Royal Bike Riders

  Photographs of Himalayan roads make them look either impossibly smooth or impossibly wild. The truth sits in between, and it changes every few kilometres. A motorcycle tour to Himalayas will take you across fresh tarmac, broken patches, loose gravel, hairpin bends and streams that cut across the road. Knowing what to expect, and how to ride each surface, is one of the best ways to enjoy the trip and stay safe. This guide focuses on terrain and technique, then covers the season, permits, altitude, packing and planning. It also shows how Royal Bike Riders support riders in the mountains. Why Ride the Himalayas by Motorcycle? On a motorcycle you feel everything: the drop in temperature at a pass, the smell of pine after rain, the change from tarmac to gravel under your tyres. The roads climb high above the tree line, follow river gorges and cross wide, empty plateaus. The effort involved is part of the reward. Every pass feels earned, and the sense of achievement stays with rider...