Several times each month, I receive queries from people, asking me, which is the best motorcycle for Ladakh bike ride?
While there is no simple answer to this question, there are motorcycles which I feel are more suitable for Ladakh ride, than others. So here are 5 motorcycles I would recommend you to buy, if you are planning to buy a motorcycle soon and are looking for something, which would be a better choice for Ladakh.
Hero Impulse: When it comes to tackling bad and off roads in stock form, nothing quite comes close to Hero Impulse. It has a time tested and reliable 150cc 4st engine from Honda, which although isn’t very powerful, but has enough power on tap to take you through pretty much all the passes in Ladakh. Add to this, quite a few renters in Leh and Manali now have Impulse available for rent, which should lead to easier availability of spares and service in Ladakh.
Bajaj Pulsar 180: If you are looking for a more powerful bike, yet do not wish to compromise on fuel economy or spend a lot of money on buying a motorcycle, then Bajaj Pulsar 180 is a good option. It also has a large enough fuel tank to do Kargil – Padum (Zanskar Valley) – Kargil ride, without requiring refueling at Padum. It is also a time tested and reliable motorcycle, and I have been using its first iteration (180 Classic) for past 12 years.
Hero Karizma: An old workhorse, which refuses to fade into the history books, despite the introduction of better and more powerful bikes. Hero Karizma for the most part is still the same old bike, which was launched over a decade ago and still remains one of the best touring bikes in India. And even though it’s plastic parts might start rattling or even break after a few rough rides, its engine would rarely ditch you midway. For anyone looking for a motorcycle capable of breezing through Ladakh, but not wanting to spend more than one lakh, Karizma is still the best choice. That is until the new Karizma R with an uglier design (never thought it was possible), replaces the current workhorse.
Bajaj Pulsar 220: Since the new Karizma R is out and it is yet to prove itself long term and I haven’t riden it, I am changing my recommendation to Bajaj Pulsar 220F. Even though Bajaj Pulsar 220F isn’t as refined or ergonomically comfortable as the outgoing Karizma. However with the newly launched Karizma, it becomes de facto choice for anyone looking to buy a good motorcycle for Ladakh for less than 1lakh rupees. Bajaj Pulsar 220F does have a 55w projector head lamp, which is great for touring at night. Though I wouldn’t recommend touring at night in Ladakh, since you will miss all the vistas. It is also reliable enough, has a decent tank range and is powerful enough for touring with a pillion (as long as you aren’t overloading the bike with luggage).
KTM 200 Duke: KTM 200 and 390 Duke are the most fun Indian bikes you can take to Ladakh. However, thanks to small fuel tanks and thirsty engines, you will have to either carry spare fuel or stick to routes, which have petrol pumps every couple of hundred kilometers. Due to this, even though I believe KTM 390 Duke is a better bike for the money. I am recommending its smaller sibling, due to better mileage, which translates in to better tank range.
Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500 is the best RE bike for Ladakh; large fuel tank, powerful engine, fuel injection, souped up suspension and brakes are everything that was missing from the REs and was badly required by tourers. It is also the best motorcycle to ride to Ladakh, if you have a pillion and plenty of luggage. Reliability of newer UCE Enfields is better than ever before, even though there is still room for improvement. Having said that, I don’t quite like the ergonomics of Thunderbirds, never have and probably never will. I would have been happier, if Royal Enfield had introduced Electra with similar parts. But then again, like styling, ergonomics is a personal thing, so before you decide anything, make sure to book a test ride.
At the end of the day, no matter which motorcycle you have, you can take it to Ladakh, if it is in good condition and you ride within its and your limits. So even if your motorcycle isn’t listed above, don’t feel disheartened, because best motorcycle for Ladakh is the one, you currently own.
260 Comments
I have a pulsar 135LS, 4 years old, 14K km covered.. Plan is to ride from Chandigarh to Leh, and back to Chandigarh.. is it fine to ride?
Yes, just don’t overload motorcycle with luggage.
Hi yogesh is it possible if i want to take my rs-200 to leh ladakh trip–its only done 1000kms,plz let me know,thanks
Absolutely, just get the bike serviced properly before the trip.
Can I take Suzuki gixxer SF 155cc to leh ladakh from Gurgaon?
Pulsar 180 or avenger 220
Which vehicle should be better for ladakh trip with a pillion rider?
Both the vehicles are in good condition and we will carry only necessary lugage.
Please advice, we want to travel from chandigarh to leh via manali and back.
Pulsar 180 would be more comfortable at high altitude due to its ergonomics.
Hi Yogesh, Thanks for providing the information related to Bike. I have one que regarding the Bike. I am planning to go Manali-Leh by Bike, but I drive Avenger very comfortably(driving for 12 years). Is the avenger (new) with pillion rider is fine for this road ?
