Re: [HELP] Sikkim & Bhutan From Surat,GJ | Advice, Suggestions & Tips

Approved!

Let [MENTION=31671]Sachinnair[/MENTION] take a look here.

Re: [HELP] Sikkim & Bhutan From Surat,GJ | Advice, Suggestions & Tips

Hi Mihir,

As a first timer, this is going to be really brave ride for you. There'll be a lot of things that you need to take care of; however, the most important of those things will be a calm and cool head on your shoulder and the ability to know your limits.

Do check this thread http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/touring-...ong-drive.html for the essentials of a long drive, though it is a very old thread, but you'll get a feel of it.


Also do go through these threads for your trip planning



especially this one. @Hoodibaba can help you a lot on this.



Also do let us know what time of the year are you planning to do this roadtrip as the timing would play a big role here.

and share the homework you've done, if any, wrt the route you will be taking.

Re: [HELP] Sikkim & Bhutan From Surat,GJ | Advice, Suggestions & Tips

Wow,

You got me excited. I've chalked out a test route for you. You may want to tweak this as per your liking. I will try to shed a twilight here for your understanding. I haven't traveled via motorcycle to Sikkim, however have done that area extensively. From a motorist to motorist perspective. My replies adjacent to your text.

Details :

• Traveling Solo
  • This shouldn't be a problem at all. But what you must know without any concession is to fix a puncture / or replace the tube. Tighten a loose chain and/or fix a misalignment. Now I can still tow a misaligned Bullet by foot. But, my friend, you wont cover 100 meter with a flat tyre. Learn to fix a puncture and carry the following. (You may want to add to it)
    • Clutch and Accelerator cable (RE parts are not easy to find everywhere)
    • Chain connector. (That thing that holds the chain together)
    • At-least one Tube. (Tubes are heavy, hence in the interest of reducing load, if you do not want to carry a pair of Tube, carry at-least one)
    • A tool kit (a good set from Taparia is available cheap in the market, quality is fair enough to say.)
    • Spark plug cleaning kit or a pair of spark plug itself.
    • If you can afford a multimeter (available at Rediff for approx 350/-), nothing like it. Bulls are nasty when it comes to electric problems. If you cant find the source of the problem, at-least a mechanic can if you have a multimeter. Most mechanics don't have them, then just test with a bulb and wire, each circuit. Your battery should read ( at +ve -ve ) between 12-13 V at switched off mode. And should read between 13-14V at idle and when you race it fully, the reading should go up to 16 to 18 V. If this happens, you know your battery is being charged. If your battery is 3 years old, close your eyes and get a brand new one.
    • The list is not exhaustive, I have a bible of it, and it will just flood this forum, so for now these important points should suffice.
    
    
  
  
• 30-40 Days Trip
  • Hell yeah! Rock and roll. One thing I have learned from riding days together is that, sometimes you come across events, incidents, people who might let you down. Most of us learn to ignore those moments. Sometimes it helps to talk it out. So if you have family/friends who you talk to regularly, please try to share what you feel, that helps immensely at times.
  
  
• on Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350
  • I'm assuming this is a twin-spark or one of the latest generation Bulls? Sorry if I missed that. The Thunderbird is capable of cruising comfortably and at east for the rider. No question on that part if you can live with the quality issues.
  
  
• First Long Trip
  • Please do take a short ride over the weekend on the highway with your vehicle loaded to understand the dynamics of your motorcycle fully loaded. Making adjustments on the day of actual tour will not only piss you off, it will kill precious time and is dangerous to your own safety, as you will be performing trial and error when you are supposed to be touring. The Thunderbird has pathetic drum breaks (if thats the model you have), so whats more important to know is how to control your bull during a sudden break with full load. Our highways are filled with Cows, goats, monkeys, blind motorists and a lot of merry go around dogs who will not understand your position. Please brake full on an empty stretch of abandoned road. Trial, test, test, test till you learn how to break without locking your bull at full load. Remember, we are talking about your life here.
  
  
• No prior experience
  • The above point can be repeated here
  
  

What I expect from you :

• Itinerary Help
• Best Road to choose
• Best places to stay
• Best Destinations to Visit
• Other Roadtrips & Suggestions
• Protective Gears Needed
• Tools and Equipments to have
• other things you feel
• Travelogue Tips

Some of the Points have been repeated already, So I will sum the Above 9 Points in a few points.

