I had been planning to go on a long motorcycle journey since a while but my last ride could not be used for such venture. ZXMCO KPR 200 although gave me a nice experience of entry level sports-bike, it could not be used for long journeys owing to its riding position and other factors (which may be different for each individual). I sold it off and after a LONG and fruitful discussion and opinions of experienced riders, I bought a Zongshen RX1 from Sigma Motorsports Lahore (was at Lahore at the time for work).
As I live in Islamabad, I was initially apprehensive about travelling 300+ kms as my maiden ride on a motorcycle I had hardly driven but again owing to blessings from Allah and motivation by fellow riders, I was able to complete this journey.
First a little about the bike:
Pros1. Riding position is very comfortable.
2. Ride height is enough for crossing most type of areas.
3. The “Boxes” provide sufficient luggage capacity and are made of good plastic.
4. Suspension is nice. The mono-shock and inverted forks absorb most of the road-beating as compared to traditional bikes.
5. Engine has enough torque.
6. Braking is good though the stock tires tend to slip a little if not careful.
7. Engine-bay guard (The protective rail) also acts as foot rest which is extremely helpful in changing ride posture.
8. USB Charging port for on-the-go charging.
9. Sigma claims to provide 3S services which is great.
Cons1. Vibration after 5-6000 rpm especially on foot-pegs. This maybe due to initial running but any tips to reduce this would be helpful.
2. Factory headlight is good but additional aux lights must be installed.
3. Side mirrors are oddly shaped and do not cover the intended area completed. But maybe this differs for each person.
The TripI was anxious to start my FIRST long journey on a vehicle that is considered un-safe. My parents were against it, wife was for it (but wanted me to travel by day only
). Few colleagues also gave mixed suggestions however the biking community I was in touch with motivated me for this and gave some good tips that I shall share below but before that my experience:
1. Started my travel on 25 Oct 2018 at around 1100 hrs (which was late but I was stuck because of work). Most suggested that I should start early. However, probably as it was not a weekend, I only encountered rush near Shahdrah and in Gujranwala. Rest it was all normal.
2. It was a wonderful feeling going through the Mall road after a long time and watching the traditional Lahore buildings like GPO and Data Darbaar as it had been long since I came from this road. The immediate feeling on the bike was that I could SEE more than we usually do in a car.
3. I was thinking that the ride alone would be boring but it was a nice experience especially the hills near Kharian.
4. Whenever I stopped, people came up to me asking about the bike and if I were on some kind of tour. Most of them were polite and allowed me to take rest.
5. Overall, I did two major stops. One for lunch at a friend’s place in Gujranwala and then at Jehlum. In between I stopped for water and just to stretch.
6. I reached Islamabad around 1830 hrs Alhamdullilah with loads of memories. I could not take pictures / video as I was not equipped properly.
(At Gujranwala)
Tips1. Keep a good helmet. Make it sound proof / wind proof if possible. Various easy DIY guides are available over internet. Wind and noise proofing will get you less tired. Make sure the helmet is snug and holds your head firmly.
2. Wear knee and elbow guards (although I moved without them as I did not get the time to buy a pair).
3. Prepare your bike. Oil change, tuning, chain maintenance and electronics. Check all the lights are working properly and there are no exposed joints or loose wires, pipes etc. Tighten all nuts and bolts to reduce vibration. Use rubber on body parts where possible to further reduce movement.
4. Buy and place a water-proof mobile holder and extend a USB c
harging cable if possible.
5. Pack less but pack smart. Anticipate weather, terrain and duration.
a. Rain coats are time consuming to wear, difficult to maintain especially in winds and drying requires another effort. Try to wear clothes with removable water-proof linings.
b. Keep a pair of open shoes like sandals etc in case your shoes get wet.
c. Keep water and stay hydrated. The best thing is to get a Camel-back type thing which allows you to drink on the go.
d. Keep chargers with multiple ports and charging cables to charge where possible.
6. Write your personal details like emergency contact information, blood group, destination etc and keep in your pocket. If possible, get this card laminated.
7. Keep your data services on (or use GSM based GPS which are easily available) and share your live location with someone back home (WhatsApp has this provision plus TrustedContacts app can also be used).
8. Make your ride comfortable and buy good hands-free or Bluetooth device for your helmet. Listen to something you like (or not) while also making it easy to talk on-the-go.
9. Install fish-eye mirrors on your side mirrors to improve visibility.
10. Keep some kind of additional cushioning on your seat. This is the ONLY thing that I felt lacking during the end of my last trip.
11. Always remember it matters what you can see, but it equally matters that others can see you, especially cars, trucks and buses.
a. Wear high contrast clothes (White, Yellow etc) if possible. If not, make sure your clothes have high contrast reflecting lines. This includes your helmet.
b. Apply some reflecting tape on your bike especially the extended portion of your bike (e.g. luggage boxes etc).
These are my thoughts. I’m sure more experienced riders can provide better details, hacks and tips to make our rides safe and comfortable.
Thank you for reading.
