Riders on the storm
Easier terrain, better gear and ease of navigation courtesy the Web – motorbike touring in the country has evolved, and how.
Back in the ’90s, it wasn’t common for regular city folks to take their bikes deep into the Himalayas pursuing adventure and the pleasure of riding. In 1996, when three young photographers decided to do just that, they knew nothing of what to expect.
With limited information at hand, and lack of experience, they packed up 350kg (including the riders’ weight), on a single Bullet, a machine they later discovered was stipulated for not more than 250kg. They carried spares – including 10 clutch plates, a bagful of spark plugs and sprockets – and woollens enough to keep a battalion warm. They tied plastic sheets over their luggage, and called their loaded bike a ‘mule’.
The only real biking equipment available in India at the time was the STUDDS helmet. Within a kilometre deep beyond the Rohtang Pass in the Himalayas, their mobike toppled 33 times and on the journey downslope, they had to leave behind 35kg of luggage with villagers for a more comfortable ride home.