[doomketu]

The body takes time to adapt. Folks more experienced than me have already shared what majority of us would say. I came back after a 7 year hiatus and a small ride of 40 km in traffic to cross the border used to tire me out. After 3 months of ownership I went on a single day 250km round trip and returned back by 230pm. That completely drained me out and with headache and backache I swore not to try anything foolish like that.

Well just 1 month later we did 500km round trip and visited multiple places in a 13 hour period and fatigue was nowhere in sight. If you can start slow, build momentum and slowly ride more and more I am sure you will love it as much as we all do.

But that said , end of the day you know your limits best and you are the best judge of your endurance and comfort. Try it once again in a more pleasant weather condition and please share your feedback.

[sreejithsin]

If you still have the desire to ride, I would recommend that you give it a second chance. Because..

1. Even for frequent tourers/riders, not all rides are fun. There are days when I ask 'why am I doing this, or what fun is there in this'. It depends on many factors like your physical and mental mood, the weather, the feeling you get from the bike etc.

2. The return leg when done on the same day is usually more tiring. Especially when you ride from dawn to dusk, the body starts to complain, the seat feels harder and breaks are more frequently required. Having a riding buddy in such cases makes it easier, you can talk and relax during chai/juice breaks, lead/follow alternatively, talk on the intercom etc.

3. The weather. Summer rides are usually not that enjoyable. The heat brings the fun and spirits down. So I would normally restrict to morning and evening rides during summer. The increasing heat also makes the ride/engine feel more coarse.

4. Like running and cycling, you need to build up riding stamina. Increase kms gradually, 50km, then 100 and then 200. You will need to find a way to enjoy the last hours of the ride, when the body and mind are tired. Something like a marathon runners mentality (though an exaggerated comparison).

5. The feeling of accomplishment after completing a ride happens not because it was easy, but because it was hard, but in an enjoyable way.

Cheers. Ride Safe!

[Entsurgeon]

Biking is a lifestyle. Its fun if you know what to expect and what to do pre and post a ride. It isn't conducive for most corporate executive jobs where you have be dressed impeccably and smell nice in the air conditioned offices.

You often need to take a bath once you reach home/ destination. But its the best way to explore if you are a soloist. Best way to bond with like minded riders who would all have your back if you like to explore in group.

There are things that just can't be done by a car. There are things, above-mentioned included, that attract the people with wanderlust. Theres a reason not every commuter is called a rider but at the same time not every biker need to be on a specific high end bike.

Few of my best college time rides involved bajaj supers, splendors, people I used to bond with even without bike riding and places I’ve been to before in cages. Its awesome fun when you can stop by the roadside under a tree or under the warm sun just to soak in views.

Cars are clinical. They isolate you from the surroundings while you cover the distance. Bikes make you live each terrain. Breathe in every gust of fresh air that the route has to offer.
If you know, you know. We are a nation of commuters and being on two wheels is not a choice but a factor of affordability of most.

That said, hardly 1% riders ever did a recreational ride where journey is equally important as destination. If thats not your cup of tea, no point pushing yourself to do it. But if you like it, if thats your cup of tea, all the challenges OP mentioned can be overcome and thats half the fun.

If, like the OP someone wants to try bike riding like this I would suggest do it with at least one or more riders as a group. Do it with careful route planning and time schedule. Do some homework before venturing out. If you have matured as a rider you might even know what ticks your boxes. Touring, off road riding, adventure riding, racing/tracks, a mix of various of above. That may help you enjoy your life the way you desire. If thats not your poison, better not do it for peers.

May the sun shine on you.

[Sensible_Speed]

Biking as a lifestyle has always garnered my fancy for a very long time. I truly got to explore it firsthand when my cousin left his motorcycle at my place for a month. Riding it constantly for that month and looking after it taught me a very important lesson. I love to work on motorcycles a lot more than actually riding them. I guess I'm happier pedaling around town on my bicycle.

But, more importantly, I would never have understood this, if I hadn't experienced the motorcycle for a month. I'm glad OP took the effort to figure it out instead of jumping straight into the purchase and letting a perfectly good machine rot away in the garage. A bike that took hours of effort to build and all the resources that went into it, not to speak of the countless hours that went into developing it.

[pedrolourenco]

Originally Posted by SerArthurDayne

This made me conclude that biking is not for me.

This is exactly how I felt when I brought home the Himalayan. Then I remembered the day I got my Bianchi Via Nirone 7 bicycle. Exactly the same feeling. But since I had already spent the money I continued doing short rides on the cycle and eventually got comfortable doing longer rides.