1. If I have to sum the cost of protective gear you need to purchase, then your expense will shoot up. Motorcycle riding is an expensive affair if you want to do it the right way. Safety first, everything else can wait. A good pair of Gloves (I have DSG Phoenix for riding on the plains) and a good pair of Gloves for the hills. Sikkim for the next 3 months is going to be very very cold. I still do not know when you are planning to ride up, however still, if you plan to ride all the way up to the base camp of K2, then a pair of Winter gloves is mandatory. (I have the DSG Aqua and it worked wonders in LEH).
2. A branded riding jacket and a complete set of Elbow guard, Knee Guard with a good old leather boot. Riding boots are some of the most expensive gear in the whole lot. If you cant afford a Riding boot, an Industrial grade boot is necessary. Whatever you wear should cover your ankle and protect the same.
3. Helmets - Please get a proper FULL face Riding helmet. No Half face or detachable ones. I know half face helmets look so stylish on a cruiser. However in the even of a crash, that half face helmet will only protect your skull. The jaw bone is fully exposed. Also, when you wear full helmet, please strap it firmly to your chin. A helmet is useless no matter how expensive if you don't strap it firmly.
4. I stayed at Mahathma Ganghi Road at Sikkim. Its right at the market and there are many hotels on that road. If you get the right hotel, you will get a view on the K2 top in the early morning if the weather permits.
5. Do visit the Tsuklakhang Palace. Get the blessing from the budhist monks. Ask the monks where the other monasteries are. They will be glad to assist. I could not visit all of Sikkim.
6. Alcohol is dead cheap in Sikkim, if you want to keep yourself warm at nights. (DO NOT drink and ride).

View of K2.

Tsuklakhang Palace

Here is the Route. Since you have time, the first day can be a warmup. From a novice stand point, I haven't given you too many miles to cover on any day.

What I have Today :

• Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350
  • To add to whatever I have said, as you will be carrying load, please ensure your tyres are in top quality. Roads in West Bengal towards Sikkim are in pathetic state (I did a 4 wheel route in January this year) and the roads - I have no words to describe for the road conditions in the state of West Bengal.
  
  
• Sleeping Bag
  • I wont comment on this, as I personal would not carry one. As your route takes you through places accessible to paid accommodation, a sleeping bag would not be necessary. It isn't safe outside unless it is a designated camping spot or you are with a group. To me the Sleeping bag is a dead weight.
  
  
• Backpack 50 Litres
  • I didnt quite get this. Are you planning to tie the bag to the rear seat? I think, one good Saddle bag should not only solve your problem, you can balance the weight on your bull.
  
  
• Canon EOS 600D + 2 Lenses == Yes Yes and Yes.
• 1 Android Mobile
  • + A basic phone will help you tons, because for example a Samsung Guru talktime lasts for a good 3 days.
  
  
• 1 Laptop
• Rs. 60,000 for this trip. (I can add more )
  • Calculate 2000/- per day (Excluding fuel). So for 40 days, the total amount is 80000/-. You wouldn't spent that much a day. The rest is your emergency money. Keep fuel budget separate. DO NOT carry loads of cash with you. Keep enough for 2 days always when riding on plains and 5 days when riding on hills. If you are unfortunate to be riding on a day of Bandh(Harthaal), then the only source of cash is what you have with you. Some states, especially Kerala and WestBengal (recently Odisha) goes on a complete lock-down. I've lived and relived this experience God knows, how many times.
  • For Fuel, that is 2300 Kms one way Approximately From Surat to Sikkim. Your return trip will be 4600KM. I would add 300KMs to this as a buffer. For 4900KMs considering your bull gives an average of 40KM/L on the Highway @ an average Petrol cost of 73 / Litre, your fuel Bill will be Approximate 9000 Rupees. The Mileage uphill and on bad roads will reduce. The extra Kilometers I added should offset this. Of-course I have not added site seeing and other areas of interest you might want to visit. A 10000 Rupee Budget for Fuel sounds just about right.
  • I am extremely sorry to scare you with this budget.
  
  

The opinions I expressed above are purely from my experience and the way I would plan or have planned successfully. Please ignore anything if you are not sure about it.

Re: [HELP] Sikkim & Bhutan From Surat,GJ | Advice, Suggestions & Tips

We're going there too.

Bikers and Photographers from Surat, Gujarat.

