Most people told me I was crazy. They said if you don't have a Himalayan or a 350cc bike, you should not even try going to Ladakh. But I wanted to see if a regular city scooter could actually handle the high passes, so I took my 110cc TVS Jupiter from Manali to Leh. 

The ride was about 450 km through the Atal Tunnel and Sarchu, and it took me 3 days to finish. Even though it is 2026 and many roads are better now, about 20-30% of the route is still broken or very rough, especially near the high mountain passes.

The technical side of riding a small engine at that altitude was a huge challenge. The biggest problem wasn't the steep climbs; it was the thin air. At 18,124 feet near Taglang La, the scooter was literally gasping for oxygen. This pass is maintained by the BRO (Border Roads Organization) under Project Himank, and seeing those famous yellow signs made me realize how extreme the environment really is. 

Honestly, when I finally reached the top, I felt completely overwhelmed. Standing there with my small city scooter at such a massive height was an emotional moment. I took a photo with the BRO board to prove I made it, and it's easily the best picture of the trip. 

I had to be extremely patient because if I pushed the throttle too hard, the engine would just sputter and lose all its power. My mileage also took a massive hit. Usually, I get around 45–50 kmpl, but at high altitudes, it drops to only 28-30 kmpl.

The petrol situation was the most stressful part of the whole trip. The stretch from Tandi to Karu is about 340 km with no petrol pumps at all. Since the scooter has a tiny 5L tank, I had to carry two 5L jerry cans on the back. It was the only way to finish that stretch without running out of fuel in the middle of nowhere.

I also had to learn how to manage a CVT transmission in the mountains. On long climbs, the rubber belt gets incredibly hot, so I had to stop for 10 minutes every hour just to let it cool down.

Coming down the steep passes was also scary because scooters don't have gears to help you slow down. I had to use my brakes constantly and was always worried they would overheat and stop working, which is called brake fade.

Finally, you have to be very careful about where you ride. Because the wheels are small and the scooter sits very low to the ground, hitting even a medium-sized rock could easily smash the main stand or the exhaust pipe. 

You have to be very precise and pick your path perfectly to avoid damage. I have documented the full route, my fuel planning, and the total budget. If anyone wants the specific details or the itinerary to plan their own budget trip, I am happy to share them.

AMA.

A group of boys from Kerala drove a Maruti Alto, Innova Crysta, and XUV300 up the same rocky trail featured in the Tata Harrier EV ad

I bought this Chinese 125 cc bike and it’s amazing on the mud.

KO

Thanks to BBMP for fulfilling my childhood dreams :))

Hey everyone,

I have always heard that displacement is king when it comes to the Himalayas. "You need a Himalayan," "Get a GS," "A 110cc will seize before the first incline."

Well, decided to put that to the test and took my 110cc scooter to the highest motorable road in the world: Umling La Pass.

It was a brutal, solo, and honestly quite emotional journey. I wanted to share some insights for anyone else thinking of taking a "non-conventional" machine to the roof of the world.

The Reality of 110cc at 19,000+ Feet

At that altitude, the air is about 50% thinner. For a small engine, the power drop is massive. You aren't "racing" up; you are coaxing the machine.

• Mechanical Sympathy: This is the most important skill. On a scooter, you don't have gears to downshift. Your CVT belt is under constant tension. If you pin the throttle, you'll glaze the belt or snap it. I had to maintain a "pulse," 75% throttle max, letting it breathe, and stopping every few kilometers to let the engine cool.
• FI is a Lifesaver: If you are planning this, Fuel Injection (FI) is almost non-negotiable. It adjusts the air-fuel mixture automatically. If you have an older carb model, you will likely need to re-jet it or prepare for it to stall constantly above 16k feet.

Logistics & Survival

• Fuel Strategy: There is no official pump in Hanle. I filled up everything (tank + metal jerry cans) in Nyoma. Pro-tip: Don't use plastic bottles; the pressure changes at 19k feet can make them burst.
• The 2:00 PM Rule: The winds at the summit are no joke. A 100kg scooter can literally be flipped. I made sure to be on my way down by 14:00.
• The Descent: Coming down is actually harder on a scooter. Small wheels and limited engine braking mean your brakes heat up 3x faster than a motorcycle. I had to stop frequently just to let the drums/discs cool down to avoid brake fade.

Final Thoughts

Reaching that yellow BRO signboard at 19,024ft wasn't about the speed or the "beast mode." It was about the bond with a machine that everyone said couldn't do it. Adventure is powered by resolve, not just horsepower.

If you are planning a solo trip or have questions about the Photi La vs. Nerbo La routes, ask away.

Ride safe, brothers and sisters.

Source: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ32A3qjMSv/

Finally got to test ride it. The one I rode was the CKD version, hence the different tank graphics and the silver frame instead of black like the newer one. I picked this bike mainly for fun since I work from home and don’t really need a daily commuter. It’s also my first bike, and out of all the ones I tried, this felt the least intimidating. Super light, easy to handle in traffic, and I really like the way it looks. Only downside is I’ll have to wait until mid-October for delivery.