Coming back to the Himalayan, I did the same thing as I did with the cycle. I'm much more comfortable on the bike now. However I don't intend doing long rides on the bike.

[rkv_2401]

It's not for me and (in India), never will be for me. I have ridden around 35k kms altogether, mostly scooters for convenience, but I've taken out other bigger bikes up to 650cc as well. I don't mind riding them, in fact I quite enjoy riding cruiser bikes like Royal Enfields and bigger! Sport bikes, although not really my type, are fun too, because of how high-revving they are and their crazy in-gear acceleration.

Coming to the environment, I don't like the heat, but I do like taking in the early morning sea breeze on a two wheeler. I really like the vehicle dynamics, especially taking curves and the dive under mild-moderate braking, modulating each individual brake unlike a car where you just step on a pedal.

I've been riding a scooter again for 3-4 months and will continue to do so until I buy another car in 6-8 months time. Sometimes, I fantasize about what the experience would be like to do my regular commute, but on a Xpulse to dismiss the bad roads with prejudice. Or to cruise at 70 on the highway sections with a classic RE. There are weeks on end when I think I'm going to adopt the biker lifestyle, why wait and save up 15L+ for a Verna when I could spend a fraction of that on a cool cruiser bike and have as much or more fun. I started out riding a scooter! I've never had quite that much fun since moving to driving cars. Why not go back?

I even think about what it would be like to do an inter-city trip with my friends. All it takes, however, is one longer-distance weekend commute (30+ kms one way) to dismiss any such notions of adopting the biker lifestyle. Every week on such trips, I see at least one (usually multiple) maniac two-wheeler riders, who, if god forbid they crash, might take me out with them. And then there's the rarer sight but worse, crazy or drunk car drivers who feel they own the road and get way too close to two-wheeler riders when overtaking. I was not at peace with the stats either, but these (recent) personal experiences have solidified that biking in India is just not for me. And that's okay.

Maybe I will buy a big bike, take that inter-city bike trip sometime - in a different country, not here. The risks are just way, way too high for me to make peace with in my mind.

[after]

You did the smart thing by renting first. I would still suggest you try a couple of more long-ish rides, albeit with better planning.

Touring on a motorcycle is quite physically taxing, especially at this time of year. It's even worse if you have full gear on. But like all difficult things, it's something your body gets used to quite quickly. It's like how the first week in the gym leaves a newbie completely sore, but subsequently the soreness from a workout disappears in a couple of days even though the workouts are more intense.

Originally Posted by SerArthurDayne

I had a lot of fun in the first half of the journey when the weather was very pleasant. But during the second half of the day, on the return journey, things started going south.

Looks like you did enjoy yourself a bit at first I think what you need is a gradual buildup of difficulty in your rides. Plan with experienced riding buddies if you have such friends, or else people on TeamBHP will gladly have suggestions based on any constraints you may have.

--
Below is my experience of my first ever long ride on a motorcycle, feel free to skip over it if not interested

Having had no two wheelers in the family, I decided to go and get a bike. It was a beat up CBR250R which took me for a ride, I'll tell that story some other time. Note that I had no clue how to ride a motorcycle, I learnt after purchasing it. After dropping it a few times in the parking lot, and getting used to short rides in the city, I decided to do the traditional early morning Kempegowda International Airport ride.

It was about 100km total, to-and-fro. All done before sunrise, on decent roads. By the time I reached the airport:

- my right wrist was numb from holding the accelerator
- I was freezing because of the cold wind
- my ears were ringing from the wind noise (no earplugs)
- I kept cramping on the bike because my body wasn't used to the riding position + the cold made my muscles stiff
- I had drank way too much water earlier, and had to control my bladder the whole time
- I had not yet found a comfortable seating position on the motorcycle, so my tailbone was crying in pain

Upon reaching the airport, I swore none of this was worth the enjoyment. But you realize that all this can be avoided with better preparation, and your body getting used to riding. Of course, I've done many rides since then, and I learned something on each of them which made subsequent rides easier.

Cheers!

[ronk]

Such an honest submission!! ��

As a few have said, it takes time to acquire this love. I have never been a biker, always into cars. Still use cars for most of the stuff I do. I used to borrow my friend’s bikes in college around 20 years back and that was about it for 15 years! Picked up a G310GS 5 yrs back, after trying out a few rides with rented motorcycles. Never connected and eventually sold the bike after covering only 1600kms in 3 years!

However, I now have an xpulse and I love the time I spend with the bike. After riding a few times, and trying out dirt and trails and stuff, I have built a bit of a bond with motorcycles and thoroughly enjoy the solitude and connection with everything around which a car can never give. It took me a while to get comfortable with the bike. Making time for rides is still tough though.