Re: [HELP] Sikkim & Bhutan From Surat,GJ | Advice, Suggestions & Tips


Thank you so much for this references. I will take a detailed look at each of them.

I am planning to leave from 1st Dec.


​

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I am really thankful to you for your time to write all this. Each and everyword mean a lot to me.

I will try to respond or answer one by one.

• Traveling Solo :
• I know how to fix puncture but need to practice 2-3 times . Thanks for this notice. I will buy other things which you suggested. At the end, you wrote, you have lots of other info on this matter. I wish to know as much as possible. Please give me a link for it(If available).

​

• RE TB 350 :
• I bought it in Feb 2014, but I am getting reviews from other riders that It's very bad on quality. There are whole lot of problems related to performance on a long trip. I would love to know more about this from experienced rider. Note:I dont know much about engine mechanics.

• First Long Trip:
• This is something valuable advice you have given to me. I had no idea about it. YES, I will ride 2-3 times fully loaded on highways to get the hold of it. "MUST DO"

• 9 Points :
• I am planning to ride sikkim in December. And, After little research I came to know that It's not a good time to ride!!! Many people says It's good time to ride till Mid-November, After it gets very cold and you also confirmed that next 3 months are very very cold. I dont know what to do.
• I am stacking a list for protective gears, I think It's gonna take 50 grand out of my pocket.
• I have full face helmet.
• I am a non-alcoholic.

• Route:
• Thanks for this route. I will add it to my list.

• What I have today :

​

• I just listed the items what I have as of now. I will drop sleeping bag at home only.
• I will get a good quality saddle bag as well.
• Ya, I have one more "heavy duty" mobile phone for long battery hours.
• I dont feel like bringing my laptop everywhere.
• Budget is seriously underrated.

Thanks for all this tips. I will note all of them. I will contact you in case of any help. Thanks once again.

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When you guys are heading? Please let me know. Thanks.

Re: [HELP] Sikkim & Bhutan From Surat,GJ | Advice, Suggestions & Tips

Our leaves from offices are yet to tie up. Will leave in June.

Drop me a message on the link in my signature below.

We're passive members of Focas Surat, that photography club that doesn't do much good.

Re: [HELP] Sikkim & Bhutan From Surat,GJ | Advice, Suggestions & Tips

Hi Mihir,

Good to know that you are planning a ride to Sikkim and Bhutan.

At the outset I would say that 30-40 days are tooooooo much time for this ride. You need to curtail it if you want to enjoy solo ride. (Solo Ride is tough, and I don't know if you have some past experience of riding solo on long drives before or not).

Normally, the Bhutanese government doesn't issue permit to solo riders. I, might being a govt. servant and a old man, was allowed permit. Don't know you would be able to get it or not. THIS IS A BIG ISSUE.

For Sikkim just 5-7 days maximum are enough. Don't know what other places enroute you like to cross. Please give some idea so that I can throw some light on those places.

Rest on getting some more information from your side.

hoodibaba

Re: [HELP] Sikkim & Bhutan From Surat,GJ | Advice, Suggestions & Tips

what i can help u with,,, ROADS for sure,,, i rode to Bhutan just a week ago from varanasi,,, i saw some one suggesting u to go West Bengal via Patna,, bro the road is hell their,,, it is like something being destroyed in air bombings,,,,,,it might take at least 36 hours to cross u only BIHAR that way

Bro cross over into UP via AGRA,,, take NH2 to reach all the way to VARANASI ,,, NOW from there go to AZAMGARH ,,MAU AND BALIA ( total distance not more than 120 km with nice road ),,, cross into BIHAR from CHAPRA and get onto NH57 ..rode all the way to PURNIA ( distance 330 app ,,, and we covered all this distance in just 4 hours ),,,, NH 57 ends here on NH31 which will take u straight into NE.....no where u will counter the bad roads,,,,

u cd count on my words on this bro,,,,,,,,

Re: [HELP] Sikkim & Bhutan From Surat,GJ | Advice, Suggestions & Tips

Thanks for your reply, Hoodibaba.

First of all, I am too excited to ride that region but after getting reviews from riders and other travellers, I came to know that Sikkim & Bhutan will be very cold during Dec. So I am now quite worried about it. I don't want ladakh type riding experience or whether as of now.

