FREE MOTORCYCLE TOUR TO INDIA FAQ

Who is this trip open to?

This trip is open to everybody. No matter where you are from, which city you are in, or what bike you ride.

What are we doing?
We are doing a 34 day tour up the west coast of India, starting in Chennai and ending in Delhi.

Where are we going?

The full list of stopovers and itinerary can be found here: https://www.openroads.cc/motorcycle-itineraries/free-india-tour-november-2019

Do I have to ride the whole trip?
You can join our ride at any time, from any city. The meeting points and stopovers are detailed in the itinerary. You can use the itinerary as a guide for how to join us if you are meeting up with us on-route. https://www.openroads.cc/motorcycle-itineraries/free-india-tour-november-2019

If you are leaving us early, then you will need will be responsible for transporting yourself home. If you are an international traveller, you will be responsible for returning your motorcycle to the appropriate drop-off point. Please note, some motorcycle hire places will charge a fee for one-way hire.

What is included?
The route, access to group chat and some special activities such as the Royal Enfield factor tour (tbc) and evening meetups. You are responsible for booking your motorcycle hire and accommodation.

How is the trip structured?

We will follow the itinerary closely unless we experience exceptional circumstances, such as illness, injury, weather or mechanical failure. The itinerary has been scrutinised to make sure it is achievable in the time limit, however, due to the unpredictable nature of the route - we cannot be assured this will be the case.

We will do whatever it takes to make it on time each day, so that those joining us on-route can plan their journey accordingly. You are not required, or pressured, to continue on for the day with us. If you deem it unsafe to continue, you should stop, rest and catch up over the next few days.

Where can I get a motorcycle for the trip?
Motorcycles will be available to hire through www.openroads.cc.

What is the average cost of a motorcycle per day?
The average cost of a motorcycle to hire for the trip is dependant on the type of motorcycle, the duration of hire and the drop-off location. For example, a Royal Enfield Classic 350, costs 1000 rupees per day on average. Accurate pricing can be seen on www.openroads.cc

Who is responsible for me?
You are responsible for you! You can post in the group chat if you are having problems and somebody will try to assist. We will work together as much as possible but you may need to be prepared to resolve situations on your own.

Every day you should load the route into your phone and ensure you have enough battery to complete the trip. You should know the end destination and where you plan to stay. If you get lost, get in contact with the group as soon as you have signal.

We will do a check in at the end of each day in the chat to see where everybody is at.

What happens if I have an accident?

If you have an accident and you are physically able, secure the area so that it is safe. Then post in the group chat. We can advise you where to go from there. If a rider is close by they may be able to assist.

If you have a serious accident, as soon as you are able, notify those assisting you to call my number. This number will be given to you in India and you should save this number to your phone.

If your motorcycle is unrideable, you will need to contact the motorcycle hire company. You can do this by calling or you can message through ‘my bookings’ on www.openroads.cc

Can you get a motorcycle for me?

I can assist you in hiring a motorcycle, subject to availability. There are limited numbers of motorcycles available to hire in Chennai, so if you are coming on the trip, please let me know in advance and we can arrange you one through OpenRoads.

How do I book accomodation?

Please check the itinerary here: https://www.openroads.cc/motorcycle-itineraries/free-india-tour-november-2019. At the bottom of the page is a table with all of the listed stop overs and the recommended accommodation to stay. You can book this accommodation online through the hotel directly or through travel aggregator websites like booking.com.

Are we riding in formation?

No. Riding in formation is difficult to achieve, especially for groups this size. You will be required to load the route into your phone and leave in your own time, riding at your own pace. There will be a note in the group chat each night for the ideal leaving time the next morning.

I don’t like riding in big groups - is this for me?
You don’t have to ride with anybody. You can leave before or after the group and decide to stop for breaks when you like. Ideally, the group will be split up, riding in the same direction but each rider enjoying the ride independently, at their own pace.

Can I bring a friend?
Yes! Absolutely.

How do I get directions for the day

You can check the route on www.openroads.cc and manually set your maps to follow the same route. Alternatively, you can download the gpx file from the itinerary https://www.openroads.cc/motorcycle-itineraries/free-india-tour-november-2019

How do I know what time to leave?
You will be notified the night before in the group chat on the ideal time to leave the following morning.

What is a meeting point?
We will aim to have a meeting point each night to get together, share stories and make sure everybody is OK. These meeting points will be in the table on the itinerary https://www.openroads.cc/motorcycle-itineraries/free-india-tour-november-2019

If the meeting point has to change, you will be notified in the group chat.

Will I be filmed?

Yes. There is a chance you will be filmed and this film will be distributed online. You will be asked to fill in a consent form to be filmed. If you do not wish to be filmed, please notify us and we will accommodate this request.

How do I keep up to date on where the group is?
We will be posting where we are on the group chat. I will share my location on Facebook so you can see where I am at all times.

How can I make sure I don’t get left behind

If you feel nervous about being left behind, ask someone to be your buddy. Partnering up with someone is a great way to enjoy the ride, without the stress of staying in a large group.

What if I don’t want to continue?

You are free to quit the trip at anytime. If you have booked accommodation in advance, check to see if they can refund your deposit. If you have hired a motorcycle, check their terms and conditions for refund and contact them via phone or via chat in the ‘my bookings’ section of www.openroads.cc. You should let the group know ASAP if you are planning to cancel so we don’t worry about you!