Bikes in India - a picture diary
Discussion
Just back from a little hol in S India, and thought some of you might be interested in the 2 wheeled sights to be seen out there. Most of the bikes (like about 99%) are nasty Jap copies made by Hero Honda and other Indian manufacturers. They were too dull to photograph, so I didn't. Just google "hero honda splendour" if you really must.
No, the real sights were mostly Enfields. Roads are usually rough, and it's rare to get much over 40mph, so your GSXR would be a bit pointless out there. The simpler the better is a good general rule! Anyway, on to the pics:
Here we are in Trichy, and the first interesting bike:
I'm not sure whether it's really a police bike, but it wouldn't surprise me. The Indian police are pretty useless, and no-one seems to take much notice of them.
I guess this is a bit less powerful than the BSA's of old, but the name lives on!
Another lone Enfield, looking nicely used, outside a temple in Tanjore:
Note the rather lovely chrome sari guard around the back wheel - most Indian bikes have one of these. The rider has left his sandals underneath for safekeeping, beacuse you have to be barefoot to visit temples.
On to Madurai, and a couple more Enfields. First a bog standard 350, taken at night as we were on our way to find some dinner:
...and here's a rare-ish bird - a diesel Enfield:
I've got no idea what engine it uses, but the owner was rather proud of it. Judging by the dieselly caked nastiness around the engine, it works for its living. As I say, when 40mph is a realistic safe maximum road speed, this bike probably makes some kind of sense.
Time for something a bit more modern. We've moved now to Periyar, and the mountains of Kerala, and what claims to be an Aprilia:
Somehow the decals looked a bit wrong to me, but I'll let you lot decipher what it might be. At least it's not another f
king Hero Honda Splendour, anyway, and deserved a pic just for that alone. You can get very bored with nasty Jap 125's, you know.
Here's another one though, with (I think) strong hints of CB500 about the styling:
I'll let you try and identify it if you can be bothered.
Another couple of Enfields up in mountains here, both appealingly battle scarred and looking as if they might be mid road trip:
These were the kind of bikes which fuelled my day-dreams of a kind of Indian "Easy Rider" trip. Maybe in a few years time, eh?
Moving on now to Cochin in Kerala, and a rather cruiserish Enfield parked outside our hotel:
I think the fork seals might not quite make another MoT, no? This one came out of the factory with more of a cruiser look, I think:
which I'm never sure entirely suits such a "square" 50's bike as an Enfield single. I don't think they were very raffish machines when new - more a sort of Ford Escort of a bike - so doing this always looks a bit odd, I reckon.
Still, I did rather like this attempt to streetfighter a 125:
Now we're on our way to Ooty, and met this garage queen at a roadside cafe:
...followed by another diesel on the way down from the hills:
All branded "Taurus" as you can see, which as far as I can tell is as close as you can get to an "official" conversion. Looks pretty nasty to me, but there you go.
This couple of "Oooty beauties" in the night are a bit easier on the eye:
Up to Mysore now, and a funny looking yellow thing:
I'm pretty sure this is still only a 125, but the Indians are definitely getting a taste for quicker bikes. The problem is that their roads really aren't up to it. Most riders wear no helmet or safety gear, and driving standards are pretty erratic. The death rate for bikers from head injuries is still very high, and faster bikes would be very bad news without much better roads and better trained / policed users. Here endeth the lesson.
I've got no idea what this is, spotted outside a Mysore beer garden:
I just liked the look of it - anyone any thoughts?
This one's a bit more obvious, and shows the Enfield sense of humour to good effect:
"Machismo", eh?
That's about your lot. We travelled on trains and coaches most of the time, but yearned for bikes at regular intervals. Must look into one of these hols where Enfield rental is included.
Hope you like the pics - bigger ones available if you want!
No, the real sights were mostly Enfields. Roads are usually rough, and it's rare to get much over 40mph, so your GSXR would be a bit pointless out there. The simpler the better is a good general rule! Anyway, on to the pics:
Here we are in Trichy, and the first interesting bike:
I'm not sure whether it's really a police bike, but it wouldn't surprise me. The Indian police are pretty useless, and no-one seems to take much notice of them.
I guess this is a bit less powerful than the BSA's of old, but the name lives on!
Another lone Enfield, looking nicely used, outside a temple in Tanjore:
Note the rather lovely chrome sari guard around the back wheel - most Indian bikes have one of these. The rider has left his sandals underneath for safekeeping, beacuse you have to be barefoot to visit temples.