The heat, pollution, rain, having to gear up bothered me a lot in the initial years. But now I can plan around them a bit, and the sheer joy of being on a motorcycle outweighs the cons. Having said that, I still avoid it for city commutes.

Try it a bit more with rented bikes, or pickup something simple and fun. You will most likely start enjoying it after you get comfortable.

[ashkamath]

An interesting thread. I am a senior citizen and I still love riding my 2 wheelers over driving a car.

I have been riding long distance since over 3 decades (starting with a Kinetic scooter in early 1990s with which I did a 1400 Kms west coast to east coast ride and back those days). I ride a KTM Duke 390 now (since 2013).

I enjoy riding a motorcycle over driving a car any day. As usual with a motorcycle rider, done the Holy grail rides to Ladakh, Spiti, Bhutan circuits and many intercity rides.

I believe riding is one of those things which either you like it or you don't. A number of reasons are mentioned such as, as they say wind in the hair, closer to the nature, ease of parking, maneuvering, it's soul enriching, it will make you more confident and strong etc etc. Well, some or all might be true, but in the end it boils down to either you like to ride a two wheeler or you don't. Either way, we have our reasons / excuses lined up.

I read that @SerArthurDayne

Originally Posted by SerArthurDayne

The comfort of a car is simply unmatched. you can cover miles very efficiently in a car

Now, the reasons (Generally to say) to ride a motorcycle are definitely not comfort and covering miles very efficiently. A motorcycle is not built for that. Of course an expensive Honda Goldwing or a BMW 1200GS or any other litre class cruiser probably could be more comfortable than a car and could cover miles very efficiently. However, here we are speaking of the motorcycles such as a KTM or Himalayan or other such 400-650 cc vehicles that are not built for comfort and gobbling up miles efficiently.
So, if one is looking for a car like comfort and efficiently covering distances, then motorcycle riding is not for them. They are at the other end of the pendulum. The bum will start to ache after a hundred kms on the saddle, you have to be 100% attentive and all faculties running full steam all the time, the vibrations at the hands and the feet, the upright seating position without a back rest, the sound (very important) are all integral part of motorcycle riding and there is no escape from that.

Being exposed to dust, smoke, and scorching heat made the ride extremely uncomfortable

That's exactly the point I am trying to make here. I ride the motorcycle and enjoy it because I am absolutely fine with the dust, smoke, scorching heat and other natural elements out there which are absent when you drive a car with windows rolled up, music ON and AC On.

How do I make up for the dust and heat while riding? Well the winding roads, the exhilarating freedom, mental clarity, a sense of accomplishment and the immersive experience are my rewards. I remember shouting out aloud while riding my KTM "Thank you God for this beautiful day and this wonderful experience". I have said it aloud on multiple occasions while riding a motorcycle and not even once while driving a car. I suppose I am too comfortable in a car to experience that meditative realm that driving a car became commuting while riding a motorcycle became an immersive experience.

Off late, as I became older, I fancied the idea of stopping motorcycle riding. So, last year, I went ahead and purchased a Yamaha Aerox 155, a long distance riding maxi scooter that behaves like a motorcycle but only without any hassles of gear changing. It's the best of a motorcycle handling with the ease of a gearless scooter that can cruise at 90 Kmph the whole day on highway. I am particularly mentioning this to emphasize that once a 2 wheeler rider always a 2 wheeler rider and I wouldn't let my advancing age to hamper my joy of riding. I have down graded my ride, but I still ride.

I have a Maruti Jimny as my 4 wheeler, but I always unconsciously reach for my 2 wheeler keys (I own 5 two wheelers) every time I go out, either a visit to the market or a 400 Kms trip. Even now at 62, I love to hop on one of my 2 wheelers and go on a 1000 kms trip. That seems natural and normal and I am game to it. I would choose a 2 wheeler over a car any day (rain or shine doesn't count)

To conclude, I would say, the riding thing is very personal and based on individual preference and nature. Either you like riding or you don't. It's like swimming. you can swim or you can't swim. There's no in between. Of course you would have your very own reasons / excuses for the same and that's fine. Do follow your heart and continue doing what you enjoy more.

To any one who is interested to have a peak into the joy of solo riding, please do check out my thread https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/motor...ml#post5828697 (The Joy of Solo Riding)

[Traveller_Pop]

Motorcycling is dirty and dangerous. You are straddling two wheels and a powerful motor between your legs. You are completely exposed to the elements and I don’t mean just dust, dirt and sun. You are throwing yourself down at massive speeds with nothing between you and the road if something goes wrong.

