Have you rode 650Km in a day, on a motorbike, and solo? Sounds crazy and amazing, isn’t it? That’s what I experienced a couple of weeks ago: a solo motorbike road trip from Bangalore to Goa. It was my second long distance bike tour! If you are a motorbiking enthusiast who has done this journey or dreams of doing it, read on to re-live and get some insights. For others, enjoy the spectator view!
My Bangalore to Goa road trip in December 2021 was my first long distance motorbike ride. It was fueled by a burning desire to spend time with the bike. It was relatively ad-hoc and I was under prepared as a biker. I faced some challenges, but overall the trip was superb.
Over the last couple of years, the burning desire has transformed into a red hot flame love for biking. Of course, I wanted to do this long distance Bangalore to Goa road trip again! This time around I felt more in control as a biker and had more fun! The challenges came up again, fortunately though, there was nothing which disrupted the journey!
In this post, I will share details on the Bangalore to Goa route options, some challenges associate with motorbiking, recommended pit stops for eating, and a few other tips for anyone looking to take this journey.
Read here: My passion for Motorbiking
Bangalore to Goa Road Trip Route
My plan was to be deliberately unplanned. I had not done any hotel bookings in Goa but I wanted to be in the north of Goa. Still a newbie rider, in my last ride I had taken an overnight stay in Hubli. However, this time around I wanted to complete the journey on the same day. It worked out well as my preparation and confidence as a biker has grown over the last 2 years.
Route for Onward Journey: South Bangalore to North Goa
Bangalore > Neelamangala > Tumkur > Sira > Hiriyur > Haveri > Bankapura Toll (Take left from here)> Mundgod > Yellapur > Ankola > Karawar > Panjim > North Goa
This route is scenic! En route is a lake, country roads lined up with trees on the sides and surrounded by fields and plantations. The roads are quiet, sparse vehicle density and the Tibetan monastery near Mundgod is a worthy stop.
Total travel time for me was approximately 14 hours with some breaks. The road condition overall is good however the stretch from Bankapura Toll to Yellapur was in a bad shape. With the ongoing road work, there were several patches which were under repair. Unfortunately, the patches intact were full of potholes as well. This made the journey slow and a bit draining. You will also encounter a lot of trucks on the journey from Yellapur to Ankola, thankfully though this stretch of the road is in a better condition.
Route for Return Journey: South Goa to South Bangalore
Murudeshwar > Kundapura > Udupi > Mangaluru > Sakleshpura > Hassan > Bellur > Yadiyur > Neelamangala
The road trip through coastal Karnataka is breathtaking!
Murudeshwar is an amazing place destination to cover. I stayed the night however it can be covered in 2-3 hours. The grand Shiva statue overseeing the ocean, the beach buzzing with energy and the beautiful sunset make it a hard to miss destination.
For the return journey, ideally I wanted to take the route from Mulki to Hassan. However, I changed my mind last minute and decided to go via Mangalore. The NH75 road from Mangaluru to Hassan via Sakleshpura is under construction which meant that it was the toughest part of the ride. Although, the road condition after Sakleshpura improved, overall there were long rough and muddy patches, potholes and clouds of dust all through till Hassan. Once the road work is done in the next 6 months perhaps, this could be a good route option to breeze through.
Motorbiking: The pleasure and Challenges
If you spend enough time with a machine, you start to think of it as a living being. My red beauty, Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350X hits a state of flow around 90Kmph. The engine sound and the vibrations merge into a harmonic rhythm. The bike just cruises along, gobbling the empty stretches of highway under its wheels. The feeling of riding the machine in the state of flow is rejuvenating, adrenaline pumping and blissful!
Challenges:
On a long distance ride, it’s wise to expect some challenges for both the man and the machine. You can’t control or prevent all of those. You will just need to find a way to manage those.
Machine
a) During the onward journey, a thumping noise originated at the front. I anxiously waited to reach Yellapur town to get it checked. Thankfully, it was minor – fork nut had gotten loose.
b) In the return journey, speedometer stopped working. In post trip maintenance I realized that speedometer assembly short circuited.
c) Last time around, the nuts became loose and the number plate was floating. It was tough to a find a screw which could hold it together, especially when you are passing through areas where maintenance is distant.
Man
a) Body starts to tire and demands frequent stops. In particular, be ready for a sore butt and lower back.
b) The riding helmets are heavy and tightly fit. Head and neck bear the load and the brunt in broken roads.
c) you tend to feel sleepy! Absolutely critical to find out what keeps you awake. For me, it’s tea/candy/chewing gum or I sing songs to myself!
Any challenges that you faced as a rider?
Recommended Pit Stops on Bangalore to Goa road trip
- a) Hotel Sai Palace a neat, tidy and quick service restaurant which is apt for families
- b) Apoorva Resorts. This is my favorite stop whether I ride or drive by car. Woodfired benne masala dosa is wow!
- c) Masala Suruchi Veg, I tried the veg thali here and it was good. It’s around 145 Kms from Bangalore so it serves as a good checkpoint.
A few tips for bikers:
- Do not ride without proper safety gear. A good quality helmet, riding jacket, gloves, riding pants or knee and shin guards, riding boots or trekking boots which cover ankles. This is basic!
- Start early from Bangalore, around 5 am would be perfect. You get empty roads on the onward journey and relatively less traffic.
- Assuming you would carry some luggage, get good quality bungee cords and cover for your luggage. I use Rynox bungees and it is reliable.
- Have a plan B. If you are not able to make the entire journey in a single ride, it’s absolutely ok take a night rest mid-journey. Remember you are not riding for glory or records!
- If you ride during the night, which I don’t recommend, having fog lamps on your bike is a must!
- It is important to enjoy the journey, talk to your machine and treat it and the road with respect!
Bike Gear I have I invested in:
- Helment: MT Thunder III
- Gloves: Alpinestars
- Leg Guards: Rynox
- Jacket: Royal Enfield L1
- Boots: Decathlon Hiking Boots
- Bungees: Rynox
It will be great to get to hear about the biking accessories and safety gear you like.
Summary
Motorbiking is a serious sport which gives adrenaline rush, and at the same time, it helps to build resilience and maturity. I often ride with a superb bunch of riding enthusiasts for short trips around Bangalore. The feeling of camaraderie is inspiring!
It would be great to hear your thoughts, experiences and recommendations for Bangalore to Goa road trip. From my experience, I am happy to share any insights which you may be looking for. I wish you happy and safe travels, and a very happy New Year 2024!
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