Regarding 30-40 days, I though it will take 10-12 days to and fro from Surat-Siliguri & Siliguri-Surat. and Remaining period will be in Tour. But according to you, I might endup riding those destinations with much lesser time.

Regarding Solorides, Yes, I have few experiences of riding but not solo, and those experiences are also not very long, they ranges from 750-1000kms. So this is my first experience of the long ride.

Regarding permits, Yes, I have read about the permit issue on some forum, but on research I found out that, some solo riders has got permit easily and some didnt get. Now, I think, its about my chance ! One more person pointed out that, It's difficult to get solo permit for foreigners and not for Indians. I am not very sure about either of the two but these were the rants.!

These are the places on my list to visit in Sikkim, I dont know it's good to visit all of them or not, but I just researched online and found these places interesting. Few of them required RAP also, and that can be obtained from Local office(as per my information).

For Better planning, I have divided my itinerary in 3 parts.

North Sikkim : Gangtok-Lachen-Lachung-Yumthang valley-Yumesangdong-Lachun-Gangtok
East Sikkim : Gangtok - Rumtek - Tsongmo Lake - Nathu la - Baba Mandir - Nathang Valley - Nathu La - Gangtok
West Sikkim : Gangtok - Ravangla - Pelling - Yuksom - Gangtok

Gangtok will be my center and I plan to travel this way. Note: I might be completely wrong in this type of planing. It might not work in practical. You suggestions are most needed for me.



And looking at this itinerary I feel 10 days are less.

Re: [HELP] Sikkim & Bhutan From Surat,GJ | Advice, Suggestions & Tips

[MENTION=41586]Divya Sharan[/MENTION] - Thanks for the tag.

[MENTION=53888]mihir23192[/MENTION] - I am just back from a mammoth 7300 kms ride in 19 days across 7 states in India and covering complete Bhutan (Western - Central - Eastern). I would suggest you PM me so that we can exchange numbers and I can guide you with your queries. Travelog would come eventually in few days but since you are starting the ride in a couple of weeks, you should be completely prepared. There's a lot of unplanned events that take place in long trips mate, Trust me on that

Re: [HELP] Sikkim & Bhutan From Surat,GJ | Advice, Suggestions & Tips

All the best for the trip bro, Even i am planning trip to north east and Bhutan ,probably in the month of march.As of now i am solo.but can tag along if someone happen to ride at the same time.

Re: [HELP] Sikkim & Bhutan From Surat,GJ | Advice, Suggestions & Tips

The expenses suggested per day i.e. Rs.2000 without fuel is too much on the upper side.

Your Sikkim details are fine. Can be covered in 10 days as the distance to be covered all over Sikkim is not too much.

Had you opted to leave in March-April, you would have the option to cover Gurudongmar Lake on uppermost North Sikkim at 17000+ feet. In December, there is just impossible to cover Gurudongmar lake (North Sikkim) and Nathula (east Sikkim) due to heavy snow. Besides, getting permit for these places is a really big issue. It is not as simple as in Ladakh.

As for Bhutan, I have already told you that they don't issue permit to single person.

I am giving you the phone number of Mr. Santanu Banerjee who belongs to Siliguri and is the most active rider in that part i.e. Sikkim and Bhutan. He is admin of xkmph.com siliguri (the bikers forum) and his opinion must be weighed highly for this zone. I have already talked to him and told about your ride. You may contact him in the evening at the following number : 09434047898

He has recently been to Varanasi via Patna and would be able to give you the latest updates about road conditions for this sector also. You can refer to him my name and he would be providing you the necessary details.

Re: [HELP] Sikkim & Bhutan From Surat,GJ | Advice, Suggestions & Tips

I travelled in the month of September 2014 to Bhutan and Sikkim. I managed to get permits. Was one of a heckle though. Was denied the permit on Day1. Tried to reason with the permit officers in the permit office. They didnt nod a bit. Day2 early morning I was there as the first person person in the queue (Hardly would call it a queue.) I managed to get the permits for myself and the bike. The officer did exchange 2000 INR for 2000 Ngultrums. All in all, visited western Bhutan and part of central but due to landslides and heavy monsoon I had to cut short my trip for next time. All the best with the trip bro.

Riding to Bhutan in May end - June Mid

Hi Guys,

I wanted to know how would the weather be in bhutan in the coming weeks.I was planning to ride during May end.
Would the rains have started by then?
Is it advisable to go during this period ?