On to Madurai, and a couple more Enfields. First a bog standard 350, taken at night as we were on our way to find some dinner:
...and here's a rare-ish bird - a diesel Enfield:
I've got no idea what engine it uses, but the owner was rather proud of it. Judging by the dieselly caked nastiness around the engine, it works for its living. As I say, when 40mph is a realistic safe maximum road speed, this bike probably makes some kind of sense.
Time for something a bit more modern. We've moved now to Periyar, and the mountains of Kerala, and what claims to be an Aprilia:
Somehow the decals looked a bit wrong to me, but I'll let you lot decipher what it might be. At least it's not another f
king Hero Honda Splendour, anyway, and deserved a pic just for that alone. You can get very bored with nasty Jap 125's, you know.Here's another one though, with (I think) strong hints of CB500 about the styling:
I'll let you try and identify it if you can be bothered.
Another couple of Enfields up in mountains here, both appealingly battle scarred and looking as if they might be mid road trip:
These were the kind of bikes which fuelled my day-dreams of a kind of Indian "Easy Rider" trip. Maybe in a few years time, eh?
Moving on now to Cochin in Kerala, and a rather cruiserish Enfield parked outside our hotel:
I think the fork seals might not quite make another MoT, no? This one came out of the factory with more of a cruiser look, I think:
which I'm never sure entirely suits such a "square" 50's bike as an Enfield single. I don't think they were very raffish machines when new - more a sort of Ford Escort of a bike - so doing this always looks a bit odd, I reckon.
Still, I did rather like this attempt to streetfighter a 125:
Now we're on our way to Ooty, and met this garage queen at a roadside cafe:
...followed by another diesel on the way down from the hills:
All branded "Taurus" as you can see, which as far as I can tell is as close as you can get to an "official" conversion. Looks pretty nasty to me, but there you go.
This couple of "Oooty beauties" in the night are a bit easier on the eye:
Up to Mysore now, and a funny looking yellow thing:
I'm pretty sure this is still only a 125, but the Indians are definitely getting a taste for quicker bikes. The problem is that their roads really aren't up to it. Most riders wear no helmet or safety gear, and driving standards are pretty erratic. The death rate for bikers from head injuries is still very high, and faster bikes would be very bad news without much better roads and better trained / policed users. Here endeth the lesson.
I've got no idea what this is, spotted outside a Mysore beer garden:
I just liked the look of it - anyone any thoughts?
This one's a bit more obvious, and shows the Enfield sense of humour to good effect:
"Machismo", eh?
That's about your lot. We travelled on trains and coaches most of the time, but yearned for bikes at regular intervals. Must look into one of these hols where Enfield rental is included.
Hope you like the pics - bigger ones available if you want!
Edited by N Dentressangle on Tuesday 20th January 15:05
bob1179 said:
Some great piccies!
I have a hankering for an Enfield, I love to look of them plus they are lovely and basic!
I'd love to tour India on one, I think I would be a little terrified of the roads though!
I think Kerala would be quite do-able.I have a hankering for an Enfield, I love to look of them plus they are lovely and basic!
I'd love to tour India on one, I think I would be a little terrified of the roads though!
Anyone ever heard anything of these guys:
http://www.blazingtrailstours.com/
N Dentressangle said:
bob1179 said:
Some great piccies!
I have a hankering for an Enfield, I love to look of them plus they are lovely and basic!
I'd love to tour India on one, I think I would be a little terrified of the roads though!
I think Kerala would be quite do-able.I have a hankering for an Enfield, I love to look of them plus they are lovely and basic!
I'd love to tour India on one, I think I would be a little terrified of the roads though!
Anyone ever heard anything of these guys:
http://www.blazingtrailstours.com/
D1 MAD said:
N Dentressangle said:
bob1179 said:
Some great piccies!
I have a hankering for an Enfield, I love to look of them plus they are lovely and basic!
I'd love to tour India on one, I think I would be a little terrified of the roads though!
I think Kerala would be quite do-able.I have a hankering for an Enfield, I love to look of them plus they are lovely and basic!
I'd love to tour India on one, I think I would be a little terrified of the roads though!
Anyone ever heard anything of these guys:
http://www.blazingtrailstours.com/
Looks pretty interesting .. always liked the idea of Enfields and have already been to the Himallayas..
Enfields are for sale in the UK :
http://royal-enfield.com/dealers.htm
This local dealer is in my town ..
http://www.richardsons-motorcycles.com/
Prices from 2495 to 4800 for the alloy tanked clubman.
Enfields are for sale in the UK :
http://royal-enfield.com/dealers.htm
This local dealer is in my town ..
http://www.richardsons-motorcycles.com/
Prices from 2495 to 4800 for the alloy tanked clubman.
Edited by rev-erend on Wednesday 21st January 09:09
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