Also I will be travelling with my Wife, is their any place where I can get a group along (not a big group required). Or we both can go alone safely.
It should be fine, just that pillion isn’t going to be all that comfortable and handling on rough sections would require a bit more effort.
No issue doing this trip alone, if you’re looking for company, then check out travel partner section here http://www.bcmtouring.com/forums/forums/india-travel-partners.59/
hellol
Can I do delhi- srinagar- leh- keylong -Manali- delhi stretch in a 1999 model Yamaha RX 135? Im palnning to do it in end of June
Yes you can do it, as long as the bike is in good condition. You will also keep in mind the limited fuel range of your motorcycle, since at some stretches fuel pumps aren’t available for 375km or more.
Thank you Yogesh bhai,..
So far my bike is in good condition, recently changed piston and clutch plates
But my fear is in higher altitude two strokes fails to climb due to lack of oxygen(heard from sites), so please tell me whether it’s true..Also any suggestion to overcome this problem..
All motorcycles struggle due to high altitude. You will have to keep the tuning in mind and the fact that bike should be set to lean mixture. Alternatively you can remove the air filter temporarily, anywhere the bike refuses to climb.
Thank you..
Hey
I have Bajaj Pulsar 200 cc 2008 model will it be a good option to take on leh roadtrip, It has been only 30000 km driven. please reply ASAP
As long as your motorcycle is in good condition, there is no problem at all.
Hi Yogesh,
I am planning to go to Leh Laddakh from Delhi via Bike.
I am taking my personal bike- Honda CB trigger-150CC 8km done, 1 year old.. Please tell about some of the modifications i need to make in my bike…
Thanks.
Hi Yogesh,
Your blogs provide great guidance , please advise me on this
We are planning Leh Trip at from 31st july to 9th August, we will take a flight to Srinagar.
A road trip from Srinagar to Leh and then rent the bikes there.
We plan to do Leh-nubra and Nubra to Pangong.
Would you suggest coming back to LEH to going directly to Pangong from nubra ?(we are short of time)
And if we were to travel directly from Nubra to Pangong , which route is preferable (Wari La or Shyok).
This is our first trip to Leh
I have seen Impulse , the STD 500 EFI as an option available for rentals , what bikes would you suggest as per our trip plan (budget is not a constraint for Bike rentals).
Thanks,
Deepak
Yogesh.. Do you think Harley Davidson Fatboy with 125 MM of ground clearance would reach Khardung La?
Is Honda CB Unicorn 160 good enough for ladakh trip? will be there any problem? can I start journey from Kolkata to Ladakh with 2 people in this bike?
Hi Yogesh,
I’m planning to go on my pulsar 150 dtsi, purchase year is 2009 and roughly covered around 45k kms. I have changed block and piston recently couple of months back. Can you suggest If there should be any concern for me in the entire trip that I should worry of?
Hii..
I have Xtreme 2014 model.. I am planning to take it to Leh. Is that feasible ???
Pls note i am from Kochi.
I was just thinking to ride from chennai to ladakh in duke 200, what would you recommend? I am bit worried about the safety on the road? Is there anything to be carried for safety?
Stick to main highways and don’t ride at night, you should be alright. You can legally carry knifes with blade size of less than 6″, however it is best to use commonsense and avoid trouble.
i have a p220f.n i m planning to go leh from delhi(.350 km per day}.i had recently made a trip to manali/rahtong from delhi and the bike was quite comfortable..but i have a lill doubt in my mind,i heard that no bike other than bullet is good for trip to laddakh …is it true??
Nothing like that, as long as your bike is in good condition, there wouldn’t be any issue. People have been to Ladakh on mopeds and scooters as well.
is yamaha FZS 1.0 is good for leh ladhak from mumbai
I have Yamaha fz 5500 KM Done.. I am planing to take it from Kolkata – Leh – Kolkata.. is that feasible ??? Or which byke is best for long riding…
It is certainly possible, just that if you’re short on time, it is best to ship motorcycle one or both ways.
I am planning to buy bike which is good for touring like leh ladakh manali pls suggest me
Rahul, what is your budget?
Yogesh this is rajesh from Mumbai I m planning for leh for may June 2016. So can u suggest mi how will be the cost it will take for fuel n accommodation n hotel rent. As I m taking my own bike royal Enfield classic 350.n my budget is 30k.
Hi Yogesh,
I recently purchased a 2014 Pulsar 180 which has clocked 23k kms and plan to visit leh in July-Aug 2016.
I plan to make the below mods.
1) Change the grab rails as i find them less functional in stock condition, please suggest suitable alternative.
2) Modify the split seat into single one
3) Install 55w head lamp
Can you suggest some other modifications which may be required in p180 for leh ladakh trip?
Also which is most convenient way to carry luggage on p180?
