Author: turbonix

Off road adventure trip From KOTTAYAM to URUMBIKKARA, KERALA

Destination- Urumbikkara

A day to wander aimlessly, to take bath in the waterfalls, make a tent on the hill tops, to feel the rain and the snow, to sleep watching the stars.A dream destination and a wish to go for a long journey to do all the aforesaid things finally came to a halt at Urumbikkara which was 100kms from our hometown. The beautiful place gifted by nature is located at the border of Kottayam and Idukki districts.

Urumbi Hills or Urumbikkara is a majestic, mystical green hilltop located in the south part of Idukki district between Vagamon and Kuttikanam with the Enthayar village in its background. 

We started early in the morning.The ride was conducted by Royal Enfield .Our group consisted of 10 bikes. We took the route via Kottayam, Pala though Urumbikkara’s valley town Enthayar. We had breakfast from pala town where we packed some food so that we can have our food in the middle of our ride.

The tar road disappeared; the road ahead was very bad with potholes. The rubber estates ended. Now you can see the forests with some houses in between.We road is almost 10kms and it took 2hours to cover it.

Urumbikkara was once laden with plush green tea plantations and rubber estates run by the British. After some kms we saw a deserted tea factory known as ‘Saipan Bangalow’. The factory was built with rocks and iron sheets.We can see the inside of the factory through the window bars. We saw the remains of machinery and other stuff inside.this abandoned tea factory evokes the remnants of a glorious era.

A motorcycle is the best vehicle to enjoy this thrilling trip.On our way three of bikes got punchered. We got it repaired and continued our ride.Further trials were so tough and somehow we managed to finish.On the way I lost my balance and my bike fell down. My friends helped me to lift the bike.My bike’s tank got a minor scratch and mudguard got a small dent.On that moment I understood the importance of Turbonix crash guard. If I had Turbonix crash guard it would never happen.As we begin to climb upward through the rough roads,In between we came across two waterfalls Madammakkulam and pappani waterfalls.

Madammakkulam,a small waterfall, doesn’t show itself to the outsiders that easily where we took a bath and it refreshed our mind fully.We took a 1hour break and we had our lunch there meantime we dried our wet cloths on the rocks. And another Pappani waterfalls , which meander through the jet-black rocks, beckon you to enjoy its mesmerizing charm.

The lone tea shop on the forest path at Urumbikkara has been a favorite evening hub of the locals for the last seven years. Saseendran would open his stall only after 3 in the afternoon and would keep it open until 11 am the next day.Time was around 4:30pm and we had tea then Continued to ride aiming to the top station.

The climate has started to change. The light faded and the snow started falling . After riding the rough rock paved path for almost 15 kms we reached the top station at 6pm. Our plan was to stay there for one night.We had brought five tents and we started looking for a perfect location for staying, At last we found on top of urumbi hill.The temperature was around 8°c and it went down to 2°c on midnight.We had made fire to resist the cold.We slept in tent Each tent consist of 2 people and we slept easily because of our tiredness.Throughout the night it was raining heavily.On the next day morning we had a breathtaking view from the urumbikkara top station.the sunrise view was mesmerizing. We are on the top of the hill and we are looking from above the clouds.

Later we dismantled the tent and packed our bags.and we left urumbikkara 8am. We had our breakfast from mundakayam. On the returning way we also checked-in to ramakkalmedu, palkulamedu,chathurangapara.

We had our lunch from Idukki and we returned from Idukki by evening.reached home safely by 9oclock night.when I reached home while removing my boot I found a leech sucking my blood took it and burned it.and from now on by the time when I see that scar caused by leech bite.i will remember the whole story of urumbikkara journey.

Good thing about Urumbikkara– Natural beauty, Fresh air, Less human intervention

Bad thing about Urumbikkara– Graveled road, Wild animals intervention

Trip plan– Reach Urumbikkara top station before 6pm or before sunset.Take enough packed food.Take your tent to stay.

Trip route map– (from Kottayam)

Kottayam > Pala > Ethenyar > Urumbikkara > Mundakayam > Kanjirappally > Kottayam

Road condition– unpaved off-road trails.jeep or 2 wheeler recommended

Issues faced during trip– Tyre punchers, dehydration,leech bites

Tips for riders– Take enough water and food,puncher kit is mandatory, rain jacket and pants,tents should be taken.first aid kit and safety gears should be worn.

