FAQ

                                                                                                BUZZBIKER

General Advice for Bike Riding

The information you find here written for you, to give an idea of what you might be reasonably confident on experiencing in Jharkhand. The information should be useful for short and long term rides.

The sun, weather and time of year to visit:
The weather is never so miserable in Jharkhand: there are things to see and do all year round. The cooler months (October to March) are busiest. Travelling during peak periods (especially the Christmas season) it's best to book as far ahead as you can manage, as much of the good accommodation fills up and bikes becomes hard to get.

Accommodation:
Jharkhand is always extremely well prepared for the traveler and the winter months are perfect for the outdoors way of life. Good pocket friendly hotels and lodges to star category hotels to Tourism run hotels cater to the needs for your comfort. Unique and guests friendly homestays are picking up the requests. Tents are also picking up the request for great experience to enjoy getting back to nature, cooking dinner, downing a beer and gazing up at more stars then you ever knew existed.

Insects, flies and other annoyances:

Flies can be incredibly aggravating at certain times of year in some areas but it's surprising how quickly you get used to a few of them hanging around! Insect repellant is a must. Even if you think there is no chance of mosquitoes or sand flies, there are normally some around to prove you wrong,

Preparation before you leave:

Documentation:
Don't forget to take your bike license, credit cards and cash, We strongly recommend you obtain personal health and general travel insurance before you depart for tours. Always inform your dear ones about your trip to avoid any panics.

Insurance:
It is vital that you obtain good travel insurance before starting any tours.  It is important that you consider your own specific needs before selecting an insurance policy.

Luggage on a bike:
Make your travel light like packing your stuff in a  rucksack (not with a frame), or large zip up duffel style bag . It is always handy if the pack is waterproof too, just in case you encounter rain along the way. Remember you will need to carry water and probably extra petrol at times (depending on how adventurous you are feeling) if you take some of the more remote tracks.

Clothing and footwear for bikes:
Jharkhand is often hot in summer, wet during monsoon and  very cold during winters. On a bike, you will need to cater for these situations. Touring is no fun when you are cold and wet and you are much more likely to make mistakes. A good pair of biking gloves is essential, as is an armored jacket. Leather or insulated / thick trousers are useful if you are spending any length of time during winter, as the weather can be variable. You will need some warm clothes to use as extra layers if you are intending on spending any time in the hills and jungles. Proper bike boots are ideal but when you are trying to save space and weight a good pair of walking boots will serve you on the bike and off it. It is understood that an approved motorcycle helmet should be worn at all times.

Riding hints and tips:

Resting:
At some stage of your trip you will probably spend a long time holding the throttle in one place. It hurts after an hour or two and you should plan to stop and stretch regularly. It also helps to develop a simple routine of stretches and muscle contractions if you're trying to cover a lot of ground each day.

Falling asleep:
It is one of the biggest killers on the roads here, so if you feel drowsy do not take chances. There are plenty of rest stops along all routes of Jharkhand, so there are no excuses. Some places even offer free "driver reviser' tea stops. On top of all that, the scenery is so fantastic that you' will want to pull over and admire the views a lot anyway.

Air conditioning:
Riding during summer you really want air conditioning system  which is easily available to you however. Take an old T-shirt, soak it in water at every opportunity and put it back on (don't use your drinking water). Do your bike jacket up and as you go along the water evaporates making you feel cool! It never stays wet for long so control the amount of cooling through the zip.

Roads:
For the most part Jharkhand the roads are in good shape and you can get to the majority of the tourist sites without leaving them. Many visitors want to see some of the less traveled routes and to do this you will drive off roads. If you have little or no experience off road just take your time and drive within your abilities at all times. Don not try and be a hero. It is just not worth the consequences of a nasty accident especially in a remote location.

Speeding:
Slow pace drives are always recommended throughout the trip making it more relaxed and adventurous.

Drink driving:
Those days have thankfully long gone and drink driving is just as socially unacceptable during rides. No drink and drive.

Water crossings:
Water crossings can be dangerous so don't go rushing in. Look carefully and walk your route first. Check for large boulders and holes. It is generally best to take your luggage off the bike if necessary and carry it across first. Push the bike through if it is  safer, rather than riding it and risking falling off and sucking water into the engine.

Planning the route and daily preparation:

Our pillions will be driving throughout acting as your GPS. You need to follow them and enjoy the unique way of driving with the troop. The well designed tour plans is stress free rides giving you the best experiences.

Tools and useful extras:

A toolkit is often included with the bike but there is a couple of extras that you might find it handy.

Firstly, always carry a good knife. You may only need it for opening beer bottles but it can put to many other uses. Another handy item is a tube of 'liquid metal' or similar, it cures to a solid and can be used to fill holes in sumps, repair petrol tanks etc. Interestingly, soap can be used to fill a hole in a petrol tank as fuel won't dissolve it. Another outback quick fix is putting pepper into a holed radiator to stop the leak.