• Safety is our first collective priority and hence all calls will be taken keeping that in mind.
• For most other things we want to be as flexible as possible.
• We’d love your suggestions and encourage you to ask questions.
• Please try your full riding set up at least once before you reach Chandigarh – includes your full riding gear and luggage set up
• We do have a technician on board, but we also encourage you to work on your own motorcycles and happy to provide any guidance and supervision as needed. If you want to kick back relax and watch us do the work, that’s also ok
• Ensure that the luggage is securely attached to the bike – it’s good to have a backup in case your bungee or strap tears or buckle breaks
• Electronics are best carried on the body in a backpack etc where your body can act as a damper.
• Avoid carrying valuables and fragile items as this can be a rough ride.
• Do fuel up as instructed to ensure smooth functioning of the group
• Travel light – avoid heavy luggage
• Prepare well in advance and don’t leave things for the last min

What to take and what not to take on a motorcycle can be one of the most harrowing dilemmas we face before a motorcycle ride.

To simplify this lets try to separate what we need when we’re

• on the bike and
• off the bike

This would mean our full riding gear + one days sustenance load – the road is unpredictable and bikes pass through stuff that cars cant get across. So if we reach a destination early or we’re separated from our main luggage for some reason. We should be able to make ourselves comfortable for the remaining day/ night. (riding gear is not very comfortable off the motorcycle)

On a ride sometimes we witness a variety of weather conditions from heat rain to cold. Prepare for all three. The best way is to layer up and be flexible.

This means you must have a mechanism to carry and store your different layers these would include

1. Additional gloves for cold/wet weather
2. Single or multiple thermal layers for the cold
3. A waterproof outer layer if required. (jackets + pants)
4. Visor, sunglasses and other small nick knacks as you might ne accustomed to

Ideally this should be stored in such a manner which provides us with quick access on the move without digging into the rest of the luggage. (we might need to store the waterproof layers/gloves when they are wet and it shouldn’t affect the rest of our stuff)

Spare Key – it’s a good idea to carry a spare key either on yourself or with a friend on the ride.

Please carry your Aadhar card, Drivers licence and vehicle registration on your person not in the luggage

Then there is a question of when we stop riding for the day.

• Your toiletries as you require – for many just a toothbrush is enough
• A set of clothes that you can change into after a shower
• A set of inner clothes for the next days ride.
• Chargers for your electronic equipment like phone go pro gps etc
• Some warm layers if we expect the night to be cold. (it’s a good idea to have your riding thermal layers to double up as your casual wear – that way you need to carry less.)
• Footwear – preferably covered and something you can walk/hike comfortably in - as light and less bulky as possible
• A torch and a small multitool is a good idea
• Some emergency snacks and rations (don’t run our before you need it)
• On one particular day during the trip when we stay at Zimitang in home stays we wont be carrying our full luggage and staying only with what we can carry on the bike.

This is a very individual choice, and we can only provide guidelines

1. The weight limit is 15kg/person but keep it as light as possible – you will need to carry your luggage from the luggage truck to your room and back every day.
2. Avoid valuables/fragile items specially and including high end electronics. The weather and roads are unpredictable and the risk is greater.
3. We will be getting a chance to recycle/laundry clothes in tawang so plan accordingly.
4. Its preferred to get a robust soft case to carry everything in. the luggage is loaded and unloaded every day.
5. Avoid hard luggage which can get damaged.

• Safety is our first priority
• At the start of every day, we have a briefing which allows us to be on the same page and helps in our coordination during the ride.
• We function as one team giving each other as much individual freedom while retaining the awareness of not inconveniencing others.
• We don’t necessarily need to ride in a convoy all the time but it better to be in a tight group when navigation is tricky and/or when one might require assistance.
• Its also more convenient to clear paperwork at check posts as one group.
• The medical and mechanical support vehicle is generally at the end and will not overtake the last rider unless there is a special circumstance.
• You can stop at any point on the road for whatever reason like refreshments, photos or simply to soak in the feeling. However, we need to be aware to not hold up the support vehicle unduly.
• For safety reasons we recommend being in “line of sight” with at least one other rider in the group
• We have a provision to carry luggage (15kg) in a support vehicle.
• It is each participants responsibility to ensure that their luggage is loaded in the support vehicle every morning
• Navigation – route details will be provided to all riders, and it helps to have some sort of navigation (like a phone or a GPS) on the motorcycle. Take the time to familiarise yourself with the route and ask for directions whenever in doubt. If you’re using your phone for navigation pl carry a charging mechanism
• Phone mounts – some riders are reporting damages to the camera and even phones flying off the mount on extreme impact. Vibration dampers and reputable phone mounts can reduce the risk to a great extent
• Evenings are generally free and relaxed, but dinner time is often fixed
• Do fuel up as instructed as availability of fuel on this route is scarce.
• Be courteous to members of the group and other road users.
• Be respectful of the local people and culture and road construction crew.

We strongly recommend you inspect your motorcycle thoroughly. If you have made any changes recently, ride the bike for a short weekend trip before the tour onset. If in doubt head to the nearest Triumph service centre.

• Inspect your suspension before the trip for any signs of leakage or wear
• Check the rear swing-arm bush for wear and tear and replace if necessary
• Check your chain and rear sprocket for wear. – if its at the end of its life its better to change before the ride than after.
• Make sure that your clutch is in order and adjusted properly without trace of any drag, slip etc.
• Check your battery and earthing connections. The demanding terrain and the riding conditions that you and the machine are likely to encounter on the route could further accentuate existing problems.
• Check all cables for smooth operation if found rough and frayed, replace them.
• Make a note of your motorcycles fuel consumption – this will help in planning fuel stops
• Tyres – make sure your tyres are in good condition. If they are worse for wear its better to change before the trip – if you are changing we recommed a 50/50 tyre or talk to us for more details
• If your service interval happens to fall within the window of the ride we suggest you get it serviced before the ride starts.
• Check all brake pads and replace if they’re close to 1/4th of their life. Keep it in reserve and you can use it later.
• In case of any doubt pl call or head to your Triumph dealership

• Lets cover the extremities first
• A full face, well-fitting reputed helmet is the first on the list. Weve found adventure style helmets to be great for touring
• A specific motorcycle boot is compulsory and for this ride we would recommend at the least a longer waterproof touring style like the Triumph Alpine star Toucan Gore Tex boot. Short boots even if they are waterproof will let in water from the top.
• Considering the temperature range on the ride we would recommend 2 gloves one for warm weather and one for the cold/wet conditions.
• Coming to the core
• For the trousers its essential that they fit you well and the armour is in the right place. If not, you could try wearing the knee armour directly on your knee. And remove the one in the pant.
• We’re expected to encounter a wide temperature range so you can either get a proper 3 season jacket like the Triumph Alder Gore Tex or use a lighter/mesh jacket and have enough provision for layering up with thermal and waterproof layers.
• Same holds true for riding pants as well