wife are comfortable. After all that and considering several other factors, he should come to a decision. A Kanyakumari to Kashmir trip is by no means an easy task and is not the kinda jolly ride one would want do with his wife just after marriage.

If he decides to do it, we'll do everything we can to help him with the journey. BUT there's no need to jump up and down straightaway and make him commit.

There will be +ve and -ve opinions. He should weigh both and come to a decision. There's no need to be overly soft with a task as hard as this.

Re: K2K with my wife on a Karizma R

arey saand (i think that's the hindi word for bull) :P

Sir, I didn't deny of any risks and potential dangers of such a journey, did I? And I didn't compare motorcycle touring with traveling on an airplane, that was just a reference. Please try to understand the difference.

I am myself a married man and do understand how it feels to worry about the safety of one's wife.

Re: K2K with my wife on a Karizma R

The implication of your comment was, if riding a bike from K2K is dangerous, then many other tasks that we do on a daily basis are also dangerous. It is an underestimation of the risks and difficulties involved . That's the point I was trying to make.

I wasn't questioning just the safety part, but the whole idea itself. For instance, I wish to conquer the Everest. But I'm not naive enough to plan my honeymoon as an 'Everest trip' with my wife. Basically, these are tasks that you can't achieve without serious planning, experience and endurance. I was just asking the OP if he and his wife qualify in that sense.

Re: K2K with my wife on a Karizma R

I would like to repeat that I am emphasizing on the risk and safety aspect of such a journey from my first post. Without being gender biased, such long journeys on two wheels are risky for any human being when done without any planning. I wrote my first post because I felt that the TS is being discouraged as one of your posts sounded like one. If that is not what you ever tried to convey then I must take my words back. I, honestly, appreciate each one of the posters here who are showing their concerns for the rider and the pillion's safety.

Again, and of course, letting the TS know of the imminent risks and safety measures is unquestionable In the end, let him decide how he wants to do his first ride with his wife.

Re: K2K with my wife on a Karizma R

I was only trying to remind him of the reality. Instead of discussing about the journey and its various aspects (including the difficulties), most guys were blindly praising the idea. The possible lack of planning, experience and endurance can be understood from the first post itself. I felt that without an intervention the OP is likely to get carried away by those blind praises. As you said let him decide what he wants to do. Peace.

Re: K2K with my wife on a Karizma R

Guys, thanks a lot for all your concerns and suggestions. I have not taken any replies negatively and all suggestions as welcome since i am a newbie into longer rides and my wife as you all have clearly stated has very little experience.
I am not saying that i am well aware of the danger involved but i understand that it is not an easy one especially with a pillion and that too a lady. We have another 4 more months in front of us to plan and we are doing it everyday. I have a few of my friends also willing to join me.
To have some idea about cold weather and high altitude riding in unknown roads we took a flight from Abu Dhabi to Srinagar last October, hired a RE 350 cc for about 4 days. We went up to Gulmarg , Pahalgham Valleys and the Sonmarg stretch.. I was mainly trying to find out how deep has she understood the gravity of this feat. She has so far shown positive signs only. But i know and you all agree that this is not at all enough. But we will plan ahead . Its very difficult but how much is that we don't know about, planning to take the NH7 doing around 300 odd kilometers a day till Delhi... Will keep you guys updated... Lets see how far it takes us.. if this proves impossible, we might drop the idea as well but dont want to go down without trying... below some pics of our Srinagar Trip....