Before our trip, we attempted to find information on motorbikes in India: types of bikes available, price, ownership transfer procedures, parts/maintenance availability, ease of self-maintenance, firsthand reports of handling and performance, difficulty of selling when returning home, and much more. We found some bits and pieces of useful information from various sites on the web, but for the most part felt there was no real comprehensive site dealing with motorbiking in India, despite its ever-growing popularity. Our goal in this section is to provide very detailed information on these issues while continually updating maintenance records, experiences with mechanics, prices, road conditions, and handling/performance reports as we experience them.

Which bike to buy, presumably your first question, should be determined by your level of riding experience, mechanical ability (or willingness to learn), price range, and personal sense of style versus practicality.

Since we weren't planning to bring our own bikes from home ( and considering all those aforementioned factors) we felt we really had no other choice but the postwar, Limey-designed, single cylinder Royal Enfield Bullet. The Bullet offers the opportunity to ride a bike from an era long gone. The original design dates back to the late nineteen forties, with little changes since. They are easy to work on, parts and mechanics are found everywhere (however quality and competence are questionable), and have proven to be a rugged machine. Another factor that made our decision easy was the lack of other good choices...