It’s like trekking in some ways. Why would you want to go climbing mountains and hostile terrains when you can drive your car to a hill station instead and walk into your resort to see the hills from your balcony? But some people do. Or rather many people do. Because it is not about the destination, it is almost always about the journey. The thrill of pushing your body and mind to its limits is something else.

Same with motorcycles. These machines demand a lot of you, physically and mentally. You have to be plugged in for most of the ride and rarely can you sit back and let your thoughts drift away, letting your mental autopilot take over. With motorcycles, you put yourself through a rather strenuous but exhilarating experience for the sake of that experience.

For me, I got back to motorcycling after 15 years and about 3 lakh kms of cars in my life. I love both the experiences. But if I am alone, there is absolutely no way I am taking the car out, however near or far I may be going. But if I have even one more person with me, I would not take the motorcycle.

My motorcycle, not my car is as good as an extension of me, a very personal unit. And for you it can be your car or your cycle, or just your legs. Good on you to have identified what doesn’t work for you.

[MaanSingh]

I like to ride classic motorcycles at speed of 40 km ish in nice countryside village roads with almost no traffic at all. That's the only way for me to enjoy motorcycle ride without the need of a helmet. Helmets, although absolutely necessary in today’s age and world, spoil the fun of slow ride motorcycles for me.

[dileepcm]

Originally Posted by SerArthurDayne

This made me conclude that biking is not for me. .

You are not alone and its normal. Glad that you rented a bike and tried. Many of the 'riders' out there have bikes sitting in their garages instead which is worser.

I had my share of bikes and scooters back in the days for several years, but like you, I never found the thrill. My passion, instead took me to traveling, ancient ruins, cooking, simple cars (still own my 2008 1.1 Wagon R), Mahindra jeeps [Dad's Jeep turned 25 years this year] etc and I enjoy them even after all these years.
Its also possible that you lose interest in certain things over time. I was a die hard fan of cricket and F1. I do not honestly know anything about most of the Indian players or F1 drivers at the moment. While leaving what I did not like anymore, I also happened to find newer interests.

I think, sometimes what we miss is the courage and trust to tell yourself that something is not for you. Often times friends and family might create blocking situations that one cannot escape. Other times, the flashy worlds of social media pushes you to accept their level of normality as your normality. None at the end brings joy unless you truly like spending time on it. Having said, also nothing wrong in trying again once in a while to see if tastes change. There is only one life, do what you like. Don't force yourself to like what works for others.

[SithDefender]

Originally Posted by SerArthurDayne

Maybe I’ll do short trips on rented bikes in good weather, but that’s it for now.

Glad to read about your experience in a frank manner, Sword of the Morning!

It is true that biking 100 kms and above is not for everyone. But the fun fact is - it doesn't mean you have to give up motorcycling altogether.

I would suggest that you try a completely different bike also, opposite to the Himalayan. Say - a H'ness which is very rider-friendly. Try for a shorter distance of 50 kms and during early morning / evening. Maybe you will have a different opinion this time!

[mercedised]

Sounds like you jumped straight into a long ride after a long time! My suggestion would be to ease into it; start with shorter rides of around 20 km (one way) to get your body used to it. These days, we’re all so accustomed to comfort that anything slightly uncomfortable feels overwhelming. But trust me, with a few more rides, it gets a lot easier.

I’ve been there myself. I’m 36, and a couple of years ago, I bought a Duke 390 to satisfy the biker in me. On my very first long ride (200 km round trip) it was pure hell. My back hurt, my butt was sore, the heat and pollution drained me, and riding at high speeds was nerve-wracking. I was so exhausted I slept for 14 hours afterward!

But then I started riding regularly within the city, slowly getting used to it. The next long ride? Way more enjoyable. So if you still have that itch for biking, maybe give it another go with some shorter rides first; you might end up loving it!

[gops619]

Passion matters, your body matters, your ride matters too. I always prefer a lightweight bike. As journey gets longer, have manage both yourself and your machine.

Done multiple long trips on my 150cc FZ16, only time I faced serious challenges that was not fun was in mountain passes of Ladakh and Himachal. Can't blame the bike as I was over demanding. Been looking for a upgrade for 5 years now to re do ladakh again.

Been occupied though touring by car only last 3 years, for a bike tourer used to 12hrs/day of riding, even 18hrs/day car drive felt like zero fatigue. I still can't wait to get that new bike and drive long though, redo ladakh again, that yearning fellow bikers will understand.
Must just stop being confused which among 3 is best for me - duke 250, 390 or Speed 400 and proceed. Hopefully soon.