Thanks.
Hello Mr. Yogesh,
I just bought Hero I smart 110 CC Bike and want to visit leh laddakh with that bike. Is it good to travel with this bike. I have gone through the all comment but i din’t find any 100 or 110 cc bikes.
I just want to know can I plan my tour using Hero I-smart?
Please reply
It isn’t the best bike to tour on, but you can certainly take it to Ladakh, as long as you don’t overload it or push it too far.
I have bought a Honda 160 cbunicorn can It meet the challenges of manali to leh laddakh trip
Quite easily, as long as the bike is in good condition.
I am planning to buy New Bajaj Avenger street 220. And planning to go next year on a road trip to ladakh from gujarat. will bajaj avenger street 220 will be a good option?
Hello Dvijen I am prasad Surwase from maharashtra and my question is that I want to purchase new bike firstly I prefer Royal Enfield classic 350 but its too heavy to me and so I turned towards the bajaj avenger street 150 or 220 but I am littlebit confused that is the avenger is good for offroad driving or not.. please suggest me. And also I want to know that The avenger street 150 is goodforlong distance route..
Hi Yogesh, I have been searching for info on RE bikes and other tourers and all since long now and unable to make up my mind. I want to buy a bike for taking slightly long trips over weekends in Maharashtra around Bombay – Pune – Ratnagiri belt with my wife and also I plan to do Delhi to Leh trip and also trip to Bhutan and Arunachal pradesh in coming 2 years. Can you suggest the best option? I personally don’t like the Pulsars. My budget is 2-2.5 lakhs max.
Is RE Continental GT as bad as other REs?
I know you might be getting similar questions but will really appreciate if you can guide me on this.
Thanks in Advance
Yogesh sir, there is a new bike coming in that is the UM renegade commando. Can it be used for peak climbing? People say that due to less torque the bike will face issues climbing mountains.
Planning to buy Bajaj Avenger Street 150cc, which will be used for my ladakh trip. Would you prefer it?
I have a honda shine 125 cc is ladakh trip possible with it from Pune
Absolutely
Hi Ajit,
I am planning to take a trip to Leh and Ladakh on my Honda shine 125cc on this July. May I please know how was your experience any ups and downs with with shine?
Your reply will be useful to me.
Hello sir,
Is New Bajaj Avenger street 220 cc is good for taking up to Leh -ladakh trip.
Thanks.
Hi Yogesh..i have recently bought Suzuki gixxer sf. I am planning to make a trip to from kanpur to leh this season. I am not sure if my bike will hold up. I am concerned given the low-clearance of the bike. Pleas suggest.
Hi Yogesh,
I am planning to travel ladakh valley from Delhi on a round trip on a KTM Duke 390. how do you seggest this bike for ladakh valley touring? considering a few factor like reliability/performance/efficiency etc.
Hey Yogesh,
I am planning to tour ladakh valley July this year, on a Duke 390 or Duke 200, but the problem i m seeing currently is the bike rental agency in Delhi said they dont have mechanic support for KTMs in that region. Mechanic support is available only on Indian bikes like RE, pulsar etc.
Is it possible to rent a DUKE and tour the complete (full circuit Delhi – srinagar – leh – manali – delhi) with out any hassle, excluding some minor issues like puncture, plugs, battery…etc etc..
please suggest…
Plenty of renters in Leh have Dukes available for rent, so while there might not be any service centers, you would be able to find a mechanic in Leh, who can fix the bikes. Though parts if in case of failure, would need to be brought in.
Hi Yogesh,
For the 1st time planning to ladakh from delhi,i also have pillion rider with me,i never had my own bullet,but i am a good rider….please suggest which bike i should hire…i am looking for enfield 350 or 500 cc…
500cc would be a better bet in my view.
Dear Yogesh pl advice can I take avenger150 cc to leh via manali as asked by some other Pearson also from u.
As long as the motorcycle is in good condition, there shouldn’t be any issue.
Yogesh Sir,
I have a 2013 Karizma R model and I am willing to do the touring of ladakh starting from jammu and coming down via ladakh terrain. My humble query is will it be possible to complete the terrain with my wife as pillion rider(+light luggage) ? Also what kind of modifications or upgrades I have to incorporate in my bike to complete this dauting task? Thanking you in anticipation of your response. Regards
Just make sure the bike is properly serviced before the trip and is in good condition, carry as little luggage as you can. No modifications required.
Thank you very much sir for your reply. I have installed Rynox Nomad saddle dags along with a 30 liter tank bag for hauling luggage. Installed MRF zapper tubless tyres in both front and back. Bike is properly serviced and i have switched the engine oil to Motul 300V.
Hey yogesh. I have new 2016 pulsar RS200.. Is this good bike for touring leh laddakh from chandigarh… I mean can this bike survive high altitude…?? Also tell me other bike options which i can take in my tour instead of pulsar rs200 ??
