A biking trip to Spiti / Ladakh is something that is on every biker’s bucket list. Whether it is on your own bike or on a rented one, riding through the mystical valleys & high mountain passes of Spiti / Ladakh is an experience of a lifetime. But to be able to enjoy the ride, a rider must ensure that his bike will be able to handle the harsh terrains of these areas. There are extreme off-roads, river crossings, dirt tracks, high altitude passes and a lot more through which a rider has to ride his bike. Here are some tips for preparing your bike for a trip to Spiti / Ladakh to ensure that you can enjoy the ride without worrying about your bike:

Know your bike

You really need to know your bike for a successful trip. You need to know the sounds of the bike when it is running smoothly. If something goes wrong, the sound is mostly the first indication. Pay close attention to the sounds of the bike during the ride so that you will immediately come to know if something goes wrong.

Learn minor repairs

You should atleast learn to do a bit of minor repair work yourself like changing the headlamp, carburettor tuning, tightening brakes, changing fuses, changing tubes, fixing punctures etc. All these are easy to learn. While riding in Spiti / Ladakh, there will be many areas where there will not be anyone around for many kilometers to help you in case something happens to your bike. It is at such times that knowing how to do minor, basic repairs will be very helpful.

Get your bike serviced

Get your entire motorcycle checked including every major & minor part. If anything seems dicey, either get it fixed or replaced. Always get your bike serviced at least 7 to 10 days before the trip. If your bike has already run over 50,000 kilometers, it would be wise to get the piston and the entire engine looked at. A properly serviced bike will work better and give you less reasons to worry during your ride.

Cables

The best thing to do would be to change the clutch, accelerator, front brake and possibly the speedometer cables, even if they are a few weeks old. You can then keep the old ones as spare, in case there comes a need to change them during the trip. Newer cables will mean fewer chances of them breaking during the ride.

Tires

If either of the two tires is too worn out, get it changed immediately. Check for any signs of damage, cracks or cuts. If your tires are 3 or 4 years old, getting a new set is strongly recommended. When on the trip, always check the tire pressure every morning before you start your ride for the day.

Wheel alignment

While checking the tires, also get the wheel alignment checked and if required, corrected. Check the rims for and bends or unevenness. A mis-aligned wheel or a bent rim will not only give you problems while riding, but also will be vulnerable to more damage given the extreme terrain in Spiti / Ladakh.

Oil

This includes your bike’s engine oil, gear oil, brake fluid and suspension oil. If you have changed these just a few hundred kilometers ago, just get them refilled. But if the oil change has been done about a 1000 kms or so ago, it’s best to get them all changed. Also change the oil filter.

Clutch plates

Get the clutch plates checked and replaced if they have done over 30,000 kilometers. There are many high-altitude passes you’ll be passing through and these have very steep climbs, most of the times off-roads. Over-used clutch plates will mean that your motorcycle will struggle to climb on such steep ascents.

Chain set

Get the chain set checked. If it is worn out or if it has been a while since you changed it, get a new one. Also carry a couple of chain links (locks) in your spares.

Suspensions

A trip to Spiti / Ladakh with luggage is bound to put a lot of load on the suspensions. Also keep in mind that the terrain will be extreme in quite a few places. Check both the front & rear suspensions and replace them with new ones, if required. It is also very important to get the swing arm bush checked and replaced, if required.

Brakes

It’s best to get a new set of brake pads before the trip. For disc brakes, get the brake fluid changed if it has been a while since you last got it done. If it was changed recently, check its level and top it up if needed.

Electricals

Get the entire wiring of your bike checked, including the battery, headlamp, taillight, and indicators. This means all the wiring that runs through your bike. If there is any sign of wear & tear, get it changed. If the battery of your bike is 2 or 3 years or older, not charging properly or discharging quickly, it’s best to get it changed.

Bearings

Get the front & rear wheel bearings, swing arm bearings, sprocket bearings and steering bearings checked to ensure they are not worn out. If there are even slightly worn out, get them changed. If the bearings are ok, then at least get the greasing done. Always keep a set of bearings in your spares as riding on extreme off-road routes might damage the bearings.

Nuts & bolts

Check all the nuts & bolts of the bike to ensure they are fastened properly. There should not be any weird or rattling sounds coming from anywhere. Even during the ride, check the nuts & bolts whenever possible to make sure they aren’t loose.