[Bouncer]

Contributing after a long time on the forum with travelogue with short introduction of bike acquired last year.

It was May 2022. After Using RE Classic 350 for four years within city limits, I was planning to take up riding relatively long distances. No big plans, but wanting to ride within state or maybe to closer locations at nearing states like Karnataka, Gujrat & obviously Goa; but not beyond that.

With that in mind and to check how much interest I really have in riding, before deciding on getting a bike for the purpose; I went on couple of short rides like Pawna Dam, Lavasa & Mahabaleshwar on my Classic 350. On the Mahabaleshwar ride, I tried few KMs on BMW GS310 of my friend with whom I was riding; and quickly realised difference between a regular bike like C350 and adventure bike.

The plan was to get adventure bike within budget around 4 lacs including riding gear and travel accessories. I had a look at BMW GS310, KTM Adventure 390, Yezdi Adventure & RE Himalayan.
BMW GS310 was desired one but not within the allocated budget; considering riding gear and bike add-ons need to fit in the same. Plus, recurring costs of servicing the bike were high as compared to other options. Was not interested in KTM for no specific reason. Test drove the last two and went ahead with booking RE Himalayan in June 2022. Got the bike in a week from booking, coinciding the purchase with my parent’s anniversary and hence a good day for us.

Accessories / Add-ons till date:
Hand guards – RE
Mirrors – Bajaj Avenger (as OE have less visibility)
Blind spot mirrors (Convex round) - Amazon
Tripper Navigation - RE (not of much use as realised later)
Phone mount with charger – Raptor Forzaa (for reason mentioned above)
Panniers with mounting rail guards – RE
Rear rack plate – Viaterra (replaced by top box later)
Top Box with mounting plate - Bandidos Pitstop
Tank bag – Viaterra
Handlebar Risers - Bandidos Pitstop
LED headlight bulb – Blaupunkt
Duel horns – Hella with Bosch relay
Side stand shoe – Viaterra
Headlight & indicator grills - Bandidos Pitstop
Master cylinder guard - RE
Rear brake fluid reservoir guard - Bandidos Pitstop
Front mudguard risers – Amazon
Front disc brake calliper guard – Grand Pitstop
Bottle holder – Pro Spec
Windshield extender – Pro Spec
Anti Slip Metal rider footpegs – Motocann
Brake foot pedal extender – Pro Spec
Long wire lock (for helmet/ jacket) – Decathlon cycle section
Reflectors (for panniers & top box) & Stickers – Amazon & Mr DIY store
Rear red light for top box – Decathlon cycle section

Riding gear:
Helmet - RE Escapade
Jacket - RE Explorer (with additional CE2 back armour)
Trousers - RE Ceara (with additional CE2 hip armour)
Gloves - Viaterra Grid
Shoes - Woodland high ankle outdoor shoes

Here comes The Himalayan...



During initial rides around Pune, trying the newly acquired bike on different types of roads



This was also a trial with the new riding gear since I never used full armored gear in the past

[Bouncer]

After few short rides around Pune with my friend, I did a relatively long solo one (4 days & 695 KMs). This was in Jan 2023. The plan was to cover limited coastal Maharashtra and stick to closest possible route of any kind to the Sea.

Day 1: Pune – Pirangut – Mulshi – Tamhini – Bhagad – Mangaon – Mhasala - Diveagar (Lunch) - Aravi - Shrivardhan – Harihareshwar (Overnight Stay).

Day 2: Harihareshwar - Bagmandala Jetty - Banakot - Kelashi - Anjarle – Harne (Lunch) - Murud – Dapoli (Fuel) - Ladghar - Bhagwan Parshuram Bhumi – Dhabhol Jetty - Anjanwel - Guhagar - Palshet – Velneshwar (Overnight Stay).

Day 3: Velneshwar – Jamsut – Chiplun (Rest day & Overnight Stay).

Day 4: Chiplun – Satara – Fort Sajjangad Shri Samartha Ramdas Swami Samadhi Mandir (Prasad Lunch) – Satara MIDC (visit to a Unit) – Shirwal (Fuel) Pune.

My ride in pictures:

View of the peaks and valleys in Mulshi & Tamhini Section






Diveagar beach towards North


First time rolling on the beach!



Diveagar beach South end


The south of middle part of Diveagar beach with almost no visitors (North end was crowded, have not clicked any pics there)


Time to move ahead...

[Bouncer]

Continued :

My ride in pictures

A parting selfie on Diveagar beach



A small jetty at Bhadarkhol



View from a elevated section between Bhadarkhol and Pebbles beach



Pebbles beach




Shekhadi Corner Point




Kondivali beach view from Shekhadi sunset Point



Views from Shekhadi sunset point

[Bouncer]

Continued :

My ride in pictures

Another view of Kondivali beach and Aravi beach next to it, further at a distance



Selfie on the way



Road parallel to Aravi beach. This is one kilometer stretch.



Further down the road at Aravi



Birds gathering on Shrivardhan beach



And the flock takes off...



This one says, I am ready as well...




A leisure ride on the Shrivardhan beach



My cottage at Harihareshwar MTDC. Time to end the day.

[Bouncer]

Continued further :

My ride in pictures

Evening at Harihareshwar beach



Loaded on Bagamandla Ferry, the next day morning



View from the Ferry while on move



Road to Banakot Fort



Banakot Fort Main Door



View from the Fort



Canon on the Fort dating back to year 1797



Another view from the Fort



Road from Banakot to Kelashi



This guy was also on solo trip



On the way ahead



Route by the Sea, as I wanted it to be. This is almost 2 KMs stretch.

[Bouncer]

Continued further :

My ride in pictures

Channel between Sakhari and Kelshi.
It seems and actually is just across on the other side.
But to reach there, one has to take about 23 KMs route alongside the channel.

Ride away from the sea for approx. 11 KMs with water channel on right side,
find a bridge to cross over (Chinchghar-Mandivali bridge);
and ride back towards the sea for another 11-12 KMs with water channel again on right!




Atop hill near channel between Sakhari and Kelshi



Anjarle Beach



Anjarle lighthouse



Suvarnadurga Sea Fort



Bhagwan Parshuram Bhumi (Private property open for public)



Loaded on Dabhol Jetty Ferry



View from Palshet beach



Views from Velaneshwar MTDC, where I retired for second day




Velaneshwar Temple, the next day morning



Velaneshwar beach



Few attempts at timing the waves at Velaneshwar beach

[Bouncer]

Concluding:

My ride in pictures

Urmodi Dam View Near Fort Sajaangad



REsting on the way



Way to Fort Sajjangad



Climb up Fort Sajjangad



Shree Samarth Ramdas Swami Samadhi Mandir



View from the Fort Sajjangad



Screenshots from my Google Maps timeline - Day-wise








Looking forward to the next run...

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[doomketu]

Thank you for sharing this. I forgot how serene costal mah can get. Remembered the good times during our college trips to Murud and other places surrounding it ages back. We did not have access to a beautiful machine like yours If we did , then it would have been an icing on a memorable cake.

[btdhar]

Awesome thread Bouncer, how were the roads generally? Any particular stretch that was bad? Thanks

[Triumph Gent]

Hi bouncer. Lovely photos. Trip looked amazing. Was planning a similar road trip by car. Wanted to do a drive starting from Pune to Mahableshwar to the costal belt and then back to Pune baby route Route recommendation would be highly appreciated.