The bike would be just fine, as long as it is in good condition.
Dear Yogesh how good it would be with Bajaj cruise 220 ? Is there modifications required ? What are the essentials that needs to be packed ?
No modifications required, check the following guide on how to prepare your motorcycle http://www.bcmtouring.com/cms/how-prepare-your-motorcycle-ladakh/
M planning to buy Apache 200 rtr and after a week or two …leave for ladakh from chandighar…
Is it okay to take a new bike to a trip this long ?
Yes!
Hey yogesh i have an fzs version 2.0, bought 2 months back can i do a ladhak ride on it? Honestly i have called many people staying in ladhak they say like it impossible to do that. Can you please suggest?
i will be riding alone
Yes you can do it, make sure the bike is properly serviced and you aren’t pushing it too much.
Hi, I have Bajaj AVENGER 220 Street, is it a good option , it is a new bike and I am planning for manali to leh trip in Aug 2016
No issue taking your bike there, it should be fine. Though handling at off road section would require more effort due to ergonomics of the bike.
Hi Yogesh I have Karizma R (new model) 3500 km done. Is it good for Leh or I should take yamaha fz 27k km done. I had bike trip in Jan to shimla when Karizma did 500km and the top speed I got 60-65kmph at altitude.
Karizma R would be the better option.
can i go chandigarh to leh and leh to srinagar from my suzuki gixxer 155cc bike {naked model}?
Absolutely.
Hello yogesh sir
I want to go for Ladakh in june 2016 with my yamaha fzs 150cc bike 25k km covered. But it is good in condition till now. Sir can you tell can i go from Delhi to Ladakh. . . . Is it fine to ride?
Yes you can, make sure the bike is properly serviced and you should be fine.
I have honda cbr 250r abs model 2013.. from mumbai to manali n climb towards leh ladakh kargil drass n come down from srinagar jammu and all the way back to mumbai.. so is it good with cbr 250r abs model 2013 ??
Only issue would be ground clearance at certain places, apart from that no issue at all.
We are going from delhi to leh kargil shrinagar delhi in june 2016 first week on my cbz sports also want to go to nubra and pangong lake . Is there some permission issues from leh
For Indian Citizens no permission is needed for these areas. However you need self declaration form, which you need to submit at checkposts en route. This form is available at hotels and photo copy shops.
I have a pulsar 220 we have 2 peple for one bike it fine for Manali to leh trip can u plz give me suggestion
Yes, just make sure not to overload the bike with luggage and make sure it is properly serviced for the trip.
Hi when we compare then which bike should we take to leh? Bullet or avenger
Whichever motorcycle you own and are comfortable with. Having said that, Enfield Bullet has better ergonomics and more power than Avenger. So all things being equal, Bullet would be a better choice.
Hi Yogesh,
I am planning a ride Delhi-Leh-Delhi on my Classic 500 desert Storm. Now I hope that its EFI and Fuel Pump should not create trouble on the way at high altitudes. Bike is in excellent condition and has done only about 5500 kms. Please advise.
In all likelihood they won’t. I have seen plenty of 500s going to Ladakh with EFI and coming back without any major issue. Having said that, renters in Leh swap out FI for carbs the moment they get the bike. So make sure to pay close attention to fuel while filling it up.
Thanks a lot Yogesh Boss, well u mean to say that while filling up the fuel I have to pay attention the the quality of fuel so that the fuel pump doesnt malfunction. Well I will take fuel probably at manali, leh and tandi. I am not sure about the quality of pertol at the tandi petrol station. What more can I do to monitor the quality of petrol going in my bike ?
Fuel at Tandi isn’t great, plus they seem to have a fast meter. Fuel in Leh is still better. Just make sure you aren’t buying in black, because that has kerosene mixed in it.
Sir,please tell me about luggage accessories for palsar 150
Saddle bags and tank bags, buy from Cramster, they are quiet good.
Is Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 350 a good option for a ride to leh and back to delhi ?
Sir,
Is it possible to reach leh on tvs apache 160cc with pillion easily …
Hi yogesh. I love bike tracking and we love to ride on bikes. I just wanted to know that what abt Yamaha fazer 150cc. It’s already runs 26000 kms. But still in very good condition. It’s like a new bike still. All accessories are newly just fitted like battery , clutch plate, all cables, air filter, chain sprocket, oil.. etc.. we are planning to for leh laddhak trip from Delhi Jammu srinagar leh manali Chandigarh Delhi. It’s about 3000 km during 15-16 days. I know it’s a very long journey that’s why I want to know that will Yamaha fazer is good for that trip or royal Enfield classic 350 / 500 will good. Even I am planning to buy royal Enfield. Which shud I buy 350/500