Hello all, just recently got back from India and already it's time to start thinking about my next trip,

Some friends of mine managed to get a team spot on the rickshaw rally from Goa to Kathmandu coming up in September (website here if you don't know it, I was in India at the time so missed out but I'm thinking I might join in the adventure anyway and travel alongside them. Rickshaws as you probably know are not the quickest machines, and the trip is going to take a while. I first thought of a royal enfield but that might be a bit fast, so to keep myself at the same speed as the rickshaw I was thinking of getting a honda activa for the journey.

4,500km on a honda scooter, crazy you say? Maybe... but I bet it'll be fun!

My questions.... I first thought of buying a scooter and selling it at the end of my trip, but I think I need a permanent address in India to buy a vehicle and register it in my name - is that right?

I hired a scooter in Mumbai and Goa in January this year but wasn't once for a license, I have a UK car driving license, will this be enough for national riding or should i try for a bike license here just in case?

Does anyone know of any national rental places so I could rent the bike in Goa and drop it off in Patna or somewhere or, if I'm really lucky, in Kathmandu?

And of course, have any of you tried this kind of thing before, am I utterly mental?

Aw someone must have an idea? I can't be the first person to think of doing this.

Kinda cool if i am though i guess

4500km on a scooter is not insane. Cumbersome with your gear, maybe, but possible.

Renting a scooter for that distance is probably unlikely. You probably will have to buy.

I know there are hoards of people who buy bikes in India and cruise around on them. I would suggest rethinking the Royal Enfield. Sometimes you need that extra speed to get you out of a jam, FAST, especially in a place like India where unexpected stuff happens all the time. It is most definitely NOT a sport bike so I don't think you have to worry about it getting away from you.

My recommendation, regardless of whether you choose scooter or bike, is to get some proper training and gear. Definitely take a training course in the UK. It isn't about the license but the knowledge they will give you. I've been riding regularly for a few years now and I wouldn't even think of attempting India yet. Then gear. You probably saw people riding on scooters with no helmets and flipflops. As a MINIMUM you ought to have a real helmet (not those plastic coconut covers they offer you in Asia), protective gloves, a jacket, long pants, and shoes that go over your ankle.

I think your idea is a great one, but you need a lot of prep work to do it sanely. You may also want to lurk on:

http://www.advrider.com
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/

PhotoChick

Brilliant, thanks for the links.

I rode a little in Goa, but that's really countryside-afide, somewhere like Mumbai would be a massice difference.

Saneley's definitely the right word, but not too sanely, no fun in that