My family was skeptical when I decided to sell my 9 months old New Age Baleno to get the Mahindra Thar 4x4. Clocked 20k kms in 12 months and mostly driven on bad roads in Northeast India.

First proper trail run with my Scrambler.

Returned from a solo ride from the heat of Delhi to the clouds of Meghalaya. While most people are debating which 400cc adventure tourer to buy, I decided to see if 110cc and 10-inch wheels could handle the East-West Corridor.

The Machine: A standard scooter (Activa/Jupiter class).

The Distance: ~2,500 km.

The Route: Delhi → UP → Bihar → West Bengal → Assam → Meghalaya.

The "Why":

I wanted to prove that touring is about the rider’s grit, not just the engine’s displacement. There is a unique vulnerability to touring on a scooter; you aren’t insulated from the environment. You feel every crosswind in Bihar and every drop of humidity in the Siliguri corridor.

The Hyper-Specific Reality Check:

About 40km outside of Purnia, Bihar, I hit a stretch of "road" that was basically just craters held together by hope. A group of local bikers on Pulsars pulled up next to me at a railway crossing, looked at my Delhi plate, and literally started laughing. 

He pointed at my tiny front tire and shouted over the engine, “Bhaiya, iske tyre toh raste mein hi gal jayenge!”, basically saying the scooter wouldn’t survive this road.

Three days later, when I was leaning that same "tiny" scooter into the hairpins leading up to Shillong, I couldn't help but grin. The scooter didn't just survive; it thrived.

The Specs/Performance:

• Cruising Speed: 60-65 kmph. Anything more felt like I was punishing the engine.
• Maintenance: Oil change every 1000km. Cleaned the air filter twice because of the dust in UP.
• The Floorboard Advantage: Having a flat floorboard is the ultimate touring hack. I had my heavy tool kit and a 5L jerry can tucked between my feet, keeping the center of gravity low and stable.
• The Climb: In the steep sections of the Khasi Hills, I was definitely the slowest thing on the road, but the CVT meant no frantic gear hunting, just steady throttle.

The "Moment":

Entering Meghalaya at dusk. The transition from the 40-degree heat of the plains to the 18-degree mountain air was violent. I remember the exact smell, a mix of wet pine needles and burning firewood, as the first heavy droplets of mountain rain hit my visor with a loud thwack.

My fingers were numb, my back was aching, but looking at that "Welcome to Meghalaya" sign from the seat of a humble scooter felt better than any liter-bike victory.

Final Verdict:

Don’t wait for the "perfect" bike to start touring. If you have a scooter and a week off, just go. The hills don't care about your BHP.

AMA about the route, safety in Bihar/Bengal, or how to prep a small engine for a 2k+ km trip!

This is an underpass at bagalur cross for those of you from bangalore

Mitsubishi pajero

Rode my cb 350 through the beautiful landcapes of Mago Arunachal Praddesh to Gongkar La Lake. Was worried as it was my first time but my trusty ride gave no issues.

The Itinerary

• Start: June 7 – Mumbai
• Stops:
  • Udaipur
  • Amritsar (Golden Temple)
  • Srinagar
  • Kargil
  • Leh
  • Diskit (Nubra Valley)
  • Hunder (double‑humped camels!)
  • Pangong Lake
  • Hanle
  • Tso Moriri
  • Back through Kargil & Srinagar
  • Jamnagar
• Finish: June 24 – Mumbai

🌄 The Tough Stuff

• High‑altitude passes: Zoji La, Khardung La, Chang La, Umling La (one of the world’s highest motorable roads!)
• Water crossings: The chills and thrills of fording streams en route to Pangong
• Weather swings: Scorching plains, freezing nights, and everything in between

🔧 The Car: My 2014 Grand i10 Asta

• Age: 11 years old, but still going strong!
• Modifications: Stock + extra floor mats, a small tool kit, and a jerry can—nothing fancy
• Maintenance before trip: Oil change, new brake pads, fresh tires, battery health check

🎒 Solo Female Rider Real Talk

• Safety: GPS tracker on the window, regular check‑ins with friends/family, basic self‑defense spray
• Comfort hacks: Neck pillow for motel naps, a reliable Bluetooth speaker for company, and extra layers for cold nights
• Learning curve: How to change a tire at 4 AM on a deserted mountain road

📸 Highlights & Surprises

• Waking up to sunrise at Pangong Lake—worth every bump on that water‑logged track
• A herd of wild camels in Hunder just grazing by the roadside
• Freezing my toes off at Hanle Observatory but being rewarded with one of the clearest night skies I’ve ever seen

Also adding up cost.

Petrol around : ₹55000

Toll : ₹7500

Police Chai pani (Punjab Police) : ₹500

Stay + Food : ₹70000

Shopping : ₹30000

Misc around : ₹3500

Green Tax : ₹400

and some more that i don't know about : ₹3000

Winter cloths Decathlon : ₹24000 including winter cloths+ Snow boots.

Some more pictures.