In Kolkata’s motorcycle touring circuit, riders often believe that one needs certain branded bikes with a certain engine capacity to travel long-distance and to higher altitudes with difficult terrains. However, there are a few daredevil riders who have broken this myth by travelling to the most dangerous terrains in the country on their 100 cc/125cc motorcycles and scooters. Some of them have also travelled as pillion riders which is more challenging!
Delhi-based Shakshar Roy Chowdhury, initiated his long-distance motorcycle trips way back in 2010. There is hardly any state in the country where he hasn’t been to with his 350cc motorcycle.
However, in 2016, he changed the script. After a heated debate with a fellow rider, Roy Chowdhury decided to travel to the most dangerous routes in the country on his 109cc scooter. He did so to prove his point that the rider’s skill matters the most.
In 2006, Roy Chowdhury took the decision to travel to the most dangerous routes in the country on his 109cc scooter Shakshar Roy Chowdhury
North 24-Parganas’ Ashoke Nagar-based philosophy teacher, Pranita Das, is another such example. She has travelled to North Bengal and Sikkim on her scooter between 2016 and 2018. “On adventure rides, the biker needs to be extremely skilled. The capacity of the motorcycle is secondary,” Das added.
As the winter has finally bid adieu, the riding community in Kolkata is gearing up for their trips to the mountains. Amid all the mean machines meant to suit such heavy-duty adventure trips, there are several riders who travel to these dangerous trips on their scooters.
Pranita Das has taken on North Bengal roads on her scooter Pranita Das
From North Bengal to Spiti
Between 2016 and 2019, Roy Chowdhury and his wife toured several dangerous terrains in the country on their scooter. “Winter Spiti and Jalori pass were two such difficult destinations. I rode a 109 cc scooter with my wife as the pillion rider and we hardly faced any mechanical issues,” Roy Chowdhury added.
Similarly, Asansol-based engineer, Riya Roy, has been travelling to various parts of the country on her scooter since 2016. Surprisingly, her first long distance ride was to Leh, Ladakh in 2016. “I went to a number of places in North Bengal, north India and the northeast on my 125cc scooter. From time to time, I have faced some issues but I have been able to overcome those. From all these trips, I have learnt one thing and that is the rider’s skill matters the most as it plays a crucial role while negotiating in those dangerous terrains,” Riya added.
Skill’s the final word
However, most riders agreed in unison that scooters had major drawbacks. Talking about the same, riders said the fuel tank capacity of a scooter is much smaller compared to that of a heavy duty motorcycle. So, the rider needs to stop more often and at times even carry fuel. Also, at high altitudes, the (scooter) engine can go off every now and then. Das said she had faced braking issues too in Sikkim and skidded and fell twice.
“Besides, the sitting posture on a scooter does not support long rides. After a few hours, the back, hip and neck start hurting,” Das added.
These limitations actually make the ride more adventurous. “There are stretches in the mountains without proper roads or extreme elevation. In those situations, a rider will have to depend on his/her skills. For years, I have travelled on my heavy duty motorcycle and from that experience, I can say that the machine does not make a huge difference if the biker knows what he/she is doing,” she said.
Scooters are more adventurous
Despite the limited power and fuel capacity, several riders have travelled on their scooters to all those places where an adventure motorcyclist would go. “One of the major problems with high-end adventure motorcycles in India is the complicated mechanism. If the bike breaks down, which happens quite often, the only option is to tow the vehicle to the nearest company-authorized service centre and because of the high-end technology, the roadside mechanic would not be of much help. However, it is not the same with scooters,” said Roy Chowdhury, adding that compared to his 350cc motorcycle, his scooter (almost) never broke down on a trip.
Shakshar and his wife's rides at Spiti Shakshar Roy Chowdhury
On the other hand, Das and Roy said riding a scooter is more adventurous and because of the low capacity of the engine, there is always a risk factor. “And this makes the ride even more thrilling,” said Roy.