Ideal motorcycle under 5 lakh to ride to Ladakh with lower back pain

I think I should consider one of these – the KTM 390 Adventure, BMW G310GS or the new Royal Enfield Himalayan 450.

BHPian DivyanshuDiv recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello readers and enthusiasts,

This is an attempt to pen down my needs for a new bike as the options and budget, both are limited.

So here is the story

A couple of months back, an impulsive decision was taken to buy a Honda CB350 RS, followed by excessive spending on riding gear and accessories, and today I feel, we both are still not ready for our next year’s trips to Ladakh and south India, courtesy my lower back pain (L4-L5 disc issues), which came back after a year, and making me anxious and eager to look for a right bike which could help me realizing and reaching my dream destinations.

With all the time invested on this forum, and at various sources on the internet, I was able to reach the right category – an Adventure bike, the one that should complement my journey, as well as, the options under my budget, which is 5L INR, comes down to ADV390, Himalayan 450, or a BMW GS310.

And I’m getting impatient and confused, need your help.

Here’s what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say about the matter:

You really shouldn’t be considering long-distance riding with L4/L5 disc issues. No amount of suspension goodness can compensate for underlying health issues. In my own case, Hexa’s brilliant ride quality and superb seats were only enough to manage the daily commutes. Ultimately, it was the therapy and rehabilitation that got life back to normal.

You may even double or triple your budget and get the fanciest, most comfortable tourer. But what’s the guarantee that your back won’t give out halfway into a 3000km trip?

Here’s what BHPian AtheK had to say about the matter:

I would suggest the ADV390 as it is already a tested and proven bike and you should be able to get spares much more easily in case of a breakdown. Himalayan 450 is equally competent on paper but there are no real-world reviews and in case of a break down you might not get spares.

You can also look at hunting down a well-kept pre-owned Versys 650 which will make the entire trip much easier for you.

Best of luck for your trip.

Here’s what BHPian ostrish had to say about the matter:

There’s no guarantee that better suspension will fix your health issues. I would suggest you rent and ride all the bikes on your list. Royal Brothers has them in their catalogue in my city at least. I’m sure there are other services as well.

Apropos the CB350 — a couple of months is nothing in bike ownership terms. For me personally, it takes a few thousand km to become comfortable on a new motorcycle, and the time spent getting comfortable is a bigger investment than the price of the motorcycle itself. It takes a few thousand km to even break into new gear. This is why I prefer not to buy new stuff!

Here’s what BHPian am1m had to say about the matter:

As others have already pointed out, the issue is not the bike, the issue is with your back. Consult with an ortho and a physio and see if you can strengthen your back and then take the trip when ready.

Honestly, riding to Ladakh is not a big deal. (I’ve done it twice, on the same old bike, 9 years apart; so am not simply putting it down). Why not enjoy it in perfect health, it’ll happen when it happens. Invest in your health and solve your back issue first, that will be far more invaluable for the rest of your life. And you’ll enjoy the ride more.

Here’s what BHPian Axe77 had to say about the matter:

You know best about your medical condition so I won’t venture there.

But for your stated needs and from the current crop of bikes, I would recommend the Himalayan 450 as the easy top choice. The only caveat is that there are a LOT of firsts there for RE and you’d likely be picking a 1.0 iteration of the bike with little market feedback at the moment.

If you’re willing to wager on that one aspect, it’s definitely the top choice. The suspension will be plush and it’s literally designed ground up to do the kind of riding you’re looking at.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

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