2 weeks in Nepal

drrod

drrod

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Joined
Aug 4, 2006
Messages
1,312
Location
Calgary, Alberta
Bike
'04 ST1300
I have just finished 2 weeks riding in Nepal. Fantastic trip and to say that I am a little more "experienced" in off road riding would be a bit of an understatement. Some of the hardest riding I have ever done. Beautiful country, wonderful people, but certainly could use some infrastructure upgrading.
I am waiting for my flight home so will only post a couple of pics now. Once I get home and get things organized a bit, I will post a bit more of a ride report.
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What surprised me most about Nepal was how populated it was. I was expecting crowded cities, but the countryside is very populated. Villages and houses on the hillsides and terraces.
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The roads have to be experienced to be believed. Miles of switchbacks. Here is a tracing of one of our days which gives you an idea.
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The road conditions were "variable". You could have a decent, newly paved section a few miles in length in the middle of a rock strewn 2 track that we could only negotiate at about 20 mph on the bikes. Rutted, mud, shale, rounded rocks, water crossings, steep switchbacks, all within a few miles and no signs indicating anything. You could come around a corner on pavement and the road would instantly change to badly rutted, rock strewn 2 track. I really don't have a lot of good representative pics of the roads because you really had to keep your wits about you when riding. At any time a bus or truck could come around the corner and you had to get out of the way. To get an appreciation of the roads, google "Nepal roads" and the click on the images.
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cagou64 said:
Must be an unforgettable experience, how the RE behaved and does she was reliable ?
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Yes, it was a very memorable experience. I have to admit, I approached the ride with some misgivings about using the RE. It certainly not what I am used to using off road but I ended up with quite a respect for it. It proved to be very capable and rugged. None of them suffered any breakdowns and they literally got pounded every day by the "roads". Most of the things that needed to be addressed were the result of not being serviced fully, or regularly, enough (eg. a couple needed new brake pads). This is common with a lot of rental bikes however. They could have been geared a little lower but that is an issue with a lot of dual sport bikes including my KTM. All in all, I wouldn't hesitate to own one if I lived there.
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Many thanks ddrod, could be interested by these RE , regarding the weight, as I get older and will have to change from the ST1300 within some years, RE presence is increasing in France, after it could be the problem of complying with european environmental regulations
 
Those that are familiar with them, claim the RE Bullet is more "off road" capable than the Himalayan:oops:

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Judging by how many we saw in places that made you look twice, they could be right.
Our guide rode one and he rarely even stood up whereas a lot of us were standing many times as we scrambled up loose slopes and rode over very rough ground. Very torquey and geared quite low. You would think that the pipe, etc would get beat up but it didn't seem to be. Mind you, these people can ride! You have to be very capable when all you wear is flipflops. No dabbing!!!
 
You shouln't have put this link, I would be able to sell my ST right now (not able to pay for two) :)! I was in India in 2017 (for vacation) and at this time I thought to buy one there and boat it back to France :) and you're right, not over-equipped to ride, no helmet, no boot's, however their speed has nothing to see with what we are used
 
I have sorted my pics a bit more. Here are a few more I took plus some the tour leader took on the trip. We started the trip at Kathmandu and then rode SW to Chitwan National park. From there we headed NW to the Mustang Valley (home of Annapurna). We rode up the valley as far as you can go with out a special permit (very expensive) and then looped back out. There is only one road in and out of the valley. We ended the ride in Pohara which is a bit of a resort town and the jumping off point of many treks. From there we flew back to KTM and then home (after 39 hrs in airports and planes). Worth ever second though. It is truly an amazing place.
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This is a pic of my daughter, Laura, and Panda. Panda (he has his own passport) has been all over the world with her but his biggest claim to fame is going to the top of Everest. A few years ago, she was on a mountain biking expedition in Tibet and was at the base camp. A sherpa there volunteered to take Panda to the top which he did. Somewhere I have his picture taken at the summit but I can lay my hands on it at the moment. Having her, and her husband Michael, along just doubled the fun.
Found the Panda/Everest picture.
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We mostly camped as hotels are not that plentiful but when you can camp in spots like this, it makes "roughing it" all worthwhile. This was at the site of an old (just a few ruins left) village but the Hindu shrine was intact and still in use.


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Wow, just wow, what a trip!!
 
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