A Ride to Remember

A motorcycling road trip could be the ultimate adrenaline rush combining adventure along with relative comfort

- Sutirtha Sanyal

Motorcycling can well be considered the modern successor to horse riding. The rhythm, the speed, the thrill, the connect with nature, are all the same, especially if you are off city roads. Of course, with a motorcycle, you can’t leap across ditches, jump over fences (unless there is a ramp and the bike is designed to do so) or ford across a 3ft shallow stretch of water.

The hat has evolved into the helmet, the long leather dusters into riding jackets and the Colt on the waist into a mobile or satellite phone (where such phones are allowed) or a Swiss Army multi-utility tool. The rider’s personal belongings, instead of hanging on heavy haversacks on the sides or the lap are now neatly balanced on either side of the motorcycle in designated carriers known as saddlebags or tied on the back.

The best part: the horse or the motorcycle does most of the hard work, while you soak in nature. You feel numb when it's snowing, dry and itchy in a sandstorm and wet in the rain. You also smell the sweet petrichor as it wafts through the air as the first droplet hits the dry earth.

If you are an avid motorcyclist and are not sure which trail to hit next and how to plan your trip, we have a guide for you.

Skill and Safety First

Just like riding, motorcycling also needs skills. The more powerful the machine (higher cc, greater power and torque), the more skill it will require for you to handle it right. A novice rider will not only endanger themselves, but could also turn the machine into a lethal weapon for others on the road. But it's not just skill, a long ride takes dollops of patience and riding etiquette.

“You need common sense and presence of mind while on the road, especially on long rides,” says Sachin Chavan, an industry veteran who has spearheaded many rides and other motorcycling community initiatives.