Ride Planning for World's Highest Motorable Point

Though I had bought my Bullet in 2007, Should ride to leh concept in me started from the year 2006. Finally got to plan the leh trip in 2010 after a longtime. As usuall started of the planning with tonnes of research on internet and tonnes of discussion with those who have done the ride. Also from the research found out that a lot of foreigners come to India especially to ride to leh. Few come to India rent bullets and few others ride on their machines from their country. Which built more eagerness in me to complete the leh ride ASAP. Anyways the planning goes like this:

Planned Ride Dates

3rd July 2010 to 16th July 2010.

Confirmed Riders

1) Advriderakshay (Myself) on Black Std CI350
2) Raaj on Grey Std CI500
3) Inderneel on Magic Black CI Electra 5S

Planned Itenary

The Itenary was planned in a conservative approach, since the road from  Manali to Leh is mostly terrain we did not want to climb up that way but we wanted to climb down on the road from Leh to Manali. The road we are taking is NH and Tarmac till Srinagar so we can cruise at decent Speeds . Since it would be Tarmac we can cover decent distances as well. We also wanted to spend more time on the Leh -Manali Highway, we would get ample time to spend in the places on the way to Delhi.

Day-1(3rd July 2010) Delhi-Pathankot or Amritsar
Day-2(4th July 2010) Pathankot or Amritsar-Srinagar
Day-3(5th July 2010) Srinagar-Kargil
Day-4(6th July 2010) Kargil- Leh
Day-5(7th July 2010) local Leh and permits
Day-6(8th July 2010) Leh-Kardhungla-Nubra Valley
Day-7(9th July 2010) Nubra-Leh
Day-8(10th July 2010) Leh-pangong TSO
Day-9(11th July 2010)  Pangong –Leh
Day-10(12th July 2010) Leh-Jispa
Day-11(13th July 2010) Jispa-manali
Day-12(14th July 2010) Manali-Shimla through Jalori
Day-13(15th July 2010) Shimla-Delhi

Planned Ride Route


View Leh Trip in a larger map

Clothes to Carry

1) 4 Lightweight Cargo pants
2) 8 T-Shirts
3) 6 Vests
4) 6 Briefs
5) 5 Handki's/ Wet tissues
6) 5 Pairs Socks
7) 1 Fliece Jacket
8) 1 Thermal Pant
9) 1 Pair Woolen Gloves
10) Woolen Monkey Caps
11) 2 Night Pants
12) 2 Shorts

Riding Gears

1) Helmet with plain visar
2) Riding Jacket with Armours (Cramster K2K)
3) Riding Gloves (Cramster DewRex this one I picked up especially for Ladakh Ride)
4) Knee Guards
5) Buff/ Balaclava
6) Riding Boots

Miscellaneous Stuff

1) Saddle bags (Cramster - Stalin)
2) Tank Bag (Cramster - Turtle)
3) Camera Kit
4) Cellphone & charger
5) Maps
6) Sun Glasses with UV protection
7) Cold/Sunscream Cream/Lotion
8) Toiletaries
9) De - Hyderation Bag (Camel Bag)
10) Sneekers
11) Tool Kit for the bike(Fit in Toolbox)
12) First aid kit (carried by RAAJ)
13) Altitide sickness medicine (carried by RAAJ)
14) Bunge Cords
15) Tarpauline Sheet/ Rain Cover for the Saddle bags
16) Chain and locks for the bikes safety at night
17) Lip Balm
18) Water resistant sleeping Mat
19) Sleeping Bag
20) Biscuit packets
21) Swiss Knief(Fit in Toolbox)


