We have been here in Rishikesh for the past 2 weeks, and right now am plannning the next leg of our trip. Our Visa's need to be extended by may 11. Current plan is to go to Tungnath, one of the panch (five) kedar's on rented Enfield motorcycles on tuesday (the 23rd or april) We have hooked up with Rohit, a friend of sophia's that organaizes bike tours and shoots photpgraphs, who has agreed to bike with us to the nepal border across the india himalayen range, after he joins us for a 300km trip from here to Tungnath.
Ideally we plan to each purchase a bike with the idea to sell after the summer, which is cheaper than renting for 600 rupes (11 dollars) a day. Prices for an enfield is around 50000 rupees (1000$usd) for an slightly older (1998-2006) bike without disc brakes in trip ready condition, a almost new bike (2009-2011) is around 85000 rupees (1600$usd) with front disc brakes. The bikes can be sold back to the same person we bought the from in rishikesh at 70% of what we bought them for, or sold to someone else for anywhere from 35,000-45000, making the cost for having a bike around 10,000-15000. Most enfields are 350cc bikes, but there are 500cc models, and there are rare old models called the interceptor, which is 2x 350cc engines bolted together in a v-configuration. I have never seen one, but enfields are a common sight. They are similer in style to a Norton or Triumph, from similer british origins.
List of Enfield Motorcycles
Looked at a few bikes today, and got my first 50-60km trip in on an enfield today. these bikes are powerful, sturdy, and heavy, and a dream to drive. The advantages of the enfield are increased stability compared to the lightweight japanese and indian bikes, ease of repair and finding parts, reliability, and a huge userbase in india. The bikes are also incredibly well balanced.
Ideally we plan to each purchase a bike with the idea to sell after the summer, which is cheaper than renting for 600 rupes (11 dollars) a day. Prices for an enfield is around 50000 rupees (1000$usd) for an slightly older (1998-2006) bike without disc brakes in trip ready condition, a almost new bike (2009-2011) is around 85000 rupees (1600$usd) with front disc brakes. The bikes can be sold back to the same person we bought the from in rishikesh at 70% of what we bought them for, or sold to someone else for anywhere from 35,000-45000, making the cost for having a bike around 10,000-15000. Most enfields are 350cc bikes, but there are 500cc models, and there are rare old models called the interceptor, which is 2x 350cc engines bolted together in a v-configuration. I have never seen one, but enfields are a common sight. They are similer in style to a Norton or Triumph, from similer british origins.
List of Enfield Motorcycles
Looked at a few bikes today, and got my first 50-60km trip in on an enfield today. these bikes are powerful, sturdy, and heavy, and a dream to drive. The advantages of the enfield are increased stability compared to the lightweight japanese and indian bikes, ease of repair and finding parts, reliability, and a huge userbase in india. The bikes are also incredibly well balanced.