Trip expenses– (for 200kms & 2day ride)

Petrol- 800₹, Food- 1000₹- (for 2day) tent accommodation free 

Total expenses below 2000₹

Ensuring Safety of Motorcycle Riders

No bike rider likes to crash as most of them happen inadvertently. Crash protection hence is an integral part of adventure bikes and vehicles. Crash protection gear is specifically designed to protect bike parts in the event of a tip-over or a low-side crash. For instance, a crash could result in the damage of clutch cover and magnet cover which is why cover-protection guards take the hit when they land on the gravel. The protection covers would need to be replaced instead of the actual covers themselves, ensuring lower costs. 

Another goal of crash protection is comprehensive “functional durability” that preserves the bike functionality and get the rider along for a safe distance.

For instance, bikes usually land on the left handlebar and footpeg. The accident could have happened at 5 mph but could bend or snap the clutch lever or the shift lever irreversibly. Even if you manage to escape unscathed and hoist the bike, you will realize that you cannot disengage the clutch or even the shift gears to ride home. A minor 5-mph fall would be a true buzzkill if you do not have help on the road nearby, leaving you stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Crash protection categories for your bike

Bike manufacturers offer only a basic level of crash protection and adventure lovers would need to scale them up if they are going to cross a risky terrain or a road that is not ideal for smooth bike riding. Here are some of them:

• Motorcycle Skid Plates– Motorcyclesthat skid off-road need skid plates for protection especially if the rider misjudges a log in the path. The damage to the oil sump and the exhaust pipe system could ruin the bike for much more than expected. An ideal aluminum skid plate provides comprehensive under-engine coverage right from the exhaust system to the suspension or swing arm pivot. Get the skid plate compatible with the bike’s stock centerstand. The access to the oil drain plug should have regular maintenance, saving the case and any exposed wiring from any kind of damage. Also, the plates need to have some holes for cooling air to reach the exhaust system, and to allow water and mud to escape from those points.
• Motorcycle Crash Bars– Motorcycle Crash Bars are ideal engine guards that protect the sides of the bike, wrap around the engine and form a shield. They take the brunt of the fall and protects radiator shrouds too. In BMWs, these lower crash bars can prevent the pricey cylinder heads to hit the terrain, preventing any serious damage to the bike. A premium option does feature sturdy attachment points and provides options for better maintenance. 
• Motorcycle Hand Guards – A good set of hand guards your fingers and can prevent encounters with low-hanging branches and stops damaging controls too. The ideal hand guards rely on alloy backbone for robustness and weather coverage. They need to be bought specific to the motorcycle owing to minor control placement positions, bar bend placement, and other factors. 
• Headlight Guards– For dedicated protection for your bike’s headlights from rocks on falling down, the headlight guards can do their job well enough, minimizing the damage on impact.

Adventure Crash Guard and how they Help

Turbonix is one company that delivers innovative motorcycles accessories and protective equipment that safeguards riders and the bike itself efficiently. The company presents a custom-built robust adventure crash guard for different bike models including the Royal Enfield Classic and KTM Duke. Adventure crash guard protects bikers and the bike from damages during accidents when in position or in motion. These crash cages include sturdy and seamless pipes that highly impact resistant. The 3 mounting points provide strong protection, ensures durability, and aids in minimal damage to the bike itself.

Salient Features of the Adventure Crash Guard

Impact Absorption
crash guards can absorb impact owing to the CRC pipes that rebound on impact, delivering greater safety to the rider and the bike

Efficient Three-Point Mounting Attribute
With a three-point mounting crash bar, the protection is all-round instead of a singular leg guard/crash guard protection only parts of the bike and the rider. The mount provides greater support and durability. 

Quick and easy to install
The adventure crash guard is easy to install with the help of a tutorial or even with the help of a mechanic right away with absolutely no hassle!

Robust Pipes
The CRC pipes making up the crash cage are made of sturdy Industrial grade 2.5mm thick pipe that makes them strong enough to withstand any kind of crashes.

Lean Angle Design
Motorcycles generally fall down when they stop at a certain angle. The adventure crash guards can help protect the legs out easily in such kinds of crashes. It also makes sense when one has to pick up the bike that features loaded luggage

Powder-Coated
The powder-coated design of the Turbonix adventure crash guards makes it quite durable, preventing it from rustover a long period of time.

Know how these adventure crash guards by Turbonix specific to the Royal Enfield models and KTM Duke models can help the riders feel safe while protecting the bike from minimal damage in case of a crash or accident.