Spares to carry on the Ride

1) Spark Plug (Fit in Toolbox)
2) Clutch cable Set(Fit in Saddle bags)
3) Accelator cable set(Fit in Saddle bags)
4) De-Compresor cable set(Fit in Saddle bags)
5) Front break cable set(Fit in Saddle bags)
6) Spare Clutch Lever with York(Fit in Saddle bags)
7) Chain link(Fit in Toolbox)
8) Point Set(Fit in Toolbox)
9) Gear lever shifter spring(Fit in Toolbox)
10) Extra fuel pipe(Fit in Toolbox)
11) 2 Tubes(Fit in Saddle bags)
12) Break shoes one set with Spring(Fit in Toolbox)
13) Rear wheel ball barrings set(Fit in Toolbox)
14) Front wheel ball barring set(Fit in Toolbox)
15) Chain sprocket ball barring set(Fit in Toolbox)
16) Spare Keys kept separately(Fit in Saddle bags)
17) Fuses(Fit in Toolbox)
18) Head & Tail lamp bulbs(Fit in Toolbox)
19) Spare walpin for the tubes(Fit in Toolbox)
20) 1 Litre Engine Oil for Top up(Fit in Saddle bags)

Documents to carry

1) Bike registration certificate
2) Bike Insurance certificate
3) Pollution Check certificate
4) Rider's Driving Licence
5) Rider's Medical Insurance Card


Servicing for the Bike (Planning to get it serviced in the 1st week of June 2010)

1) Engine Oil Change
2) Gear Box Oil Change
3) Front Shocks Oil Change
4) Replace Clutch cable Set
5) Replace Accelator cable set
6) Replace De-Compresor cable set
7) Front break cable set
8) Replace Point Set
9) Replace the Clutch Plates (Will put 5 plates this time)
10) Spark Plug cleaning
11) Change Oil filter
12) Air Filter cleaning
13) Carborator cleaning
14) Replace Rear wheel ball barrings set
15) Replace Front wheel ball barring set
16) Replace Chain sprocket ball barring set
17) Tappet adjustment
18) Battery re-charge
19) Chain Lubrication
20) Bike Washing

Modifications on my Bike

1) Replaced Standard rear Shocks with Gas Shocks
2) Changed connectivity of the head light from Battery to Coil
3) Replaced 15 litres fuel tank with the 24 litres fuel tank. Below is the pic of 4 tanks getting painted. Mine, Inder, Raaj and Arvind's Tanks in the pic. This was done basically to avoid carrying fuel cans on the bikes.

The tanks that are shown in the above pic, These tanks where bought and shipped from Delhi. Since Inder's home is in Delhi. He was on a usual visit to home. There he had enquired about the tanks in Karol bagh and Kazanchi. Finally the price in Kazanchi were the cheapest. After a long conference calls between Me, Raaj and Inder we finally decided we will go for the 24liter tanks. Inder shipped all the four tanks from Delhi to Bangalore. Once the tanks had arrived in Bangalore myself and Raaj went to Kalasipaliya to pick up the tanks from parcel office. As usual some small dents on the tanks during transit. Got rid of those small dents easily & quickly at a fabrication shop in RT Nagar. Then the tanks were also painted in the same area. Spent a lot of time getting 4 tanks stickerd in Shivajinagar after the paint but before lackering. The tank is ready, but I am yet to fix the same on my bullet due to time constraints. Will get it fitted at the time of serivce.

Fittness for Myself

From almost a month started jogging at a brisk pace, which would cover about 4 kms and light workout in the gym with the help of coach

Myself, Raaj and Inder have already booked Flight Tickets to Delhi for 2nd July 2010.

Amount Spent on the bike for this Ride

Rear Carrier                                                  900
25 litre Fuel Tank including Painting                2400
1 pair Brake Shoes                                        130
2 wheel bearings                                            120
Sproket Wheel bearing                                  115
Petrol Pipe                                                    30
Kicker Springs                                              25
Clutch plates                                                 230
2 Tubes                                                        540
Springs                                                         20
half litre Gear box oil                                    100
STP                                                             220
3 Litre Oil                                                    520
Front Brake Cable                                       55
Decompresor Cable                                     35
Accelator Cable                                           55
Point Set                                                      160
Labour                                                         350
Total                                                           6005

Amount Spent of the Misc stuff

Tank Bag                                                  1450
Dew Rex Gloves                                       1600
Knee Guards                                            1500
Flight Hyderabad to Delhi                         3350
Bike Shipping Charges Bangalore to Delhi 2900
Nikon D90 Camera Kit                            72000
Total                                                        82800

Wait for the next blog, will post the same once the ride is complete.

Till then cheers! Ride Safe