Almost 1,500 km between asphalt, pavé and off-road, inventing the road in the absence of a path to go. Summit at 5,800 meters above sea level, temperatures between 8 and 34 °
He could have proved to be a much crazy journey than he actually was. And it is legitimate to leave with this promise because, once repatriated and told the adventure to friends, relatives, colleagues and curious acquaintances, the expression of amazement on their faces was the leitmotiv of every single interaction. In fact, in words he scares almost to say “I led for 1,500 km on the Himalaya mountain range, ranging from 3,500 to 5,800 meters On the sea level, reaching the highest peak in the world that can be traveled by motorbike. In some places the asphalt was not there. There was not even a guard-rail, to be honest. But there was a precipice (or perhaps more than one, type hundred?) That, looking at them, they gave little hope of survival in case of error. Sometimes there wasn’t even the road, we invented it. “
Reality
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In reality it must be said that Royal Enfield has organized impeccablely This journeystudying the event not only for journalists and professional testers, but thinking about the experience also for newbies or a little more. Yes, of course, human error can always happen, but tour leaders have often opted to compact and slow down the group in critical points of the route, characterized by never really narrow roads, another surprising aspect. The roads (or off -road vehicles) of the route have proven much wider than one of our provincial on a mountain step. So, even in the event of a light “long”, there was a margin and how to put a piece to the situation. It is then to the single understand to what extent to go, but it is obviously always better to keep the jokers in your pocket. We reiterate: the event is within everyone’s reach.
The group
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Our travel companions – a colleague Californian with over 50 years of off-road experience and another South African With over 30 years of experience on the track – they lived, just like us, the experience in total relaxation, given the relaxed step held during the 8 days in the saddle. With us there were also a Japanese and eight Turkswith experience in the saddle very uneven with each other. This has sometimes imposed a more blaming rhythm to the group, but it should be emphasized that the path (of course, for some a little challenging) has never put the participants in serious difficulty, even the less experienced ones with just 8/9 months of practice with the two wheels.
The atmospheric conditions
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Without too many turns of words, it is right to emphasize has made it frighteningly hot. The 35 ° to 3,500 meters On the sea level in the town of Leh, in the Ladakh region (India), until you touch the 8th – with flashes of snow during the dissolution – at 5,800 metersat the highest point of the Umling la, the highest mountain pass in the world that can be traveled in cars and motorcycles. Non -progressive temperatures (in July), given that at 4,500 meters we led with 24/25 °. In short, 1,500 km in the saddle divided over 8 days at these temperatures are yes feasible, but watch out to dress too heavy. And then the theme altitude: Royal Enfield has wisely allowed us to acclimatize a couple of days at altitude before breaking the helmet and leave. Because yes, it is necessary to get used to living with rarefied air and a more limited quantity than oxygen. So much so that as soon as you land, making a staircase to get to the room at the hotel, we found ourselves with our hands on the knees to finish. Which in Italy, of course, would never have happened, if not perhaps on Mont Blanc.
The bike
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The most impervious mountain range on the planet gives its name to the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, a liquid -cooled single -cylinder now capable of 40 hpwith an increase in power almost doubled compared to the previous model, as well as our travel companion. Adventure without great pretensions, the Himalayan 450 proposes itself as a practical, simple, economic motorcycle (with its 5,900 euros) and ready to be used in rather heavy conditions without batting an eye. The gearbox is 6 -speed manual Without Quickshifter, therefore the use of the (soft) clutch is almost mandatory both in grafting and in climbing. The limited power gives the vehicle an extremely peaceful soul.
Simple is better
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Also for this reason we have never felt pressure, anxiety, fear of not being up to the trip. Knowing to drive a balanced, calm and progressive bike is an important piece of concern less. Especially if you are on the opposite side of the planet, in off-road, in a socio-economic-cultural context completely different from the Italian one. Try to believe. Royal Enfield, with the Himalayan 450, focuses on simplicity: electronics are also simplified to the maximum. No traction controltwo motor maps (performance and echo, with the latter almost superfluous given the modest power involved), laughs by Wire and ABS that can only be disarmed at the rear.
The path
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The first contact with the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 took place reaching the point where the Indust and Zanskar rivers meet. Here the initial briefing took place, seasoned with about sixty km in the saddle to become familiar with the bike in view of the first real driving day, a south-east direction from Leh to Lake Pangong, located at 4,350 meters above sea level. To get there we faced A series of fords (also on average demanding), 175 km (mainly on asphalt) and the Chang (step to 5,360 meters). At the following dawn we touched the border with China, traveling 110 km all on asphalt before reaching Hanle. Here a tent and two nights under the stars were waiting for us (without the possibility of taking a shower for 48 hours).
Challenges in the challenge
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The most demanding day was without a shadow of a doubt the first upon awakening in the curtain: 220 km, from Hanle up to reach UMLING thethe highest road in the world that can be traveled by car and motorcycles with its 5,798 meters. Along the way there were off-road sections, for a total of 50/60 km. In some sections – after the asphalt and the off -road path is finished – we found ourselves having to trace the road a bit like they usually do the Dakarians, in these mountainous expanses without almost seeing the horizon. Abandoned the base camp the following day, with an additional 300 km of the path all on asphalt and going over for Lehwe brought to Sapul. From here we took the road to the Khardung there5,359 meters, an exciting peak also passable by motorbike. Arrived at Hunderon the banks of the Shyok river, on the penultimate day he opted to visit Turtuk, a town on the border with Pakistan. Finally, going over the Khardung there, in the eighth day in the saddle we returned to Leh, the starting point of our journey.
Difficulty
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The final reflection resumes the initial speech. Although in words, it is involuntarily described as a very evidence and complicated journey – just mention the Himalaya and everything seems more difficult – the reality is that Our experience has been within everyone’s reach. Then, probably, by opting for more demanding paths, forcing more the rhythm or guiding more performance bikes, it is possible to experience the experience with that more adrenaline hint of adrenaline, putting more test your physique always remaining within the borders of the ladakh. Net of a small rear-end collision between two Turkish boys, the level of difficulty of the off-road sections has never approached that of many “twin-cylinder” traits that we have in Italy.
Conclusions
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It must be said, however, that the organization opted to cut a hundred off -road km for adverse weather conditions in the given area. Too bad, but with semi -sized and monocylindic tires of 40 hp and 200 kg of weight it could not be risked 5,000 meters high. It was a more difficult journey from a mental than physical point of view. All this, however, rewarded by the views of the landscape: it seemed to be in the middle of the desert, with sand on the streets of the road, and then – looking at the look – observing the erecting of these endless peaks, barely glimpsed the snow at the top.
Royal Enfield Himalayan 450: the technical data sheet
| Motor | 4T COLD LIQUID COLLED, 451.65 CC, 4 valves, Euro 5+ |
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Royal Enfield Himalayan 450: the clothing used
| Helmet | Caberg Tangami A1 |
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